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Blueberry Squares

Blueberry Squares

Blueberry Squares

 

2 cups blueberries

1/2 cup sugar

2 tbsp, cornstarch

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp, lemon juice

 

Stir together blueberries, sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Mix in lemon juice and water. Bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens (about 3 minutes). Let cool.

 

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

pinch salt

3/4 cup butter, melted

 

Combine oats, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large mixing bowl. Drizzle with butter and stir until well blended. Spread half the mixture into well-greased 8-inch  baking pan. Pat firmly. Cover with blueberry filled. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over top. Bake at 350F for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before cutting squares.

Donut Muffins

Donut Muffins

Donut Muffins

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup margarine, melted

3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup margarine, melted

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 24 mini-muffin cups. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup margarine, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Stir in the milk, then mix in the baking powder and flour until just combined. Fill the prepared mini muffin cups about half full. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes. While muffins are baking, place 1/4 cup of melted margarine in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sugar with the cinnamon. Remove muffins from their cups, dip each muffin in the melted margarine, and roll in the sugar-cinnamon mixture. Let cool and serve.

Rhubarb Upside-Down Brown Sugar Cake with Strawberries and Crème Fraiche

Rhubarb Upside-Down Brown Sugar Cake with Strawberries and Crème Fraiche

Rhubarb Upside-Down Brown Sugar Cake with Strawberries and Crème Fraiche.

About 1 ¼ to 1 ½ pounds rhubarb trimmed and rinsed

¾ cup sugar (1/2-cup for rhubarb, ¼ cup for caramelizing)

1 ½ T. unsalted butter

 

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

Pinch of fine sea salt

3 large eggs room temperature

¾ cup packed light brown sugar

Finely grated zest of 1 orange

1 ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

8 T. unsalted butter, melted and cooled

 

Left over rhubarb syrup

Strawberry jam

 

2 cups of Strawberries, hulled and cut in half.

8 oz. Crème Fraiche

First make the Rhubarb Topping:

 

If your rhubarb is not young and thin, peel it.  Cut the stalks into 1 inch lengths and toss them with ½ cup sugar and set aside for 30 minutes. Drain the rhubarb and reserve the syrup to make the glaze. Butter a 9 inch round cake pan with sides at least 1½ high. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat then stir in the sugar. When the sugar has melted and is JUST changing color add the rhubarb. Stir sparingly for about 3 minutes or until the sugar is slightly caramelized. Scrape the rhubarb and syrup into the cake pan and leave to cool. Next, make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. In a large bowl whisk the eggs and brown sugar together until thick and smooth. Whisk in the zest and vanilla. Pour in the butter in 3 additions. Whisk well. Add the dry ingredients in 3 additions whisking gently. Scrape the batter into the pan over the rhubarb and put the pan onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake the cake for about 25 minutes, rotating it after 12 minutes. Bake until it is golden brown, springy to the touch and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and let rest for about 2 minutes, then run a table knife around the sides of the cake Place the serving plate over the cake and turn the cake over onto the platter. Wait for a minute then lift off the pan. Finally, make the Glaze: Bring the reserved rhubarb syrup to a boil then reduce to a simmer until it reduces and becomes syrupy. Add a few spoonfuls of strawberry jam and stir well. Gently spoon the glaze over the top of the cake.  To serve the cake, add strawberries to the cake plate, dollop with Crème Fraiche and serve.

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

3 C. all-purpose flour

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

2 T. plus one tsp. of pumpkin pie spice

2 sticks softened butter (8 ounces)

1 C. white sugar

1/3 C. dark molasses

1 large egg

1 C. canned pumpkin puree

1½ to 2 C. Demerara or Turbinado sugar

 

In a medium bowl, sift flour, salt, baking powder and pumpkin spice and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter, white sugar and molasses until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add egg and beat for 30 seconds. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again. Add pumpkin puree and beat until mixed. Add dry ingredients on low speed until thoroughly mixed. The dough will be sticky but easier to manage once they firm up under refrigeration. Divide dough into four logs, eight inches long. Seal each one in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 60 minutes or longer. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. On a cutting board, unwrap one log, then cut it into quarters. Then cut each quarter into thirds, yielding 12 cookies per log. Repeat for other three logs – you will have 48 pieces. The dough will still be a bit sticky but easier to handle once rolled in the Demerara sugar. Pour the Demerara sugar into a pie plate. Line four cookie sheets with parchment paper or if nonstick, no parchment needed. Roll each slice in the sugar on the edges and both sides, pressing down slightly and then place on the pans; 12 per pan. Bake one pan 12 to 13 minutes until cookies start to dry out around the edges but are still soft in the middle. Ours took exactly 12 minutes but ovens differ, and cookie sheets differ. Repeat for the other three pans. When they come out, let them sit on the pan for five minutes then transfer to cooling racks using a spatula to remove them. Cool completely. Once they are cooled, they will be firmer and easier to handle but they are a delicate cookie so be gentle.

Chewy Café Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chewy Café Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chewy Café Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 C. + 2 T. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. salt

1 ½ sticks (6 oz) butter, melted and cooled

1 C. dark brown sugar, lightly packed

½ C. granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 C. dark chocolate chips, plus more for topping

 

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat together the cooled melted butter and the sugars with a hand-mixer for about one minute. Then, add in the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until just combined. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix briefly, just until there are no flour clumps left. Fold in the chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to an hour. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 350°F, making sure you have the racks in the middle of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 1/4 C. of cookie dough at a time and roll into balls. Then, tear the balls in half by pulling gently on both sides. Smush the two halves together again, but this time have the lumpy, torn sides face upward. Place on the prepared baking sheet, making sure the cookies have plenty of space to spread. You should be able to fit 6-8 cookies on each tray. Bake for about 10-14 minutes, rotating half-way through, or until the cookies have spread out and the edges are golden, but the centers of the cookies still look soft and undercooked. Every oven is different, so I recommend starting with just one or two cookies on the tray to see what baking time works best for you! Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets until the cookies are firm enough to remove, about 15 minutes. As the cookies are cooling, press additional chocolate chips into the tops for a more bakery-style look. Repeat with remaining batches, until all cookies are baked. Enjoy with a cold glass of milk!

Watermelon Pops

Watermelon Pops

Watermelon Pops

5 cups chopped fresh watermelon; seeds removed

1 teaspoon mint-infused oil or extract

1 teaspoon orange-infused oil or extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup sugar

 

Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pour into molds and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight. Freeze up to 3 months. Store in the molds or release, wrap well in waxed paper, and store in a marked sealable plastic bag.

Fruit and Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries

Fruit and Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries

Fruit and Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastries

6 ounces cream cheese, at room temp

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (17.3-oz.) package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed

1 1/2 cups fruit (See Kelly’s Note)

1 large egg

Sanding sugar (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpats. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese with the sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla extract until creamy. Unfold the puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured work surface. Lightly roll the pastry with a rolling pin to seal the perforations. Using a 4-inch round cookie cutter (or glass), cut out four circles from each sheet of puff pastry. Transfer four pastry circles onto each baking sheet, spacing the circles about 2 inches apart. Lightly score a circular border 1/4-inch from the edges then prick the centers of each pastry with a fork. Spread a portion of the cream cheese mixture inside the border of each pastry then top the cream cheese with fruit. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg with 1 tablespoon water. Brush the edges of the pastries with the egg wash then sprinkle them with the sanding sugar (optional). Bake the pastries for 15 to 18 minutes or until they’re golden and puffed. Remove the pastries from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.  Any type of fruit will work for these breakfast pastries. Opt for your favorite flavors or whatever is in season, such as strawberries, raspberries, peaches, plums, apples or pears.

Sheet Pan Nectarine Crumble

Sheet Pan Nectarine Crumble

Sheet Pan Nectarine Crumble

8 T. (1 stick) (4 oz./125 g) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing

1 1/3 cups (4 oz./125 g) rolled oats

2/3 cup (4 oz./125 g) all-purpose flour

2/3 cup (5 oz./155 g) plus 1/2 cup (3 1/2 oz./105 g) firmly packed light brown sugar

Kosher salt

2 batches basic pie dough

4 1/2 lb. (2.25 kg) ripe nectarines, pitted and sliced (about 12 cups)

1/2 cup (4 fl. oz./125 ml) honey

3 T. cornstarch

Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

 

Preheat an oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly butter a half-sheet pan. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Cook, swirling the pan frequently, until the butter foams, begins to brown and smells nutty, about 6 minutes; be careful not to burn the butter. Remove the pan from the heat and let the butter cool to room temperature. In a bowl, stir together the oats, flour, the 2/3 cup (5 oz./155 g) brown sugar and 1 tsp. salt. Add the brown butter and stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out all of the pie dough into a 22-by-18-inch (55-by-45-cm) rectangle about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. Roll the dough around a rolling pin and unroll it on top of the prepared pan. Gently press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Trim the edges, leaving a 1/2-inch (12-mm) overhang, and fold in the excess dough. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, toss the nectarines with the remaining 1/2 cup (3 1/2 oz./105 g) brown sugar, the honey, cornstarch, lemon zest and juice, and a pinch of salt. Pour the nectarine mixture into the prepared crust. Sprinkle the oat mixture evenly over the top. Transfer to the oven and bake until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for at least 1 hour before serving. Serves 12.

Blueberry-Lemon Poke Cake

Blueberry-Lemon Poke Cake

Blueberry-Lemon Poke Cake

1 box lemon cake mix and the additional ingredients called for on the box

For the Lemon Blueberry Sauce

1½ cup blueberries fresh or frozen

1 large lemon zest and juice (about 1 tsp. of zest and 1 tbsp. of juice)

¼ cup sugar

2 tsp. corn starch

pinch of salt

½ tsp. vanilla extract

For the Topping:

½ cup jarred lemon curd

1 8 oz. container whipped topping cool whip

 

Prepare the lemon cake according to the package directions using a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. In the meantime, prepare the blueberry lemon sauce. In a medium saucepan, add blueberries, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken (about 12 minutes for frozen blueberries, about 6-7 minutes for fresh). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Set aside. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes into the cake that are about an inch apart. While the cake is still warm, drizzle the blueberry lemon sauce on top. Spread the sauce into an even layer over the cake ensuring some of the sauce and blueberries get down into the holes. Let the cake cool completely (about an hour). Add the lemon curd and ½ cup of the cool whip to a medium bowl and whisk together until smooth. Add another ½ cup of the cool whip and whisk until smooth. Add the remaining cool whip to the bowl. Use a large spoon or spatula and gently fold the cool whip into the lemon curd mixture. Spread the whipped lemon topping on top of the cake into an even layer. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Huckleberry Polenta Cake

Huckleberry Polenta Cake

Huckleberry Polenta Cake

6 T. unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into 6 pieces, plus more for greasing

1 cup stone-ground cornmeal (fine or medium grind)

1/2 cup almond meal, or ‘/3 cup raw almonds, ground

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1/4 cup plain Greek or strained yogurt

Zest of 1 lime

3 T. freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 2 limes)

2 T. honey

1/4 cup candied ginger, minced

1 1/2 cups huckleberries

 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.  In a small bowl, combine the cornmeal, almond meal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Using a handheld electric beater or stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light yellow and malleable, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs one a time, beating until just combined; after the third egg, the mixture should be thick and glossy and will have increased in volume. Stir in the yogurt, lime zest and juice, and honey, beating until everything is well combined. Add the cornmeal mixture to the wet ingredients and stir by hand with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Gently stir in the ginger and huckleberries. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. The cake should be golden and firm on the top and not jiggle in the center. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then invert and let cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Peel away the parchment and serve.

WIW: Chocolate Waffles with Caramel-Bacon Syrup

WIW: Chocolate Waffles with Caramel-Bacon Syrup

WIW: Chocolate Waffles with Caramel-Bacon Syrup

3/4 C. water

1/4 C. pure vegetable oil

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 packet (7 oz.) chocolate chip pancake mix or

1 packet (7 oz.) buttermilk pancake mix

1/4 C. unsweetened cocoa powder

3 T. sugar

Nonstick cooking spray

 

1/4 C. pancake syrup

3/4 C. sundae syrup, caramel flavored

Whipped cream

Ground cinnamon to taste

1/4 C. diced cooked bacon

 

Heat waffle iron according to manufacturer’s directions. Whisk water, oil, egg and vanilla in large bowl. Stir in pancake mix, cocoa and sugar until evenly moistened. Allow to stand 1 minute. Coat waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Pour 1/4 C. batter for each waffle onto waffle iron. Bake 4 to 5 minutes or until done. Repeat to make a total of 10 4-inch waffles.

 

Caramel Syrup: Whisk together pancake syrup and caramel flavored syrup in small bowl. Drizzle 1 T. on serving plates. Cut 2 waffles in half diagonally to make 4 triangles. Arrange on top of syrup. Top with additional caramel flavored syrup, whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon and bacon pieces.

WIW: Doughnut Chips

WIW: Doughnut Chips

WIW: Doughnut Chips

1 C. granulated sugar

1 T. cinnamon

12 leftover doughnuts (such as plain, glazed or cake doughnuts; nothing with a thick frosting)

 

Preheat a waffle iron on high. In a small bowl, mix the sugar with the cinnamon to combine. Cut each of the doughnuts in half. Working in batches, place 2 or 3 halved doughnuts in the waffle iron and press firmly to close. Cook for 30 to 45 seconds. Remove the doughnuts from the waffle iron and transfer to a large plate. Press a heavy skillet on top of the waffled doughnuts for 5 to 10 seconds. Transfer the chips to the cinnamon sugar and toss to coat. The doughnuts will get crispy as they cool. Repeat with the remaining doughnuts. Cool completely before serving.

Sesame Nougatine

Sesame Nougatine

Sesame Nougatine

100 g of sugar

100 g of glucose syrup (I used honey)

25 g water

110 g white sesame

20 g of butter

As for the Gianduja

160 g hazelnut paste

55 g of dark chocolate

 

I assume this recipe can also be used for ground almonds for almond nougatine. Enjoy, a light sweet snack or candy.

 

To make the nougatine, I first combined the sugar, water, honey and brought it to a rolling boil. Using a electronic thermometer, I took the mixture off the heat once the temperature reached 115C. I immediately added the butter and the sesames,by doing so, it stopped the cooking process. Once the mixture has cooled, I spooned the mixture into silicone molds and baked it at 350F or 180C for about 15-17 minutes.

As a caution, position the rack to the lower half of the oven as I got burnt sesame nougatine for the 1st batch. When the nougatine was golden colour, I set it to cool.   As for the taste, it is basically the same as the sesame crisps you see outside but homemade instead.

Caramel Apple Lattice Cookies

Caramel Apple Lattice Cookies

Caramel Apple Lattice Cookies

2 refrigerated pie crust

3 medium granny smith apples

4 T. butter

¼ C. packed dark brown sugar

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. ground cinnamon – divided

2 tsp. ground nutmeg- divided

¼ C. granulated sugar

¼ C. caramel ice cream topping

½ C. chopped pecans or walnuts-optional

 

Peel, core and dice apples, place in saucepan with butter, brown sugar, salt and 1 tsp. of each spice. On medium heat, cook apples until soft and thickened. Remove from heat and cool. Unroll one crust, using a 2 ½” round cookie cutter, cut out 12 cookie rounds. Place rounds on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush tops of pie crust cookies with caramel topping. Add a ½ tsp. apple filling over top of cookie round. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired. Unroll remaining crust and cut long strips of dough ¼ “ wide. Weave dough strips to create a lattice design. Cut cookie lattice with round cookie cutter to create clean edges. Mix ¼ C. sugar and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon and nutmeg. Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake cookies for 30 minutes at 350. Drizzle cookies with caramel sauce if desired. Best served warm. Yield: 12-13 cookies

WIW: Waffled Carrot Cake

WIW: Waffled Carrot Cake

WIW: Waffled Carrot Cake

1/2 C. pecan halves, plus extra for garnish

 

4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

2 T. unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 C. confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Pinch fine salt

 

1 C. all-purpose flour

1/2 C. sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. ground cinnamon, plus more for dusting

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. fine salt

1/3 C. vegetable oil, plus more for brushing waffle iron

1/4 C. milk

1/2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1/4 C. sweetened shredded coconut

2 medium carrots, shredded (1 C.)

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread all the pecans on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then pulse 1/2 C. in a food processor until very finely chopped, but not ground. Roughly chop the remaining pecans for garnish. For the cream cheese frosting: Meanwhile, combine the cream cheese and butter in a small bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and salt and beat until incorporated and smooth. Set aside. For the carrot cake: Turn the oven down to 200 degrees F. Preheat a waffle iron to medium-high. Whisk together the finely ground pecans, flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together the oil, milk, lemon zest, vanilla and eggs in another bowl. Stir in the coconut and carrots. Fold the carrot-egg mixture into the flour mixture until just combined (it’s ok if there are lumps). Lightly brush the top and bottom of the waffle iron with oil. Fill the waffle iron about three-quarters of the way full (some waffle iron should still be showing). Close the lid gently and cook until the waffle is golden brown and slightly crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Keep the cooked waffles warm in the oven or covered with foil on a plate while you make the remaining waffles. Spread each waffle with the cream cheese frosting, sprinkle with the chopped pecans and dust with cinnamon.

Campfire Quick Dessert

Campfire Quick Dessert

Quick Dessert

Biscuit mix
Milk or water
Honey

Follow the directions on the biscuit box, using a little less water than called for. Twist the dough around the end of a green stick. Hold and slowly rotate over hot coals until cooked. Dip into honey and enjoy. Honey can be substituted with butter and jam or other favorite topping.

 

 

Bolinhos de Chuva (Brazilian Cinnamon Raindrop Doughnuts)

Bolinhos de Chuva (Brazilian Cinnamon Raindrop Doughnuts)

Bolinhos de Chuva (Brazilian Cinnamon Raindrop Doughnuts)

2 cups flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/2 to 1 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Vegetable oil for frying

 

In a deep fryer or skillet, heat several inches of vegetable oil to 360 degrees (F). In a small bowl, stir the cinnamon into the 1/2 cup sugar and set aside. Mix the flour, salt and 3 tablespoons sugar in a bowl. Stir in the eggs and 1/2 cup buttermilk with a wooden spoon. Add more buttermilk, slowly, until mixture has the consistency of a very thick cake batter. Stir in the baking powder. Using 2 teaspoons (or a small cookie scoop), scoop a generous teaspoon of batter and carefully drop it into the oil, using the second spoon to help scrape the dough off the first one. Repeat with several more teaspoons, but do not overcrowd the doughnuts or they will stick together.  Cook the doughnuts, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides. Remove doughnuts from the oil with a slotted spoon, and drain briefly on paper towels. Roll the doughnuts in the cinnamon sugar while still hot. Cook the rest of the doughnuts in batches. Doughnuts are best served warm and can be reheated or kept warm in the oven.

Yummy Apple Cake

Yummy Apple Cake

Yummy Apple Cake

 

1 3/4 C. sugar, divided

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 C. butter, softened

1 to 2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 1/2 C. flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 Braeburn apples, peeled and chopped

1 C. chopped pecans

Powdered sugar

 

Combine cream cheese, butter, 1 1/2 C. sugar in a bowl and beat with electric mixer until creamy and smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and whisk to blend. Add to sugar mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in a sifter and shake into bowl. Sprinkle 2 tsp. over the chopped apples and toss to coat. Stir apples and pecans into batter. Spoon batter into lightly greased baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar.  Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 60 to 70 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar and serve.

Spiced Parsnip Cake

Spiced Parsnip Cake

Parsnip Cake

I love parsnips. I think they’re a very underused vegetable. I found an article in the Oregonian about parsnips in dessert recipes. There was an attached recipe for parsnip cake. Not one to leave well enough alone, I decided to create my own parsnip cake recipe. I used my favorite carrot cake recipe from Better Homes and Gardens that uses a buttermilk glaze in place of cream cheese frosting as my starting point. I wanted to incorporate maple syrup in the cake and the glaze, as I think it complements the parsnips nicely. I tried several spice combinations, and finally settled on French four spice (I used the Penzey’s blend which contains white pepper, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves), cinnamon, and ginger. I am quite pleased with the result, and hope you get a chance to try this cake.

Makes one 9×13-inch cake

 

Spiced Parsnip Cake

 

2 C. all-purpose flour (10 ounces)

1/2 C. almond meal flour (2 ounces)

1/2 C. unsweetened shredded coconut (1 1/2 ounces)

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. French four spice

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/8 tsp. table salt

1/2 C. buttermilk, room temperature

1/2 C. maple syrup (grade B preferred)

3/4 C. superfine or castor sugar (5 1/4 ounces)

4 large eggs, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 C. unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 C. shredded parsnips (about 2 large parsnips)

 

Preheat your oven to 325º F with a rack near the center. Grease your 9- by 13-inch glass cake pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Combine the first nine ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk about 30 seconds to fully mix and aerate the flour some. Set aside. Combine the remaining ingredients, excluding the parsnips, in a medium bowl. Whisk well to combine. The sugar should dissolve before proceeding to the next step. Dump the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and stir until almost incorporated – like making pancake batter. Add the parsnips and stir until just incorporated. Pour into prepared cake pan, and bake until center springs back or a toothpick inserted near center come out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack, and immediately pour the glaze over the hot cake, trying not to let much glaze spill between the cake and the pan. I sometimes pierce the surface of the cake with a fork to allow the glaze to seep in better. NOTE: If you prefer, you could allow the cake to cool completely then frost with your favorite cream cheese icing. A little orange zest and/or juice in the icing would work well with the flavors of the cake.

 

Maple Buttermilk Glaze

 

1/4 C. maple syrup (grade B preferred)

1/4 C. unsalted butter

1/2 C. buttermilk, room temperature

 

Combine the maple syrup and butter in a glass measure or other microwave safe container. Heat until the maple syrup starts to boil and the butter is melted or close to it. Allow to cool for several minutes, then whisk in the buttermilk.

Blueberry Cake

Blueberry Cake

Blueberry Cake

4 medium Eggs

1 ¼ C. Sugar

¾ C. Oil (neutral taste, not cold pressed)

¾ C. Orange Juice

2 ¼ C. Flour

1 T. Baking Powder

1 ½ pint Blueberries

1 ½ C. Powdered Sugar

Juice from 1 Lemon

 

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare jellyroll pan. Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy. Add oil and juice. Briskly stir in flour mixed with baking powder. Spread out batter in prepared pan and bake 10 minutes in lower third of oven. Arrange berries on cake and return to oven for another 15-20 minutes. Stir together powdered sugar and lemon juice to make a smooth glaze and drizzle over cooled cake.

Easy 100-Calorie Apple Pie Pastry Squares

Easy 100-Calorie Apple Pie Pastry Squares

Easy 100-Calorie Apple Pie Pastry Squares

 

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (like Pepperidge Farms)
1 T. all-purpose flour
3 medium apples, about 1 pound
1/2 medium lemon, juiced
2 T. granulated sugar, divided
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 T. reduced sugar apricot jam

 

Position the oven rack in the lower third of the oven, and preheat oven to 400°F. Sprinkle the flour on a flat surface and lay the pastry sheet on it. Roll out the pastry lightly to make a 14” x 10” rectangle. Transfer pastry to a baking sheet, and refrigerate while preparing the apples. Peel, core, thinly slice the apples (1/8” thick), and place in a medium bowl. Add the lemon juice and gently toss to coat the apples. Sprinkle the chilled pastry evenly with 1 T. sugar. Arrange the apples over the pastry in rows, slightly overlapping the slices and leaving a 1/2” pastry border around the outer edge. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and remaining sugar, and sprinkle over the apples. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven. In a small microwave-safe bowl, stir the jam with 1 tsp. of water and heat on high for 15 seconds. Brush over the apples and crust. Cut into 12 squares and serve immediately, or set aside and serve at room temperature.

 

Yield: 12 servings (3” squares)

Calories: 100

Fat: 5g

Fiber: 1g

Key Lime Cheesecake Cupcakes

Key Lime Cheesecake Cupcakes

Key Lime Cheesecake Cupcakes

 

¾ C. graham cracker crumbs
2 T. margarine or butter, melted
2 T. plus ¾ C. no-calorie granulated sweetener, divided
1 1/2 C. low-fat cottage cheese
8 ounces light tub-style cream cheese
3 T. cornstarch
2 T. Key lime juice
Zest of 2 Key limes or 1 regular lime
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg white

 

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick baking spray. In a medium bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, margarine, and 2 T. of the sweetener until well combined. Sprinkle a heaping T. of crust mixture into each muffin cups. Press gently to form a crust on the bottom of each cup. Set aside. Using a food processor, blend the cottage cheese until very smooth and creamy. Spoon the cottage cheese into a large bowl. Add the cream cheese, the remaining ¾ C. sweetener, the cornstarch, lime juice, zest, and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the egg and the egg white and beat until just blended. Spoon ¾ C. of cheesecake filling into each muffin cup. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the cheesecakes are set, but centers jiggle slightly. Cool to room temperature. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 2 hours.

 

Yield: 12 servings

Calories: 140

Fat: 7g

Fiber: 0g

Cranberry Fritters

Cranberry Fritters

Cranberry Fritters

1 C. cranberries

1/4 C. sugar

1/2 C. water

2 C. all-purpose flour

3/4 C. sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

 

2 eggs

1/4 C. ice water

1 apple, peeled and diced

Confectioner’s sugar

Raspberry jam

Oil for frying

 

In a saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar and water. Over high heat, cook until berries begin to burst. Remove from heat and chill. Sift together flour, sugar and baking powder. Separate eggs. Beat egg yolks with ice water. Add the sifted dry ingredients, apple, cranberries and any liquid in the pan used to cook them. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold into cranberry mixture. In a deep skillet or deep fat fryer, heat 1 or 2 inches of oil to 350 degrees. For each fritter, drip 2 T. of batter into the oil. Cook 1 minute, flip the fritters over, and continue frying until golden. This may have to be done in batches; be sure oil returns to 350 degrees between batches. Drain fritters on paper towels and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with raspberry jam.

Bûche de Noël Log

Bûche de Noël Log

Bûche de Noël Log

6 egg whites
3/4 C. sugar
6 egg yolks
3/4 C. flour
1 C. canned pumpkin
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 C. confectioner’s sugar
1/4 C. chopped pecans, toasted
2 T. each butter and milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Prepare 15″ x 10″ x 1″ jellyroll pan. Spray with non-stick cooking spray; line with wax paper; spray again. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/4 C. sugar, beating until stiff peaks form when beater is raised. Set aside. Beat yolks at high speed gradually adding 1/2 C. sugar until very thick. At low speed, beat in flour, pumpkin, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Fold mixture into egg whites. Spread into jellyroll pan. Bake at 375º for 15 minutes or until surface springs back when gently pressed with fingertip. Turn out on towel sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar. Remove wax paper. Roll up starting with short end. Cool on rack 1 hour, seam side down. In bowl beat cream cheese with confectioner’s sugar, pecans, butter, milk and vanilla. Unroll cake. Spread cheese mixture to within 1-inch of edges. Roll cake; place seam side down on serving plate. Chill at least 1 hour. Makes 10-12 servings. Refrigerate leftovers.

Lemon-Cranberry Pound Cake

Lemon-Cranberry Pound Cake

Lemon-Cranberry Pound Cake

Cranberries:

1/3 C. (80 ml) lemon juice

2 T. brandy

1 T. granulated white sugar

4 oz. (115 grams) dried cranberries or dried cherries

 

Pound Cake:

1 3/4 C. (245 grams) all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 C. (227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 C. (200 grams) granulated white sugar

4 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Zest of one lemon

 

For Cranberries: In a small saucepan over medium-high heat; bring the lemon juice, brandy, sugar, and dried cranberries just to a boil. Cover and remove from heat. Let cool completely and then drain, reserving cranberries. For Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Butter (or spray with a non-stick pan spray) a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 7 cm) loaf pan and then line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.  In a medium sized bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of your electric mixer, cream the butter until soft and creamy.  Gradually add the sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy (about 3 – 5 minutes).  Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Then add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. With mixer on low, add the flour mixture beating just until batter is smooth.  Stir in the lemon zest and drained cranberries, making sure you do not over mix.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake for approximately 50 – 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove it from the pan to cool completely.  This cake can be stored for a few days at room temperature, one week in the refrigerator, or about one month frozen.

Jam Sweetheart Cookies

Jam Sweetheart Cookies

Jam Sweetheart Cookies

For the dough:

2 1/2 cups flour, plus extra for sprinkling

3/4 superfine sugar

2 sticks (8 oz) soft butter, diced

1 large egg yolk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

 

For the filling:

4 T. softened butter, plus extra for greasing

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Jelly or jam

A few drops of vanilla extract

1 tsp. water

 

Making the dough: Beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat the mixture until it is smooth. Next, add the flour and salt and mix everything together to form a smooth dough. Mold the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface and cut out circles with a 2 1/2 inch fluted round cookie cutter. Re-roll the trimmings until you get approx 40. Place half the circles onto prepared baking sheets and cut out the centers using a small 3/4 inch heart-shaped cutter. Place the remaining circles onto baking sheets and leave these whole. Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until golden. Leave for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Make the butter frosting by beating the butter until smooth, then gradually beating in the powdered sugar, water, and vanilla extract. Spread frosting over the whole (not heart) cookies. Now spoon on the jam. Drop a small spoonful of jam on top of the butter frosting. Put the heart cookies on top.

 

Cherry Stone Panna Cotta

Cherry Stone Panna Cotta

Cherry Stone Panna Cotta

This delicate, wobbling cream is perfumed with the mysterious cherry-almond essence contained in the kernel of the cherry pits— a reward for pitting the cherries.

3 pounds cherries

2 1/4 cups heavy cream, or more if needed

1 1/2 cups whole milk

3/4 cup sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin (1 envelope is 1 tablespoon)

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

Pit the cherries, reserving 1/2 cup pits, and set the cherries aside for serving. Rinse the pits to remove any remaining fruit, and rub them in a clean tea towel to dry them. Now smash the pits: put them in another tea towel on a hard surface and smash them with a hammer so that they split open. Picking out just the kernels is tedious—it’s fine to use the kernels and shells together.  Combine the pits, cream, milk, and sugar in a medium stainless-steel saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. (Like apple seeds, cherry pits contain  very small amounts of cyanide, which is toxic only in relatively large quantities. However, heating the cherry pits will release fumes that you should not breathe in, so do this in a well-ventilated area and do not stick your head directly over the pan while the pits are simmering.) Remove from the heat, cover tightly, and set aside to steep for 1 hour.  Uncover the pan and return the liquid to a simmer. Meanwhile, put 2 tablespoons cold water in a medium bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the water to allow it to soften. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.  Strain the hot liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a measuring cup. You need 4 cups liquid total; add a little more cream if necessary. Slowly pour the hot cream mixture over the gelatin, whisking gently to dissolve the gelatin. Whisk in the salt and taste.  Set the bowl into an ice bath. Stir frequently so the panna cotta cools evenly. When it is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes, divide it among eight 4-ounce custard or tea cups. Cover the cups tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, 4 to 6 hours.  Serve in the cups or unmold if desired by gradually tipping the cup upside down above a plate while lifting one side of the panna cotta off the cup and easing it onto the plate. Serve with some of the fresh cherries.

Spooky Mummy Pumpkin Pop Tarts

Spooky Mummy Pumpkin Pop Tarts

Spooky Mummy Pumpkin Pop Tarts

3 C. all-purpose flour

1 T. sugar

1 tsp. salt

4 T. unsalted butter, cold

1/2 C. milk, plus 1 to 2 T. more

1 large egg yolk

PUMPKIN FILLING:

1 C. pumpkin puree

2 T. sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

Pinch of salt

Edible eyeballs

TOASTER STREUDEL-INSPIRED GLAZE:

1 C. powdered sugar, sifted

Pinch of salt

2 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

 

In a large stainless steel bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt; stir to mix well. I am a firm follower of the grating butter method. Using a cheese grater, grate the butter into the dry ingredient mixture. Transfer to the freezer to chill for about 5 minutes. Mix the butter into the flour mixture, until thoroughly combined, breaking up the butter bits until they resemble the size of peas. In a measuring C., measure out the milk and then add the egg yolk. Whisk the two together. Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients and mix until it roughly comes together. Remove the dough from the bowl, place it on a lightly-floured counter, and knead it until it comes together; if it’s super dry, add a T. of milk or water until it comes together (I needed about 2 T. extra of milk). Form it into one disc and using a bench scraper or knife, divide into two equal pieces. Gently pat each into a 1-inch thick square, working quickly to seal any broken edges before wrapping them tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or, ideally, overnight. You can keep the dough in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for up to 1 year. If frozen, remove the dough and place tin the refrigerator to thaw one full day before you intend to use it.

 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, egg yolk, spices and salt. Remove the first disc of dough from the fridge. Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough out to a 1/2-inch thick round. Using a 3-inch or 4-inch round cookie cutter, stamp out rounds of pop tart dough and transfer them to a baking sheet or tray. You should end up with about 20 rounds. I stuck them in the freezer for about 10 minutes just to firm up a bit. We’re going to use the scraps for the top; if it’s too warm, transfer the scraps to the fridge to cool down before rolling out. Re-roll the scraps and cut a variety of 2-inch strips, 1-inch strips and 1/2-inch strips. This will all be the “mummy bandage” top. Brush each round entirely with beaten egg. Add a scant tsp. of pumpkin filling to the center of each round. Place a variety of strip on top, one skinny, one thicker, overlapping them, so it appears “bandage-like.” Trim the strips so they’re not super long, but they don’t have to be perfect. Using the tines of a fork (dipped in flour), press the edges together and do this around the edge of the entire round, making a decorative edge. Take the 3-inch or 4-inch cutter (whichever one you used) and cut the hand pie once more to clean and define the edges. Transfer to a baking sheet and place it in the fridge. Repeat with the remaining hand pies.

Transfer them to the freezer to chill for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

I baked these in batches, about 8 to a baking sheet. Brush the tops with egg wash and transfer to the oven to bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining pop tarts. Add the edible eye balls to each pop tart. I used tweezers to make it easy on myself.

 

Meanwhile, whisk together powdered sugar, salt, milk and vanilla, until smooth. I added the glaze to a piping bag (no tip required), snipped off the end and drizzled it on. You can use a spoon too!

Add the glaze on top! To store, place in an airtight container. Store at room temperature.

Lemon Cake

Lemon Cake

Lemon Cake

2 ½ Lemons
4 medium Eggs
1 ¼ C. Sugar
¾ C. Oil (neutral taste, not cold pressed)
¾ C. Orange Juice
2 ¼ C. Flour
1 T. Baking Powder
1 C. Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 400. Remove zest from one lemon and squeeze juice from all lemons. Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy. Add oil, orange juice and ¾ of the lemon juice. Briskly stir in half the lemon zest, flour and baking powder. Pour batter in prepared bundt pan; bake 50-55 minutes. Soft powdered sugar and mix with remaining lemon juice to make a glaze. Spread onto cooled cake and sprinkle with remaining zest.

Very Basic Cake Recipe

Very Basic Cake Recipe

Very Basic Cake Recipe

1 11” spring form pan, 1 13” loaf pan, or 1 10”x15” jellyroll pan

4 medium Eggs
1 ¼ C. Sugar
¾ C. Oil (neutral taste, not cold pressed)
¾ C. Liquid (juice, dairy, coffee, or wine)
2 ¼ C. Flour
1 T. Baking Powder

Grease pan well and sprinkle with flour. For springform pans, only grease the bottom. Never fill pans more than 2/3 full. Preheat oven to 400. Beat Eggs and sugar in mixing bowl for 2-3 minutes until light and creamy. Add oil and liquid to sugar and egg mixture, while stirring constantly. Sift flour, combine with baking powder; add to bowl and mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake just below center of oven for 25 minutes in a shallow pan or 45 minutes in a deep pan. Check with a toothpick or chopstick; if batter sticks, bake the cake a few more minutes.

Chocolate: Use Orange juice for your liquid. Add 3 T. cocoa to flour. Melt 1 ¼ C. semisweet chips and spread on cooled cake.

Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Roll

Vegetable cooking spray
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2/3 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided
2 (3-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Garnishes: powdered sugar, chocolate-coated pecan halves

Coat bottom and sides of a 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with cooking spray, and line with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray; set aside. Beat eggs at medium speed with an electric mixer 5 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored; gradually add granulated sugar, beating until well combined. Combine flour and next 6 ingredients. Gradually add to egg mixture, beating well. Combine pumpkin, pecans, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and gradually add to mixture, beating well. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Sift 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a 15- x 10-inch rectangle on a clean, dry dish towel. Run a knife around edges of pan to loosen cake, and turn cake out onto prepared towel. Peel wax paper off cake. Starting at narrow end, roll up cake and towel together; place, seam side down, on a wire rack to cool completely.

Banana Cake

Banana Cake

Banana Cake

1 large banana (3/4 C. mashed total)
2 tsp. Lemon Juice
4 medium Eggs
1 ¼ C. Sugar
¾ C. Oil (neutral taste, not cold pressed)
¾ C. ground Hazelnuts
½ tsp. ground Ginger
2 ¼ C. Flour
1 T. Baking Powder

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare Tube Pan. Pell Banana, mash and combine with lemon juice. Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy. Add oil. Stir in banana puree, nuts and ginger. Stir in flour mixed with baking powder. Por into prepared pan and bake in lower third of oven for 45-50 minutes.

Tangerine Cake

Tangerine Cake

Tangerine Cake

4 medium Eggs
1 ¼ C. Sugar
¾ C. Oil (neutral taste, not cold pressed)
¾ C. Orange Juice
2 ¼ C. Flour
1 T. Baking Powder
3 Tangerines, peeled
1 ¾ C. Powdered Sugar
Juice from 1 Lemon
3 T. chopped Pistachios

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare Tube Pan. Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy. Add oil and juice. Briskly stir in flour mixed with baking powder. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in the lower third of the oven for 10 minutes. Arrange tangerine sections on top, return to oven and bake another 35-40 minutes. Sift powdered sugar and stir in lemon juice, drop by drop, to make a smooth syrupy glaze. Pour over cooled cake and sprinkle with chopped pistachios. Let glaze set before serving.

LTS Honey Mints

LTS Honey Mints

LTS Honey Mints

1 C. warm honey
green food coloring
4 drops oil of peppermint
2 3/4 C. powdered milk (non-instant)

Mix ingredients and knead until all milk is absorbed. Roll into 1 -inch balls. Allow to set until firm.

Lavender Ice Cream

Lavender Ice Cream

Lavender Ice Cream

6 egg yolks
2 cups half and half
1 cup cream
2/3 cup vanilla sugar
1 vanilla bean
3 whole lavender tops or 2 T. dried lavender- be sure to use organic, food grade

Prepare a water bath in a large bowl. Set aside. In a saucepan, heat half & half with the cream and the vanilla bean pod denuded of its interior until it simmers. Take off heat and add in the lavender to steep. Set aside until almost room temperature, about 45-60 minutes. When the time has lapsed, strain the mixture and bring it back up to temperature- just short of simmering again. Take off the heat. *Pro-tip: Frozen foods need more flavor for it to come through the freeze. So taste the cream mixture. It should taste fairly strong. Don’t be alarmed. Once the ice cream is fully frozen, the flavor will have mellowed out. In fact, with any flavoring that you add to ice cream or any frozen dessert, it’s best if the flavor is pretty strong prior to freezing to get the best flavor. Mix egg yolks until lighter in another bowl. Add in vanilla sugar and the scraped out insides of the vanilla bean. Mix well. Temper the eggs with some of the cream mixture until the eggs are brought up to the same temperature as the cream mixture. *tempering of the eggs is why you brought the cream back up to temperature in the last step* Pour it all into the saucepan. Heat over medium-lowish heat for about 2-3 minutes or until it coats the back of a spoon or it reaches 170 degrees. Pour the mixture back through a fine mesh strainer into the egg/sugar bowl and put it all into the water bath. Bring the custard down to room temperature as quickly as possible. About 30-45 minutes. Put it into the fridge uncovered until it no longer forms condensation. Then cover and let sit in fridge for 4-6 hours or overnight.. Put into ice cream maker and follow the instructions for the machine. This ice cream is particularly delightful with sugar cookies made with rose sugar or orange sugar.

Turkish Baklava

Turkish Baklava

1 lb. phyllo dough sheets (18×14 inch)
3 C. raw unsalted pistachios (coarsely grounded)
1/3 C. raw unsalted pistachios (finely grounded)
3 tsp. powdered sugar
1 lb. sweet cream unsalted butter

For the Syrup:
3 C. ground sugar
1 ½ C. water
3 tsp. honey
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

First, prepare the syrup. Add the sugar and water in a pot. After the sugar melts, add the honey and lemon juice. Let it boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Cool syrup. It is easier to cool syrup if you pour it in a different pot or a deep bowl. Let it sit at room temperature. If the phyllo dough is frozen, make sure it’s thawed in the refrigerator and it is out of the fridge in room temperature 5 hours before preparing the baklava. Otherwise, the phyllo sheets may be sticky which will make them difficult to butter. Melt the butter on low heat and cool. Anything that accumulates on top (whitish foam), remove with a spoon. This will clarify the butter. Using a cooking brush, grease a 18×14 inch tray with the clarified butter. You may also use a 9×14 inch pyrex dish if you do not have an 18×14 inch tray. In this case, you will need to cut the phyllo sheets in half to fit the pyrex dish. Mix the coarsely grounded pistachios with the powdered sugar. Make sure everything is ready before opening the phyllo dough (i.e. the butter, the tray, the pistachio mix). The phyllo dough tends to dry out quickly. Cover with a damp cloth or a damp paper towel after opening. Select one sheet and place on the greased tray. Quickly butter the phyllo sheet completely. Add another sheet and repeat the same process until you have buttered 8-9 phyllo sheets. Then add 1 ½ C. the pistachio mix and spread all over the sheets so that there is a thin layer of the mix. Add another sheet of phyllo dough and butter all over. Repeat the same process for another 8-9 sheets. Add the rest of the pistachio mix and spread to cover the sheets. Again, place a sheet of phyllo dough on top of the mix and butter it. Butter each of the left phyllo dough sheets one by one until you are out of phyllo sheets. If you see that some of the phyllo sheets are sticky and will not come out separately, then you may add the sticky sheets all together (without separating) and butter very well. One of the secrets of a good baklava is making sure every single sheet is buttered well. After finishing the phyllo sheets, if you have left over butter, pour on top of the tray. Cut diagonally or in squares after pouring the butter. Heat the oven to 350º F. Place the baklava tray in the middle rack and bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove baklava when ready and pour the cooled syrup all over the tray. Make sure every single piece has syrup on it. The baklava has to be hot when pouring the cooled syrup. Decorate with the finely ground pistachios on top of each of the pieces. Cover with aluminum foil and let sit overnight. Enjoy with aa cup of strong Turkish coffee.

Graham Cracker Swirls

Graham Cracker Swirls

1 C. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 C. all purpose flour
1/2 C. dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 C. butter, chilled & cubed
1/4 C. honey
1/4 C. water
1/2 C. Nutella, peanut butter or preserves

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place the flours, sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking soda in the bowl of your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix to combine. Add the cubed and chilled butter and mix until it resembles coarse meal, about 2 minutes. Add the honey and water and continue to mix until it combines and forms a dough. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and roll each piece into a 9 x 13 inch rectangle until 1/4 inch thick. If the dough is soft it can be refrigerated 30-60 minutes. Spread 1/4 C. of the Nutella or other filling in a thin layer over each sheet of dough. Starting at the 13 inch side, use your fingertips to roll the dough tightly into a spiral like a cinnamon roll, and pinch the seams to seal. Slice the dough into 1/2 inch pieces, place on a silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and set. Tip: Cookies can be frozen before or after baking. Place cookies on a baking sheet in the freezer for about 30 minutes, until frozen solid, then transfer to a zip top bag or other freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 4 months.

Crispy Cereal Treats

Crispy Cereal Treats

Crispy Cereal Treats

Base Recipe:

 

3 T. unsalted butter, plus more softened for pan

1 10-ounce bag mini marshmallows

1 recipe mix-ins (see below)

 

Cocoa Nutty:

 

5 C. chocolate puffed rice cereal, such as Cocoa Krispies

1 C. cocktail peanuts, roughly chopped

½ C. chopped semisweet chocolate

 

Trail Mix:

 

5 C. puffed oat cereal, such as Puffins

½ C. dried cherries or cranberries

½ C. chopped toasted pecans

½ C. toasted pepitas

 

Tropical Breeze:

 

5 C. flaked corn cereal, such as Corn Flakes

½ C. chopped dried tropical fruit, such as mango and/or pineapple

½ C. toasted coconut flakes

½ C. chopped macadamia nuts

 

Berries and Cream:

 

5 C. whole-grain oat cereal, such as Cheerios

¾ C. chopped freeze-dried raspberries

¾ C. chopped white chocolate

 

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with softened butter. Melt 3 T. butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add marshmallows; cook, stirring, until melted. Remove from heat.  Stir in cereal and chosen mix-ins to combine. Press into prepared pan; let stand until firm, about 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve, or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Mexican Lime Curd  

Mexican Lime Curd  

Mexican Lime Curd

 

I’d recommend organic limes for this recipe since you’ll be using the outer peel. If not, you’ll want to scrub them well. Also, just a note that the finished curd is bright yellow, not green. That’s no mistake. The color is influenced more by the egg yolks than the juice or zest.

 

1 T. finely grated lime zest (shiny outer part only, not the bitter white pith)

1 1/4 C. granulated sugar

3 eggs, well beaten

3/4 C. freshly squeezed lime juice from 6 Mexican limes (or ~12 Key limes)

6 T. unsalted butter

Pinch of salt

 

Place a large bowl half-full of ice water near the stove. Next to that, set a wire-mesh strainer nested inside a medium metal bowl. In a medium saucepan, rub the lime zest into the sugar with your fingers until moist and fragrant. Whisk in the beaten eggs and lime juice. Add the butter and salt, and set the pot over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the butter melts and the mixture thickens, 5 to 10 minutes. Do not boil. Wait for when the mixture thickens to the consistency of a loose pudding. It should coat the back of a spoon, leaving a distinctive track when you run your finger through it. At this point, remove the pot from the heat. Set the bowl with the strainer inside the ice bath, and quickly pour the curd through the strainer into the bowl, using a rubber scraper to force the curd through the sieve. (The ice bath halts the cooking and the strainer is insurance to remove any overcooked egg proteins that may arise. Be sure to scrape as much of the curd as possible off the underside of the strainer.) Let the curd cool for a half hour before pouring it into small jars. The curd will thicken further and the flavor will intensify as it chills. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

15 Ways To Doctor A Brownie Mix

15 Ways To Doctor A Brownie Mix

15 Ways To Doctor A Brownie MixLet me make this clear, brownie mix begs you to add your magic to them. Below are some suggestions for you to take a 18 to 21oz brownie mix and improve it greatly.

  • Sprinkle M&M Candies over the top of the brownie mix in the pan before baking. At different times try the plain M&M’s and the Peanut M&M’s. You will end up with some great flavors.
  • Spread Milk Chocolate , White Chocolate , or Peanut Butter Chips over the top of the brownies as soon as they come out of the oven. They will melt over the top of the brownies and you will have a unique brownie. I have taken it a step further some times and mixed all three flavors of chips together and spread them over the top of a just baked pan of brownies. Remember they get spread over your brownies as soon as they come out of the oven.
  • Add 1 T. of Vanilla Extract to the Brownie Mix when you mix up the brownies. Be sure to use real vanilla extract not the imitation stuff.
  • Bake the brownies for 10 minutes less than the time on the box. They should still be fudgy in the center when you remove them from the oven. Spread the top of the cooled pan of brownies with a C. of sweet chocolate chips or butterscotch chips that you have melted on the stove.
  • Buy 4-6 large peppermint patties and chop them up and add them to the brownie mix before you mix it up and bake it.
  • Stir a handful of chopped up mounds bars into the brownie mix as you are mixing it up.
  • Add 1 T. of powdered instant coffee and a pinch of cinnamon to the mix as you are mixing it up.
  • Top a pan of baked brownies with caramel topping , sweetened flaked coconut and chopped sweetened pecans.
  • Swirl softened cream cheese into the batter just before baking the brownies, For a unique twist try using orange or strawberry cream cheese.
  • Stir sliced almonds , chopped dried cherries and a dash of almond extract into the brownies before baking.
  • Make triple chocolate brownies by mixing white , milk and semi sweet chocolate chips into the batter before baking.
  • Add chopped macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips to the batter and drop it by the spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet for wonderful brownie cookies. Bake until crisp at the edges but soft in the centers about 8-10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.
  • Fold a C. of mashed banana into the brownie mix before baking.
    Swab hot baked brownies with Kahlua when they come out of the oven. Just brush it on.
  • For a nostalgic version mix a handful of chopped walnuts and a 1/2 C. of chocolate chips into the brownie batter.

It’s How You Slice a Brownie That Counts

Who says a brownie has to be square. Add some pizazz.

Bake brownies 20-25 minutes and bake them in a pie pan instead of a square pan. Cut them out in wedges instead of squares.
Use a smaller deeper pan for thicker brownies. They’ll bake in about 40 minutes and then cut them out extra-large or smaller for tea parties.
Cut brownies into rounds with a biscuit cutter and sandwich two together with your favorite jam. Dust the top with powdered confectioners’ sugar.
Dust brownie triangles, squares, or rectangles with confectioners’ sugar to jazz them up.
Crumble up brownies and serve them over ice cream.