GROWN UP FRUIT PIZZA. AWESOME STYLE.

 My mom made fruit pizza for every extra special event in my life from ages 8-21.

Yes, even for my questionable 21st birthday party. I could write a novel about how awesome my mom is, but that would take forever so I'll focus on how awesome this fruit pizza is. Besides the fact that it was a nostalgic childhood  favorite, it's delicious with equal parts of crunchy, sweet, fresh, and tart. Its also pretty much perfect for summer picnics.

I made a grown up version, but if we're going to be honest children could make this on their own with supervision. And that's just rad.

This recipe takes three simple parts: sugar cookie crust, cream cheese frosting, and fresh fruit.

For the sugar cookie crust, I might just buy refrigerated dough and save yourself the hassle of getting all the ingredients. OR if you loooooooove to bake and have the access to everything found in a cookie recipe try this one. You overachiever, you.

Use 1-2 cups (depending on the thickness you want) of the dough and press it into a round pan. This is pretty flexible also, so if you only have a sheet pan use that. Or muffin tins, or a pie pan. I used a springform cheesecake pan and it worked awesome. Make sure you grease it, push the dough in (think giant cookie) and bake it for twice as long as the recipe says. Basically, bake it until the top is golden brown. Cool.

I find most cream cheese frosting recipes to be a little on the heavy side, so I stick to my number one recipe... wanna know what it is? Ok, fine. I'll share.

Jes's Kick Ass Cream Cheese Frosting

 8 oz softened cream cheese (not hot, just soft)

1/4 c softened butter

1/8 c sour cream

1 t vanilla

2 c powdered sugar

Using a mixer paddle whip the cream cheese for 2 minutes on high. Scrape, add the butter and mix again for another minute. Add the sour cream and vanilla and then slowly add the powdered sugar while intermittently scraping the side. Pour the frosting into the middle of the cooled ginormous cookie and spread it towards the edges. Top with fresh fruit! I used berries, but you can add mango, pineapple, grapes, apple etc. Oh my god good.

Whats your nostalgic childhood dessert?

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ONE RECIPE, FOUR WAYS: SUMMER PANCAKE STYLE!

Pancakes are our catch all at our house. For one thing, breakfast (for dinner especially) is the most delicious food everrrrrr! Second, we usually have everything to make it lying around. SO. I took the basic recipe I use, which is perfect, and added simple ingredients to make FOUR summery kickass versions:

Blackberry with Red Wine Reduction Simple Syrup
Sugared Lemon Basil
Fresh Poached Kumquat Ginger and Brown Sugar
and
Mixed Berry with Greek Yogurt and Honey.

You're drooling already huh? I can see it.

The basic recipe goes like this:

1 c flour

2 t baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

2 T sugar (brown or white)

Mix this all together and then add the liquids:

3/4 c milk

1 egg

1/2 t vanilla

2 T melted butter or oil.

Whisk, let sit for 5 minutes and then cook away!

 Poached Kumquat Ginger and Brown Sugar:

Add to the finished batter: the zest of 5 or 6 kumquats and 1/2 t. of fresh grated ginger.

To make the poached kumquat brown sugar glaze, put 1 c of water to simmer with halved kumquats. Let this simmer for 10 minutes and then add 1/3 c brown sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves and let it sit until cool!

 Blackberry with Red Wine Reduction Simple Syrup:

I added some chopped frozen berries to the batter (if you use these the cooking time will be longer!) and then made the reduction. Here's how: Take any amount of wine... say a cup and simmer it until it reduces in half! It doesn't take as long as you would think and it's SO simple! Add 1/4 c sugar and mix it to dissolve. Red wine reduction simple syrup! Delicioso.

 Sugared Lemon Basil:

I have fresh basil growing in my window (for now...) so I wanted to figure out a way to incorporate it!

The zest from a lemon, and the juice AND 3 or 4 julienned basil leaves!
While one side was cooking, I dusted the top with sugar and flipped it over.
Garnish more sugar and serve 'em warm!

Mixed Berry with Greek Yogurt and Honey:

More frozen berries! You can mix them in before cooking them, or you can sprinkle them on top while the first side cooks. Top with greek yogurt (I like Trader Joe's honey version!) and drizzle with honey. Its really really good for you and super fresh light and delicious.

Do you have any versions of pancakes that YOU would like to share?

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