Cream Cheese Brownies with Ganache

I guess if I had to choose which one of all my brownie recipes I might like the best, this one would definitely be on the list.  Notice I can’t commit?  I have so many that are so good that it’s hard to choose just one. But there’s something about this one that sends it way up on that list.  It’s a true marriage of moist homemade chocolate brownie, with a layer of rich and creamy vanilla cheesecake, topped with a decadent, deep rich chocolate ganache... okay its way up there! 

Cream Cheese Brownies With Ganache

Brownies 

2 cups sugar 
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
2/3 cup cocoa powder 
1 1/2 teaspoons salt 
1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
5 eggs 
2 sticks of butter, melted 
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 13 x 9 x 2" baking pan. 

Sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Beat flour mixture and eggs on low speed using an electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally and mixing until smooth. Slowly add melted butter and beat until just combined: do not over mix. Fold in chocolate chips.

Transfer batter to prepared baking dish. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool while you make your cheesecake filling. 

Cheesecake filling

3/4 cup sugar 
3 tablespoons cornstarch 
4 (8-ounce) packs of cream cheese 
1 tablespoon lemon juice 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
2 eggs 
2 tablespoons heavy cream 
2 tablespoons sour cream 

Cream sugar, cornstarch, and cream cheese in a large bowl using an electric mixer. Add lemon juice and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly. Add eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl with each addition. Fold in heavy cream and sour cream. 

Spread batter on top of already baked brownies. Bake until cheesecake is lightly browned and firm, about 45 - 50 minutes. Cool completely and then refrigerate at least for one hour before serving.

Chocolate Ganache

8 ounces heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons butter
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Heat cream and butter on stove, but do not allow to boil. Remove from stove and pour over chocolate. Stir till completely combined. Add powdered sugar and whisk until combined and smooth. Pour over cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate overnight, then cut into bars to serve.

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Creamy Beef Stroganoff

 

This recipe is one of my personal favorites! I love my simple rendition of Beef Stroganoff. I don't add a lot of ingredients you might find in the classic stroganoff like mushrooms, sour cream, dried mustard and wine. I make it just like my Mom did when we were growing up. Even without the mushrooms, sour cream and other things that go into Stroganoff, this is really delicious.  I start off by finding the perfect chuck roast in the meat case and I ask the meat clerk to trim the fat and cut it into beef cubes for me.....

Creamy Beef Stroganoff

2 pounds beef chuck roast, trimmed and cubed
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoons olive oil + 2 tablespoons butter for frying
4 tablespoons of flour
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
2 cups half and half (half milk/half cream) 
1 (16 oz) package egg noodles

Melt butter in a large heavy skillet and then add olive oil. Over medium heat, saute onions and garlic until tender. Add beef cubes and fry until brown on all sides. Cover and simmer on low heat for about an hour or until meat is very tender. You can also pre-cook beef cubes in a crock pot for 6 hours on high with a little beef broth for fork tender beef for all your stews and soups. I do this often and freeze until I need them.

In a separate skillet, add 4 tablespoons of butter and 4 tablespoons of flour and whisk quickly to blend. Cook, for about 1 minute until lightly browned, stirring the entire time. Whisk in half and half and continue whisking until sauce begins to thicken. Turn off heat and salt and pepper to taste. I like a lot of pepper in mind.

Finally, pour your sauce into the skillet with your meat and with a wooden spoon stir, making sure that you scrape all the bits of meat and garlic and onion from the bottom. Cover for another 10 minutes while noodles cook.

Boil egg noodles as directed on package. Drain well and pour into bowl. Add meat and sauce over noodles.

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Shrimp and Gnocchi in Parmesan Cream

 

Looking for a wonderful dish to make when you feel like something comforting and delicious?  Try this recipe I put together last night.  So good!  Serve with some crusty Italian bread and a side salad!

Shrimp and Gnocchi in Parmesan Cream

 To make Gnocchi:

1 (16-ounce) package of Gnocchi

2 tablespoons butter, divided

Salt for boiling water

Add the Gnocchi to a boiling pot of salted water and cook for 3-5 minutes. Once all the gnocchi has floated to the top of the pot, remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon to a large bowl and cover with paper towel.

 

 

 

To make shrimp:  

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed

6 oz. imitation crab meat 

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and black pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Once the butter has melted, add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant.   Add shrimp and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp is pink, about 2-3 minutes; remove from heat and set aside.

 

Parmesan Sauce

1/4 cup salted butter

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup chicken broth, or more, as needed

3/4 cup half and half or ½ cup of heavy cream

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano Cheese

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

To make the garlic Parmesan cream sauce, melt butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.

 

Gradually whisk in chicken broth and half and half (or cream) whisking constantly. Keep stirring until it is incorporated and begins to thicken. Add in thyme and basil and stir.  

Add in Parmesan cheese and stir until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. If the mixture is too thick, add more half and half as needed; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add more milk if you need to thin out the sauce at any point it gets too thick.

Stir in shrimp and gnocchi, and imitation crab and gently toss to combine.

 

 

 

Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

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Steak fettuccine with Mushroom Alfredo Sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make any weeknight meal feel special with this dish. The mushroom Alfredo sauce is out of this world good! I sometimes use leftover steak slices for a great way to use leftovers.  Serve with garlic bread and a side salad.

 Steak Fettuccine with Mushroom Alfredo Sauce

16 ounces fresh portabella or crimini mushrooms

2 cloves fresh minced garlic

1/2 cup butter, divided

1 lb. sirloin steak

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 pound fettuccine

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1 cup reserved pasta water

1 teaspoon salt (more to taste)

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon of onion powder

 

 

 

Clean mushrooms with damp paper towel or cloth to remove dirt. Chop in small pieces. 

 

 

 

 

Make your mushroom sauce. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet. Sauté minced garlic and chopped mushrooms until the mushrooms are soft with deep brown color (about 10-15 minutes). Add the cream and the rest of the butter. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally until thickened.

 

 

 

 

 

Coat both sides of steak with oil and season generously with salt and pepper, garlic and onion powder. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook steak until your desired doneness, 4 minutes per side for medium rare. Transfer to a plate to let rest, 10 minutes, then thinly slice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cook the fettuccine in a large pot according to package directions. Drain, reserving a little bit of the water, and return to pot with heat off.

Add mushroom sauce to the hot fettuccine in the pan and toss with tongs until coated. Add steak and Parmesan and up to 1 cup of reserved pasta if needed.  Add more seasoning as needed. Pour in serving bowl and enjoy!

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