Appreciation Brunch

This past Saturday, a couple friends and I did an appreciation brunch for our dear friend Christina.  She is pregnant with her 4th baby, and we wanted to do something special for her.  She said she didn't really need anything for Baby, so we decided we could just have a day for her!  It was low-key, just an opportunity to all sit and visit and eat. 

On the menu was:

Yogurt parfaits
crackers w/ dip
veggies w/ dip
strawberry pizza
raspberry coffee cake
bacon cheese mini appetizers
orange juice
water with lemon


Here are the recipes for the Bacon Cheese Mini Appetizers, Raspberry Coffee Cake and the Strawberry Pizza!

A picture of the yogurt parfait bar area.

Raspberry Coffee Cake:

Streusel:

1/4 cup firm margarine or butter

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

 

Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen, thawed)

 

For the streusel:  cut butter into flour and sugar until it resembles crumbs.  Set aside.

 

For cake:  Grease a 9x9 (or 11x7) pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all the ingredients, beating on medium speed for two minutes.

 

Spread half of mixture into greased pan.  Cover with 1/2 cup raspberries (and juice), then sprinkle half of streusel over the berries.  Repeat layers.

 

Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean (mine took 40 minutes).  Recipe from Betty Crocker cookbook.

Strawberry Pizza (binder recipe):

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

For Filling:

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

2 cups crushed strawberries

 

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and extracts.  Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

 

On a floured surface, roll dough into a 13-inch circle.  Transfer to an ungreased 12-in pizza pan.  Build up edges slightly.

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes or until lightly browned (mine cooked 15 minutes, but my oven cooks hot).  Cool completely.

 

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth.  Spread over crust.  Arrange sliced strawberries on top.  In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and crushed berries until blended.  Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Cool slightly.  Spoon over strawberries.  Refrigerate until serving.  Yield: 12 - 16 servings.  Recipe from Taste of Home.

Bacon Cheese Mini Appetizers:

1 (10 oz) can FLAKY biscuits (must be flaky)
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1 pkg real bacon pieces
2 TBSP milk
2 to 3 TBSP very finely chopped onion
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 TBSP parsley (optional)

Separate bscuits into 2 or 3 layers. Spray muffin cups of mini muffin pan. Press biscuit layers into cups. Mix all ingredients. Fill muffin tins. Bake 15 minutes at 375.