Showing posts with label dessert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dessert. Show all posts
Friday, November 2, 2012
How I'm feeling today.
Today is a different kind of day...I am feeling really melancholy and I'm feeling this strong desire to open up, be honest and share my soul with whoever will listen (or read). I want my blog to be a little different than how it was in the past. It will still have lots of recipes, but I want it to be about my life, kind of a memory book for my family. I got that idea from reading my friend Ashlee's blog (you can read it here)! She is a friend from high school, we recently reconnected and I LOVE reading about her family and her heart :)
So, these are the things on my heart today:
i wish i had a magic fairy that would do my dishes every day
true friendship is so precious
being the wife of a chef is lonely
my children bring me great joy
God is so FAITHFUL
being a mom is hard work
i wish Halloween candy counted as negative calories
i can't wait for sunday date night
God has a plan for my life that is different and better than what i could plan for myself
How are you feeling today?? Is your heart heavy?? Can you relate to my thoughts and feelings?? I would love to hear your thoughts!
and for those of you hoping for a recipe...here is a super simple and yummy TREAT to pair with your favorite fruit...I did not create this recipe...I am stealing it from my mama...I hope she doesn't mind!
1 jar marshmallow cream
1 block cream cheese, softened
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tblsp. lemon zest
Whip all ingredients together and enjoy! Seriously so good!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Homemade Oreo Cookies
I have seen a few people blog or talk about making homemade oreos lately. I think this is such a cute idea! When my son Connor had sign ups for the Harvest Party at school I signed up to bring a surprise dessert and oreos were the surprise!!
I didn't have a recipe so I just kinda made it up as I went and the cookies were soooo good! I used orange food coloring for the frosting to give a pumpkin look, but these would be so cute in any color! Red and Green for Christmas, pink or blue for a baby shower, or any color for any occasion!
The cookies were hard the day that I made them, which was perfect for an oreo-like cookie, but the next day they were softer and a little chewy which (to me!) made them even more yummy!!
The recipe:
For the cookie:
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
a pinch of salt
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 and 1/4 sticks of butter, room temp
1 large egg
For the filling:
1 stick butter, room temp (could use Crisco, but butter tastes much better :)
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
optional: food coloring of your choice! (I like to use the Wilton gels)
To make the cookie add all dry ingredients into your mixer and combine well on low. Next add in the butter and then finally the egg. This will make a stiff dough. Make 1 inch balls from the dough and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Gently smoosh down the balls before baking. Bake in a 350 degree over for 9 minutes. They might appear underdone at 9 minutes, but they aren't...I promise :) Cool cookies completely and pair them according to size!
Next make your filling. Start by beating butter and then adding powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. When fully combined add vanilla and mix some more! Now you can add food coloring if you wish!
Now its time to assemble your cookies! Put frosting into a piping bag and pipe about a teaspoon of filling on one of the paired cookies. Then press them together. Now you have a little cookie-frosting sandwich which resembles an oreo cookie...only it is so much better!!
I can't wait to use peppermint extract instead of vanilla at Christmas time to make peppermint-chocolate cookies! YUMMY!
I didn't have a recipe so I just kinda made it up as I went and the cookies were soooo good! I used orange food coloring for the frosting to give a pumpkin look, but these would be so cute in any color! Red and Green for Christmas, pink or blue for a baby shower, or any color for any occasion!
The cookies were hard the day that I made them, which was perfect for an oreo-like cookie, but the next day they were softer and a little chewy which (to me!) made them even more yummy!!
The recipe:
For the cookie:
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
a pinch of salt
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 and 1/4 sticks of butter, room temp
1 large egg
For the filling:
1 stick butter, room temp (could use Crisco, but butter tastes much better :)
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
optional: food coloring of your choice! (I like to use the Wilton gels)
To make the cookie add all dry ingredients into your mixer and combine well on low. Next add in the butter and then finally the egg. This will make a stiff dough. Make 1 inch balls from the dough and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Gently smoosh down the balls before baking. Bake in a 350 degree over for 9 minutes. They might appear underdone at 9 minutes, but they aren't...I promise :) Cool cookies completely and pair them according to size!
Next make your filling. Start by beating butter and then adding powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. When fully combined add vanilla and mix some more! Now you can add food coloring if you wish!
Now its time to assemble your cookies! Put frosting into a piping bag and pipe about a teaspoon of filling on one of the paired cookies. Then press them together. Now you have a little cookie-frosting sandwich which resembles an oreo cookie...only it is so much better!!
I can't wait to use peppermint extract instead of vanilla at Christmas time to make peppermint-chocolate cookies! YUMMY!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Chocolate Rolo Cookies
I love Rolos! What's not to love? Chocolate, carmel, soft, chewy...DELICIOUS!! We were just at a wedding and the dessert table had these cute little boxes filled with Rolos, I had forgotten how much I loved Rolos!! So yummy! Then just a week later I saw a blog being featured that made a Rolo cookie using cake mix. I thought they sounded so yummy, but would be even better with a soft, almost chewy, chocolate cookie recipe I have. I knew I couldn't just make them for fun out of fear that I would eat the entire batch so I have been waiting to try them. Today was the day! I was in charge of bringing a dessert to a MOPS meeting, and I brought...you guessed it! ROLO COOKIES!!
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup butter, at room temp
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
Rolos (about 32 unwrapped)
Preheat your oven to 375 and prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat.
Start by sifting the flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder (I NEVER sift, but your supposed to :) Set bowl aside and mix your wet ingredients. Cream the butter and the sugars. Next add in the eggs, one at a time, until fully combined. Then the vanilla. Now its time to slowly add in the dry ingredients, about 1/2 cup at a time. Once its all combined (make sure you scrape the sides of your bowl!) its time to form the cookie balls! Take just enough cookie dough to fully cover a rolo and then roll into a ball and put on your cookie sheet. Continue until you have used all your dough/rolos. Place on baking sheets, 12 at a time and place in preheated oven for 7-8 minutes. They are still really soft when you take them out, but they firm up I promise :) Then...EAT them! They are delicious warm, or at room temp. Enjoy, and try to not eat them all!
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup butter, at room temp
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
Rolos (about 32 unwrapped)
Preheat your oven to 375 and prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat.
Start by sifting the flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder (I NEVER sift, but your supposed to :) Set bowl aside and mix your wet ingredients. Cream the butter and the sugars. Next add in the eggs, one at a time, until fully combined. Then the vanilla. Now its time to slowly add in the dry ingredients, about 1/2 cup at a time. Once its all combined (make sure you scrape the sides of your bowl!) its time to form the cookie balls! Take just enough cookie dough to fully cover a rolo and then roll into a ball and put on your cookie sheet. Continue until you have used all your dough/rolos. Place on baking sheets, 12 at a time and place in preheated oven for 7-8 minutes. They are still really soft when you take them out, but they firm up I promise :) Then...EAT them! They are delicious warm, or at room temp. Enjoy, and try to not eat them all!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Lemon Cookies
I love lemons!! No seriously, I LOVE them!! As a child I was often found in my Grammy's backyard picking lemons from her tree and peeling them and eating them like an orange. I love lemon cake, lemonade, lemon tarts, lemon pie, lemon drops, lemon heads, lemon bars and my new recipe for lemon cookies (and those are just the lemon desserts...)
My mother-in-law has a lemon tree so a couple weeks back Casey and the boys picked a bunch of lemons from her tree and I decided to put them to good use!! This recipe is pretty easy, super yummy and low-cal (for a cookie!) These cookies are definitely tart, but with just the right amount of sweetness!
Lemon Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar, plus a little more for dusting
1 egg, separated
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 medium sized lemon, zest and 3 tablespoons juice
parchment paper
In one bowl mix all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt). In another bowl (or mixer) zest the lemon over the bowl and then add butter and mix together. Next add in the sugar and egg yolk and mix for about a minute. Add to the wet ingredients 1/2 of the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Now add in the lemon juice and the vanilla along with the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, your dough will be dense. Gather your dough and roll it into a log (about 8x2 inches). Cover with plastic wrap and stick in the fridge for about an hour. While you are waiting for your dough to get ready preheat your oven to 350 and line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. Also take your egg yolk and add about of tsp of water and mix together. When the dough is ready slice the dough into 1/4 inch discs and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Brush the tops with your egg wash mixture and dust with sugar. Put in the oven for 7-9 minutes and you will have about 32 delicious, soft but crisp lemon cookies :) Try not to eat them all in one sitting!!
My mother-in-law has a lemon tree so a couple weeks back Casey and the boys picked a bunch of lemons from her tree and I decided to put them to good use!! This recipe is pretty easy, super yummy and low-cal (for a cookie!) These cookies are definitely tart, but with just the right amount of sweetness!
Lemon Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar, plus a little more for dusting
1 egg, separated
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 medium sized lemon, zest and 3 tablespoons juice
parchment paper
In one bowl mix all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt). In another bowl (or mixer) zest the lemon over the bowl and then add butter and mix together. Next add in the sugar and egg yolk and mix for about a minute. Add to the wet ingredients 1/2 of the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Now add in the lemon juice and the vanilla along with the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, your dough will be dense. Gather your dough and roll it into a log (about 8x2 inches). Cover with plastic wrap and stick in the fridge for about an hour. While you are waiting for your dough to get ready preheat your oven to 350 and line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. Also take your egg yolk and add about of tsp of water and mix together. When the dough is ready slice the dough into 1/4 inch discs and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Brush the tops with your egg wash mixture and dust with sugar. Put in the oven for 7-9 minutes and you will have about 32 delicious, soft but crisp lemon cookies :) Try not to eat them all in one sitting!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Coleslaw and Apple-Cranberry Crisp :)
Sunday night we had some family over for dinner and Casey cooked up some pork shoulder, chicken wings and sausage in the smoker. He loves using his smoker, but it is an all day ordeal. As a matter of a fact, I think he started the pork around 2 am, for dinner at 5:30! Crazy! The food was soooo good though and when he does the meat I usually take on the task of side dishes and dessert!
I made some coleslaw and for dessert an awesome apple cranberry crisp :)
Coleslaw
Ingredients:
1 head cabbage (I like to do 1/2 green cabbage and 1/2 purple)
1/2 onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bunch cilantro, leaves picked and chopped
1/4 cup apple-cider vinegar
juice from 1 lemon
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Salt & Pepper to taste
First put finely chopped onion and garlic into a bowl with vinegar, lemon juice, sugar and salt and pepper. You want to let that sit for 10 minutes while you get everything else ready. Then slice the cabbage. Cut cabbage in half and then each half into halves. Cut out the core and then very thinly slice the cabbage. Once all cabbage is sliced, add chopped cilantro and vinegar mixture and toss together. The last step is to add the mayonnaise. Once everything is mixed, please be sure to taste the coleslaw and add salt & pepper if needed :)
Then the Apple-Cranberry Crisp for dessert! This recipe is so simple, and can easily be modified to suit your own creative genius!! For example try making this dessert with these mixtures, or others: Apple-Blueberry, Apple, Pear, Apple-Blackberry, Peach, Plum, etc!!
Ingredients:
For Filling:
5 apples, peeled, cored and sliced (I used pink lady, granny smith are also yummy)
1 cup fresh cranberries
juice from 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup (or try honey, agave nectar or caramel)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
a pinch of salt
For Topping:
1 stick cold butter, cubed
1 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
In a large bowl mix all the filling ingredients together until coated and pour into your favorite baking dish (I used a 13x9 in pan). Then mix all ingredients for topping in bowl and use your fingers to mix everything together creating dough( you can also do this in a food processor). Use fingers to clump dough on top of filling. Once it is basically covered put into a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. It will be bubbly and brown and ready to serve with some ice cream!!
I made some coleslaw and for dessert an awesome apple cranberry crisp :)
Coleslaw
Ingredients:
1 head cabbage (I like to do 1/2 green cabbage and 1/2 purple)
1/2 onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bunch cilantro, leaves picked and chopped
1/4 cup apple-cider vinegar
juice from 1 lemon
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Salt & Pepper to taste
First put finely chopped onion and garlic into a bowl with vinegar, lemon juice, sugar and salt and pepper. You want to let that sit for 10 minutes while you get everything else ready. Then slice the cabbage. Cut cabbage in half and then each half into halves. Cut out the core and then very thinly slice the cabbage. Once all cabbage is sliced, add chopped cilantro and vinegar mixture and toss together. The last step is to add the mayonnaise. Once everything is mixed, please be sure to taste the coleslaw and add salt & pepper if needed :)
Then the Apple-Cranberry Crisp for dessert! This recipe is so simple, and can easily be modified to suit your own creative genius!! For example try making this dessert with these mixtures, or others: Apple-Blueberry, Apple, Pear, Apple-Blackberry, Peach, Plum, etc!!
Ingredients:
For Filling:
5 apples, peeled, cored and sliced (I used pink lady, granny smith are also yummy)
1 cup fresh cranberries
juice from 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup (or try honey, agave nectar or caramel)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
a pinch of salt
For Topping:
1 stick cold butter, cubed
1 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
In a large bowl mix all the filling ingredients together until coated and pour into your favorite baking dish (I used a 13x9 in pan). Then mix all ingredients for topping in bowl and use your fingers to mix everything together creating dough( you can also do this in a food processor). Use fingers to clump dough on top of filling. Once it is basically covered put into a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. It will be bubbly and brown and ready to serve with some ice cream!!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Champagne & Strawberries
This time of year us chef's wives are lonely. People like to eat out at Christmas time and so my hubby gets the pleasure of feeding you all. He loves his job and I am so thankful for that, so I try to keep busy and look forward to January when most of you all will take a little break from eating out, and he will be home with the family more!!
In light of New Year's Eve tomorrow I created a fun recipe for Champagne & Strawberry cupcakes. I got the idea from an episode of Oprah, featuring the DC Cupcakes' girls. I liked their idea, but tweaked it a little :)
Ingredients:
1 box Moist White Cake
1 stick butter (softened)
1 1/3 cups Champagne
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
For Frosting:
2 sticks butter at room temp
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup finely chopped strawberries
2 tablespoons milk---or champagne ;)
DO NOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ON THE BOX!!
Mix butter until soft and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time until incorporated. Next add vanilla and champagne. Finally, add in cake mix. Stir just enough to moisten (Don't over mix)!!
Fill lined cupcake tins about 2/3 of the way. Will make 21-24 cupcakes.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes. Take out of oven and let cool completely before frosting.
Cream butter in mixer, add vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time scrapping sides as you go. Once its all incorporated add strawberries and mix some more! Frosting will probably appear dry, if so add milk VERY slowly to achieve desired thickness.
Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes and enjoy :)
In light of New Year's Eve tomorrow I created a fun recipe for Champagne & Strawberry cupcakes. I got the idea from an episode of Oprah, featuring the DC Cupcakes' girls. I liked their idea, but tweaked it a little :)
Ingredients:
1 box Moist White Cake
1 stick butter (softened)
1 1/3 cups Champagne
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
For Frosting:
2 sticks butter at room temp
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup finely chopped strawberries
2 tablespoons milk---or champagne ;)
DO NOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ON THE BOX!!
Mix butter until soft and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time until incorporated. Next add vanilla and champagne. Finally, add in cake mix. Stir just enough to moisten (Don't over mix)!!
Fill lined cupcake tins about 2/3 of the way. Will make 21-24 cupcakes.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes. Take out of oven and let cool completely before frosting.
Cream butter in mixer, add vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time scrapping sides as you go. Once its all incorporated add strawberries and mix some more! Frosting will probably appear dry, if so add milk VERY slowly to achieve desired thickness.
Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes and enjoy :)
Monday, December 27, 2010
Getting Started
I have been toying with the idea of starting a blog for a while. So I am going to give it a try :) I think it will be a little bit about life married to a chef, a little bit about being a mom and I will throw in some of my favorite recipes too!
So, lets start off this 1st blog entry off right, with one of my favortie things to make! I am currently obsessed with making cake pops!! They are a fun treat and so easy to make!!
Cake Pops
Ingredients:
1 baked cake (whatever flavor you like!)
3/4 can frosting
3/4 can frosting
Chocolate for dipping (or the melts from Wilton that come in a bunch of colors)
Lolipop sticks
Decorations
Once your cake is cool crumble cake into little crumbs. Then add your frosting. Use your hands to completely mix the two. (This is the messy part!!) You will end with a sticky dough. Roll this into aprox 1 inch balls. Lay them out on parchment lined cookie sheet and put in freezer for about 10 minutes so they are cold, but not frozen.
While they are in the freezer its time to melt your chocolate! This can be done in a double boiler or in the microwave. I prefer to use the Wilton chocolate melts in the microwave.
When the balls come out of the freezer dip one end of lolipop stick into melted chocolate and then stick about 1/2 way into chocolate ball. Now dip the ball in the chocolate and turn it to get it nice and covered. Hold over bowl and let excess chocolate drip off (i also tap my hand while turning the stick to make it smooth and get rid of excess).
Now, you can dip into sprinkles or just put them down on parchment to dry. You can decorate with bows, put in celephane bags, or do whatever to make them uniquely yours!
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