Maui Banana Cake with Lime Coconut Glaze

INGREDIENTS
2 cups of whole wheat pastry flour
¾ teaspoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of baking powder
½ teaspoon of salt 1 cup of sugar
½ cup of low fat vanilla yogurt
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups of smooshed ripe bananas
3 tablespoons of dark rum (or coconut rum)
Or 1 teaspoon of rum extract
1 teaspoon of a good vanilla
1 teaspoon of coconut extract (optional)
½ cup of unsweetened coconut flakes

Lime Glaze
½ cup of powdered sugar
1 ½ tablespoons of lime juice
2 tablespoons of chopped macadamia nuts
2 or 3 tablespoons of coconut

PROCEDURE
Turn on the tropical sun (the oven) to 350 degrees. Whisk the flour, soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl till all mixed up. Combine the yogurt with the sugar and beat with a mixer till well blended. Add the eggs beating as you go. Stir in the bananas, yogurt, rum, vanilla, coconut extract, next. When everything is well blended add the flour mix and combine till just moistened then barely mix in the coconut. Pour batter into either a bread loaf pan or a cake pan, depending on the look you want. Bake the loaf for about one hour or the cake for about 35 minutes, while the palm trees sway. When the house fills with the heavenly scent of banana bread, check with a toothpick to see if it is done. Cool 10 minutes on a cooling rack and place on a deserving platter. Whip up the lime juice with the powdered sugar and drizzle over the warm cake then sprinkle with mac nuts and coconut. Take a bite and do the hula! Ono! (Delicious in Hawaiian)


Thanks to http://danazia.wordpress.com.

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Homemade Oreo Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS
1 cup whole milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
6 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
15 Double Stuffed Oreo Cookies, roughly chopped

PROCEDURE
Heat the milk and cream in a sauce pan, over medium heat, until bubbles form around the edges. Beat the egg yolks and sugar, on medium high speed, until combined and forms yellow ribbons. Reduce the mixer to low speed. Slowly add the hot milk to the egg mixture until well combined. It is important to pour slowly to prevent the eggs from curdling.

Pour the combined liquid back into the sauce pan and cook over medium-low heat. Stir constantly for about 5 – 8 minutes until thickened and coats the back of the spoon. Pour the liquid through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. Add the vanilla and chill in the refrigerator until completely cooled.

Pour the cream into the ice-cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions. In the last 15 minutes of the churning process, add the chopped Oreos. Spoon into a lidded container and freeze until completely hardened. The freezing should take about 2 hours. Makes about 1 quart.

Thanks to http://penniesonaplatter.wordpress.com.

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Hamantashen

These cookies are basically circles short pastry filled with all sorts of fillings (usually poppy seed filling, chocolate, or dates), which are folded to triangle shape and baked until crisp.

One of the most complicated things about these cookies is getting the cookies to remain at their original shape while baking. If you chill the filled and shaped cookies before you bake them, they generally tend to lose their shape, the solution is to chill the shaped and filled cookies before baking (preferably overnight).

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of salt
200 gr. cold butter, cut into small cubes
zest from one orange (or lemon)
2 egg yolks
2-4 tablespoons fresh orange juice (or milk)

fillings: Nutella, poppy seed, nuts, jam

PROCEDURE
In a food processor combine the flour, baking powder and sugar. Add butter and orange zest, and pulse until the the butter incorporates with the flour, add the yolks and pulse until the mixture looks crumbly. Add 2 tablespoon of the juice, and combine until combined (if needed, add the rest of the juice) .

Form dough into a disc, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least two hours.

Preheat oven to 160-170 degrees C.

To form the hamantashen, roll out the dough on a well-floured surface until it is about 3-4 mm thick. Using a round cookie cutter (about 6 cm diameter), cut the dough into circles, brush the edges of the circles with a little bit of water. Spoon a teaspoon of the filling in the center. Fold the dough in from three sides and firmly crimp the corners and give them a little twist to ensure they stay closed. Leave the filling mostly open in the center. Put on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Cool on rack, powder with powdered sugar.

Thanks to http://bakingforthecure.wordpress.com.

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7 Layer Finger Jello

INGREDIENTS
4 pkg. 3 oz Jello (lemon, orange, lime, strawberry)
4 pkg. Knox unflavored gelatin
1 can sweetened condensed milk

PROCEDURE
Mix 1 pkg flavored jello with 1/2 pkg of unflavored gelatin. Add 1 cup boiling water. Stir to dissolve. Cool to room temp and pour into 9 x 13 glass pan. Refrigerate for 15 minutes (and make sure your refrig is level!)

Mix 1 can sweetened condensed milk with 1 cup boiling water. In a small bowl, sprinkle 2 pkg unflavored gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Let stand a few minutes and then add 1/2 c boiling water to dissolve gelatin; add to milk mixture and stir to combine. Cool to room temp and pour 1 cup of milk mixture over first layer of jello. Refrig for 15 minutes.

Repeat for next three flavors. Let jello set. Cut and serve!


Thanks to http://foodlibrarian.blogspot.com.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cake with Cream Cheese and Butterfinger Frosting

INGREDIENTS
Filling
2 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
12 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup old-fashioned (natural) chunky peanut butter
Cake
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup old-fashioned (natural) chunky peanut butter
1 pound golden brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
Frosting
1 1/2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar, divided
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
Butterfinger candy bars, coarsely chopped
Glazed peanuts

PROCEDURE
For filling:
Bring cream and sugar to simmer in saucepan, whisking to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; let stand 1 minute. Whisk until smooth. Whisk in peanut butter. Chill uncovered overnight.

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottoms with parchment paper. Sift first 4 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and peanut butter in large bowl until blended. Beat in sugar. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. At low speed, beat in flour mixture in 4 additions alternately with buttermilk in 3 additions.

Divide batter among pans and spread evenly. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes 5 minutes. Turn out onto racks; peel off parchment. Cool cakes completely.

For frosting:
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Whisk whipping cream and 3/4 cup powdered sugar in bowl until mixture holds medium-firm peaks. Fold into cream cheese mixture in 3 additions; chill until firm but spreadable, about 1 hour.

Place 1 cake layer, bottom side up, on 9-inch tart pan bottom. Spread with half of filling. Place another layer, bottom side up, on work surface. Spread with remaining filling; place atop first layer. Top with remaining cake layer, bottom side up.

Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; chill. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours before continuing.) Press candy and peanuts onto top of cake.

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Cherry Glazed Chocolate Torte

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling, divided

PROCEDURE
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 9-inch springform pan.

Stir together butter, granulated sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Add eggs; using spoon, beat well. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture, beating until well blended. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake is set. (Cake is fudgy and will not test done.) Remove from oven; cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar in medium bowl until well blended; gradually fold in whipped topping, blending well. Spread over top of cake. Spread 1 cup cherry pie filling over cream layer; refrigerate several hours. With knife, loosen cake from side of pan; remove side of pan. Cut into wedges; garnish with remaining pie filling. Cover; refrigerate leftover dessert. 10 to 12 servings.

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Hot Chocolate Mug Cakes

Bake your favorite chocolate cake batter in individual mugs for a warming winter dessert.

INGREDIENTS
Cooking spray
Chocolate cake batter (get sample recipe here)
Marshmallow creme

PROCEDURE
Simply coat the insides of oven safe mugs with cooking spray, then fill the mugs halfway with chocolate cake batter. We used a mix for German chocolate cake, which is a lighter color than regular chocolate cake and looks more like hot cocoa.

Follow the cupcake baking instructions on the cake mix package. The cakes are done when a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean or with just a few crumbs. Allow the cakes to cool for about 15 minutes.

Top each mug with a generous dollop of marshmallow creme and serve with a spoon. One cake mix makes enough batter for 12 of our mugs; if you want fewer than a dozen, bake the remaining batter in a small pan.

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Very Valentine Torte

Yield: 8

INGREDIENTS
Crust
1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
1 tbsp sugar dash fine salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

First and second White Chocolate Mousse Layer
9 oz white chocolate, chopped
1/2 tsp gelatin powder
1/3 cup milk
3/4 cup whipping cream

Milk Chocolate Mousse Layer
10 oz milk chocolate, chopped
1/2 tsp gelatin powder
1/2 cup milk
1 cup whipping cream

Raspberry Cream
1 cup whipping cream
2 cup fresh raspberries
2 tbsp sugar

PROCEDURE
For crust, preheat oven to 350 °F and lightly grease an 8-inch springform pan (be sure pan is at least 3-inches tall). Combine all crust ingredients and press into bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes and cool completely. Line side of pan with a ring of parchment paper.

For first white chocolate layer melt chocolate in a bowl resting over a pot of gently simmering water, stirring constantly. Stir gelatin powder into milk and let sit for a minute. Heat milk (microwave is easiest) to just below a simmer and whisk into chocolate. Let cool to room temperature. Whip cream to soft peak and fold into chocolate. Pour mousse over cooled crust and chill for 1 hour before adding milk chocolate mousse layer.

For milk chocolate mousse, follow the same method as the white chocolate: melt the chocolate, add gelatin to milk, heat the milk and stir in, let cool, whip cream and fold into chocolate. Spoon or pour gently over white chocolate mousse layer and chill for at least 1 hour.

Repeat process with Second White Chocolate Layer and chill tart at least 6 hours or overnight.

For Raspberry Cream, whip cream to soft peaks and chill. Puree 1 cup raspberries with sugar, strain and fold into cream.

To assemble, warm outside of springform pan by wrapping in a warm towel. Carefully undo tart ring and place tart on platter. Dollop raspberry cream on tart and top with remaining 1 cup fresh berries.

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Classic Coeur a la Creme with Raspberry Coulis and Fresh Raspberries

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 1 coeur, 2 servings

INGREDIENTS
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup plain yogurt
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon very finely grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Raspberry Coulis, for serving, recipe follows
6 fresh raspberries, for garnish
Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

PROCEDURE
In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and beat together with a whisk until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve. Line a 6-ounce, shallow heart-shaped ceramic ramekin or 6-ounce shallow oval ramekin with dampened cheesecloth. Pour the cream cheese mixture into the ramekin and fold the over-hanging cheesecloth over the top. Refrigerate the mold in a shallow dish to catch any drips for at least 4 hours, and up to 2 days.

To serve the dessert, unmold the coeur and carefully peel away the cheesecloth. Place the coeur on the center of a dessert plate, smooth side down. Allow to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving. Drizzle the raspberry coulis around the plate and garnish with the fresh raspberries and mint.

Raspberry Coulis:
2 cups raspberries (about 12 ounces), rinsed
3/4 cup Simple Syrup, recipe follows
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch

Bring the raspberries, syrup, and lemon juice to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan over low heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the berries are very soft, about 8 minutes.

Sprinkle the cornstarch over 2 teaspoons cold water and stir to dissolve. Pour into the simmering raspberry mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes.

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl; discard the seeds. Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Freeze any leftover coulis in a plastic container for up to 1 month.

Yield: 2 cups

Simple Syrup:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water

Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Pour the syrup into a container and refrigerate until completely cold, about 45 minutes. The syrup can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Yield: about 3/4 cup syrup

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Recipe from foodnetwork.com

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