Cuisine Diva

Homemade Cheddar Chive Biscuits

This recipe makes a light and flaky buttermilk biscuit loaded with loads of cheddar cheese and savory chives. The secret to making light and flaky biscuits is to leave the butter in the refrigerator until ready to use. DO NOT let the butter warm up to room temperature. 

If you don't want to use buttermilk you can substitute regular milk, soy milk or even water. You can use parchment paper to line the baking pan, instead of greasing it, to prevent the biscuits from sticking to the bottom.

Above: a pastry knife is used to cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients. If you don't have a pastry knife, substitute 2 butter knives.

Above: a pan filled with homemade cheddar chive biscuits.

Cheddar Chive Biscuit Recipe

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter - cubed
• 1 tablespoon chopped chives
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2/3 cup buttermilk

Above: enjoy cheddar chive buttermilk biscuits straight out of the oven.

Cheddar Chive Biscuit Directions

 

1. Pre-heat your over to 375°F
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl
3. Use a pastry knife to cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients
4. Stir in the chopped chives and shredded cheese
5. Use a large spoon to stir in the buttermilk until a soft dough is formed
6. Lightly flour a large work surface so the dough doesn't stick to it
7. Place the biscuit dough onto the work surface and coat your hands with flour, as necessary, to prevent sticking
8. Knead the dough 10 to 12 times until smooth
9. Pat the dough out into a 1-inch thick rectangle
10. Use a sharp knive to cut the biscuits into 12 equal pieces
11. Place the biscuits onto a large, lightly greased baking pan
12. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 18 to 23 minutes until light golden brown

Enjoy!

Lynn Smythe, AKA the Cuisine Diva 

 

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Cuisine Diva Makes Banana Cake

What the Heck is Yacon Syrup?

Above: yacon tubers look a bit like sweet potatoes. 

Have you heard of yacon syrup? Yacon syrup comes from the tuberous root of the yacon plant, Latin name Smallanthus sonchifolius. The plants are indigenous to the Andes Mountains from Columbia to Argentina. According to the Yacon Syrup Health Benefit website, "Yacon is considered one of the most preferred natural sweetener because it contains about 50% FOS or Fructooligosacharides, which do not in any way increase blood glucose levels." This fact makes the sweetener safe for diabetics to use. 

Life & Food Inc. was kind enough to send me an 8 ounce bottle of their yacon syrup to try out and review for the Cuisine Diva blog. The syrup is a thick, brown liquid which reminds me of black strap molasses. In fact, the syrup is so much like molasses that I wasn't sure I liked it at first. It is an extremely sweet and extremely thick syrup. But after a bit of experimenting I ended up making a blueberry pancake syrup with it.

I placed a small sauce pan on low heat and stirred in about 1/3 cup of yacon syrup, 1/3 cup of agave syrup, 1/4 cup water and 1/2 cup of blueberries. I let the blueberry syrup simmer for around 20 minutes then turned off the heat and left the syrup cool to room temperature. The resulting blueberry syrup makes a terrific pancake syrup substitute - I use it on pancakes, waffles and French toast. Leftover syrup can be placed in a container and stored in your refrigerator.

So if you are looking for a low-calorie, low sugar sweetener give yacon syrup a try.

You can read my review of Life & Foods Garcinia Cambogia weight-loss capsules on the Beauty Diva blog..

Find Life & Food Online

• Website: www.lifefoodpro.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifefoodpro

Yacon Syrup Product Details

• 100% pure Yacon syrup has shown to assist in weight management, increase fiber intake and promotes good bowel function.
• Other benefits include: Lowers blood sugar. Prevents and controls hyperglycemia (over activity). Restores renal activity. Is a powerful Antioxidant.
• High in prebiotics and probiotics, this syrup contains up to 50% of FOS (fructooligosacharides). It has been found that consumption of FOS does not increase blood glucose, and helps boost your bodies metabolism.
• Naturally grown and sourced from the fields in Peru. Organic certified by our manufacturing specialists.
• 100% pure raw organic syrup formula with no added preservatives. Bottled and tested in a FDA certified GMP facility in the USA.

Life & Food 100% Pure Raw All Natural Yacon Syrup

Our Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) Syrup is sourced from naturally grown organic Yacon fields in the country of Peru. We use the HIGHEST quality Yacon plant to make a premium pure syrup formula.
Yacon syrup has shown to remains low in calories and low on the glycemic index scale. This is due to the fact that the sugar contains high levels of oligofructose (inulin), a form of sugar that is not metabolized readily by the human body. For this reason, Yacon is ideal for diabetics and acts as a great alternative to conventional low calorie sweeteners.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

How-to Make Corn Pudding

Above: Single serving of corn pudding.

Recipe for Corn Bread Pudding

This recipe for corn bread pudding makes a moist and delicious quick bread which has a consistency similar to corn soufflé or custard. Use either canned corn, which has been drained, or frozen corn which has been cooked according to package directions. If you are lactose intolerant, substitute plain rice, soy or almond milk for the milk and omit the cheese.

Above: Melt the butter in the sauce pan.

The key to making a smooth and creamy corn bread pudding is to use finely ground corn meal. Stone ground corn meal is too coarse for this recipe. I used Goya brand finely ground yellow corn meal, also known as Masarepa, in this recipe.

Above: Make a roux/rue with the butter, flours and seasonings, then add the milk.

Serve the corn pudding hot out of the oven along with butter or maple syrup. Corn bread pudding could be served along with collard greens and pulled pork for a complete Southern style meal.

 
Above: Whisk eggs into cheese.

 

Corn Bread Pudding Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup fine ground corn meal
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 4 cups corn kernels
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend

 

Above: Corn pudding ready to go into the oven.

Corn Bread Pudding Diretions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt 5 tablespoons of the butter.
3. Whisk in the flour, corn meal, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme and cook for 1 minute, to get rid of the raw flour taste.
4. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook over medium high heat, whisking as needed, until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
5. Let the batter cool slightly. If the batter is too hot when you add the egg mixture, you could end up with scrambled eggs.
6. Whisk the eggs in a medium size bowl.
7. Stir in the corn.
8. Stir the slightly cooled batter into the bowl with the egg and cheese mixture.
9. Place a 9-inch square glass or round enamel pan on top of the stove.
10. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pan and turn the heat to medium.
11. Once the butter has melted, turn the heat off, then pour the corn pudding mixture into the pan.
12. Use a pair of oven mitts and carefully place the pan in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the pudding is cooked through and golden brown on top.
13. Let cool slightly before serving.

Above: Corn pudding hot out of the oven.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Cuisine Diva

Spice It Up at Dunkin Donuts

PRESS RELEASE

Fall Flavors Spice Up the Season at Dunkin' Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts brings back seasonal pumpkin favorites and introduces new apple flavors to keep people running with the tastes of fall

CANTON, Mass., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- With Labor Day now behind us and summer nearing its end, Dunkin' Donuts, America's all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, gives people a delicious reason to look towards the start of autumn, today unveiling a harvest of fall-inspired menu items available for a limited time at participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants. Leading Dunkin' Donuts' autumn array is the return of pumpkin beverages and baked goods, along with seasonal donut treats. For guests in New England and upstate New York, Dunkin' Donuts has also introduced new apple specialties, including Apple Pie and Apple Cider.

 (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080513/NYTU022LOGO)
 (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080513/NYTU022LOGO)

 Dunkin's Donuts' complete fall lineup includes:
 -- Pumpkin Coffee and Lattes: Pumpkin flavoring adds a seasonal touch to
   Dunkin' Donuts' coffee and lattes. Served hot or iced, they are the
   perfect way to keep yourself running with a taste of fall. Pumpkin
   coffee is available for the suggested retail price of $1.39 for a
   small 10 oz. hot beverage. The Pumpkin Latte features a caramel
   drizzle and is available at the suggested retail price of $1.99 for a
   10 oz. hot beverage.
 -- Pumpkin Muffin: Topped with white icing and streusel crumbs, Dunkin'
   Donuts' Pumpkin Muffin is a seasonal favorite and is available for the
   suggested retail price of $1.39.
 -- Pumpkin Donut: Back by popular demand, Dunkin' Donuts' glazed pumpkin
   cake donut is available for the suggested retail price of $.89 cents.
 -- Fall Harvest Donut: The Fall Harvest Donut is a yeast ring donut
   topped with orange icing and a festive pumpkin sprinkle mix, available
   at the suggested retail price of $.89 cents.
 -- New Apple Cider (Available in New England and Upstate New York only):
   Seeking traditional autumn refreshments? Dunkin' Donuts' new Apple
   Cider, steamed via an espresso machine, is available hot or iced for
   the suggested retail price of $1.59 for a small 10 oz. hot beverage.
 -- New Apple Pie (Available in New England and Upstate New York only):
   Served warm, the handheld-sized baked Apple Pie features a flaky crust
   topped with cinnamon sugar. This new bakery treat is available for the
   suggested retail price of $1.29.

According to Dunkin' Donuts' Executive Chef Stan Frankenthaler, each year Dunkin' Donuts' fall menu items create a unique passion and emotional response amongst guests. "When the temperatures begin to drop and the days shorten, people naturally begin to crave comforting foods and the familiar, traditional tastes and scents we grow up associating with the season, such as pumpkin and apple," he said. "We are excited to help people celebrate fall to the fullest any time of day by bringing back our beloved fall menu items along with innovative new seasonal treats."

About Dunkin' Donuts

Founded in 1950, Dunkin' Donuts is America's favorite every day, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin' Donuts is a market leader in the regular/decaf coffee, iced coffee, hot flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories, and the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world. Dunkin' Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for four years running. The company has more than 9,000 restaurants in 31 countries worldwide. In 2009, Dunkin' Donuts' global system-wide sales were $5.7 billion. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin' Brands, Inc. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

 Contact:
 McCall Gosselin
 781-737-5200
 [email protected]

 Jessica Rosen
 RF Binder
 212-994-7522
 [email protected]

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080513/NYTU022LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, [email protected]
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080513/NYTU022LOGO

Source: Dunkin' Donuts

CONTACT: McCall Gosselin, +1-781-737-5200,
[email protected]; or Jessica Rosen, RF Binder,
+1-212-994-7522, [email protected]

Web Site: http://www.dunkindonuts.com/

Weight Control Oatmeal

I'm wondering if instant oatmeal has an expiration date? I made a bowl of Quaker Weight Control instant oatmeal for breakfast this morning. It tastes a bit like stale cardboard. I added extra cinnamon and a bit of ground flax seeds, so now it tastes like really spicy, stale cardboard - not too appealing.

Weight Control Oatmeal

Quaker weight control oatmeal can be purchased in single flavor boxes, or in a variety box of 3 flavors. The variety box contains 4 packets of maple & brown sugar flavor, 2 packets of cinnamon flavor and 2 packets of banana bread flavor.

Each packet, which is made with whole grain Quaker oats, contains 7 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber. Quaker makes a variety of instant oatmeal products including:

1. Quaker instant oatmeal
2. Quaker lower sugar instant oatmeal
3. Quaker high fiber instant oatmeal
4. Quaker organic instant oatmeal
5. Quaker take heart instant oatmeal
6. Quaker weight control instant oatmeal

Bacon Sandwiches

I'm not sure how long the box of weight control oatmeal has been in the pantry, but it is now decorating the bottom of the garbage can. Now I have a craving for a bacon sandwich, to get rid of the nasty stale cardboard aftertaste from the oatmeal. It's a good thing we don't have any bacon in the house, I would so eat an entire package right about now.

Well, it's time to go tackle the laundry room and see if there's any coffee leftover from last night. I seriously start jonsing and become a bit cranky if I don't get my daily coffee fix.

I've got ground turkey and thin, boneless, skinless chicken breast in the refrigerator, trying to think of something interesting to make for lunch or dinner later today.

Take care and enjoy your day,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Cuisine Diva

Egg in the Basket Recipe

Eggs in a basket, ready to eat

An egg in a basket is simply an egg, that has been pan fried in a piece of bread, which has had it's center removed.

Alternative Names

• Egg-in-a-frame
• Egg-in-a-window
• Egg-in-the-hole
• Egg in toast
• Hen-in-a-nest
• Moon egg
• One-eyed Jack

Butter both sides of the bread

Ingredients for Making Egg in the Basket

I made eggs-in-the-basket on Friday morning for breakfast. I used rye bread, Land O'Lakes Buttery Spread, and cooked the eggs over easy.

• 2 slices bread
• 2 eggs
• Butter or margarine
• Salt and pepper

Hole cut out of center of bread slices

Directions for Making Egg in the Basket

You can either butter the bread first, then cut out the center, or cut out the center and then butter the bread. If you butter the bread first, you could also cook the center circle you cut out, to serve along with the eggs in a basket.

Eggs cooking in the bread basket

1. Place a medium frying pan over medium heat on the stove.
2. Cut out the middle of each slice of bread, using a cookie cutter or small knife.
3. Spread both sides of each slice of bread with a bit of butter.
4. Place the buttered bread into the frying pan.
5. Crack open the eggs, and place one in the center of each slice of bread.
6. Cook until the bread is light brown.
7. Flip the egg in a basket over, and continue cooking until the other side is light brown, and the egg is cooked the way you like it.
8. Garnish with salt and pepper and EAT immediately.
9. Total cooking time is approximately 2 minutes per side for an over easy egg, cook a bit longer if you want to thoroughly cook the egg yolk.

Egg in the basket flipped over and continuing to cook

Creative Flair
You could use just about any interesting cookie cutter, to cut out the center of the bread. How about using a heart shape cookie cutter when making breakfast on Valentine's Day. Or a clover shape for St. Patrick's Day, a star shape for Independence Day, etc... I have TONS of cookie cutters, I could find an interesting shape for all the major holidays.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Cuisine Diva

Lots of Muffin and Biscuit Recipes

 

ABOVE: tray of rolled biscuits waiting to go in oven

I love a good muffin, or freshly baked biscuit, with all my meals. My waistline could do without so many bakery products, but a homemade muffin is a weakness of mine.

Here are links to some of my muffin and biscuit recipes on the Suite101 website.

Zucchini Nut Muffins

 

ABOVE: zucchini nut muffins

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

 

ABOVE: pumpkin spice muffins

Savory Corn Muffins

Lemon Poppy Seed Teacakes

Banana Bread & Banana Bread French Toast

Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping

Quick Bread Recipes. Includes recipes for chili cheese cornbread, garlic bread and Parmesan chive biscuits.

Recipe for Four Varieties of Rolled Biscuits. One basic biscuit recipe can be turned into plain biscuits, poppy seed biscuits, sesame seed biscuits or cinnamon sugar biscuits.

 

ABOVE: sesame, poppy and cinnamon rolled biscuits

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Cuisine Diva

Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits

My husband is the king of breakfast in our house. Although I do most of the cooking in our household, my husband makes a mean breakfast. He can be counted on to make anytime we have the time to do breakfast at home. The kids and I also call on him to make breakfast-for-dinner on occasion.

Instant Bacon Omelets
My husband has been going on quite a few business trips to Texas during the past few months. He is usually home for the weekends. On Saturday, July 4th we raced in the Independence Day Duathlon at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, Florida. I got 4th place Women 45-49 and he got 8th place Clydesdale (big men).

We were pretty hungry when we arrived home. After we took our showers and got cleaned up, my husband, Rob, made us both bacon omelets with an everything bagel on the side. We had a couple of packages of Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits in the pantry. So instead of having to take the time to cook raw bacon, Rob simply added a bit of the real bacon bits to the omelets.

We live in south Florida, so the thought of cooking bacon in the dead of summer isn't too appealing. It makes a big mess, and overheats an already overly hot house. We also use the Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits on chili cheese hot dogs to add an extra bit of flavor.

Other Quick & Easy Recipe Ideas
Jazz Up Knorr Tomato Parmesan Pasta
Instant Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Cuisine Diva