One more thing...
I GOT A KITCHEN AID MIXER FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!
I indeed have THE best boyfriend in the universe.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Holiday Baking part 3
I also made some little things here and there..
Chocolate Mint Brownies
Ok these were insane. No special recipes but omg were they good.
I just made a batch of Ghirradelli brownies with special fudge topping packet.
Before I put the batter in the pan, I added about 1 cup of "Andie's mints for baking"
They are small enough pieces that the melted in the batter leaving nothing but delicious mint chocolate flavor.
And of course Fudge which i basically just used to recipe on the marshmallow creme jar.
My grandma says the secret to good fudge is to cook it as directed EXCEPT for the adding of the chocolate..which seems to work!
Wait until all of the other ingredients are cooked to stir in the chocolate...she says the less you have to cook the chocolate, the more flavor it keeps.
Oh and Chewy Chocolate Cookies with White Chocolate chips of which I got the recipe from Allrecipes.com
and just exchanged white chocolate chips for regular ones. My sister says peanut butter chips are even better.
Chocolate Mint Brownies
Ok these were insane. No special recipes but omg were they good.
I just made a batch of Ghirradelli brownies with special fudge topping packet.
Before I put the batter in the pan, I added about 1 cup of "Andie's mints for baking"
They are small enough pieces that the melted in the batter leaving nothing but delicious mint chocolate flavor.
And of course Fudge which i basically just used to recipe on the marshmallow creme jar.
My grandma says the secret to good fudge is to cook it as directed EXCEPT for the adding of the chocolate..which seems to work!
Wait until all of the other ingredients are cooked to stir in the chocolate...she says the less you have to cook the chocolate, the more flavor it keeps.
Oh and Chewy Chocolate Cookies with White Chocolate chips of which I got the recipe from Allrecipes.com
and just exchanged white chocolate chips for regular ones. My sister says peanut butter chips are even better.
Holiday Baking part 2
That post was getting too lengthy.
Cake Balls
Ingredients
1 box of cake mix
1 can of frosting
1 package of almond bark
*+ ingredients on back of cake box (usually vegetable oil, water, and eggs which I've found can be substituted with apple sauce, milk, and eggbeaters respectively-er..i think)
*+optional toppings
Method
Bake cake mix as directed.
When you pull it out of the oven, smoosh it up with a fork while it's still hot and mix in the can of frosting while it's still warm.
Roll into balls (I wear powder free doctor gloves for this step!) and place on aluminum foil to cool
By the time they're all balled up, they'll be good to go into a container and into the freezer.
Freeze for at least a few hours (I froze for 2 days because I wasn't ready to finish them yet)
Then, dip each ball in melted almond bark and coat with a topping of your choice if you'd like.
Tips
-The cake mix, frosting, and almond bark flavor is totally up to you and the posibilities are endless. This is definitely a use your imagination recipe. Here are some of the one's I've heard of and/or made:
Red Velvet Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting, White bark, and drizzles of red chocolate.
Devil's Food Cake, Chocolate Fudge Frosting, Chocolate bark, drizzles of white chocolate.
Coconut Cake, white frosting, white bark, toasted coconut topping
Also, mint chocolate chip, german chocolate, carrot cake, strawberry, funfetti, etc etc
-Optional Toppings are also endless: toasted coconut, crushed nuts, drizzles of melted chocolate, cocoa powder, etc.
-A little shortening thins almond bark for easier dipping
-Use powder free doctor gloves for rolling the balls
-Smoosh up the mixture while it's warm or you'll get clumps that won't stay in balls.
-You could use your own cake and frosting recipes but this recipe calls for so much work already that I wouldn't go that far unless I were going to sell them.
Please post a comment if you have a favorite or neat idea of your own!
Cake Balls
Ingredients
1 box of cake mix
1 can of frosting
1 package of almond bark
*+ ingredients on back of cake box (usually vegetable oil, water, and eggs which I've found can be substituted with apple sauce, milk, and eggbeaters respectively-er..i think)
*+optional toppings
Method
Bake cake mix as directed.
When you pull it out of the oven, smoosh it up with a fork while it's still hot and mix in the can of frosting while it's still warm.
Roll into balls (I wear powder free doctor gloves for this step!) and place on aluminum foil to cool
By the time they're all balled up, they'll be good to go into a container and into the freezer.
Freeze for at least a few hours (I froze for 2 days because I wasn't ready to finish them yet)
Then, dip each ball in melted almond bark and coat with a topping of your choice if you'd like.
Tips
-The cake mix, frosting, and almond bark flavor is totally up to you and the posibilities are endless. This is definitely a use your imagination recipe. Here are some of the one's I've heard of and/or made:
Red Velvet Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting, White bark, and drizzles of red chocolate.
Devil's Food Cake, Chocolate Fudge Frosting, Chocolate bark, drizzles of white chocolate.
Coconut Cake, white frosting, white bark, toasted coconut topping
Also, mint chocolate chip, german chocolate, carrot cake, strawberry, funfetti, etc etc
-Optional Toppings are also endless: toasted coconut, crushed nuts, drizzles of melted chocolate, cocoa powder, etc.
-A little shortening thins almond bark for easier dipping
-Use powder free doctor gloves for rolling the balls
-Smoosh up the mixture while it's warm or you'll get clumps that won't stay in balls.
-You could use your own cake and frosting recipes but this recipe calls for so much work already that I wouldn't go that far unless I were going to sell them.
Please post a comment if you have a favorite or neat idea of your own!
Holiday Baking
HOW WONDERFUL!
Christmas is officially my new favorite cooking season. It gives me an excuse to try out a ton of different recipes, and actually have places to take- and people to eat- the product. Friend parties, family parties, work parties, drop in company, and of course gift plates. I love it.
So here's a run down of the hits.
Addictive Chex Mix
Ingredients
White chocolate
Unsalted peanuts
M&M's
Rice Chex
Method
Melt chocolate
Mix all ingredients
Lay out on wax paper or aluminum foil and allow to cool
When the chocolate has hardened, it's ready to eat!
Tips
-Melt the chocolate in the microwave and it won't burn.
-One box of chex, a medium can of nuts, and large bags of m&m's and white chocolate makes an insanely giant bowl of this snack mix. Enough for me to have to have to mix it in my bowl that won't fit in the dishwasher and serve it in my biggest serving bowl. Enough for a family of 12 to snack on all weekend and still have a little left.
-This is a use your imagination recipe. Use peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips instead of white chocolate, add pretzels, whatever. Post a comment if you have a suggestion!
Christmas is officially my new favorite cooking season. It gives me an excuse to try out a ton of different recipes, and actually have places to take- and people to eat- the product. Friend parties, family parties, work parties, drop in company, and of course gift plates. I love it.
So here's a run down of the hits.
Addictive Chex Mix
Ingredients
White chocolate
Unsalted peanuts
M&M's
Rice Chex
Method
Melt chocolate
Mix all ingredients
Lay out on wax paper or aluminum foil and allow to cool
When the chocolate has hardened, it's ready to eat!
Tips
-Melt the chocolate in the microwave and it won't burn.
-One box of chex, a medium can of nuts, and large bags of m&m's and white chocolate makes an insanely giant bowl of this snack mix. Enough for me to have to have to mix it in my bowl that won't fit in the dishwasher and serve it in my biggest serving bowl. Enough for a family of 12 to snack on all weekend and still have a little left.
-This is a use your imagination recipe. Use peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips instead of white chocolate, add pretzels, whatever. Post a comment if you have a suggestion!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Birthday Cake Update
I have baked, and I am back.
AH!! that cake was delicious!
I don't know that I have ever been more impressed with myself (bake-ly speaking).
It was chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. Not very nice to my tummy because I forgot to take lactose blockers but all things considered, worth eating anyway!
Cake: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Too-Much-Chocolate-Cake/Detail.aspx
Frosting: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Cake-Frosting-I/Detail.aspx
I followed suggestions to substitute 1/4 cup unsalted butter and 1/2 cup shortening for the recommended 2/3 cup shortening. Then I used one of those store bought frostings in a can that comes with decorator tips just to decorate the edges. I'd like to make it look nicer next time by trying to figure out how to keep cake bits from de-coloring the frosting...the only thing I can think of is use lots more frosting.
Bottom Line- It was a hit.
AH!! that cake was delicious!
I don't know that I have ever been more impressed with myself (bake-ly speaking).
It was chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. Not very nice to my tummy because I forgot to take lactose blockers but all things considered, worth eating anyway!
Cake: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Too-Much-Chocolate-Cake/Detail.aspx
Frosting: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Cake-Frosting-I/Detail.aspx
I followed suggestions to substitute 1/4 cup unsalted butter and 1/2 cup shortening for the recommended 2/3 cup shortening. Then I used one of those store bought frostings in a can that comes with decorator tips just to decorate the edges. I'd like to make it look nicer next time by trying to figure out how to keep cake bits from de-coloring the frosting...the only thing I can think of is use lots more frosting.
Bottom Line- It was a hit.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Birthday Cake
I'm going to start a blog for no reason at all. And probably not tell anyone about it.
I like to document things.
I like to bake. (and cook)
I am forgetful.
I like to remember what worked and what didn't and what tasted good and what didn't.
Hence the birth of my blog.
Today is dear friend Beau's birthday and I have decided to make a cake.
First step: Call restaurant to be sure they allow bringing in of outside cake.- done. I have been a waitress for far too long to know that while the customer is always right, the customer is also very often an ass hole- so be extra nice and considerate to your wait-staff. They work hard.
So I'm going to try a cake and frosting recipe...each from the wonderful www.allrecipes.com I will bake, and I will be back.
I like to document things.
I like to bake. (and cook)
I am forgetful.
I like to remember what worked and what didn't and what tasted good and what didn't.
Hence the birth of my blog.
Today is dear friend Beau's birthday and I have decided to make a cake.
First step: Call restaurant to be sure they allow bringing in of outside cake.- done. I have been a waitress for far too long to know that while the customer is always right, the customer is also very often an ass hole- so be extra nice and considerate to your wait-staff. They work hard.
So I'm going to try a cake and frosting recipe...each from the wonderful www.allrecipes.com I will bake, and I will be back.
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