Friday, January 31, 2014

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Black Forest cake



Mike's birthday is just a few scant weeks before Christmas, when I'm already in the cookie baking frenzy that becomes my life in December.  It would be sooooo easy (and tempting) to simply put some cookies on a plate and say "There you go!" to my sweetie, but that wouldn't be very nice.  This year it was a wonderful Black Forest Cake that his heart desired!


Black Forest Cake

Two layered chocolate cake - your favorite recipe.  Mine is at the link.
Chocolate frosting, glaze, or dipping sauce - I used the dipping sauce since it spreads so nicely.
Toppings:
2 c whipping cream
1/2 c powdered sugar
2 T brandy
21 oz can of cherry pie filling
1/2 t almond extract
Almonds for garnish, chopped

Mix up and bake the chocolate cake according to your recipe in two round pans.  Cool completely before assembling.  Make the chocolate dipping sauce and set aside.  In a small bowl, combine the cherries and almond extract and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the whipping cream until it starts to thicken.  Beat in the powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.  Gently fold in the brandy.

Place one cake layer top down on your serving plate (edged with waxed paper to be removed later).  Spread with 1/2 of the chocolate sauce, 1/2 of the whipped cream, and then about 1 c of the cherries, keeping them slightly back from the edge.  Add the second cake layer, top side up, and add the remainder of the toppings.  Sprinkle with the almonds.  Store in the refrigerator.




Friday, January 24, 2014

Kumquat, blueberry, or whatever


I'll have a cup of Whatever, please...

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Cheater's baked beans



You want them to taste great, but you don't have time to simmer all day: here is a cheater's version of baked beans that aren't too bad.

Cheater's Baked Beans

2 slices of bacon
1 onion, chopped
2 (14 oz) cans of small red or pink beans, rinsed
1/2 c molasses
1/4 c ketchup
1 t grainy brown mustard
Salt and pepper

In a large saucepan, cook the bacon, pouring off the excess grease.  Remove and crumble.  Cook the onion until softened.  Add the rest of the ingredients, including the bacon and heat through.  Add water if needed.


Image - Mk2010

Friday, January 17, 2014

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Pumpkin cornmeal cake


I was sort of hoping that this recipe would be appropriate to serve for dinner, but it's really too sweet as is.  I'm definitely thinking about redoing it in a more savory quick-bread form, but in the meantime, it really is quite delicious as a cake!  Check out the recipe for Pumpkin Cornmeal Cake in Hannaford's Fresh magazine.  I found that I needed to raise the temperature to 375 in order to keep the middle of the cake from falling.  

Friday, January 10, 2014

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Trinidad chicken curry


Sometimes I go for long periods of time not remembering my slow cooker.  But recently I realized that I'd been neglecting it when it really could be a great help...especially when we were going to be eating at different times during the evening.  Not my favorite situation, but there you have it.  It happens occasionally!

I like the recipe for Trinidad Chicken Curry that I found in Hannaford's Fresh magazine, but the meat just has to be seared first.  With that caveat, I followed the recipe pretty closely otherwise.  It's a really nice mild curry because of the coconut milk.  

Monday, January 6, 2014

Pasta puttanesca



Was it really first made by Neapolitan prostitutes who needed a quick dinner?  Who knows.  Who cares.  It's delicious!


Pasta Puttanesca

1 1/2 - 2 lbs grape tomatoes

1 lb rotini, fusilli, or orecchiette pasta
Salted water

3 T olive oil
3 - 4 cloves of garlic
1 T anchovy paste
1/2 t red pepper flakes
2 t fresh oregano or 1/2 t dried

1/2 c pitted kalamata olives, chopped
3 T capers, chopped
1/2 c flat leaf parsley, chopped

Process the tomatoes until chopped but not pureed.  Scrape out into a mesh strainer over a bowl and let drain, pressing down solids as needed.

Start the water for the pasta and begin cooking when it boils.

Mix oil through oregano a small bowl.  In a large skillet, cook the garlic mixture over medium heat, stirring for 2 minutes.  Add tomato liquid a simmer for 2 more minutes.  Add chopped tomatoes, olives and capers and cook for 2 more minutes.  Stir in the parsley and keep the sauce warm.

Drain the pasta, reserving 1 c of the liquid.  Return the pasta to the pot and top with the tomato sauce.  Add as much liquid as needed and reheat gently if needed.  Serve immediately.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

"Mostly Vegetable Soups" to help remove the holiday pounds

Mostly Vegetable Soups

Click to purchase ~ $2

Just before the holiday gluttony kicks in, and just after the New Year gluttony ends, Mike and I fill ourselves up with healthy healthy soups and stews.  These comfort foods give us the boost we need to resist some of the worst abuses, and they also help to get us back on track in the New Year.  This has been our pattern for years now, and I'm happy to say that even if we pack on a few pounds during the week leading up to Christmas and the week in between it and January 1, we always manage to get them right back off before another two weeks have passed.

No, we're not special (as in "well isn't that special?")...we just choose our gluttony wisely!

Well, I've put together an e-booklet with 13 of our favorites.  While I can't make any health or nutrition or even diet claims for these soups (I am not a registered anything), I can tell you that they work for us. 


  
Tomato Basil Soup