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  1. Wednesday, May 30, 2007

    Featured Recipe: Crêpe Night!

    I’m not sharing this as a featured recipe necessarily because I think it’s such a spectacular recipe, but more a great meal idea.

    When Nate and I lived in Boston, we took a few roadtrips to Montréal. The first time we visited we ate at a crêpe restaurant. We had NO money then and this was our one restaurant meal, so that might be why I remember it so well. But it was also my first introduction to savory crêpes, and I was NOT disappointed. Dinner was delicious, then we had crêpes for dessert too.


    This visit inspired me to try crêpes for dinner and dessert at home. If you decide to venture into the world of crêpe-making, it’s worth the trip! I make my savory crêpes, then add a little sugar to the batter then make some for dessert. Pretty easy and very tasty. As for fillings, the sky’s the limit! If I’m feeling especially decadent, I’ll use brie as the cheese in the savory crêpes. Savory tip: I cook my filling ingredients prior to making the crêpes; when I cook the crêpes, when I flip it over, I add the filling, fold the four sides in, then cook on both sides (make sense?). Don’t know if this the official way to do it, but works for me. As for dessert – I LOVE strawberries, chocolate sauce and ice cream, with sugar sprinkled on top. YUM.

    Here’s a recipe for the batter in case you would like one:

    Featured Recipe: Crêpe Night!
     
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup milk
    • ¼ lukewarm water
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (I use salted, whatever)
    • 1½ tablespoons sugar
    • Pinch of salt
    Instructions
    1. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate 30 mins or up to 2 days. (for savory crêpes, cut the sugar, do ½ t salt)
    2. Cook as directed for crêpes (nonstick or seaesoned crêpe pan, medium heat, butter the pan, about 2 T of batter per crêpe, butter pan between each crêpe). The technique takes some practice – I would read up on it in a cookbook for some pointers if you’ve never done it.

    Bon Appétit!


  2. Wednesday, January 31, 2007

    Grandma Blomquist’s Brownies

    Grandma Blomquist's Brownies
     
    Author:
    Cuisine: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • 1 square butter
    • 2 squares baking chocolate (equiv: 6 tablespoons cocoa and 2 tablespoons butter)
    • 2 tablespoons karo syrup
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 well beaten eggs
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup flour
    Instructions
    1. Melt butter, chocolate, karo.
    2. Add sugar.
    3. Add eggs.
    4. Add dry ingredients.
    5. Bake 350 degrees for ~ 25 mins in a greased 8X8 pan.


  3. Chocolate Bread Pudding


    Chocolate Bread Pudding
     
    From Cuisine at Home magazine (DELICIOUS RECIPE! YOU GOTTA TRY!)
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • Melt:
    • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 1 stick unsalted butter, cubed
    • Whisk together; Pour over:
    • 2 cups whole or 2% milk
    • 3 eggs
    • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 13 slices Texas toast, staled and cut into 1”³ cubes (1 lb)
    • Fold in:
    • Chocolate mixture
    Instructions
    1. Preheat oven to 350; coat a 9”³ springform pan with 1 tablespoon unsalted butter. Melt chocolate chips, sugar and butter in saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until chips are smooth, about 8 mins. Whisk milk, eggs, vanilla, espresso and salt together and pour over bread cubes. Toss well so the bread absorbs most of the liquid and begins to lose its shape. Fold the melted chocolate into the bread mixture, then transfer to prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until the center springs back when gently pressed. Cool on a rack for 15 mins, remove the sides of the pan and slice.


  4. Brownie Cupcakes

    Brownie Cupcakes
     
    From Martha Stewart via Lindsey Johnson
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Serves: 12 brownies
    Ingredients
    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 (11 ounces) package semi-sweet chocolate chips–Trader Joe’s is best
    • 3 large eggs
    • 1 cup sugar
    • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
    • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
    • ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼-1/2 teaspoon salt (optional, but I think it needs it)
    • 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (walnuts, or pecans)
    • Chocolate frosting (totally optional)
    Instructions
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12 count muffin tin with cupcake liners. Spray well with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
    2. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and 8 ounces of chocolate. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat, and set aside. (You can use the microwave, but be VERY careful not to burn the chocolate. Check it after every 30 seconds to a minute and on 50% power.)
    3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and sugar together until well combined. Add the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the melted butter/chocolate mixture. Stir in remaining 3 ounces of chocolate and nuts.
    4. Using a 2 oz. ice cream scoop, fill cupcake liners ¾ full with batter. Bake until a firm crust forms on the cupcakes, about 20 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool, about 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and continue to cool on a wire rack.
    5. Frost the cupcakes with a generous amount of chocolate frosting. (They are really rich and don’t really need the frosting, but hey–do what YOU like.)

  5. Sweet Chex Mix


    Sweet Chex Mix
     
    Prep time
    Total time
     
    Author:
    Ingredients
    • - 1 small box Rice Chex
    • - 2 cups shredded coconut
    • - 1 cup sliced almonds
    • - 1 cup light corn syrup
    • - 1 cup sugar
    • - 1½ cup butter
    • - Dash salt
    • - ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • - 1 teaspoon vanilla
    Instructions
    1. Mix together the rice chex, coconut, and almonds in a very large bowl. Set aside.
    2. Cook sugar, light corn syrup, salt and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl for 5 minutes on high power.
    3. Remove from the microwave, stir, then return to microwave and cook for 2 more minutes on high.
    4. Remove from microwave and stir in vanilla and baking soda. (Work carefully - the mixture will be HOT.)
    5. Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir until well and evenly coated.

     


  6. Chocolate Swirl Cookies

    chocolate swirls web

    Chocolate Swirl Cookies
     
    From WHO KNOWS?!?! Some chocolate cream cheese genius, I suppose.
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ½ cup packed brown sugar
    • ½ cup butter, softened
    • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 cups all purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup semisweet chocolate ships, melted and slightly cooled
    Instructions
    1. Heat oven to 350F. In large mixing bowl combine sugars, butter, cream cheese, egg and vanilla. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat at low speed until soft dough forms. Fold melted chips into dough until lightly marbled. (do not overmix)
    2. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 mins, or until edges are light golden brown. Cool completly before storing.


  7. Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

    Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
     
    My friend Barbara found this recipe online somewhere”¦
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • Crust:
    • 9 ounces package of chocolate wafer cookies
    • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
    • Filling:
    • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • ¾ cup raspberry jam
    • 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 4 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    Instructions
    1. To make crust: Place cookies in a food processor and grind into powder. Mix with butter and press into the bottom and up sides of 9-ince sprinform pan. Refrigerate crust while making the filling.
    2. To make the filling: Combine the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 4 mins or until smooth, stirring every minute. Mix in the raspberry jam and stir until dissolved. Let mixture cool for 10 mins.
    3. Combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing wella fter each egg. Add vanilla and chocolate-raspberyr mixture. blend well.
    4. Pour mixture into springorm pan and bake at 325 for 1½ hours or until cake is set.
    5. Allow to cool in an open oven for an hour. Remove from oven and place on wire rack until completely cool. Refregerate for at least 6 hours before serving.

  8. Pumpkin Coffee Cake


    Pumpkin Coffee Cake
     
    All Recipes via Karen Stadelmeier
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • TOPPING INGREDIENTS:
    • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 2 tablespoons cold butter or margarine
    • ½ cup chopped pecans
    • CAKE INGREDIENTS:
    • ½ cup butter or margarine, softened
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • ½ cup canned or cooked pumpkin
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    Instructions
    1. In a small bowl, combine sugars and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the sour cream, pumpkin and vanilla; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream mixture. Beat on low just until blended. Spread the batter into two greased and floured 8-in. round cake pans. Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 325 degrees F for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
    Notes
    KAREN’S NOTES:
    I used a mixture of cloves, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg for the pumpkin spice and skipped the nuts for you :-). I also used one pan instead of two and I think the thickness was perfect.


  9. French Silk Pie

    French Silk Pie
     
    From Cora Wallin
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate squares (melted and cooled)
    • ½ cup butter
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla
    • 4 Eggs
    Instructions
    1. Melt and cool chocolate. Cream butter – add sugar and vanilla and mix. Add chocolate. Add 2 eggs and beat on high 5 mins. Add 2 more eggs beat on high 5 minutes. I use a premade graham cracker crust. Top with whipped cream. Keep refrigerated.

  10. Pumpkin Cheesecake


    Pumpkin Cheesecake
     
    From Adrianne Campbell (you don’t have to do a water bath for this recipe – woo-hoo!)
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • 1 ½ cups graham cracker or gingersnap crumbs
    • 5 tablespoons melted butter
    • 1 cup + 1 tablespoon white sugar
    • 3 – 8 ounce packages of cream cheese (softened)
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
    • 1 cup canned pumpkin
    • 3 eggs
    • ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon Allspice
    • Whipped cream for topping
    Instructions
    1. Preheat oven to 350. Make the crust with the crumbs, butter and 1 Tablespoon of sugar. Press ⅔ up side of a spring form pan. Bake 5 minutes.
    2. Combine cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Add the pumpkin, eggs and spices until creamy. Pour over crust and bake 60-70 minutes. Cool cheesecake completely and refrigerate 4 hours. Serve each slice with whipped cream.