Mtdl

No-Bake Mini Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes

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These No-Bake Cookies and Cream Mini Cheesecakes are ridiculously easy and don't require you to turn on your oven. Cream cheese is blended with powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream and is then poured over cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies for a cool sweet treat! The next time you're craving a easy cool treat, I've got you covered.

16 ounces cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
1/2 cup powdered sugar ((heaping 1/2 cup) sifted)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 small pinch fine sea salt
2 cups heavy cream
12 ounces cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies

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Cucumber Watermelon Feta Salad

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Cucumber Watermelon Feta Salad is a quick and refreshing salad consisting of cubed juicy watermelon, fresh mint, cool sliced cucumbers, salty feta and pistachios. Serves 6 to 8.

2 pounds seedless watermelon (cubed)
1 english cucumber (sliced (peeled or unpeeled))
2 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)
1/3 cup pistachos (chopped)
1/4 cup mint leaves (hand torn)
1 lime (juiced (freshly squeezed))

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Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad

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In this Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad, colorful veggies are tossed with cooked bowtie pasta, Genoa salami, Parmesan cheese and a super simple Italian dressing for the ultimate summer pasta salad! Quick and easy to whip up and incredibly fresh and delicious! This recipe yields 12 (1-cup) servings.

1 clove garlic (grated)
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
6 tablespoon olive oil
16 ounces bowtie pasta
sea salt (for salting pasta water)
8 ounces cherry tomatoes (halved)
4 ounces broccoli (cut into small florets (tough stems discarded or composted))
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup diced orange bell pepper
6 ounces genoa salami (diced small)
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)

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Honey Fig Jam and Cottage Cheese Toast

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Honey, Fig Jam and Cottage Cheese Toast is the perfect lazy day snack. Toasted sourdough bread is topped with cottage cheese and fig jam, a drizzle of honey and sprinkle of toasted chopped walnuts. Yields 1 serving but can easily be doubled to serve more.

1 to 2 tablespoon walnuts (toasted and chopped)
1 slice sourdough (or sturdy bread of choice)
1/4 cup cottage cheese (I like Good Culture 2%)
1 to 2 tablespoons fig jam
1 drizzle honey (or hot honey)

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Summer Fruit Salad

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This Summer Fruit Salad is a delicious summery twist on traditional fruit salad. Sliced juicy peaches are tossed with rainier cherries, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in a fresh citrus juice and honey. Serves 8 to 10.

2 ripe peaches (pitted and sliced)
8 ounces strawberries (slice into thirds or half)
8 ounces rainier cherries (pitted and cut in half)
4 ounces blueberries (rinsed and drained)
4 ounces raspberries (rinsed and drained)
1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves (torn by hand)
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves (torn by hand)
1 drizzle honey (about 1 tablespoon)
1/2 lime (juiced)
1/2 lemon (juiced)

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Grilled Marinated Venison Backstrap

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Grilled Marinated Venison Backstrap is simple and exploding with flavor. Venison backstrap marinates in a sweet, garlicky soy marinade before being threaded onto skewers and grilled.

4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon sugar
4 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
1¼ to 1½ pounds venison backstrap (or sub with beef ribeye)
cooked jasmine rice (for serving)
green onions (sliced, for serving)
1 recipe [asian slaw] (for serving)
[teriyaki sauce] (for serving)
toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)

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Homemade Blueberry Muffins

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These are the best Homemade Blueberry Muffins! This quick one-bowl recipe yields moist and fluffy muffins studded with fresh blueberries and the most epic crunchy muffin top made possible with coarse turbinado sugar. Yields 12 muffins.

1/2 cup melted unsalted butter (cooled slightly (not hot!))
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup whole milk (or milk of choice at room temperature)
2 large eggs (at room temperature)
1¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
8 ounces fresh blueberries
6 tablespoons turbinado sugar (aka sugar in the raw)

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Grilled Zucchini with Lemon, Garlic and Parmesan

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You are going to LOVE this Grilled Zucchini with Lemon, Garlic and Parmesan recipe! It's by far my favorite veggie summer side dish. Zucchinis are scored, brushed with a simple, herby lemon-garlic butter and grilled to perfection! Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

2 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons avocado oil (or extra light olive oil)
1 clove garlic (grated or finely minced)
1 lemon (zested)
1/2 a lemon (juiced, about 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
2 pinches kosher salt
2 pinches freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
4 medium zucchinis (washed, stem trimmed and cut horizontally)
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons small basil leaves

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Toffee Cookies

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These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Toffee Cookies have it all! A chewy brown sugar oatmeal cookie with crisp toffee bits and melty sweet chocolatey! It's a good thing this recipe makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies because they will go fast! Perfect for a rainy day baking session or for feeding a crowd.

1¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3 cups quick cooking oats (see notes)
1⅓ cups Heath Bits-o-Brickle Toffee Bits (or 1 bag)
1 cup coconut flakes (sweetened or unsweetened)
10 ounces milk chocolate chips (or 1 bag)

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Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

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This Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans is an elegant spin on the traditional recipe. Cooked shredded chicken is tossed with grapes, toasted pecans, celery and onion in a homemade honey poppyseed dressing. Serves 9 (3/4-cup) servings.

1 cup mayonnaise (or sub a portion of it with greek yogurt (see notes))
1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon poppyseeds
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (more or less to taste)
freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
1/2 cup yellow onion (finely diced)
1/4 cup pecans (lightly toasted then coarsely chopped)
4 cups shredded cooked chicken (leftover roasted, poached or rotisserie)
1 cup small red grapes (halved)
1/2 cup diced celery (chopped small)

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