A Sweet Twist on Toasted Cheese Sandwiches

We received such a variety of products from our CSA shares.  While making my lunch today, I had a craving for a toasted cheese sandwich.  When I looked in my refrigerator, I found items that made me decide on a dessert toasted cheese sandwich:

Sweet Toasted Cheese Sandwich

• 2 slices homemade bread (Lucy's Sweet Surrender NY Rye)*
• 2 Tbsp cream cheese (Mayfield Creamery)*
• 2 Tbsp jam (Humble Pie Baking Company Brandied Cherry Jam)*

Spread cream cheese on one slice of bread.  Spread jam on other slice.  Put together and toast on dark in your toaster oven.  Enjoy!

*CSA ingredients

And For Dessert - Fresh Raspberries

I know this is technically not CSA because we grew them ourselves, but my husband brought me some beautiful fresh raspberries last night.  While we were at the grocery store, I found some beautiful buttermilk biscuits and decided we would have strawberry raspberry shortcakes tonight for dessert.  Then I remembered that I also had a new batch of farm-fresh yogurt.

Strawberry Raspberry Shortcakes with Fresh Yogurt

• 2 Buttermilk biscuits (bakery or your favorite recipe)
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced*
• 1/2 cup farm-fresh plain yogurt*

For one serving, cut one biscuit in half.  Using half of the strawberries and raspberries, put half between the halves.  Put rest of fruit on top of biscuit.  Spoon 1/2 the yogurt over the biscuit and fruit. Makes 2 servings.

*CSA ingredients

March 15: A little quinoa dessert

I have another half gallon of apple cider left over from the last CSA package that I was having trouble using up.  I was also looking for a light fun dessert.  When I was searching the web for a quick light dessert, I ran across a recipe for quinoa pudding on Allrecipes.com.  I adapted the recipe for my rice cooker:

Quinoa Rice Pudding
Adapted from Allrecipes.com

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups apple cider*
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Place all ingredients into bowl of rice cooker.  Choose sprouted rice (or white rice) setting and press Cook.

Makes 12 (1/2-cup) servings

Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 3

*CSA ingredients

Apple Crisp

So, it's funny how I haven't really remembered everything that I have gotten in my CSA packages.  I am assuming that is because I didn't pick up a couple of them personally.  However, in the process of moving, I ran across a bag of spelt granola that I must have received a few weeks back.  Ever since I found that bag, I have been craving apple crisp.  Since John was coming down for the long weekend, I decided that it was a perfect time to use up some of the apples we have received and some of the granola and, of course, some of that 2 lb roll of butter as well.  Here's what I threw together:

Spelt Granola Apple Crisp

Makes 6 servings

• 3 lg apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup lime juice (you can use lemon as well)
• 2 1/2 cups spelt granola
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Pour 1/4 cup lime (or lemon) juice into a large bowl.  Peel, core and slice the apples, tossing them with the lime juice.  Pour this mixture into the crock.  In another medium bowl, combine the granola and sugar.  Sprinkle over apples.  Drizzle with melted butter.  Cook for 5-6 hours on LOW. 

Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 7


I used lime juice because my lemon juice had gone bad.  I actually have been enjoying the smell of the whole crisp cooking.  The lime juice gives it a different smell.  I can't wait to try it when it is done.  We are going to The Melting Pot for dinner, so I am guessing we will have dessert with dinner, but we can pick up some vanilla ice cream on the way home to have with it tomorrow.  I will post a picture when it's ready to serve!