Mini Pesto Pizzas

2 plum tomatoes
30 gm Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/4 cup walnuts
1 pkg refrigerated pizza crust
1/3 cup prepared VE Pesto Herb
125 gm grated mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 425F.
2. Slice tomatoes; set aside.
3. Coarsely chop walnuts. Combine walnuts and Parmesan cheese in small bowl; mix well.
4. Place dough on to cutting board (DO NOT unroll dough). Slice dough into 1/2 inch pieces using Utility Knife (should make about 15). Place disks onto lightly greased cookie sheet, slightly flatten and seal seams.
5. Spread 1 tsp pesto over each crust. Top with mozzarella cheese, tomato, and Parmesan mixture.
6. Bake 12-15 minutes or until crusts are golden brown.

Great Mini Cheesecakes

Serves 12

4 Shortcake Biscuits, crushed or little round nillas, crushed
1 pkg. (250 g) Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese Spread
1 cup low-fat Cottage Cheese, pureed with a hand blender
3 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp VE Vanilla
1/4 cup light sour cream
1 tsp cornstarch
1 egg
2 Tbsp your favorite VE Fruit dip (VE Summer Berry, VE Maple Spice, or VE Lemon Chiffon)

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Sprinkle biscuit crumbs evenly onto bottoms of a paper-lined mini cheesecake pan; set aside. 3. Beat cream cheese, cottage cheese, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer
until well blended.
4. Add sour cream and cornstarch; mix well.
5. Add egg; beat just until blended.
6. Add your VE Fruit dip flavor and mix. Spoon evenly into prepared muffin cups.
7. Bake for 30 min or until centres are almost set. Cool completely.
8. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. Remove cheesecakes from cups just before serving.

Jazz It Up according to your choice of fruit dip:
VE Summer Berry - fresh berries
VE Maple spice - Walnuts and drizzled maple syrup
VE Lemon Chiffon - Citrus Zest

Or try tropical fruit - Pineapple, kiwi, starfruit juice might cause problems with setting so do not put it on until right before you serve it.

Or try omitting the VE Fruit Dip and just use VE Vanilla and add crushed Oreo cookies to it and then bake as per instructions.

Kris Kringle Cookies

Yields about 6 dozen cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 eggs
1 tsp VE Vanilla

2 cups of flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups White Chocolate
2 cups VE Cherries and Berries (chop larger pieces)
2 cups of chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. In a large bowl cream together butter, white sugar and brown sugar, with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs and VE Vanilla; beat until well blended.
4. Add flour and baking soda; mix well.
5. Stir in white chocolate, VE Cherries and Berries and chopped nuts.
6. Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
7. Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 3 minutes then remove from baking sheets. Cool completely on wire racks.

Blueberry Dumplings with Lemon Chiffon Fruit Dip

Thanks to Mary K. for this great new recipe!

The Sauce:
1 1/2 cups Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1/3 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp VE Lemon Chiffon Fruit Dip Mix
1 cup water

1. Place these ingredients in a medium to large pot (dutch oven works great) and bring to a boil then simmer.

The Dumplings:
1 cup flour
2 tsp VE Baking Powder
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp VE Lemon Chiffon Fruit Dip Mix
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup milk (if you have Buttermilk use it as it makes all your baking taste rich & moist, but it is only 1% fat)

1. Mix the first 5 ingredients together with a large VE Whisk. Then cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two knives.
2. Pour milk in the middle of the mixture, and gently fold. Stir only until four is dampened.
3. Drop batter by large spoonfuls into the sauce. Place lid on your pot and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat & let cool (with the lid on) for 10 minutes.

Note: This is really great with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipping cream!

Chocolate Cheese Ball

1 (250gm) pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup butter (NOT margarine)
1/2 tsp VE Vanilla
3/4 cup icing sugar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup VE White Belgian Chocolate
1/4 cup VE Milk Chocolate
1/4 cup pecans or walnuts

1. Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
2. Gradually add in VE Vanilla, icing sugar and brown sugar
3. Stir in VE White Belgian Chocolate, VE Milk Chocolate and nuts.
4. Form into a ball, if too soft you may refrigerate for 30 minutes then form into a ball
5. Once formed into ball wrap in plastic food wrap and chill for at least 2hrs before serving.
6. Serve with chocolate wafers.
7. May be frozen for future use.

Option: Add 1 Tbsp VE pure Cocoa to mixture to make it extra chocolatey or dust cheese ball with VE Pure Cocoa.

Apple Cheese Ball

1/2 pkg (250 gm) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp VE Red Pepper Jelly (or 1 Tbsp Port Wine)
2 tsp VE Sun-dried Tomato and Herb Dip Mix
Paprika
1 small piece of VE Cinnamon Stick
1 bay leaf

1. Combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Red pepper jelly and Dip Mix.
2. Form into a ball.
3. Wrap in plastic food wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
4. Remove from plastic and sprinkle, or roll in, paprika to coat.
5. Add piece of VE Cinnamon Stick and bay leaf at the top of ball to make it look like an apple.
6. Serve with crackers.

BBQ Sauce with a BITE!

by tmleaver

1 cup ketchup
3/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup honey
2 1/2 Tbsp VE Louisiana Hot & Spicy dip mix
3 Tbsp VE Southwest Fajita
3 Tbsp mustard (any will do)
3 heaping tsp VE Chili Chipotle Powder
2 Tbsp VE Caliente Salsa Mix
1 Tbsp ground pepper

1. Mix all ingredients together and place in covered container.
2. Refrigerate for 2 days to allow time for the flavors to meld.
3. You may add more VE Chili Chipotle Powder and VE Caliente Salsa Mix to add more heat.

Quick Caesar Dressing

1 Tbsp VE Balsamic Vinegar
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp VE Caesar Dressing Mix (add more to taste)

Mix all ingredients together then pour over salad.

Low Fat Pesto Alfredo Sauce

A quick and easy supper that tastes great!

1 can of Fat Free Carnation Evaporated Milk
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp VE Pesto Artichoke Dip Mix
1 Tbsp VE Caesar Dressing Mix
Parmesan Cheese
Pasta, cooked

1. Melt butter and slowly add milk.
2. When well blended add VE Dip Mixes and Cheese.
3. Allow to simmer until thickened.
4. Add to cooked pasta and serve hot.

Toffee Maple Fruit Dip

A great fruit dip or topping for ice cream.

1 Tbsp VE Maple Spice Dip Mix
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 tsp VE Vanilla
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 cup Skor toffee bits

Mix ingredients together and place in fridge overnight to allow flavors to meld together.

Greek Chicken and Potatoes

I found this recipe and thought that I would share it with you.

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
2 cups potatoes , cubed
3 cloves garlic , minced
1 chicken bouillon cube dissolved in 3/8 cup water
Salt and pepper, to taste
---------------------
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed ( 1 large lemon)
1 Tbsp VE Greek Seasoning

*For a super tasty dish marinade the meat over night in the lemon juice , olive oil & VE Greek Seasoning.

1. Preheat oven to 400F
2. Toss chicken, potatoes and garlic into baking dish.
3. Season with salt & pepper
4. Mix water and chicken bouillon together and pour over chicken.
5. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice & VE Greek Seasoning. Pour over chicken & potatoes
6. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, ensuring to baste frequently during cooking.

Tip: Cook potatoes in microwave for about 3-4 minutes before adding to baking dish

Option: you can substitute pork tenderloin for the chicken