Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bundt Cake

 

Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bundt Cake! This moist and creamy pound cake is infused with the richness of cream cheese and the freshness of diced strawberries. The vibrant red strawberry glaze adds a fruity finish that will make your taste buds dance with joy. Perfect for any occasion, this cake is not just a dessert; it's an experience! 🍓🍰

Enjoy baking and savoring this delicious creation! 😊

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs
• 8 oz reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 ½ cups bleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
• 13.5 oz Marinetti glaze for strawberries, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan thoroughly. (See temperature adjustment for convection oven)

2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add softened butter and sugar, then beat until creamy and fluffy.

3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

5. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until combined.

6. Carefully fold in diced fresh strawberries, being gentle to avoid breaking them.

7. Pour half the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Drop a spoonful of half the Marinetti strawberry glaze over the batter, then pour the remaining batter on top.

8. Using a knife or skewer, gently swirl the glaze through the batter to create a marbled effect.

9. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

10. Allow cake to cool completely in the bundt pan, about 30-45 minutes.

11. Carefully remove the cake from the pan and place it on a serving plate.

12. Warm the remaining Marinetti strawberry glaze slightly (microwave for 10-15 seconds if needed).

14. Drizzle the strawberry glaze evenly over the cooled cake.

15. Serve as is or with additional fresh strawberries, if desired.

Special Note

When using a convection oven, you typically reduce the temperature by about 25°F compared to a regular oven. For the Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirl Bundt Cake, which is baked at 325°F in a regular oven, you should set your convection oven to 300°F. This adjustment helps ensure even baking and prevents the cake from drying out. Happy baking! 😊🍰

Tandoori Garbanzo Bean Potato Salad

Get ready for a flavor explosion with this Tandoori Garbanzo Bean Potato Salad! 🥔🌿 It's got a tangy mix of Tandoori spices, potatoes, and garbanzo beans, all jazzed up with fresh mint and parsley. Perfect for serving with chicken, steak, pork ribs, or seafood. It’s quick to make, taking just 30 minutes to prep and 5 minutes to cook. This salad is a tasty and elegant side dish that’ll make your meal shine! 😋

Servings: 6 - 8 Cook time: 5 minutes      Prep time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 pounds medium red-skinned potatoes (about 5), peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 hard-boiled eggs, diced
• ½ cup red onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves of  garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon celery seeds
• 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (hold a little for garnish)
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped mint (hold a little to combine with parsley for garnish)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes for garnish

Dressing

• 2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons hot mustard
• 2 tablespoons Agave Nectar
• 4 tablespoons Tandoori Spice Seasoning  (see note)

Note: How to make Tandoori Spice seasoning

(2) Teaspoons of each combine together, and you may store them in a plastic container to use on meats as well.

1. Paprika
2. Cumin
3. Coriander
4. Sea Salt
5. Cinnamon
6. Black Pepper
7. Ground Ginger
8. Nutmeg
9. Cayenne pepper
10. Curry powder

 Directions

1. Cook the potatoes in a large pan of boiling salt water for 5 minutes, or until just tender (pierce potatoes with a small sharp knife, if it comes away easily, the potatoes are ready). Drain and cool completely.

2. In a medium bowl, make dressing: combine rice vinegar, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and mustard. Mix well, then add agave nectar and tandoori spice seasoning. Blend and set aside.

3. Once the potatoes have cooled, place them in a large bowl and add garbanzo beans, red onions, garlic, celery seeds, diced eggs, fresh parsley, and mint, reserving a little for garnishing. Let it stand for about 5 minutes.

4. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to combine, without breaking the potatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with red pepper flakes, parsley, and mint. Refrigerate until ready to serve.  

Cafe Meat Loaf Creation

 About This Recipe

The Café Meat Loaf is a delightful culinary creation that promises to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more. Imagine a symphony of flavors where ground beef, pork, and veal come together in perfect harmony, accompanied by the vibrant notes of fresh onions, celery, carrots, and bell peppers. The garlic and seasoned breadcrumbs add a depth of flavor that makes each bite a savory adventure.

But the real magic happens with the topping! A sweet and savory mix of ketchup, brown sugar, and bacon slices creates a mouthwatering finish that will have you coming back for seconds. Whether you're serving it for a family dinner or a special occasion, this Café Meat Loaf is sure to impress and bring smiles to everyone's faces. So, get ready to enjoy the comforting and delicious taste of my Café Creation!  😊

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef

• 1 lb. ground pork

• 1 lb. ground veal

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped

• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped

• 2 medium carrots, finely chopped

• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 large egg, beaten

• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained

• 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

• 5 slices of bacon

• 1/2 cup ketchup

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, pork, and veal.
3. Add chopped onion, celery, carrots, red, green, and yellow bell peppers, and minced garlic to the meat mixture.
4. Mix in the beaten egg, drained diced tomatoes, and seasoned breadcrumbs until well combined.
5. Form the mixture into a loaf shape and place it in a loaf pan or on a lined baking sheet.
6. In a small bowl, mix ketchup and brown sugar to create the topping glaze.
7. Brush half of the glaze evenly over the meat loaf.
8. Lay the 5 slices of bacon over the top of the loaf, slightly overlapping.
9. Brush the remaining glaze over the bacon.

10.   Bake for 1 hour, or until the meat loaf reaches an internal temperature of  160°F.

11. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Served with your favorite veggie and roasted or mashed potatoes.