Five Ingredient Recipes

Being in quarantine, getting all the food we want from the grocery store is not as easy as it seems anymore, but this doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the ingredients lying at home. From shortbread to tarts and baklava, here are some of the easiest recipes to make with just five ingredients or less!

Mini Blueberry Tarts:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 sheets refrigerated pie crust
• 1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Crush half of the blueberries. Sift together the sugar and cornstarch. Add the whole and crushed blueberries; toss until the berries are well coated. 
2. On a lightly floured surface, unroll the crusts. Cut out six 4-1/2-inch circles; press the circles onto the sides of greased muffin cups. Evenly pour in the blueberry mixture. Cut out six 2-inch circles from the remaining crust; place over the filling. Brush with yolk.
3. Bake until the crust is golden for 13-17 minutes. Cool in the pans for ten minutes; run a knife around the sides of the muffin cups and remove the tarts to a serving plate.

Baklava:

Ingredients:

• 4 cups chopped walnuts
• 1-½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 pack of frozen phyllo dough, thawed
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup honey

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Coat a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Combine the walnuts and cinnamon.
2. Unroll the phyllo dough. Layer two sheets of phyllo in a prepared pan; brush them with butter. Repeat this step with six more sheets of phyllo, brushing every other one with butter. (Keep the remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.)
3. Sprinkle 1/2 cup nut mixture in the pan; drizzle with two tablespoons honey. Add two more phyllo sheets, brushing with butter; sprinkle another 1/2 cup nut mixture and two tablespoons honey over the phyllo. Repeat these layers six times. Top with the remaining phyllo sheets, brushing every other one with butter.
4. Using a sharp knife, score the surface to make twenty-four squares. Bake until it is golden brown and crisp for 25-30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour before serving.

Whipped Shortbread:

Ingredients: 

• 3 cups butter, softened
• 1-½ cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
• 4-½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1-½ cups cornstarch
• Cherry halves

Directions: 

1. In a large bowl, stir butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy for about 5 minutes. Gradually add flour and cornstarch, beating until well blended.
2. With your hands lightly dusted with additional cornstarch, roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Place them one inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press lightly with a floured fork. Top the dessert with the cherry halves.
3. Bake at 300° for 20-22 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pans to wire racks.

These simple, yet luscious desserts are the perfect way to pass time during quarantine, especially with the lack of groceries in stores. With less than five ingredients for each recipe, everyone can enjoy these treats!