Breakfast Treat - Easy Cream Cheese Danish

I have been having a random craving for cream cheese danishes lately.  I've always liked them, but I've never had a specific craving for them like I am as of late (no, I'm not pregnant.)  Something about the tart cream cheese filling with the buttery pastry is just so yummy to my taste buds lately.  And since I feel like since we only live once, we should enjoy it while we can, and I'm happy to indulge my craving.  And I'm extra happy to have learned how easy it is to make these treats at home.

This was my first time making them, and while I learned a few things that I will do better next time, they still came out good.

Easy Cream Cheese Danish

Yield: 8 danishes     Prep time: 30 minutes   Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed but still cool
  • 8 oz cream cheese at room temp
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs, divided yolks from whites
  • 1/4 cup flour, for rolling

Instructions

1.  The night before: take puff pastry from freezer and let defrost in fridge overnight.

2.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Set aside.

3.  In a medium bowl, place room temperature cream cheese and sugar.  Using a spatula, cream together until smooth.  Add vanilla and 2 egg yolks and stir until just combined.

4.  On a floured surface, unfold one sheet of puff pastry.  With a floured rolling pin, slightly roll it until it is 10x10-inches.  Repeat with second puff pastry sheet.  [My note on this:  Adjust this instruction according to your situation.  You can see from the pictures that this instruction did not apply to me.  My puff pastry came in one big, rectangular sheet, and while I rolled it, I realized afterwards I didn't need to, because it was big enough to get 8 pastries out of (see next step). ]

5.  Cut each puff pastry sheet into 4 equal squares.  Spook a heaping tablespoon of cream cheese filling into the center of each square.

6.  Brush all 4 edges of each pastry with an egg white wash (2 egg whites beaten with 1 tablespoon water.) Fold each corner in to be slightly touching the filling.  Carefully transfer each pastry to the lined baking sheet.

7.  Refrigerate for 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

8.  Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown, rotating pan once halfway through.  Let cool. Enjoy.

 
 

Some additional notes:

  • If you're going to roll the puff pastry, be sure you use enough flour on the counter so it doesn't stick.  I didn't do this well, and I had a terrible time lifting them on to the baking sheet.
  • Try to work quickly once the puff pastry is out of the fridge.  The colder it is, the easier it is to work with.
  • As you can see, your pastries do not need to be squares.  You can customize.
  • When they come out the oven they will be huge, very puffed up.  They will flatten once they cool.
 
cream cheese danish.JPG
 

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

As I've mentioned before, I'm always on the lookout for tasty meals that are simple and quick.  This recipe was very tasty - hubby and toddler both loved it (I did too) - makes great left-overs, and while it took a bit longer to get on the table than I usually like, it's a dish you can actually assemble it the night before, and then just pop it in the oven for dinner the next night.  That's almost just as good as being quick all at once.

And if you like lasagna, I felt like this was much easier/quicker to prepare than traditional lasagna (less layers), just as tasty, and is a good foundation for customization (adding your choice of additional veggies or meats.)  And its a good way to squeeze veggies in your kids' meal without them really noticing (if that's a challenge you face in your house.)
 

Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups Recipe

Serves 8               Prep Time: approx. 30 min          Cook time: 30 min

Ingredients

  • 1  (16oz) package uncooked whole wheat lasagna noodles ( I only used about 12 oz)
  • 1 lb mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided (separate out one cup)
  • 1 (15oz) container ricotta cheese (I used reduced fat)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 cloves minced garlic (these are great to keep on hand in your freezer. I just nuked 2 cubes for 30 seconds at 50%)
  • 2 Tbsp dried parsley flakes
  • 1 Tbsp dried basil
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 (10oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry
  • 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 2 (28oz) jars marinara sauce ( I went light on the sauce, we didn't use as much as this)
  • (Optional) 1 to 2 cooked chicken breasts shredded, or cooked Italian sausage, removed from it's casing (we just had grilled sausage on the side, because hubby always needs meat)
spinach lasagna

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Cook lasagna noodles for 5-8 minutes, or until just slightly underdone; drain and rinse. Coat with a bit of olive oil and lay noodles flat on a cookie sheet.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together mozzarella cheese (reserve 1 cup), ricotta cheese, egg, garlic, parsley, basil, pepper, salt, spinach, chicken (optional) and 1 cup Parmesan cheese (and anything else you want to add.)
  3. Spread a thin layer of sauce on bottom of 9x13 pan (or 2 8x8)
  4. Lay out a noodle on cookies sheet. Spread a layer of the cheese mixture on the noodle (I used a generous heaping scoop with a standard soup spoon per noodle), then add a layer of sauce (one cookie dough scoop of sauce).  [Note: I cut each noodle in half so it wasn't as long, and I think it was perfect that way.  With the full scoop of filling, the noodle wrapped around with about an inch overlap.]
  5. Roll the noodle up, and place seam side down in pan. Repeat for other noodles.
  6. Top entire casserole with remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella and remaining Parmesan.
  7. Bake in preheated oven 350 for 30 min, or until hot and bubbly. Cover if it starts to get too brown

Enjoy!

To print this recipe, or download to your Pepperplate account, click here.
 

IG Recap - Looking Back

I think most people look forward on Monday (not to be confused with looking forward TO Monday, which I think is rare).  I just mean most people probably look at Monday as the beginning of a new week and everything that is to come in the week to follow.  I do look that way as well, but I'm usually in a bit of mourning on Monday for the weekend that has ended, so I like to look back and take a glance at the week that has past before I really move on and it becomes a distant memory.

If you don't follow me on Instagram, here's a recap of last week.
 

Clockwise from top Left:  Neutrals work outfit of the day; admiring how pretty this month's Birchbox is; layered look of the day, dress over a skirt with belt; my evening walking buddy in his warm-up jacket (check back with me in 18 years and w…

Clockwise from top Left:  Neutrals work outfit of the day; admiring how pretty this month's Birchbox is; layered look of the day, dress over a skirt with belt; my evening walking buddy in his warm-up jacket (check back with me in 18 years and we'll see if there is some foreshadowing going on here.) ;)
 

 
Clockwise from top left: is it still healthy if you cover it in crispy fried onions?; one of my favorite vests, over a jersey dress; heaven in my mouth Susie Cakes lemon cupcake (weekend treat); casual Friday with dress as top, cargos cuffed, stilet…

Clockwise from top left: is it still healthy if you cover it in crispy fried onions?; one of my favorite vests, over a jersey dress; heaven in my mouth Susie Cakes lemon cupcake (weekend treat); casual Friday with dress as top, cargos cuffed, stilettos and new FashionABLE necklace.
 

Thankful Thursday

Image borrowed from Daily Cup of Couture, via Pinterest

Image borrowed from Daily Cup of Couture, via Pinterest

I have to confess, sometimes (ok, a lot of the time) I have to consciously remind myself to be thankful for all I have.  It's so easy to get mentally consumed with the "wants" and "needs" and take for granted everything we already have.  I know I'm not alone with this; in fact I think our consumer/materialistic/celebrity-obsessed society perpetuates this mentality of never being satisfied with what you have.  Especially in this town.

On the one hand, striving for more can be a good thing: it's a motivator for improving ourselves and our conditions.  But if we let that be our sole focus, we miss out on appreciating and enjoying all that we really do have (and if you're reading this, you have a lot. It's all perspective.)  So I'm going to try to continue to increase my awareness of all the things I do have, and be consciously appreciative of them.  They may seem silly or hardly worth the mention, but that's exactly the point.  So many people have so little. We are so blessed to have whatever we do have.

I encourage you to do the same in your life.  It will make you happier.

Three Things I'm Thankful For Today:

1.    That I live in a dog-friendly neighborhood that is safe to walk my dog and toddler in every morning.

shady sidewalk
 

2.    That I can treat myself, when I want to, to yummy pastries. (I may have to try this recipe.)

Image borrowed from love, pomegranate house 

Image borrowed from love, pomegranate house
 

 

3.  That I can start every day off with 5 minutes to myself in a hot shower.  (I would stand in there longer if I could, but we're in a drought and my toddler awaits.  What I get is good enough.)
 

hot shower.jpg

What little things in life are you thankful for?
 

Dear IRS, I would like to cancel my subscription

I hope you're one of those people who got your taxes done early, and are getting a refund. I, unfortunately, am not one of those people.  I start my taxes early, then always seem to wait until the last minute to mail them in.  Though I don't wait as long when I'm getting a refund. This year is the first in many that we actually owe (and, annoyingly, a significant amount).  But for those of you who will be getting a bit back, some merchants are offering extra discounts to help you stretch that dollar and enjoy your money back.  For the rest of us, at least this way we won't feel so guilty when we spend what little money we have left. ;)

  • Boston Market: buy one meal get a second free today.
  • McDonalds: Big Macs and Quarter Pounders are buy one, get one for $0.01 at select locations today.
  • Olive Garden: A buy one, take one deal gets customers two entrĂ©es from a select menu starting at just $12.99. Or you can claim a coupon good for $6 off a dinner for two here.
  • Alloy: Use this RetailMeNot-exclusive code for 15-30% off purchase through April 30: AVDRMN.
  • Ann Taylor: Today only, use GET40 to save 40% on your entire order.  Get 25% off full-priced items with the coupon code ANNT3BE, good through April 30.
  • Babies'R'Us:  Use this coupon to get $8 off Pampers or Huggies value boxes of diapers, valid through April 30.
  • Carter's:  Get 25 percent off purchases of $40 and up with code OKSP1514.
  • Express: Use coupon code 9068 online or this coupon in store to get 15 percent off through April 30.
  • Gap: Shoppers will get $25 of GapCash for every $50 spent through April 26 that can be redeemed May 13 through May 17.

For a more complete list, click here.