Lemon-Strawberry Cheesecake Cookie Squares

A cookie base holds a sweet-tangy cheese cake filling.

 

Wow! That's a long name for a recipe. But it really isn't quite a "cheese cake" in the traditional sense. This is the kind of thing sophisticated morsel you'd make if you were having a "tea" or going shopping and having some friends over afterwards. Or the perfect way to end a simple, summer meal on the back porch. In other words, it's a kind of light dessert as opposed to a huge chunk of chocolate cake. And it's perfect for spring or summer. Use the freshest and tastiest strawberries you can find. I think blueberries would be just swell, too--maybe even better!

• 1 cup Vanilla Wafer crumbs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup cold butter
• 1, 8 ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
• 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup chopped, fresh strawberries
• 2 large lemons

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Spray an 8 x 8 baking pan. (This is important so the squares will remove easily when cut.)

Mix the flour in with the cookie crumbs. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until crumbly. Pat and press into the bottom of the pan. Bake for ten minutes. Remove.

In a medium bowl beat the sugar and cream cheese until well-blended. Add eggs, one at a time. Add the flour, baking powder, lemon zest, lemon juice. Blend well. Be careful not to over beat the mixture or the cheesecake layer will split when baking.

Carefully stir in the strawberries.

Pour onto the warm crust and bake for 25-30 minutes or just until the center is set. Remove. Allow to cool and then refrigerate.

Notes: I think melted butter would have worked just as well instead of cold butter and have been easier. Next time, I will add a layer of whipped cream to the top or serve with a dollop on top. Call me crazy, but I think layer of melted chocolate on top would by awesome, I think. To cut, dip a sharp knife in water to create clean slices. Use a micro-plane to make easy work of zesting your lemons. I think it would be interesting (and maybe cheaper) to use animal crackers instead of vanilla wafers--just saying . . .

Peach Spoon-Cake

Add a few sliced peaches on the side if desired. A plop of whipped cream is good, too!

Living in the South, I have access to some of the best peaches in the country.
But I still dream of Red Havens from Michigan!

Peaches and almond flavoring go well together. So does a few "drops"
of bourbon/whiskey wink-wink. Just don't overpower the peaches..

Sometimes I'm at a loss what to name a recipe. Recipes such as this are now called "cobblers." But, traditionally, a cobbler is a large quantity of baked fruit with spoonfuls of a biscuit-like dough randomly placed on top. This uses a thin pancake-like batter rather than a dough and the order is reversed: the fruit is spooned on top. But then it sinks to the bottom. The end result is a kind of an "upside-down cake" without being turned upside down. Does that make sense?

Whatever one names it, the consensus is in the taste. My neighbor recently voted it "five oinks." The edges become chewy like a brownie and the cake-like interior with the fresh peaches and the flaky cinnamon top is the stuff dessert heavens are made of. Since you spoon in the peaches, I'm calling it a peach "spoon cake."

It's important to cook your peaches until a kind of thick syrup is reached. If your syrup is too runny, your cake may not rise as well. You'll be tempted to dig into this as soon as it leaves the oven. Don't. Allow to cool a bit. Honestly, it's even better the next day, if there's any left.

If peaches were flowers, they'd look something like these on my back porch. Nothing says summer
like the unfortunately-named black-eyed Susans. Unless it's biting into a ripened peach.

Peaches:
4-5 fresh, firm peaches
2-4 tablespoons brown sugar, packed--light or dark brown
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional but recommended)

1 tablespoon or so of bourbon/whiskey (optional)

Batter:
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Several grates of fresh nutmeg

Topping:
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Assembly:
1, 2-quart baking dish (10 x 7 x 2)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick or 8 tablespoons or 4 oz.) salted is fine

To slice the peaches: Using a sharp paring knife, slice all around the peach and then across its equator so it's cut into quarters. Pull the quarters away from the pit and slice each quarter in half and then just peel with the knife. If peaches are "cling-free" it's a pretty easy process.

Place slices in a small bowl. Sprinkle with the brown sugar Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day the peaches will have made a lovely syrup. You should have about 1 - 1.5 cups of peaches (around 16 ounces).

Preheat oven to 400 F. Have your batter ingredients measured and ready to go.

Place peaches in a small pan and bring to a slow boil over medium heat adding about 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Cook until juices thicken to a kind of syrup. Remove from heat. (Note: if your peaches are very ripe and soft, remove from the bowl with a slotted spoon and just cook the juice until it turns into a lovely syrup. Add the peaches back into the syrup just until heated through.)

Place butter in baking dish and place in oven to melt. You want the dish hot, so don't skip this step.

Prepare the batter. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl whisking until smooth.

Remove dish from oven and immediately pour in the batter. The melted butter will be displaced and seek the edges. Don't worry. Now, using a slotted spoon, strategically and gently place the hot peaches evenly over the batter. You won't use all the syrupy juice, but don't throw it out ... use to drizzle over portions of cut cake when served, if desired.

Sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mixture. Return to oven.

Bake for 25 minutes. The top will have crusted over.

Allow to cool to at least "warm" before cutting and serving. 

Notes: This is a sweet cobbler. You could sub Splenda for some of the sugar. I also like for the butter just to begin to brown a tad for the extra flavor before adding the batter.

The corner and edge pieces are my favorite!

If you enjoy this recipe, add a comment. I love to hear from readers!

Cube Steak Neapolitan/Cube Steak Parmesan

Inexpensive and impressive. Did I say great tasting? Here, the humble cube steak
is garnished with savory tomato sauce, fresh basil, and a mixture of cheeses
to become the star of the show. 

Cube steak, sometimes known as "minute steak," is usually a tough part of beef round that has been run through a mechanical tenderizer. "Cube" refers to the square indentations left in the meat from the tenderizer. It is, indeed, a humble piece of meat literally put through the ringer.

Cube steaks are inexpensive. Traditionally, they are coated in flour then dipped in an egg wash, coated with crushed saltine cracker crumbs, and flash fried. It is served with a milk gravy made from the drippings and called "chicken-fried steak."

They are easily stuffed with spinach and cheese, rolled, and then wrapped in bacon and grilled. 

But my favorite way to prepare them is in the American-Italian fashion of tomato sauce and cheese. Cube steaks come in an array of sizes and shapes. I look for ones the size of a serving portion. The three pictured here were a total of one-half pound and cost $2.47. A real bargain. (Update: 2023 and the price has increased, but they are still inexpensive compared to other cuts of beef).

The recipe below is meant to be more of a guideline. It's the kind of recipe you make up as you go. "Neapolitan" refers to the "layers" of ingredients. Use pasta/marinara sauce you prefer or make your own. I also used a combo of pre-packaged, shredded mozzarella and Provolone cheese. I use canned Parmesan-Romano cheese from Kraft in the bread-crumb mixture. I purchased the cheeses and sauce both on sale. I grow my own basil--you should, too! 

Use "sandwich" pepperoni which most delis will have on hand and slice for you. You want it thin. Thin-sliced Genoa salami will also work. Here's a great trick: Flash fry the salami or pepperoni in a hot oil-less, non-stick skillet. It will only take a minute or so per side for it to become wonderfully crisp and flavorful as bacon. Remove to a paper towel until ready to use. Be forewarned, if you have never done this, you will most likely devour it, so have plenty of hand It's your call.

Avoid "pizza" pepperoni which is too thick, greasy, and filled with preservatives.

After frying your cube steaks, you could also fry up some colored peppers and onions until soft to top the beef. Again, it's your call.

This meal is worthy of guests and easily prepared ahead of time. Arranged on a nice platter accompanied by a bowl of cheesy/garlicky pasta with extra marinara sauce, and a nice side salad, you can't go wrong. For dessert, I suggest something "lemony."

• 3 cube steaks, total 1/2 pound
• 2/3 - 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 -1/3 cup grated Parmesan from a can
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, freshly crushed (don't omit)
• Garlic powder
• Cayenne pepper--a few shakes (optional)
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• All-purpose flour
• 6 fresh basil leaves
• 3/4 cup marinara sauce
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or three slices)
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 3-6 thin-sliced pieces sandwich pepperoni or Genoa salami (see notes above)
• Optional: fried peppers/onions

On a plate, mix together the bread crumbs, pepper, freshly-ground fennel seeds, canned Parmesan cheese and sprinkle or two of garlic powder and, if using, Cayenne pepper. Season the cutlets with a bit of garlic powder then dip in flour on both sides and shake off excess. (I didn't use any salt since the cheeses and sauce have plenty already.)

Dip each cutlet into the beaten eggs and then coat with bread-crumb mixture. Allow to sit for about 10 minutes.

Heat a frying pan with enough oil to not quite cover the cutlets. When hot, add cutlets and brown on each side over medium heat. This won't take long. They don't have to cook all the way through since they will also be baking in the oven. Remove to paper towel to drain and then place in a single layer on a baking dish. 

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes. Remove. If using, top with pepperoni or salami and a bit of your pepper/onion mix. Spoon 3-4 tablespoons marinara sauce over each cutlet. Return to oven and bake another 10 minutes. Remove. 

The humble cube steak all dressed up!

Stack the basil leaves one on top of the other. Now roll them like a tiny cigar. Cut into thin shreds or ribbons (chiffonade). Sprinkle evenly over each cutlet. Cover each one with mozzarella and then the freshly-ground Parmesan. Return to oven to bake just until cheese melts, about a good five minutes. 

Remove. Allow to sit for a bit and serve.

Notes: I'm not a fan of dried bread crumbs, but they work here. You may season them any way you wish, but don't omit the cheese.You may also use Italian bread crumbs. Don't cut the basil until ready to use or it will turn black. In a future version, for even more of taste zing, I imagine sauteing a bit of fresh mushrooms and garlic and then placing that on top of the cutlet with some sliced black olives before popping into the oven.

Oven-Barbecued Spareribs

Lacking a grill, your oven works well for ribs. Here, they're
served with a side of polenta, a good choice for ribs.

If you don't have a grill and/or you don't want to barbecue in the middle of winter, your only alternative is the oven. Ribs in the oven are remarkably easy to make. Use baby backs and a barbecue sauce you like. I use Sweet Baby Ray's Original. Or make your own.

• 1, 2-3 pound slab baby-back spare ribs
• 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
• 2-4 whole cloves*
• 2-3 garlic cloves, smashed
• 10 ounces barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's original)
• Cayenne pepper
• brown sugar, light or dark

Remove the thin silver membrane from the back of the ribs and cut the slab into serving-size pieces. Clean ribs by placing in a pot, filling with cold water and draining. Do this several times. 

 I had to settle for pork loin backribs which are not as tender
as baby backs, but they do have more meat.

Fill pot with clean, cold water just until ribs are covered. Add the onion, whole cloves, and garlic. Bring just to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and keep covered for another 30 minutes. (Be careful not to boil your ribs. It will toughen the meat.)

Place ribs meat side up in an oiled pan but do not throw out the braising water. Cover each portion with barbecue sauce. Lightly dust with cayenne by holding the container two feet above ribs and lightly tapping. 

Crumble brown sugar on top of barbecue sauce and cayenne, about 2 tablespoons or so for each portion. Add several tablespoons of water to the pan. Cover tightly with foil and place in a 250-degree oven. After one hour or so remove from oven. The sauce, sugar and water will have turned into a glaze. Baste the ribs with this glaze, including underside and, if necessary, add a bit more water from the braising liquid. Re-cover and place in oven for an additional 60 minutes basting occasionally. Remove and check for tenderness.

Baby backs will cook faster and should be done after two hours in the oven. If the ribs are thick and/or tough you may need an additional hour.

Sticky, sweet and spicy . . . finger licking at it's best!

If you want, place under the broiler for a few minutes to achieve a "grilled" look. Do not step away from ribs when under the broiler. They can burn quickly.

Plate and serve. Have plenty of napkins.

(Serves 2 or, as an appetizer, 4-6)

*Sometimes I omit cloves and use a teaspoon or so of pickling spice--not a lot--just enough to add another layer of flavor to the meat.

Note: Total cooking time in the oven can be anywhere for  2 - 4 hours, so keep that in mind. It's important to keep the ribs covered and a bit of liquid added to they don't dry out. Things will get messy, as the photo above shows. But that's the nature (and fun) of eating ribs!