Proud Italian Cook

Easy Strawberry Cream Puffs Made With Puff Pastry

January 31, 2024 by Marie 2 Comments

Strawberry cream puffs are such a quick and easy dessert because in this version you use store-bought puff pastry. Strawberries are good to use because you can dice them up really small and then easily fold them into the heavy whipped cream and mascarpone.

Valentine’s Day is near and this would be the perfect ending to a special dinner, it’s light and creamy and the strawberries really shine through.

Just cut your puff pastry into squares, you don’t even have to dock it because you want them to puff up.

Then all you have to do is slice them in half and you’ll have a top and a bottom created.

With your filling prepared you’re ready to spoon or pipe it right onto the puffed up pastry sheet.

Your dessert is done, all you have to do is give them a good dusting of powdered sugar and enjoy!

Easy Strawberry Cream Puffs Made With Puff Pastry

An easy creamy decadent dessert worthy for a special occasion like Valentine's Day.

Author: Marie

Ingredients

1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
sprinkling of turbinado sugar, optional
STRAWBERRY PASTRY CREAM
1 cup of strawberries, diced small, extra for garnish
8 oz. mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1 cup of heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon, vanilla
½ cup powdered sugar, extra for dusting

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees and place some parchment on a baking sheet.
Cut your puff pastry into squares, you can easily get 6 to eight slices depending on the size of your puff pastry sheet, no docking necessary.
If using turbinado sugar press some onto the tops.
Place into the oven for 10- 15 minutes til nice and golden, ovens do vary so check.
Remove and let them cool down completely.
When completely cooled you can slice them in half lengthwise.
To make the strawberry cream, place the mascarpone into a deep medium bowl using a hand mixer to smooth it out, adding the vanilla and powdered sugar.
Pour in the heavy cream and continue to mix well until mixture holds together well and is not runny.
Fold the diced strawberries into the cream mixture being careful not to add juice if there is some.
Pipe or spoon the mixture onto your pastry sheet bottoms, add a few extra sliced strawberries on top of the mixture if you want, put the lid on and sprinkle powdered sugar all over the top.
Place on your serving plate with a couple whole fresh strawberries for garnish.

2 Comments Filed Under: Desserts Tagged: cream puffs, easy dessert, puff pastry, strawberry cream, Valntine's Day

Spaghetti Squash Egg-in-a Hole

January 3, 2024 by Marie 2 Comments

Spaghetti squash egg in a hole can be an easy and healthy breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner. It’s also low carb, gluten free and packed with protein, something we’re all thinking about post holiday celebrations.

I love spaghetti squash, I make it quite often it’s so versatile and really fills you up, in a good way. This recipe comes together fast if you roast your squash ahead of time and have your “spaghetti strands” read to go.

Here are a couple of my other favorite ways to use spaghetti squash.

Then all you do is grab a handful of your spaghetti squash and form it into a circle making a hole in the center.

Then you’re going to fill that hole with some grated mozzarella so that the egg can sit right in there.

Carefully crack your egg into the center and adorn it with some pre-cooked toppings like bacon or some sautéed peppers, you can also use some sliced cherry tomatoes as well.

Bake it until the whites are set and you’ll have a very delicious, satisfying and fun to eat meal!

Enjoy!

5.0 from 1 reviews

Spaghetti Squash Egg-in-a Hole

A healthy and protein packed meal using versatile spaghetti squash, that's so delicious and fun to eat.

Author: Marie

Ingredients

1 spaghetti squash , medium to large size. Cut lengthwise with seeds scooped out
eggs, depending on how many "nests" you get from your squash, I got 5, one for each
No need for precise measuring here.
grated mozzarella to fill in the holes
grated parmesan
olive oil, salt and pepper
pre-cooked toppings like half pieces of cooked bacon, or some sautéed colored peppers with additional sliced cherry tomatoes
chopped parsley

Instructions

You can roast your spaghetti squash ahead of time if you wish, which I usually do.
Take your squash that has been cut with all the seeds. scooped out, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place the squash cut side down on parchment paper and roast in an oven at 360 degrees until a knife goes through with a little resistance. The key is you don't want the squash overcooked, it can become mushy and watery, which you don't want. I like the squash cooked al'dente.
Mine took about 25 minutes, but keep checking it all depends on the size of your squash.
Then let the squash cool down flake the inside all over to get your spaghetti strands.
Place the strands in a bowl and season it with a handful of grated parmesan, salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.
Place another sheet of parchment on a baking sheet, turn your oven up to 425F.
Grab a handful of the spaghetti squash and place it on the parchment forming a circle with a hole in the center. Make sure the edges are high enough to hold in the egg, but the grated mozzarella will help with that as well.
After you have your nests made, sprinkle each center with the grated mozzarella cheese, then place the cracked egg on top.
Arrange the toppings of your choice right on top of the spaghetti nests.
Drizzle the tops with olive oil and sprinkle each with grated parmesan cheese.
Carefully place the sheet pan into the hot 425F oven and bake til the whites are set, around 15 minutes, but keep checking.
Remove from the oven. and garnish with more parmesan and chopped parsley.
Enjoy!

2 Comments Filed Under: Breakfast, Eggs, Vegetables Tagged: egg in a hole, gluten free, low carb, protein breakfast, spaghetti squash, spaghetti squash nest, veggie egg in a hole

Stuffed Pork Roast with Apples and Cranberries

November 27, 2023 by Marie 4 Comments

Tis the season for entertaining and this stuffed pork loin with apples and cranberries is perfect for a gathering you might be having.

It certainly looks complicated but actually it’s very easy to put together, it can even be done a day ahead of time. The confusing part to some might be how to butterfly the meat. You actually open it like a book and then each side of the “book” you open that up. Here’s a visual that will help you, and you’ll see just how easy it is.

Once you open it up fully you can spread your flavored filling all around. Here I used apple with dried cranberries, garlic, thyme and a sprinkle of bread crumbs. You’ll then roll it up tightly and tie it with butchers string.

The apples and cranberries compliment the pork so well, serve it with a green vegetable on the side and maybe some cranberry sauce, a simple and elegant meal to serve your guests.

Add or subtract anything in the stuffing/filling that you choose, choose your favorite variety of apples, maybe dried apricots instead of cranberries or dried cherries, toss in some mushrooms, chopped spinach, make a full bread stuffing if you wish, the stuffing possibilities are endless!

5.0 from 1 reviews

Stuffed Pork Roast with Apples and Cranberries

An elegant dish to entertain with and easy enough for week night meals.

Author: Marie

Ingredients

Pork loin, the size of your choice but for my post here I used a 3 lb. roast
1 shallot, chopped finely
1 large apple of your choice, chopped finely
dried cranberries, a good handful
2 garlic cloves, minced
thyme
butter
a sprinkling of breadcrumbs
fresh herbs to place under twine
********
You can double everything depending on how big your roast is, don't worry about exact measurements, taste and go along.

Instructions

Slice open the pork with a sharp knife lengthwise but not slicing it all the way through, it should open like a book. Then each side needs to open like a book as well. Please refer to the link in my post to see a visual on how to do it easily.
After it's butterflied open, cover with some plastic wrap and with a meat tenderizer pound it as even as you can all around. Then season with salt and pepper.
For the stuffing; In a sauté pan add a nice dollop of butter, add the shallot and garlic, then the apple pieces and cranberries, saute til softened but not mushy.
Season with salt, pepper and the thyme to your taste.
Sprinkle the mixture with breadcrumbs, it will help hold the filling together better.
Let it cool down a little bit then spread the mixture all over the opened pork, not quite all the way to the ends.
Roll up and secure with butchers twine in a few places so it doesn’t open.
Season the outside with salt and pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Sear the pork roast all around on each side then place some fresh herbs under the twine.
Place into a 375F oven til internal temp reaches 145. After 30 minutes or so keep checking the temp in the middle so you know where you're at because you don't want to overcook it and dry out.