Chef bakes delicious strawberry cheesecake pie

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Alexander Eakins

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Marie Antoinette’s famous dictum, “let them eat cake,” no longer defines the fine line between the rich and the poor. Today, a rich cake makes an affordable special occasion of any meal for any person of any class.

Senior computer science major and at-home chef Justin Patterson might not have learned to bake delicious cakes if costs barred him from doing so. His go-to recipe is a hearty cheesecake with a touch of passion.

Patterson comes from a rich tradition of home-cooked, southern meals. He describes the fact that, even though his family did not have a vast disposable income, he always had a warm meal waiting for him at the table.

“Growing up, my family didn’t have all the money in the world. But the important things were there, especially food,” Patterson says.

Patterson holds an associates degree in biology from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. He was inspired to be a surgeon for two reasons: the pay and the calming feeling he gets from working with his hands, even on an operating table. When he transferred to St. Mary’s, however, he changed his major to computer science because his teachers encouraged him and he was unhappy with the biology program.

“I love the teachers at St. Mary’s,” Patterson says. “I just feel like the business program is too privileged and other programs suffer from that.”

Working with his hands is what interests Patterson in cooking. His signature dish is a recipe for ragu spaghetti that takes four hours to cook. But, when he’s feeling passionate or adventurous, he enjoys baking. One such occasion prompted him to try out a recipe for a strawberry-topped cheesecake.

“I’ve baked cheesecake before, but I’ve only used blueberries as a topping,” Patterson says. “This recipe was designed for my girlfriend. Cooking it was a timely decision … I wanted to make her birthday special and a store-bought cake just wouldn’t do that. She loves cheesecake and strawberries, so I put two and two together and decided strawberry cheesecake would be the perfect birthday cake solution!”

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4th Annual Magazine Launch Party

Posted on November 26, 2013 by tasteofstmu

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For a pre-Thanksgiving feast, more than 60 students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, media communications professionals and guests gathered at the University Center Conference Room A for a Taste of StMU.

Now in its fourth year, the magazine launch party showcased 16 new layout designs and a bountiful buffet of main dishes and desserts.

The winner of the Professionals’ Choice award was Jessica Valles (see magazine), whose partner chef, Beatriz Quesada, made “Watermelon Cake.” The winner of the People’s Choice award was Michelle Kafie (see magazine), whose partner chef, Cindy Kafie, made “Vanilla Cake Pops.”

This year’s menu included tres leches, tiramisu cake, cheesecake, apple crumble, beer-roasted chicken with mashed sweet potatoes, meat and cheese lasagne, Reese’s Peanut Butter chocolate pie, German chocolate cake, monkey bread, rosemary chicken and lemon dressing salad, jambalaya, spaghetti and meatballs, vanilla cake pops, white cheese enchiladas, peanut butter blossoms cookies and watermelon cake.

The graphic design students thank All Events San Antonio, the sponsoring organization, as well as HI Cookery, the Marianist Province of the U.S., Aramark and UC staff, and the St. Mary’s Bookstore for their generosity in supporting this important educational and networking event. See Flickr photo album.

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Chocolate Chip Muffins

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Alex

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Chocolate Chip Muffins by Megan Salib
Story and Photos by Alex Diaz

A fresh baked muffin hits just the right spot when walking to class in the morning or even as a late night study snack.

Students who live on campus know what it’s like to be deprived of home cooked meals.

However, with the new kitchenettes in the outback, Megan Salib, a junior psychology major, brings a little bit of home by being able to bake some of her favorite muffins.

Salib, from Corpus Christi, Texas, enjoys food that offers versatile ways of being prepared.

“I like all kinds of food. I like to always try different things and my favorite would be vegetables because there are so many different ways to make them and they still taste good!” she says.

As a full-time student and active member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Marianist Leadership Program, Catholic Student Group, The Bridge and Delta Zeta, Salib turns to baking as dedicated time for herself.

“Baking has been a way for me to express my creative side,” Salib says. “I am continually experimenting with new foods and recipes.”

Salib loves the strong sense of community that is offered at St. Mary’s and it gives her joy when she can share her treats with classmates, friends and sisters.

“I have gotten a lot of compliments from friends for my brownie cheesecake,” Salib says.

After graduating from St. Mary’s, Salib plans to commit to a year of service before applying to graduate school for social work.

“I want to help children find a safe environment they can grow up in,” Salib explains. “I want to eventually work with adoption agencies.”

This Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe allows for creative freedom, one of the main reasons why it is at the Salib household.

“I chose this recipe because it was something my family used to make for breakfast before I went to school. It’s easy and you can always change it and add different things to it like fruit or nuts,” Salib explains.

Baking does not always have to be a step by step activity.

“Make it your own,” Salib says. “By changing ingredients in a recipe, a new dish is created every time.”

Ingredients

  • 1 c whole wheat flour
  • 1 c sugar
  • 1 T vanilla
  • 1/2 c applesauce
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 egg whites
  • 3/4 c chocolate chips
  • 2 T brown sugar
  • 1 packet vanilla pudding mix

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, mix together the applesauce and egg whites. Slowly add in dry ingredients until an even consistency is created.  Line the muffin pan with liners and fill the cups 3/4 full. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes. Let muffins cool before removing them from the pan. Recipe makes about 8 servings.

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Turon: Banana Lumpia

Posted on September 15, 2013 by ncanedo

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Turon: Banana Lumpia by Kirsten Acosta
Story and photos by Nick Canedo

While appetizers and the main course is savory, what people remember most about a three-course meal is the last thing to hit their tongue—the dessert! For St. Mary’s senior biology major Kirsten Acosta, there is not dessert better than one that comes from her Filipino roots.

While cooking is a hobby, Acosta’s true passion is dentistry.

“I’ve always been fascinated with teeth. When choosing a college, I didn’t want to leave my San Antonio, since it’s always been my home. When I found out St. Mary’s could put me on the track to dental school, I knew this place would be a good fit,” Acosta says.

Living at home while attending college, Acosta enjoys the home cooked dinner she gets after a long day at school.

“While I love the Mexican food that San Antonio has to offer, my favorite will always be Filipino because it’s my heritage.”

Acosta’s family has a tradition of the entire household contributing to dinner once they become teenagers. When she first started helping her family, she had a tough time meeting her parent’s cooking standards.

“At first, both my mother and father would yell at me that something wasn’t right. I was discouraged at first, but I wanted to be like the rest of my family and cook traditional Filipino dishes,” she says.

The first dish Acosta made by herself for her family was turon, a popular Filipino desert.

“My mom said it was the easiest thing to make, so she trusted me to do it.”

Also known as banana lumpia, turon is a popular street food among Filipinos.

“We used to eat it by itself, but it was my idea to eat it with ice cream. Now, turon and vanilla ice cream is pretty much the tradition for deserts in my household,” Acosta says.

Ingredients

For 10 turons:

  • Five bananans
  • Bowl full of water
  • ½ c of golden brown sugar
  • ½ c of white sugar
  • 10 spring roll wrappings
  • Paper towel
  • Plate

Directions
Create quarter long bananas by cutting them in half, then cutting them lengthwise. Dip each one in water, then mix a little golden brown sugar and white sugar together and sprinkle over top wet bananas. Wrap two quarter long bananas in each spring roll wrapping, then tap some water on spring roll and sprinkle sugar mixture over top (this will create “clean” but sugary tops).  Deep-fry the wrappings until golden and transfer to paper towel on a plate to absorb oil.

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The Best New York Style Cheesecake

Posted on July 15, 2013 by koko0202

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The Best New York Style Cheesecake by Anissa Bravo
Story and Photos by Stela Khury

When Anissa Bravo, Junior English major, tried to decide what sort of food she would both feel comfortable preparing and enjoy eating, she sensed a pattern. Bravo noticed that she kept seeking out dishes that she could share easily. Her dream job as a teacher showed through her desire to unite over an often overlooked task. Bravo felt an evening off to order pizza was a fun idea, but actually taking up the task of preparing a meal was even more rewarding, if not therapeutic.

“I genuinely love all types of food! I do enjoy Mexican food because that is definitely comfort food for me; I also love Asian and Italian cuisine,” Bravo says. “But anything sweet is definitely a favorite for me.”

Bravo decided she wanted to bake a comforting dessert for her closest group of friends. She says St. Mary’s has a “homey vibe” that welcomes simple pleasures, thus she picked the simplest and most delicious dessert of all: cheesecake.  Bravo felt that after a rough start to the semester, a Friday night watching the Lord of the Rings while munching on a slice of freshly baked cheesecake was just what she and her friends needed.

“I chose the New York cheesecake with a blueberry topping because it is very delicious and also fun to make,” Bravo says. “There really isn’t any other special significance besides that I adore cheesecake… and blueberries. So, as a combination, they’re pretty spectacular.”

Bravo says that cheesecake is a fairly easy recipe to make, because it basically involves “mixing ingredients and pouring them on a pan.” The only downside of cheesecake over a plain cake is that the cheesecake needs time to cool. The New York style of cheesecake, according to Bravo, is one of the easiest if one needs to “get eating fast.” Bravo’s secret hint is to let the cheesecake cool for 30 minutes on top of the oven and then an hour in the freezer, which should allow for a firm, delicious cheesecake in half the time.

Bravo also advises aspiring chefs to remember to add a fruit topping.

“Plain cheesecake is delicious, but nothing beats a tasty kick of sweet berries,” Bravo says. “Also, the way it looks at the end is so beautiful that it makes [this cheesecake] a rewarding dessert to bake.”

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 2c finely ground graham crackers (about 30 squares)
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

  • ·2 (8-oz) blocks of cream cheese
  • ·3 eggs
  • ·1c sugar
  • ·1 pint sour cream
  • ·1 tsp vanilla extract

Fruit topping:

  • ·1 pint blueberries, raspberries or cherries
  • ·2T sugar

In a saucepan add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for five minutes, or until the fruit begins to release juice and the sugar to become firm. The ideal point is when, by mixing the contents of the pan, the sauce is only thick enough for the bottom of the saucepan to be perfectly visible for a moment.

Servings: 8-12

Directions

Prepare the oven by preheating it to 325°F.

In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the crust with a fork until evenly moistened. Coat the bottom and sides of pan with either cooking spray or regular cooking oil.

Pour the mixture into the pan and press the crumbs down onto the bottom of the pan and an inch up on the sides to form the base of the cheesecake.

Next, with aid of a mixer, beat the cream cheese with the vanilla extract for one minute until smooth.

On a separate bowl, add sour cream and fold in one egg at a time. Continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat these components until creamy (one or two minutes.)

Combine the cream cheese and sour cream mixtures and beat until smooth and even.

Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Cover the cheesecake pan with aluminum foil and place it in the oven. Bake for 45 minutes.

Let the cheesecake, still slightly jiggly, to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.

Chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours.

Finally, unmold and transfer to a cake plate.

Using a spatula spread a layer of the fruit topping of choice over the surface.

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Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

Posted on April 10, 2013 by bsoto92

Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce by Koryn Wade
Videography and Production by Bianca Soto

Koryn Wade, a junior english major, shows off her passion for cooking by preparing a delightful dish from a recipe that has traditionally been passed down her family for years. Spaghetti with tomato sauce is one  of her favorite meals to eat and make and can be easily prepared by anyone within a short matter of time. This delicious and easy to make dish will surely suffice the hunger buds of any person at any age.

Ingredients 

  • 4 oz can of Chopped Tomatoes
  • 4 oz can of Tomato Sauce
  • 2 oz can of Tomato Paste
  • 1 Tbsp of Garlic Salt
  • 1 Tbsp of Sea Salt
  • 2 Tbsp of Black Pepper
  • 2 Tbsp of Basil
  • 2 Tbsp of Oregano
  • 1 Tsp of Minced Dried Onions
  • 1 Tsp of Minced Dried Garlic
  • Angel hair pasta

Directions

Begin with a medium sized deep skillet and place it on the stove at medium heat. Open and pour in all three types of can tomatoes. Do not forget to wash out the rest of the paste into the skillet, just fill the can up with water, stir it around to get the rest of the paste and pour it into the skillet. It’ll take about 5 minutes to warm up the unseasoned sauce, while this is happening take a medium pot and fill it half way with water and sprinkle a dash of salt into the water, which will help it boil faster. Once the water is boiling, snap the angel hair in half and gently place it into the boiling water. Turn down the heat of the boiling water and let it cook for about 10 minutes, or until it is fully cooked. Then add all the seasonings to the tomato sauce, cover, and let it simmer until the pasta is ready. Finally, drain the pasta (add butter if desired), and then pour on the sauce and you’re ready to eat.

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Pasta de Banner

Posted on April 10, 2013 by ztn3

Pasta de Banner by Matt Banner
Videography and Production by Zachary Nicholson

 

Matt Banner, a freshman finance major, cooks up an original dish on the fly. Raised in a household of Italian chefs, Banner shows the techniques he learned growing up in the kitchen. Pasta de Banner is a simple, yet interesting mix of vegetables and pasta that is sure to please your taste-buds!

 

Ingredients

  •  1 cup of mushrooms
  •  1 cup of onions
  •  2 cloves
  •  1 pound of ground meat
  •  ½ cup of okra
  •  ½ teaspoon of salt
  •  ½ teaspoon of pepper
  •  1 serving size of noodles
  •  ½ cup Spaghetti Sauce

Directions

 

Begin by washing all of the vegetables thoroughly. Then dice the onions into small pieces. Once the onions are diced, cut the cloves into very small pieces. Also dice the okra into small chunks.

Next, place all the diced vegetables into a pan. Cook in the pan until the onions begin to caramelize or turn light brown.

After the vegetables are cooked place ground meat into pan and cook until meat is dark brown (or desired meat preference.)

Once the meat is cooked, place the vegetables and the meat in the same pan. Stir the vegetables and the meat together.

Next, bring water to a boil. Add pasta noodles once water is boiling. Cook pasta in boiling water for approximately 10-12 minutes.

Once the pasta is cooked and ready, add it to the stir-fry of vegetables and meat.

Stir the noodles and stir-fry as desired. Add Spaghetti sauce and stir.

That is it! Enjoy eating your Pasta de Banner!

Pasta de Banner completed!

Pasta de Banner completed!

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Cheese Enchiladas

Posted on April 10, 2013 by richardz22

Cheese Enchiladas by David Tovar
Videography and Production by Richard Zepeda

David Tovar, a senior in Speech, creates one of his favorite foods; cheese enchiladas. Cooking since he was in high school, Tovar learned to create different foods, and developed his skills over time. Enchiladas became one of his favorite foods,  and is a recipe that has been in Tovar’s family for years. Today he continues to make enchiladas and other dishes such as tacos and hamburgers.

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg. McCormick Sauce Mix
  •  1 ½ Cups of Water
  •  1 Can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
  •  8 corn or flour tortillas
  •  1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  •  1 tbs. of olive oil (optional)

Directions

Stir sauce mix, water and tomato sauce in medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Dip tortillas into olive oil after oil has boiled. Leave for few seconds, flip. Take out. Spread sauce to coat upon tortillas. Add cheese. Roll tortillas tightly. Place seam-side down in greased 11×7 inch baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake in preheated 350 F oven 15 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted.

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Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

Posted on April 9, 2013 by jessicavalles

Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad by Cassandra Antell
Videography and Production by Jessica Valles

Junior biophysics major Cassandra Antell, cooks chicken for a fresh salad. The dish is simple and tasty, perfect for a quick and healthy meal during a busy week.

Ingredients

  • 2 cooked chicken breasts
  • 1/2 granny smith apple
  • 2 stalks of celery
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (Crasins)
  • 2 tbsp. chopped almonds
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 1/4-cup plain Greek yogurt
  • Pinch of salt & pepper
  • Squeeze of lemon juice
  • Club crackers

Directions

Season the chicken to your liking and cook it thoroughly. Shred the cooked chicken and set it aside in a mixing bowl. Chop the celery, apples and onion then add it to the mixing bowl. Add the almonds and dried cranberries while also stirring in the Greek yogurt. Season with salt and pepper and serve with club crackers. This recipe makes about six servings of salad.

Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

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Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies

Posted on April 9, 2013 by yobriaahh

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies by Morgan Pullins
Videography and Production by Bria Bell

St. Mary’s Women’s Basketball player Morgan Pullins, a sophomore and exercise sports science major, showcases her technique on baking peanut butter cookies. As she takes us step by step, Morgan shares background information on why this tasty treat is significant to her personally.

Ingredients

• 3/4-cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 cup Crisco® All-Vegetable Shortening
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

HEAT oven to 375°F. Combine peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add egg, beating just until blended.
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed, mixing just until blended. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheet. Flatten slightly in a crisscross pattern with tines of fork.
BAKE 7 to 8 minutes or until set and just beginning to brown. Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 dozen

Final-Product-Picture

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies!

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