The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap..and I missed it!

pbcookies.jpgDarn it.

Arrgh!  (Pirate’ease for “Well, hell!”)

I had heard about “The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap” last year — when everyone posted their goodies.  I thought “Oh, fun fun — I want to do this next year”, and then, being me, promptly forgot about it.  (I’ve fixed that for next year by signing up for their notification – so smart am I, I am, Said I).

So, since I didn’t participate, I thought I would list here all the cookie recipes I have created.  I hope you find something that you enjoy.

Maple Walnut Blondies

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies (Spritzgeback)

The Best Sugar Cookies

Pecan Butter Cookies

Coconut Macaroons

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies (Flourless)

 

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Christmas & Holiday Recipe Collection

 

Time flies when you are busy!  I just moved, and hopefully will get back to cooking and creating recipes once the holidays are over.  Until then…..

I’ll be making some Peppermint Bark candy this weekend and The Best Sugar Cookies ever.

A few more holiday treat recipes to entice you:

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies (Spritzgeback) – Simple and easy recipe

Easy Cherry Almond White Chocolate Fudge – wosa yummy

Crunchy Nutella Hazelnut Chocolate Bars – these are like heaven in your mouth

Peanut Butter Fudge – A childhood favorite — When I make these, I have to give 3/4 away, or I’ll eat it all

Cranberry-Orange Pecan Bread – this is just amazingly lovely

 Roosamanna (Semolina Pudding)  – A great Estonian pudding and one I will make for Christmas Eve

 

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Lemon Custard Cake for Two

lemons

Lemon Custard Cake for Two

1 egg, separated
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest (reserve 1/4 teaspoon of zest)
1/8 teaspoon salt
Whipped cream, optional

Preheat the oven to 325F (163C).

In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolk until light and fluffy.  Add in sugar, milk, flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt.  Mix until smooth.

In a second mixing bowl, beat the egg white until stiff peaks form, and then gently fold into the lemon mixture.

Pour the mixture evenly into two ungreased custard cups (6 ounce size).

Using an 8 inch baking pan, place the custard cups into the pan, and then pour boiling water into the pan to until the water comes up on the cups about 1 1/2 inches.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean, and the cakes are golden.  To serve, place a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with the remaining lemon zest.

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Lies Lies Lies!! Caramelized Onions, 5 vs 40 Minutes!

A fantastic article on caramelizing onions and how long it REALLY takes.  5 minutes (which all the recipes say) and the 40 minutes it ACTUALLY takes!

http://www.hippiewithabenz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Caramelized-Onions.jpg

 

Layers of Deceit

Why do recipe writers lie and lie and lie about how long it takes to caramelize onions?

By Tom Scocca

Browning onions is a matter of patience. My own patience ran out earlier this year while leafing through the New York Times food section. There, in the newspaper of record, was a recipe for savory scones with onions, currants, and caraway. Though I wasn’t particularly interested in making savory scones, one passage caught my eye:

“Add the onions to the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook until they begin to turn dark brown and somewhat soft, about 5 minutes. Add the oil and a pinch of the fine sea salt; continue cooking until the onions are soft and caramelized, about 5 minutes longer.”

Soft, dark brown onions in five minutes. That is a lie. Fully caramelized onions in five minutes more. Also a lie.

There is no other word for it. Onions do not caramelize in five or 10 minutes. They never have, they never will—yet recipe writers have never stopped pretending that they will. I went on Twitter and said so, rudely, using CAPS LOCK. A chorus of frustrated cooks responded in kind (“That’s on some bullshit. You want caramelized onions? Stir for 45 minutes”).

Read the remainder of the article here at Slate

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Triple Dipped Jalapeno Poppers

 

WOW!!  It’s been a LONG time since I posted a recipe — I’m a lot embarrassed!  But, hopefully, to make up for it, you’ll enjoy this yummy recipe.

We got in the mood for junk today, and made these really amazing jalapeno poppers.  We found the original recipe (for 32!) and adjusted as needed.

I’ll say this — These were amazing.  Next time, I’d love to try this with smoked cheddar, or instead of cheddar at all, just cream cheese with green onions (scallions), chopped fine as the stuffing.

I hope you enjoy as much as we did :)

Triple Dipped Jalapeno Poppers

(makes 12)

4 Ounces of Cream Cheese or Quark, bring to room temperature
2 Ounces of Shredded cheese – cheddar (or a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack)
1 teaspoon Bacon pieces
6 Jalapenos
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1 cup bread crumbs (home made are best!, but otherwise, a decent brand, unseasoned)
Oil for deep frying

In a small mixing bowl, mix the softened room temperature cream cheese with the shredded cheese and bacon pieces.

 

Prepare the jalapenos as follows:  thin slice off the stem, then slice the jalapeno in half lengthwise.  Using a spoon, remove and discard the seeds and white of the inside of the pepper.

 

Stuff each  half of the prepared jalapeno with the cheese mixture.

You can slightly overfill these.

Place milk and flour in two separate bowls.  Dip each stuffed jalapeno in milk, and then into the flour.  Place on a rack or board.  Once you have finished dipping all you have, allow to set for 10 minutes.

Discard the flour.  Pour 1 cup of bread crumbs into a bowl.

Once the jalapenos  have set for 10 minutes,  dip each stuffed jalapeno in milk, and then into the breadcrumbs.  Place on rack or board and allow to set for 10 minutes.

Repeat one last time (yes!! I swear, this just MAKES these perfect) –  dip each in jalapeno in milk, and then into the breadcrumbs.  Place one last time on the rack or board and allow to set for 10 more minutes.

Once the last set up has completed,  heat the oil to 365F or 180C.  Slowly put a few pieces into the oil at a time.  Don’t overload the oil.  Cook for 2-3 minutes, turning once or twice.  Remove to a rack to drain the oil (or place on paper towels).  Cook remaining stuffed jalapenos.

 

Serve immediately. 

Hints:

1.  Make a large batch of these, but only partially cook them – cook for 1 minute, just giving them a light brown crust.  Drain on a rack.  Place each popper on a baking sheet, and freeze.  Once frozen, place in a zip top bag.  To finish the cooking, heat the oven to 400F or 205C.  Cook frozen for 8-10 minutes, or until hot.

2. You do not have to use jalapenos.  Use a less “hot” pepper such as chili peppers.

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I really need to learn how to make potato salad for 6 people, instead of 20…ha.

Anyone need some really yummy potato salad??

 

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