Friday, November 6, 2015

Jamaica Coconut Pineapple Cheesecake Recipe Inspired by this Southwest Dream Destination


Good Food


I am partnering with Hire Influence, Southwest Airlines and Mondelez/Ritz Crackers for a food and travel inspired blog post series. This is a sponsored post, however opinions are my own.

#LuvRitzSweepstakes

VOTE for this Jamaica Coconut Pineapple Cheesecake Recipe and while you're there enter to WIN $5000 in Southwest Airlines giftcards.

Our family of six loves to travel and we've done dozens of U.S. road trips as well as traveled by air to exotic corners of the world many thousands of miles away from our home in L.A. When it comes to vacation travel, we often choose Southwest Airlines which has routes from our departure city of Los Angeles International Airport to many American cites as well as six other countries. 
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Next up on my travel bucket list I'm dreaming of a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica -- luckily it's a Southwest destination. Inspired by that vacation idea I came up with a wonderfully exotic and delicious Jamaican Coconut Pineapple Cheesecake that substitutes Ritz Crackers for graham crackers in the crust. You're in encouraged to read on and learn how to make this new take on the classic cheesecake to will make you wish you were on a tropical island.

Don't miss my other new blogpost showcasing another delicious, Southwest destination-inspired recipe made with Ritz Crackers: California Mini Tostadas.

Recipe
MommyBlogExpert.com
Jamaica Coconut Pineapple
Cheesecake

Time to Make: 2-1/2 hours
Makes 16 Servings

Ingredients
  • 2 tubes Ritz Crackers (32 crackers each tube)
  • 1/2 cup macadamia nuts
  • 4 T. brown sugar
  • 2 T. shredded coconut
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • 1 lb cream cheese, softened at room temperature
  • 1 c. cottage cheese
  • 1 c. ricotta cheese
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 c. granulated sugar
  • 1/4 t. salt
  • 5 T. flour
  • 1 c. sour cream
  • 1/2 c. milk
  • 1 c. coarse chop pineapple, drained
  • Additional fresh pineapple & coconut to garnish
Directions

Prepare the Crust

1. Grind the Ritz Crackers and macadamian nuts in a blender or food processor.

2. Place ground cracker/nut mixture in bowl and add brown sugar, shredded coconut and vanilla and mix well.

3. Firmly press crust into bottom of an 8" spring form baking pan. Set aside.

Make the Cheesecake

4. In a large bowl using an electric handheld or stand mixer, mix cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, and eggs, then add sugar, salt, flour, sour cream, and milk. Beat until well blended.

5. Pour the cheesecake batter into prepared crust.

6. Drop chopped pineapple bits into the batter, sprinkling over the top of batter so that some pineapple remains near the surface and other bits descend down into the batter at various levels.

7. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes until baked through and lightly browned on top. Toward the end of baking time, watch through the glass door carefully for desired doneness without opening the door.

8. After baking time as ended, turn oven off. Leave cake in the oven for an additional hour to gradually cool to avoid the surface cracking.

9. Remove from pan and chill for a a few hours or overnight. Transfer to cake platter and garnish with fresh pineapple and coconut. For an extra Jamaican tropical touch you can also add exotic flowers to decorate and/or drizzle 1 T. of your favorite rum on top of the cheese cake.

10. Cut cheesecake with a sharp knife dipped into hot water for easy slicing, adding some of the pineapple and coconut garnish to each serving. Take in the view of your guests enjoying every bite and don't be surprised if they ask for seconds.


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About Southwest Airlines
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is in its 44th year of service with 47,000 employees serving 100 million customers each year. The airline operates 3,600 flights per day, serving 94 destinations across the U.S. including my hometown of L.A. and six additional countries. For more information visit the official website as well as follow Southwest on TwitterFacebook and Instagram.


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About Ritz Crackers
Ritz Crackers are a classic snack which has been enjoyed for generations. They're widely available and easy to find in markets across America. Flavors to choose from include Original, Whole Wheat, Bacon, Garlic Butter and other varieties. Learn about Ritz Crackers on the official website where you'll also find lots more delicious recipes. You can also stay up on everything the brand is doing and get more ideas of how to enjoy Ritz Crackers by following them on FacebookTwitterPinterest and Google+.

BIG #LuvRitzSweepstakes GIVEAWAY

Remember to VOTE for this Jamaica Coconut Pineapple Cheesecake Recipe and while you're there enter to WIN $5000 in Southwest Airlines giftcards.

FTC Disclosure: In concert with Hire Influence, I am being compensated for this Southwest Airlines and Mondelez/Ritz Crackers blog series campaign. However opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

California Mini Tostadas Ritz Crackers Recipe

Good Food


Southern California living does have lots of advantages. Beyond the warm year round weather here making it possible to spend lots of time outdoors, one of the things I love most about the L.A. lifestyle is that the regional cuisine is heavily influenced by the delicious tastes and flavors of Mexican food. 




I am partnering with Hire Influence, Southwest Airlines and Mondelez/Ritz Crackers for a food and travel inspired blog post series. This is a sponsored post, however opinions are my own.


Appetizer Recipe Inspired by my hometown of L.A.


The USA-Mexican border is just about a two hour drive south of where we live. Another plus is that avocados, my personal favorite Hispanic cooking ingredient, are grown locally, are inexpensive and almost always available in winter, spring, summer and fall. So when I was asked to create some original recipes incorporating Ritz Crackers, this original easy-to-make California Mini Tostada recipe is one one I came up with which reflects my hometown city. 

Be sure to also check out the new Jamaica Coconut Pineapple Cheesecake recipe I also created using Ritz Crackers, inspired by my Southwest Airlines dream destination which is Montego Bay, Jamaica.


Recipe


MommyBlogExpert.com


This recipe is easy and can be made either with meat or as a vegetarian dish, so both carnivores and veggie lovers can enjoy it. 

California Mini Tostadas

Time to Make: 1 hour
Makes 32 Appetizers

Ingredients
  • 1 T. olive oil
  • 1/4 large onion chopped
  • 6 ozs. ground beef or vegetarian protein alternative
  • 1/4 seeded & chopped red bell pepper
  • 3 minced garlic cloves
  • 2 t. cumin
  • 1 t. ground oregano
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 roll Ritz Crackers (32 crackers)
  • 6-8 roma tomatoes w/ diameter similar to crackers
  • 1 cup guacamole
  • 1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
  • fresh oregano sprigs to garnish

Directions

Make the Tostada Filling

1. On the stove top heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat, add chopped onion and saute till golden. Add chopped pepper and minced garlic and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.

2. Add cumin, ground oregano, salt and pepper, and ground beef or veggie protein alternative. Gently stir all, cooking until well-browned, about 10-12 minutes.

3. Set aside ground meat/veggie filling to cool.


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Assemble the Mini Tostadas

4. Layout Ritz crackers right side up on a clean, dry work surface.


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5. Cut roma tomatoes crosswise into 1/4" thick circles and place one on each cracker.

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6. Using a small spoon transfer about a teaspoon full of the meat mixture onto the top of each tomato slice, pressing gently so it stays on the appetizers.


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7. Carefully spoon approximately 1 t. of guacamole onto top of the meat mixture on each appetizer.


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8. Top guacamole on each appetizer with a small amount of grated cheddar cheese.

9. Transfer to platter and add the fresh oregano sprigs to garnish.

10. Pass around the appetizer platter to your guests and watch them enjoy your creation.




About Southwest Airlines
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is in its 44th year of service with 47,000 employees serving 100 million customers each year. The airline operates 3,600 flights per day, serving 94 destinations across the U.S. including my hometown of L.A. and six additional countries. For more information visit the official website as well as follow Southwest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.


MommyBlogExpert.com


About Ritz Crackers
Ritz Crackers are a classic snack which has been enjoyed for generations. They're widely available and easy to find in markets across America. Flavors to choose from include Original, Whole Wheat, Bacon, Garlic Butter and other varieties. Learn about Ritz Crackers on the official website where you'll also find lots more delicious recipes. You can also stay up on everything the brand is doing and get more ideas of how to enjoy Ritz Crackers by following them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Big #LuvRitzSweepstakes Giveaway


Remember to VOTE for the Mommy Blog Expert Mini Tostadas Appetizer Recipe featured in this post and while you're there enter to WIN $5000 in Southwest Airlines giftcards.


FTC Disclosure: In concert with Hire Influence, I am being compensated for this Southwest Airlines and Mondelez/Ritz Crackers blog series campaign. However opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

A Charlie Brown Christmas 50th Anniversary

Giveaway


Celebrating 50 Years of Peanuts


Like many of you I've been a fan of Peanuts and Charlie Brown my entire life and so have my kids. In fact, last year I served as a Peanuts Worldwide Brand Ambassador leading up to the 50th Anniversary airing of the iconic TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas



Charlie Brown Peanuts Gift Set Giveaway

MBE partnered with Peanuts Worldwide for this story

With all the current excitement about the greatly anticipated children's The Peanuts Movie which will be released in theaters nationwide this Friday, I couldn't be more excited to be offering a super fun Gift Package Giveaway to celebrate a half century of Peanuts. 


50th Anniversary 
Peanuts Gift Set

GIVEAWAY
Ends 11/19/15

The prize package, provided by Concord Music, features a 2 CD set including the complete original soundtrack from A Charlie Brown Christmas plus another CD with all the classic character theme songs. Also included is a reproduction of the 1965 children's book by Charles Schulz plus four Peanuts postcards. This gift set, which is perfect for holiday gift giving, is now available exclusively at Walmart.

*** Bookmark this page NOW and come back DAILY to increase your chances of winning this great prize! ***

MommyBlogExpert's 50th Anniversary Peanuts Gift Pack Giveaway ends November 19, 2015 at 12 am PT and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Concord Music will award ONE (1) 50th Anniversary Peanuts Gift Pack to winner. Winner of this MBE contest will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 24 hours to claim their prize.

Good Luck!!!

More Family-Friendly
Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE



FTC Disclosure: To facilitate this giveaway and the associated reviewI received the special gift set featuredConcord Music is providing the prize and shipping for MBE's 50th Anniversary A Charlie Brown Chrismas Gift Pack Giveaway. However opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.