Raspberry Stuffed French Toast

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Throwing a Party - Make a Casserole

Casserole and Blackberry Syrup

Raspberry Stuffed French Toast
I have never really been a huge fan of French Toast. I would much rather have a waffle of pancakes or even a cinnamon roll before I would choose french toast...UNTIL NOW. Oh my gawd, this is the best sweet breakfast item I have ever had and I mean that sincerely. It is stuffed with Raspberry Jam and Cream Cheese. I made a Raspberry maple syrup to go with it but it really did not even need it.
COST - $1 per serving [serves up to 24]
TIME - 30 min prep 1 hour cook
DIFFICULTY - 2 on a scale of 1-5 [several steps]

Raspberries

3 loaves of Brioche Bread [use your favorite] cut into 3/4" slices
18 eggs
1 quart 1/2 and 1/2
1 sm whipping cream
3 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3-4 8oz packs of cream cheese
2 - 12oz jars of Seedless Raspberry Jam



Beat your eggs with the 1/2 and 1/2, whipping cream, sugar and vanilla. Dip each piece of bread in to the mixture for 10 seconds on each side and place into a buttered deep dish 9" by 13" pan until bottom of pan is covered with the bread. Now cut a slice of cream cheese about 1/4-1/2 an inch and place on top of each piece of bread. You will use about 12oz per layer depending on how much cream cheese you like. Then cover each piece of bread with about 1/4 or so of Seedless Raspberry jam. Once you have finished the first layer; repeat. Finish the Top with a final layer of bread. Put in fridge over night.

Ready to Serve

The next morning cook for 1 hour at 350 degrees until bubbly. The top will be golden. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. I dusted the top with powdered sugar and a drizzle of Raspberry Syrup. To make the syrup I used 1 24oz bottle of your favorite syrup and 1 bag of frozen Raspberries. Simmer for 20 minutes and serve.




Now it's time to WOW your guest with this perfect dish. You can also bring it to a Pot Luck...just to show off. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did. Oh Yeah I almost forgot. You can freeze the extras.
Dig in !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Weekly Grocery Bargains

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Make a List and Save Big Time



Look For EARLY Memorial Day Bargains

Weekly Grocery Bargains
Whether you are throwing a party or not you really need to start looking for those great bargains on seasonal items for Memorial Day. You usually start 2 weeks before and sometimes this weeks bargains are bigger than next week. The advertising might be bigger but not necessarily the savings. I highly recommend MAKING A LIST. It will blow you away on how much money you can save just from having a list. You will know what you are buying and where which is a huge time saver. Prices are good May 18th til May 25th.

Always Great Savings

Albertsons is this weeks winner for one stop shop. I don't know about you but last week I filled up my freezer with all the Great deals from Alberstons. They have a wide selection of products across the board that are on sale. You do not need a rewards card to receive discounts.
Print Albertsons Coupons here.






chicken wings - .88lb [great for a party]
strawberries - $3.99 3lb
coke 12packs - 4 for $10
large eggs - .88gz
country style pork ribs - .98lb [can you say BBQ] 4 day sale Thurs-Sun
cherries - $2.99lb
broccoli crowns - $1.49lb


Honest to Goodness Savings

 
 Once again Aldi has kept to it's reputation for no frills and great deals. Their gardening merchandise just hit the stores and they have some really good items. Don't forget to stop by Aldi for your staple like milk and eggs. Who knows maybe you will leave there with tree or a stainless steel gas grill. Today I even saw a walker and wheel barrow. Don't forget a quarter for your basket, you will get it back when you return your cart.
Print Aldi Ad here.

 

Make sure to check out the produce while you are their. They have a very diverse selection.They also carry a huge selection of Hispanic food, spices and baked items. You do not need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Fiesta Ad here.








Ataulfo Mangos - 3 for $1
peaches -.88lb
fryer breast quarters - .99lb [includes back and backbone]
tiger shrimp - $12.99lb [6-8 count]
12 pack Pepsi brands - 3 for $10
green beans - .9lb
crisp lettuce - .88ea
Tuna steaks - $5.99lb
live blue crabs - $1.99lb
large frog legs - $4.99lb
broccoli crowns - .99lb
cucumbers - 3 for $1

Low Prices Plus More ...

 

 I really like Kroger and the usually have the good deals. Make sure to check out their seasonal items. They always have a huge variety and they are always going on sale. You will need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Kroger Coupons here.






top sirloin steak - $2.99lb
strawberries - $1.77 lb
Yoplait Yogurt - .44ea
large eggs - $1.77 18count
cool whip topping - .89ea 8oz
whole chicken - .69lb
John Morrell Bacon - 2 for $4
iceberg lettuce - .88ea

Serious Food ... Silly Prices

Sunflower farmers Market is my personal favorite place to shop. I still only buy when the are having sales but the environment is great. I just had some basil chicken sausage with pasta the other night for dinner. They make the sausage at the store. It is always fresh and yummy. You do not need a reward card to receive discounts. Don't forget some table wine as low as $3.33 a bottle. It is good.
Print Sunflower Ad here.



cantaloupe - 2 for $1
Tilapia fillets - $2.77lb
bunched broccoli - .99lb
apricots - $2.99lb
Dreyer's Ice Cream - 2 for $5
Mahi Mahi fillets - $3.77lb

Ingredients for life

 Tom Thumb labels their food with colored tags indication it nutrition level such as organic or gluten free. You do need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Tom Thumb Coupons here.





assorted pork chops - .99lb limit 2
4 DAY SALE Fri -Mon
Thick sliced bacon - $2.99lb [great deal]
avocados - 10 for $10
Safeway select pizza - $2.99
Safeway select Salsa - $1.79


Here are some additional LINKS for a store that might be in your area. Let me know if there is a store you would like me to add.
Safeway - HEB - Trader Joes - Jewel - Raleys - Ralphs - Vons
Happy Shopping and Saving.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband











Happy Hour with Your Gay Husband

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Watering Plants is Like Meditating...Only Wetter

Agave Julep

Happy Hour with Your Gay Husband
I was talking with My Gay Sister earlier. She had just got home and was smelling her Lilac plant on her way inside. Your could here the joy the flowers and nature brought her. She started watering her plants and she sounded even calmer. I have always felt like being in nature [even if it is your own yard] provides meditative properties. I love to be in nature without music. So make yourself an Agave Julep and go outside to begin your meditation.

Meditating In Nature

8 torn mint leaves
1 Tbsp Agave syrup
1 1/4 parts gold tequila
1 1/4 parts fresh lime juice
crushed ice
lime wedges, to decorate
mint sprig to decorate




Muddle the mint leaves with the Agave syrup in a highball glass. Add the tequila and lime juice, fill the glass with crushed ice, and stir vigorously to mix. Decorate with a lime wedge and mint sprig.

I hope you enjoy your Agave Julep outside and get some peace and quiet so you can recenter after a long stressful day.
Bottoms Up !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Veggie Garden - Part 2

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Patience can Prove to be Bountiful

Veggie Planter

Veggie Garden - Part 2
OK it has now been 2 months since I planted my seeds. Some grow so fast while others are waiting for the heat to kick in to grow faster. Most of my garden is in my Stacked Veggie Planter. It really adds life to an other wise plain corner of my yard. I already have some veggies [just baby ones] and lots of blooms. We had a heavy rain last week that knocked off my biggest flower on my zucchini plant. If the flower gets knocked off too early a squash won't produce. It's just a part of nature.



Radish

 I have a few Radish plants that are almost at maturity and ready to harvest. Fresh veggies have so much more flavor than ones in a produce store. Here you just pick, rinse and eat. The joys of Organic Gardening. Whether you like radish or not you should still grow them. They are the fastest and easiest out of all the veggies to grow so it makes you feel super successful right off the bat.







Zucchini Squash


Both the Zucchini and Yellow squashes are doing great. I noticed there were 2 getting more water and they grew much faster. They are strong and the blooming has begun. Stuffed squash blossoms with pasta makes a great meal. Don't forget about having it grilled, fried and of course zucchini bread.
I just started more squash seeds so I will have them til October.

Add caption

My nephew started his own veggie garden with me. He is 81/2. The first plant we planted was his favorite...Green Beans. When I say this kid love green beans, I really mean he loves them. I have seen him take a bag of beans out if the freezer, put them in the microwave and eat the entire thing. I told you he loves them. Needless to say we planted allot of beans and we should have them all season long.

White Pumpkins

Doesn't it seam like you pay a small fortune every year by decorating with pumpkins. We decorate with them all the way thru Thanksgiving. This year we decided to try and grow some. They are doing really good so far. We are expecting ALLOT of pumpkins this year at NO cost. The pumpkins will be 10-12 inches in diameter and weigh 10-12 lbs. You can either carve or decorate them or even use them for pies and soups. I am so excited.

Add caption

I am so excited that my cucumbers are doing so good. They are in the bottom level of my 7 level stacked planter. They are just about big enough to start growing up the trellis. The thing I am most excited about is making my own pickles. Lets hope I get allot.







If you didn't get a chance to plant your veggie garden by seed, don't worry. Just go down to Home Depot and pick up some small starter plants and way you go. Just think of all the fresh organic veggies you will have. They make great gifts for your neighbors or give a co-worker a jar of homemade organic pickles. Very thoughtful.
I hope this inspires you to grow your own veggie garden. Just think of the money you will save as well as some peace and quiet while tending to it. Enjoy your gardening meditation with a Happy Hour Cocktail with Your Gay Husband.
Happy Gardening !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Now That's What I'm Talkin' About - New York Style Cheesecake

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Make Enough to Freeze for Your Next Fix



New York Style Cheesecake with Fresh Blackberries and Chambord Sauce

 Now That's What I'm Talkin' About -
New York Style Cheesecake
I am not even kidding you when I say this is by far the BEST New York Style Cheesecake I have ever made. It reminded me of Cheesecake we would get on our trips to New York. The crust is like a buttery short bread that is crisp and has a slight hint of lemon. You can add any topping you want or none at all. It is perfect just the way it is. I topped my cheesecake with Fresh Blackberries and a Chambord and Blackberry sauce This is a Big cheesecake so if there are any left overs you can freeze them for a snack later.
This recipe is for 12- 15 people.
COST - $20 not including Chambord
TIME - prep 30 min and cook 1 hour ish
LEVEL of DIFFICULTY - 2 on a scale of 1-5 [you must follow recipe]

Cutting in Butter

Cheesecake Supreme [New York Style]
Crust:
1 cup sifted flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1/2 cup butter
1 slightly beaten egg yolk
1/4 tsp vanilla



I made 2 batches of the crust. I just love it ! I used 1 full batch for the bottom and 1 full batch for the sides. It only calls for 1 batch for both the sides and the bottom. If you do it with the 1 batch method you should expect the crust to only come up about 1 inch on the sides. Still good...just NOT as good.

Cheesecake Filling

 Filling:
5 8oz packs of cream cheese
1/4 tsp vanilla
3/4 tsp grated lemon peel
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
5 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup whipping cream





Patting Crust to Sides

Make Crust:
combine first 3 ingredients. Cut in butter till mixture is crumbly. Add egg yolk and vanilla. Blend thoroughly. Pat 1/3 or the dough [or in my case...1 full batch] on the bottom of a 9" spring form pan. [I used a 10" pan] with sides removed. Bake in hot oven 400 degrees for about 8 minutes or till golden; cool. Attach side to bottom, butter, and pat remaining dough on sides. Because It used 1 full batch for the sides the crust came up to the top of the pan. Once I poured in the filling,  I pushed the dough down til it was slightly above it.

Before Baking

Make Filling:
Let cream cheese set out at room temperature to soften [1-1 1/2 hours]. Beat creamy. Add vanilla and lemon peel. Mix next 3 ingredients, gradually blend into cheese. Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time, beating after each just to blend. Gently stir in whipping cream.Turn into crust-lined pan.

After Baking

Bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes; reduce heat to 300 degrees and continue baking for an additional 55 minutes. Remove from oven; cool. Loosen sides with spatula 30 minutes. Remove sides at the end of 1 hour. Allow to cool 2 hour longer. I love it after it has cooled overnight in the fridge. But really who am I kidding...any temp is good. I topped the cheesecake with fresh blackberries and a Blackberry Chambord Sauce. I combined 1 cup seedless Blackberry Jam with 1/4 cup of Chambord [blackberry liqueur]. Mix together and pour over Cheesecake. You can do it all at once and serve it that way or make individual plates.

Next time you want to impress someone ... MAKE THIS ! or if you have 2 days off in a row and need and fix. Either way I hope you make this ASAP because I know you are going to love it. It was HEAVENLY !
Happy Baking and Eating.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband





Lite Lunch - Egg Salad "Sandwich"

Your Gay Husband Tip of The Day :

Prepare a Simple Lite Lunch for a Friend

Egg Salad with Orange Wedges and Sugar Cookies

Egg Salad and Sandwich
One of my favorite things to do is to "lunch" with a close friend or My Gay Husband. I enjoy sitting outside and eating Wholesome Homemade food. I don't like to get too filled up. Other than the food is the time you get to spend with your friend is irreplaceable. Savor the Moment. I whipped this lunch up for 4 and served it with fresh fruit and sugar cookies. It ended up being a great day.
COST - $3 for 4 people
TIME - 30 minutes not including cool time
Level of DIFFICULTY - 2 on a scale of 1-5

Grating Eggs

To start you will need 2 eggs per person. Put eggs into a large stock pot and fill 1" from top. Put on HIGH burner for 15 minutes and remove from heat for another 10 minutes. Run under cold water and put in fridge to cool completely. This will make for PERFECT eggs. Once you have peeled the eggs take a box grater and grate your eggs on the large setting. This is a tip from my mother, it makes for a consistent product.

Add Ingredients

 With this recipe you do not need to premix condiments, just add them directly to the bowl with the grated eggs. This is another great benefit to grating the eggs [ it makes it easy to incorporate]. You will need 2-3 eggs per person [better to have more than not enough].
1/4 cup of Mayo
1tsp spicy mustard
1 Tbsp - sweet relish
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Add directly to bowl and mix until incorporated.

Egg Salad Sandwich

For a salad use a bed of lettuce [I used Iceberg] on a plate and add 1 lrg scoop directly in the center and sprinkle with paprika. For the Sandwich I don't toast the bread. I usually do for most sandwiches however this has a perfect consistency when not toasted. It was served with Orange wedges and Sugar Cookies. Get recipe here.






I hope you enjoy this Lite Lunch with your friends. It is all about creating memories with the people you love.
Happy Eating!
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Happy Hour with Your Gay Husband

Your Gay Husband Tip of The Day :

Be Responsible for Your Own Happiness

Haiti Punch

Happy Hour with Your Gay Husband
Whether you are planning a family reunion, a block party with neighbors or just a BBQ for friends, look no further for that perfect cocktail. This Haiti Punch makes enough for 12-15 people and frees you up to enjoy your own party and not tend to the bar.
2 pineapples, peeled and cubed
3 lemons sliced
3 oranges sliced
1 1/4 cup brandy
1 1/4 cup Orange Nassau liqueur
2 bottles sparkling dry white wine
pineapple leaf, to decorate
orange zest spiral, to decorate
Put the prepared fruit into a large bowl or pitcher and pour the brandy and Orange Nassau over it. Cover and chill for several hours. To serve, pour about 1 shot of the brandy mix into a champagne glass and top up with sparkling wine and add some pineapple cubes... or for a time saver...pour 2 bottles of sparkling wine over the brandy soaked fruit and serve. It is just that simple.
I hope this comes in handy for your next get together.
Bottoms Up !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband