New York Cheesecake Cookies

Ingredients:    Serves 12

1 1⁄4 cup graham crackers, finely crushed (1 sleeve)

1 cup flour

1 1⁄2 tsp baking powder

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened

1⁄2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 egg, separated

3 oz cream cheese, softened

1⁄4 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp lemon zest

1⁄2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, flour and baking powder. In a medium bowl, beat together the butter with the brown sugar using an electric hand mixer. Add the egg white and beat until well combined. Add to the graham cracker crumbs and blend until just combined.

In a separate medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese with the granulated sugar, egg yolk, lemon zest and vanilla until well combined. Set aside.

Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop out the cookie dough and place on a nonstick or parchment lined baking sheet. (If you do not have an ice scoop, then measure out the dough into scoops of about 2 tablespoons.) Flatten slightly, pressing your thumb in the center of the ball to create a small bowl shape. Repeat with the remaining dough. Spoon the cream cheese into the indents in the cookies.

Bake until the filling is barely set and the cookies are lightly golden, 12 minutes. Allow to cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets before removing them and cooling completely on a wire rack.

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:    Serves 4
2 bananas, broken into chunks

2 cup milk

1⁄2 cup peanut butter

2 tbsp honey, or to taste

2 cup ice cubes

Directions:
  Place Banana's, Milk, Peanut Butter, Honey & Ice Cubes In A Blender. Blend Until Smooth/About 30 Seconds.

Caprese Garlic Bread

Caprese Garlic Bread


Yield: Serves 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes



Garlic bread with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic! The best garlic bread you will ever eat!
ingredients:


1 loaf ciabatta bread, horizontally cut in half
4 tablespoons salted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 medium tomatoes, sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place both sides of the baguette on a large baking sheet with the cut side up.

2. In a small bowl, combine butter and garlic and spread evenly on bread halves. Place the mozzarella cheese slices on top of the bread, making sure the cheese covers the bread completely. Bake the bread for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

3. While the bread is in the oven, make the balsamic reduction. Place the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring the vinegar to a boil, decrease the heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is reduced by about half. This should only take about 5-7 minutes. Set aside.

4. Remove the bread from oven. Top the bread with tomato slices. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the fresh basil and drizzle with balsamic reduction. Cut into slices and serve.

Buffalo Chicken Burger

Buffalo Chicken Burger


Ingredients:

Chicken Burger:

1 lb of ground chicken
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 egg
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
Salt
Fresh cracked pepper
1 tsp minced fresh dill weed
1 tsp minced fresh parsley
2 tbs oil for cooking

Sandwich:

Burger buns
Chicken Burgers
Buffalo sauce
Ranch Dressing
Blue cheese crumbles
Tomato slices
Chopped green onion
Sliced Mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

Chicken Burgers:

Preheat the pan and the oil on medium heat. Combine the ingredients for the chicken burgers in a mixing bowl and mix well. Scoop out the meat mixture (as big as you want the burgers) and form patties with your hands. Cook the chicken burgers, on medium heat, for about 10 minutes of each side.
When the chicken burgers are fully cooked, pour some buffalo sauce in the pan and and cook the burgers in the sauce for about a minute on each side.
To assemble the sandwiches: spread some ranch dressing on the bottom bun, add some blue cheese crumbles and tomato slices. Add the buffalo chicken burger and top it off with some green onion and Mozzarella cheese slices.

GRILLED MARGHERITA SANDWICHES

GRILLED MARGHERITA SANDWICHES


Ingredients

4 (1/2-inch) slices crusty Italian bread
1 large garlic clove, quartered
4 to 6 thin slices whole-milk mozzarella cheese (about 3 oz.)
1 large plum tomato, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic-pepper seasoning
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil


Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: about 10 minutes Level: easy Makess: 2 sandwiches
4 (1/2-inch) slices crusty Italian bread
1 large garlic clove, quartered
4 to 6 thin slices whole-milk mozzarella cheese (about 3 oz.)
1 large plum tomato, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic-pepper seasoning
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Rub both sides of each bread slice with garlic. Place 2 slices on work surface; top each with one-fourth of the cheese and half of the tomato and basil. Sprinkle each with 1/8 teaspoon of the seasoning; top with remaining cheese and bread slices.

Brush tops of sandwiches with some of the oil; sprinkle with some of the seasoning. Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in large skillet over medium heat until hot. Place sandwiches, brushed-sides down, in skillet; cover and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until golden brown and cheese on bottom of sandwich begins to melt.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Brush tops of sandwiches with remaining oil; sprinkle with remaining seasoning. Turn; cover and cook 2 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted.

Glow-in-the Dark Aurora Borealis Cocktail

Glow-in-the Dark Aurora Borealis Cocktail


Throwing a meteor shower party? This glow-in-the-dark cocktail created by Campus Companion Party Lab would add the perfect touch! Aptly named Aurora, the drink glows under a black light and looks similar to the Northern Lights, only in your very own glass!

Here are the ingredients:

2 liters Gin or Vodka
9 Liters Tonic Water
3-4 Bottles Roses Mojito Passion, OR 3-4 Canisters of Pink-Lemonade Concentrate
Ice

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together shortly before the party begins.
Add ice as late as possible before drinking.

Caprese Pesto Panini Sandwich

Prep Time: 5 minutes          Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes        Yield: 2 sandwiches

Serving Size: 2 big sandwiches




Ingredients:

2 - 8 oz Ciabatta Bread, sliced in half
2 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced, reduced fat
8 slices tomato
1 tbsp. balsamic dressing, fat free

***Pesto Dressing***

1 bunch basil leaves
1 clove garlic
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp parmesan Cheese
1/4 greek yogurt, plain, fat free
1 tbsp. mayonnaise, reduced fat

Instructions:

In a mini food processor add garlic, basil leaves, olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Process until broken up.
In a small bowl add yogurt and mayonnaise. Add the basil mixture. Mix until combined. Salt & pepper to taste.
Make the sandwich. Cut Ciabatta bread in half. On the bottom layer, add balsamic dressing, than tomatoes, cheese and on the top piece add the Pesto Dressing, about 2 Tablespoons per sandwich.
Add sandwich to a Panini Maker, grill or skillet. Cook until the cheese is melted.

Notes:

Calories per sandwich: 342.6, Fat: 4.6, Cholesterol: 10, Sodium: 884, Potassium: 131, Carbs: 57, Fiber: 2.6, Sugar: 3.5, Protein: 16.2

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Peanut Butter Cheesecake


Prep Time: 5 Minutes            Yield: 8 Cheesecakes

Cook Time: 22 Minutes          Serving Size: 1 Cheesecake

Total Time: 24 Minutes


Ingredients:

6 oz fat cream cheese, at room temperature
3 packets of Stevia or 1/4 cup Sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg, at room temperature or egg substitute
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
pinch of salt
8 reduced fat vanilla wafers
3Tbsp. peanut butter
1 Tbsp.milk, non-fat

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 275
Line a standard muffin tin with 8 muffin foil liners and lightly spray with cooking spray.
In a small bowl add cream cheese and stevia and beat until creamy. Add vanilla extract, egg and salt, beat until combined. Beat in yogurt and 2 heaping tablespoons of peanut butter.
Place a vanilla wafer on the bottom of each muffin liner and top with cheesecake batter.
In a small bowl add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of milk. Mix until combined.
Drop peanut butter mixture evenly on top of each cheesecake, with a knife swirl over the top.
Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until filling is set, 22-24 minutes.
Let cool on a wire rack. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or up to overnight, before serving.

Notes:
Calories per Cake: 76.5, Fat: 2.6, Cholesterol: 3.8, Sodium: 151, Potassium: 66, Carbs: 6.1, Fiber: .04, Sugar: 2.7, Protein: 5.7

Chocolate Peanut Butter Frappe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Frappe



Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups coffee, frozen (slightly thawed)
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 coconut milk, unsweetened
11/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. PB2 Powder
1 tbsp + 1 tsp.unsweetened cocoa powder
2 packet stevia or 2 tbsp. sugar (to taste)
1 pinch Xantham Gum (optional)
2 Tbsp. Whip Cream, fat free

Instructions:

In a blender add coffee, milk, coconut milk, vanilla extract, PB2 Powder, cocoa powder, stevia and Xantham Gum. Blend until combined.
Top with 2 Tbsp. whip cream

Notes:

Calories for the whole drink including whip cream: 118.3, fat: 3.4, Cholesterol: 2.5, Sodium: 196, Potassium: 0, Carbs: 16.2, Fiber: 4.7, Sugar: 8.2, Protein: 9.7

Pumpkin and Cream Frappe

Pumpkin and Cream Frappe


Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 Tbsp. pumpkin, canned (not pumpkin pie)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. pumpkin spice, ground1 tsp. stevia
5 ice cubes
2 tbsp. whip cream, fat free
1 dash cinnamon, ground

Directions:

In a blender add coconut milk, pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin spice, stevia and ice cubes. Blend until smooth.

Pour into a glass and top with whip cream and sprinkle of cinnamon.

Makes 2 cups

Calories including whip cream: 70.6, Fat: 5.1, Sodium: 16, Potassium: 68, Carbs: 4.4, Fiber: 1.2, Sugar: 2.2, Protein: 1.5