Baked Apple Roses Recipe • A Valentine Treat! | Club Foody

 

Valentine’s Day is a special day for lovers 💞. It’s celebrated mostly around the world, though names and traditions vary from one country to another. For example, in Japan, women are the ones who give chocolates to men, while in Denmark, they exchange snowdrops, which are pressed white flowers.
 
When I was single, I celebrated Valentine’s too! I always bought something or baked 👩‍🍳 a dessert on that day. My reasoning was that I loved and respected myself (still do, lol) and I could celebrate the event until I met Mr. Right, which I was fortunate to find when David approached me.
 
Surfing the net 💻 years ago, I came across one of the cutest pastries ever and I promised myself that one day, I would make it. Here’s the day… my Baked Apple Roses! Absolutely adorable, these tasty little treats are perfect for Valentine’s! They’re elegant and certainly a fun way to highlight this particular day.
 
The varieties of apples I like using are either Gala, Pink Lady, or Honeycrisp. I like them because they’re firm, and they don’t turn into mush when baking. To achieve that visual effect of a rose, Granny Smith apples 🍏 are not recommended.
 
After the cores are removed as well as the stems and blossom ends, the apples are thinly sliced using a sharp knife or a mandoline which I unkindly call the “guillotine”. The slices are transferred to a bowl of water along with lemon juice 🍋 to prevent them from turning brown due to oxidation.
 
When making Baked Apple Roses, it’s important to slightly soften the slices to make them flexible for rolling. Therefore, the bowl is placed in the microwave for 3 minutes ⏳. Be careful with the time because from one microwave to another, the heating results might differ so check them after 2 minutes.
 
From here, the slices are drained. To avoid damaging the slices, I just take them by hand 🖐 and transfer them to the colander. Then, I place them in a single layer on a clean dish towel and place another clean towel on top to remove any extra moisture otherwise, the pastry will get soggy.
 
Next is to roll out the dough after the puff pastry is thawed but still very cool to the touch. If it warms up, put it back in the fridge. This recipe uses 2 sheets of puff pastry dough. I quickly roll it out to 10×12 inches and about 1/8 inch thick so I can cut 🔪 6 strips of 2 inches wide per sheet.
 
The next step is optional but I like to spread cream cheese on the strips before sprinkling on the sugar-cinnamon mixture. It adds another layer of yumminess. Nutella, peanut butter 🥜, Map-O-Spread, dulce de leche, jam, or even strawberry cream cheese are other delicious substitutes.
 
In the video, I forgot to mention something. I suggest that if you don’t spread anything, go ahead and sprinkle on the sugar mixture straight on the strips… but no! You need to brush some melted butter 🧈 on the strips so the sugar-cinnamon mixture sticks to them.
 
To create that “rose” effect, the apple slices 🍎 are placed on the top half of each pastry strip with the peel side up, slightly overlapping. The bottom half of each strip is folded over the bottom of the apple slices and then rolled up. After placing them in the prepared muffin pan, I like to give them a little touch-up.
 
I brush the tops lightly with an egg wash 🥚, making sure it doesn’t run down the sides otherwise it will prevent the dough from puffing and baking properly. I then sprinkle on the remaining sugar-cinnamon mixture before baking for 45 minutes or until the pastry is golden and fully baked.
 
Later, when they’re baked, I let them sit in the muffin pan for 20 minutes ⌚ to allow the roses to cool before sprinkling on powdered sugar. This final step adds a touch of sweetness, and it also makes the pastry look more elegant.
 
You’ll probably end up with leftovers so here’s what to do. Once the roses 🌹 reach room temperature, place them in an airtight container and transfer them to the fridge for up to 3 days. If you want, you can reheat them for 8 to 10 minutes at 350ºF.
 
These Baked Apple Roses are an excellent choice for Valentine’s Day! They set the tone perfectly for romance, plus they’re so cute and adorable! For a stress-free day or evening, make them ahead! Also, they make a nice gift 🎁 when students want to bring a little “something” to their favorite teacher!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are more scrumptious dessert recipes for you to try… 😀
– Orange Flan
– Pecan Caramel Cheesecake
– Chocolate Lava Cake with Caramel
– Limoncello Crème Brûlée
– Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
– Eggnog Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
– Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting
– Butterscotch Pudding
– Pavlova
– Bananas Foster
and for even more dessert recipes 🍰🍩, click on this link… Recipe Category • Dessert

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit ➡ https://clubfoody.com/baked-apple-roses/ 😉

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Italian Sausage Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni Recipe | Club Foody

 

When I entertain, depending on the number of guests coming over, I might simplify my menu by serving a casserole. It’s convenient, most of the time can be made ahead, perfect for feeding a large group, often budget-friendly, it requires minimal cleanup 🧼, plus it’s a crowd-pleasing comfort food.
 
I have over a couple dozen casserole recipes on the website 💻. Although there are delicious ones to choose from like Lancashire Hotpot, Chicken Vesuvio,Cod au Gratin, Mediterranean Eggplant Casserole, I often go with a pasta dish.
 
One that I enjoy serving often is my Italian Sausage, Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni! Visually gorgeous 😍, this tasty pasta dish is very easy to make. It has a delicious combination of creamy texture and savory flavor with a rich, tangy background from the Bolognese sauce.
 
As the title suggests, I have spinach and Italian sausage in it. I start by wilting my spinach first, and then when this step is done and the leaves are cool enough to handle, I remove the moisture by squeezing them 🍃 before chopping into small pieces.
 
From here, I move on to the pork 🐖. I use hot Italian sausage and I highly suggest not using the mild one. The mixture is pretty cheesy and there’s also a creamy Alfredo sauce in this recipe, therefore, it needs another “strong” flavor otherwise, the dish will be flat.
 
After cooking the meat and seasoning 🥫 with my Italian blend, I drain the excess fat and let it cool off a little before adding it to my cheese mixture, which is a gorgeous blend of ricotta, Mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
 
When the filling is done, it’s time to fill up the cannelloni…
I mention in the video that I bought a box of this pasta that says “oven ready” on the package. Normally, I soak the tubes in hot water 💦 before stuffing them but I didn’t have to this time. If yours are not “oven ready” like mine, I suggest watching how I do the soaking method when I stuff my manicotti… Meat Manicotti.
 
Stuffing these little guys is pretty easy. The cheese mixture is spooned into a piping bag (a regular Ziplock plastic bag is fine too), then squeezed tight to remove any air bubbles, which is very important to do, and cut off 🔪 the tip, slightly smaller than the tubes.
 
One of my girlfriends 👩‍🦱 gave me a very cool trick… Place the cannelloni upright in a measuring cup or another container tall enough, and simply stuff them. It makes this task go much faster when making this Italian Sausage, Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni recipe.
 
When stuffed, they’re placed in a lightly greased 9 ½ x 9 ½-inch baking dish with the bottom thinly covered 🥄 with Bolognese sauce, which will prevent the pasta from sticking. The size of this baking dish will hold 18 cannelloni.
 
When I don’t serve this for guests and it’s just casual, I don’t use this baking dish. Instead, I use a 9×13-inch which will hold 20 to 22 cannelloni. This is how many stuffed cannelloni it makes. Of course, as a food blogger, I use the square one for a beautiful presentation when I film and take pictures 📸!
 
If you stick to the picture-perfect looking dish and want that outstanding visual effect, both Alfredo and Bolognese are spooned onto each half of the cannelloni, trying to make the separation as flawless as possible. As if there weren’t enough cheese 🧀, more Parmesan is sprinkled on top.
 
I’m okay with Alfredo sauce but I find it very rich on its own. What I did years ago was to split the sauce between Alfredo and Bolognese. It creates a rich, creamy mixture blended with a savory and robust flavor from the tomato 🍅. It gives the sauce a luxurious, balanced profile.
 
The dish is covered with foil and baked for 45 minutes ⏰. By covering it, it keeps the pasta moist and prevents it from drying out. Another important factor is to make sure that all the tubes are entirely covered with sauce.
 
When time is up, the dish is uncovered and baked for an additional 5 minutes ⏳ or until the sauces are bubbly and the pasta is cooked. To find out if the cannelloni are ready, use a pointy knife to gently pierce the tubes. If it goes in easily, they’re done!
 
It’s important to allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes before adding the chopped parsley in a couple straight lines, as shown on the picture and video 🎥. I did that extra cute step to recreate the colors of the Italian flag.
 
Colorful and delicious, this Italian Sausage, Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni is a nice, rustic Italian dish to serve when entertaining! It’s a lovely meal to prepare in advance, making it ideal for feeding a large group without stressing out 🥰. Plus, who doesn’t like this comfort food!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Check out these other great BBQ & grilling recipes… 😀
– Duck Ragù with Pappardelle
– Meat Lasagna
– Lady Athena’s Rockin’ Crab Shell Pasta
– Pasta alla Caponata
– Shrimp Fra Diavolo
– Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
– Italian Gnocchi Casserole
– Creamy Tortellini Boscaiola
– Baked Ziti
and for even more pasta recipes 🍝, click on this link… Recipe Category • Pasta & Pizza

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit ➡ https://clubfoody.com/italian-sausage-spinach-ricotta-cannelloni/ 😉

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel 📽 by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube
 

Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe • A Tasty Party Food! | Club Foody

Sometimes, I go on a spree using the same ingredients. For example… After buying a big bag of beets, I made hummus, made ice cream, and also used them as an ingredient for my chocolate cake 🎂. With what was left in the bag, I pickledthe vegetables.
 
I did something similar with my Buffalo Sauce. Besides the wings, I turned this tasty flavor into a Buffalo Chicken Salad. Then I made a Buffalo Mac & Cheese as well as Buffalo Chicken Casserole, plus a Buffalo Pork Pizza 🍕.
 
In today’s episode, I’m sharing another recipe… my Buffalo Chicken Dip! This hors d’oeuvre is perfect for entertaining. It’s among our favorite Super Bowl recipes! With shredded chicken, 3 different types of cheese, creamy ranch dressing, and the obvious… hot sauce, this dip is loaded with deliciousness 😋!
 
It’s super quick to put together. After blending the cheeses together along with hot sauce, the rest of the ingredients are added. From there. The mixture is spooned into a greased baking dish and baked for 20 minutes ⏰. It rests for 10 minutes before serving!
 
One of the cheeses used in this recipe is cream cheese. I recently posted an amazing trick to soften it quickly. It takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes ⏳, depending on how hard it is. This is definitely something you want to know so click here to find out… How to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly
 
Contrary to many people, including my two girlfriends who have used it a few times, I don’t put blue cheese in the dip. Although I love it 💖, I don’t add any because I find it’s way too strong and it overpowers the other ingredients. If you want, go ahead and add it.
 
To blend the cheeses 🧀 and the hot sauce together, I use my stand mixer with the paddle attachment as it does a better job than by hand. After this step, everything is incorporated using a spatula. I make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl for an even mixture.
 
Normally, pimiento peppers are what I use, but when I started filming 🎥, I realized I didn’t have enough for the Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe, so I switched to red bell peppers. Either way works just fine! For the garlic, I prefer fresh over powder or salt.
 
Shredded chicken 🐓 is one of the main components of this dish. Years ago, I showed you an easy way to do it. What you need is either a stand mixer or a very good hand mixer. For more info about poaching and shredding, here’s the link… How to Poach & Shred Chicken the Easy Way
 
There’s ranch dressing going into this dip. Being a true “foody”, I use my homemade recipe. It has more zip plus it’s tastier than the commercial ones! It doesn’t take that much time to make it from scratch, and here’s the link… Zippy Ranch Dressing
 
After the mixture is done, it’s transferred to a 1-quart baking dish, lightly greased, spread out evenly, and baked for 20 minutes. When the time is up, it’ll be scorching hot 🔥 so let it sit to cool off for about 10 minutes before garnishing with green onions and serving.
 
When entertaining or for any sporting event like Super Bowl 🏈 coming up this weekend, this Buffalo Chicken Dip is always a touchdown! Served with bread, crackers, tortilla chips, or veggies, this is the perfect hors d’oeuvre everyone enjoys!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are more tasty party food recipes for you to try… 😀
– Mini Cheesy Sausage Balls
– Croquetas de Jamón • Ham Croquettes
– Holiday Cheese Ball
– Mexican Smoky Corn Dip
– Shrimp Bruschetta
– Baked Greek Pita Wedges
– Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders
– Oven Baked Jalapeño Poppers
– Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
– Sweet Chili Chicken Bites
and for even more hors d’oeuvre recipes 🍣, click on this link… Recipe Category • Hors d’Oeuvres/Antipasto, Canapés/Dips

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit ➡ https://clubfoody.com/buffalo-chicken-dip/ 😉

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel 📽 by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube
 

 

Blueberry Overnight Oats Recipe • Convenient & Tasty | Club Foody

 

Last October, I went to Québec City to help my mother move to a senior residence, located on the South Shore of Montréal. While I was staying at her place, packing, sorting, and cleaning 🧼, one morning, she served me a “make ahead” breakfast item that surprised me…
 
It was simply oats that she prepped ahead of time and stored in individual glass containers. When I asked her where she found that idea, she couldn’t remember. After setting her up in her new place, I flew back 🛫 to Vancouver and made it a few times since.
 
As you know, I like experimenting 🧪 and also enhancing recipes therefore this is exactly what I did with her oats. I turned them from plain into this item… my Blueberry Overnight Oats! Super easy to make, this is the perfect morning dish to prep the night before…
 
I work from home 🏡 and David owns his business so our mornings are not as hectic as most of you may have. However, it doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy the convenience of this breakfast item. I tried a few different ways to prep it and the results were simply delicious!
 
My husband loves his blueberry flavored yogurt and this is why I came up with this Blueberry Overnight Oats recipe. My preferred yogurt is vanilla and I also made it with that flavor… it was so incredibly tasty! I haven’t tried strawberry 🍓, peach, raspberry, or other varieties but I’m sure they will also be fantastic!
 
The commercial yogurt brands with flavors add sweetness to them so there’s no need to add more but if you’re using plain, you’ll have to add some. I recommend honey 🍯 or agave nectar to give that boost of sweetness to the dish.
 
A friend of mine told me that she uses Greek yogurt. Unless I need it for a specific recipe, it’s not an item we regularly have in our fridge. She suggests to add more milk 🥛 than I do in mine to dilute it so the texture is not too thick, plus adding either maple syrup or honey as well as some vanilla extract.
 
One ingredient we both add to our oats is chia seeds…
It helps to thicken the mixture and also adds fiber to your first meal of the day. Chia is a superfood 💚! Besides fiber, it’s packed with antioxidants, protein, omega-3s, and minerals. In addition, it helps with blood sugar control, bone strength, plus supports heart and digestive health so don’t skip them!
 
Everyone knows (I sure hope so) the drill when it comes to “taste and adjust if needed”. Depending on the brand as well as the country, the sodium content 🧂 and sweeteners amount differs so taste before adding anything else to it.
 
After the mixture has been in the refrigerator overnight, there are two, actually three ways to enjoy it. It’s mixed 🥄 before being enjoyed as is with some fresh blueberries on top, or it’s warmed up either in the microwave or on the stovetop…
 
The microwave method is the fastest one. The mixture is cooked in a microwave-safe bowl on “high” in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until warmed through. For the stovetop method, the mixture is warmed up in a small saucepan over medium heat which can take anywhere from 6 to 8 minutes ⏰.
 
This summer, I will certainly eat mine as is straight from the fridge but, right in the middle of winter ⛄, I prefer it warm. Milk and sweetness can be added but I don’t think it needs it. What I like is to top it with fresh blueberries, pomegranate seeds, or nuts.
 
As crazy as mornings can be, don’t panic and simply make this Blueberry Overnight Oats! You can add your favorite flavored yogurt and play with the toppings. Another plus is if you really don’t have time to eat it at home, bring it to work 🏭…
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Here are more scrumptious breakfast recipes for you to try… 😀
– Breakfast Burritos
– Eggs Benny Poutine
– Farmer’s Sausage Skillet
– Chocolate Waffles
– Breakfast Sausage Croissant Casserole
– Buckwheat Pancakes
– Soft Boiled Eggs
– Apple Cinnamon Bread
– Healthy Homemade Granola
and for even more breakfast & brunch recipes 🍳🥞, click on this link… Recipe Category • Breakfast & Brunch

For ingredient amounts, directions, and much more, visit ➡ https://clubfoody.com/blueberry-overnight-oats/ 

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel 📽 by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube