The Set Up

As we all grow older, refining ourselves should be of the utmost importance. Having the ability to properly set a table displays a bit of class, a bit of home-training and finally shows that you actually care about how things visually stimulate your guests. 

Ok so maybe we are reaching on that last one, but for anyone who has ever wondered, just where does the fork go (and with some major holidays sitting right around the corner you may want to figure this out quick) this list should easily help you get your table game up to par.

Happy Eating.

Recipe Of The Day: Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes

This is the type of recipe you wake a loved one up too, on a Sunday or Saturday morning, with some crisp Bacon, fresh fruit and a cup of whatever they like to sip on in the morning, even if it is a Mimosa. This recipe goes a long way as far as giving you energy to start off the day, or even better a full stomach to turn over and go back to sleep for a few more hours, leaving the dishes to someone else hands.

Enjoy your day either which way.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups strawberries, hulled and sliced

2 TBS seedless strawberry jam

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 ¼ cups buttermilk

1 large egg

¼ cup vegetable oil

¼ cup granulated sugar (for a healthier lighter version, use Nectresse™ Sweetener)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

Pinch of Kosher salt

2 cups chopped frozen cheesecake

Cooking spray

Butter, confectioners' sugar or whipped cream, for topping (optional)

Directions:

Mix the strawberries, jam and 2 tablespoons warm water in a bowl; set aside. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.

Pulse the flour, buttermilk, egg, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a blender until smooth.

Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cheesecake pieces, keeping them whole.

Coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.

Working in batches, pour about 1/4 cup batter into the skillet for each pancake. Cook until bubbly on top, about 4 minutes, then flip and cook until the other side is golden brown, about 2 more minutes.

Transfer the finished pancakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Serve the pancakes topped with the strawberry sauce; top with butter, confectioners' sugar or whipped cream, if desired.

Homemade Chocolate Souffles for Valentine's Day

Sometimes going out to dinner doesn’t live up to ones expectations, leaving everyone involved in the affair, pissed off. With Valentine’s Day arriving tomorrow, we hope that everyone has made the proper plans to pull off a fly evening without being bombarded by BS ads to buy flowers and the old school standbyes that people with no style are forced to purchase for their loved ones.

Now back to the matter at hand, ever been to a restaurant and had their chocolate soufflé and thought to yourself “could I do this at home?” Well now you can and if you are the type who takes matters into their own hands, then you will most likely be making dinner at home, followed by an amazing dessert and whatever else you have in mind.

This recipe is one we actually picked up in Culinary School and with a bit of knowhow simplified it down to a recipe that takes not much time at all, leaving you to have plenty of time to really get your Valentine’s Day in action.

Enjoy!

(click read more for the entire recipe)