Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake

Here is what you will need to make the recipe:

2 pkgs. Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
1 pkg. cream cheese,
1/2 cup confectionary sugar,
1tsp. Vanilla
1 can cherry pie filling,
1 egg white, 1 tsp. sugar.

Roll out crescent rolls in a rectangle. Cut 1 inch strips all the way down both sides. You want to leave about 6 inches in the middle. Mix the cream cheese and sugar together and spread down the center. Spoon the Cherry Pie Filling over the top. If you use a fork you will not get all the juice. Fold the crescent rolls as in the video. Mix egg white and 1 tsp. sugar and paint on top of crescent rolls. Bake 350 25-30 minutes.

Mediterranean Cafe Mocha Bars by Johnny Iuzzini

(ARA) – The Mediterranean lifestyle of eating healthy foods and getting good exercise has won accolades for improving the heart health of millions of Americans, according to the Mayo Clinic.

But for many, adopting a healthier lifestyle can be a huge challenge, especially with everyone’s unique body shape, personalities, likes and dislikes. A program that works for one person, may not work for you. The good news is many healthy activities found in a Mediterranean lifestyle can help you say “opa” – a Greek exclamation of joy – to a better you.

Chelsie Hightower, the Emmy-nominated professional dancer from the hit show “Dancing with the Stars,” has put together some healthy lifestyle tips with a Mediterranean flair:

* “Make healthy meal choices. I try to stick to a Mediterranean influenced diet that is rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruit, fish and dairy. I enjoy finding recipes online and then trying them at home. Old London has some great recipes on its Facebook page.”

* “Give yourself a break. We all need to recharge our batteries every once in a while. If you can’t take a vacation, plan a day or a weekend at home when you can have a little ‘me time’ to just relax and do whatever makes you happy.”

* “Reach for healthy snacks. I keep smart snack options on hand to keep my energy up between meals like a handful of almonds, some Greek yogurt and honey or a few Old London Melba Snacks with hummus.”

* “Go dancing. In Greece, dancing is a large part of any celebration or gathering. I love going dancing with friends; not only do we have a great time but I also get a workout.”

* “Healthy living equals happiness. You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to plan a get-together. Invite friends and family over just because. Ask guests to bring a dish, or set out appetizers like olives, cheese and Melba Toast for everyone to enjoy. I’ve found being happy is a big step to staying healthy.”

To help you say “opa” to a better you, Old London is offering a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Greek Islands for a first-hand experience of the Mediterranean life. Visit www.facebook.com/OldLondonFoods for rules and how to enter.

To give you a start on blending a bit of Mediterranean life into your own lifestyle, award winning pastry Chef Johnny Iuzzini, has created a delicious, Mediterranean-inspired recipe that will interest your sweet tooth.

Mediterranean Cafe Mocha Bars by Johnny Iuzzini

Total time: 1 hour
Makes 8 inch tray

Ingredients:
1 box Old London Whole Wheat or Sesame Melba Toast
1 package mini marshmallows
2 ounces 100 percent baking chocolate, squares or chips
10 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate, squares or chips
8 ounces butter
1 tablespoon instant ground espresso
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chocolate chips
Caramel sauce and vanilla Greek frozen yogurt (optional)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 F. Melt together baking chocolate, bittersweet baking chocolate, butter and espresso in a bowl over a pot of gently simmering water.

Combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a metal bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer and heat over simmering water until it is warm to the touch. Whip on high using an electric mixer with whisk attachment until pale (approximately 3 to 4 minutes). Add melted chocolate to the egg mixture. Fold in sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Finish with chocolate chips.

Place half the brownie mixture into a buttered, floured, and parchment lined 8-inch cake pan. Lay a layer Melba Toast across the whole surface in one even layer. Next, scatter a layer of mini marshmallows evenly across the toast layer. Cover the marshmallows with the rest of the brownie mixture and bake at 325 F for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Use a toothpick to check if done.

Once cool, cut into squares and add a scoop of vanilla Greek frozen yogurt or caramel sauce if desired.

Coffee Chocolate Cheesecake

To make this heavenly recipe you will need the following ingredients:

Brownie Layer:

• 3/4 cup butter
• 6 squares semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 Tbsp instant coffee powder
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 packed brown sugar

Cheesecake Layer:

• 1- 250gram package cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 2 Tbsp strong coffee or coffee liqueur

Sour Cream Layer:

• 1-1/2 cups sour cream
• 3 Tbsp sugar

350 degrees F, 9×13 greased pan

After you have gathered the appropriate ingredients and utensils it is a rather simple recipe.  I can imagine this would be a wonderful dessert to serve company or something a little extra sweet on a special occasion!  Check out the video below for step by step directions on how to make this wonderful sounding recipe!  I think I will be making this very soon:

German Chocolate Coffee Cake

I love that this is a german chocolate coffee cake. There are so many recipes for coffee cake today it is amazing, but I rarely come across a chocolate one, which is a shame as chocolate is so freakin’ good! Now, I also wanted to post this video because it is kind of hilarious. This guy has some strange space age music in the background and seems quite serious. Regardless, the recipe sounds amazing.

I think this would be the perfect cake to serve to girlfriends who are visiting, or to your family – if they are lucky! Check out the video below for super easy, step by step directions on how to make German Chocolate Coffee Cake:

Coffee Dry Rub Recipe for Barbecue by the BBQ Pit Boys

I love that in this video they actually grind their own coffee beans.  I find that is so important when using coffee anyway, so I like the added touch of grinding the beans.  Along with the ground coffee, they also added a variety of other spices such as brown sugar, salt, paprika and other savory notes to make the rub absolutely delicious.

I imagine this would be perfect on a variety of meats and think the BBQ Pit Boys know what they are talking about.  If you are curious about this wonderful-sounding rub, check out the video below for step-by-step directions on how to make this.  With Summer right around the corner, I think this recipe will be perfect:

Cafe Cocoa Balls

I found this delicious little gem of a recipe on youtube today, featuring cafe cocoa balls! It sounds absolutely wonderful and the great thing about this video is it is quick and easy to make! I’m a huge fan of cake balls, so this sounds right up my sweet-tooth alley.

The recipe calls for the following ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of butter
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1/4 cup of white sugar
• 1/4 cup of cocoa – dark or light
• 1/4 cup of strong coffee
• 1 cup of rolled oats, preferably Quaker’s

After you have combined the ingredients as directed in the video, it is time to make the cocoa balls.  They looks absolutely delicious and I just know I will be making these for my family soon!

Check out the great video below with step by step directions on how to make cafe cocoa balls:

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Coffee Chocolate Mousse

This recipe seems quite easy and really does not have a lot of ingredients to deal with. There are a few steps, such as beating the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, but other than that there really is not a lot that you have to do. I think the mousse sounds like it would be absolutely delicious and wonderful!

The following video shows step by step directions on how to make this delicious chocolate coffee mousse. As Paula Deen is making it, you know it is not a light recipe. It incorporates a lot of heavy and rich ingredients, so be prepared to splurge!

Chocolate Espresso Truffle Pie (Vegan)

When I lived in Los Angeles I would shop at Trader Joe’s all the time. It was my favorite grocery store and I miss it so much. One thing about Trader Joe’s is they had the most delicious vegan cookies. In this video the host makes an absolutely gorgeous chocolate espresso truffle pie. That great thing about this is it incorporates tofu, and you would never know it!

This is a great recipe if you are looking for something delicious, but without all the guilt calories. I think I’m going to try making this recipe this weekend! Check out the video below for step by step directions:

Espresso Cupcakes

In this video Paula shows us how to make these delicious cupcakes from scratch. It honestly looks pretty easy as long as you have all the ingredients to make them. Now, this is not a recipe you want to make if you are watching or weight or concerned about calories. But then again, none of Paula’s recipes are geared to weight loss or calorie watching. I mean, after all she is not a doctor, she is a home cook. So I think you go girl, I will be making these chocolate espresso cupcakes very soon.

Check out the video below on how to make these beauties!

Espresso Creme Brulee

What I love about this video is it is step by step directions and quite easy. It also has minimal ingredients:

Serves 6-8, preparation time 15 minutes
Cook 1 hour 10 minutes (plus chilling, freezing)

Ingredients:
- 375 ml cream
- 125 ml milk
- 150g caster sugar, plus extra for dusting
- 1 capsule/ 1 shot NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Espresso Intenso
- 9 egg yolks

It is quite simple to whip up these delicious custards and I think I will try to make this for my next girls’ night out party. Here is the video for step by step directions on how to make these heavenly-sounding espresso creme brulee: