Red Velvet Cupcakes
These Red Velvet Cupcakes are unbelievably good. They are so good I could eat 5 in one sitting!
INGREDIENTS
2 ½ Cups Unbleached Flour
½ Cup Cocoa Powder
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
½ Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Softened Butter
2 Cups Sugar
4 Eggs
1 Cup Sour Cream
½ Cup Milk
1 Ounce Red Food Color
3 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
Preheat the oven to 350° F. In a medium size bowl mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a large size bowl beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on a medium speed for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix in the sour cream, milk, food color and vanilla. Gradually beat in the flour mixture on low speed. Spoon into paper lined muffin cups. Fill each cup 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool completely. Spread with the Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting. Makes 30 cupcakes.
Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium size bowl beat 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 4 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons sour cream and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 16 ounces powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) until smooth.
Garlic Mushroom Pizza
Soooooo good!
INGREDIENTS
1 Pizza Dough
¼ Cup Pizza Sauce
3 Finely Chopped Garlic Cloves
1 ½ Cups Shitake Mushrooms
1 Cup White Mushrooms
4 Tablespoons Herb Olive Oil
2 Cups Shredded Provolone Cheese
Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator 2 hours before you plan to make the pizzas. Preheat your oven to 400° F. Spread the pizza dough out to cover a large pizza pan. Brush with 3 tablespoons of the herb olive oil and then sprinkle with the chopped garlic. Put in the oven and bake for 8 minutes. While in the oven, thinly slice the shitake and white mushroom in a large skillet, heat with the remaining tablespoon of herb olive oil. Cook over a high heat and sauté the mushrooms for 8 minutes until golden. Remove the cooked pizza dough from the oven. Spread the pizza sauce over the cooked dough. Sprinkle the baked dough with the 1 cup of the shredded provolone cheese, then the mushroom and the other cup of the provolone cheese. Place back in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Remove from the oven and cut into slices. Repeat until you have used all of the ingredients. Makes 4 pizzas. Serves 8
Soooooo good!
INGREDIENTS
1 Pizza Dough
¼ Cup Pizza Sauce
3 Finely Chopped Garlic Cloves
1 ½ Cups Shitake Mushrooms
1 Cup White Mushrooms
4 Tablespoons Herb Olive Oil
2 Cups Shredded Provolone Cheese
Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator 2 hours before you plan to make the pizzas. Preheat your oven to 400° F. Spread the pizza dough out to cover a large pizza pan. Brush with 3 tablespoons of the herb olive oil and then sprinkle with the chopped garlic. Put in the oven and bake for 8 minutes. While in the oven, thinly slice the shitake and white mushroom in a large skillet, heat with the remaining tablespoon of herb olive oil. Cook over a high heat and sauté the mushrooms for 8 minutes until golden. Remove the cooked pizza dough from the oven. Spread the pizza sauce over the cooked dough. Sprinkle the baked dough with the 1 cup of the shredded provolone cheese, then the mushroom and the other cup of the provolone cheese. Place back in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Remove from the oven and cut into slices. Repeat until you have used all of the ingredients. Makes 4 pizzas. Serves 8
Roasted Pepper Pizza
This pizza is so easy to make and very healthy. Homemade pizzas are lighter and puffier. They are more like the ones you find at artisan pizza restaurants. Make this Roasted Pepper Pizza for lunch, dinner or a snack. If you want to add meat go ahead, but I think it tastes great the way it is.
INGREDIENTS
Pizza Dough
2 Large Sliced Onions
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
16 Ounces Fire-Roasted Peppers (Drained and Sliced Into Strips)
1 ½ Cups Drained Salsa Fresca
1 Cup Sliced Black Olives
¾ Cup Grated Mozzarella Cheese
Remove the dough from the refrigerator 2 hours before you plan to make your pizzas. Preheat your oven to 500° F and arrange an oven rack one-third of the way up from the bottom of the oven. Place a pizza stone or invert a heavy baking sheet on the rack. In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over a medium heat. Add the onions, cook and stir for 10 minutes until the onions are limp and translucent. Stir in the sugar and balsamic vinegar and cook until the juices bubble. Transfer the onions to a strainer set over a bowl. Drain for 3 minutes. Return the juices to the skillet and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes until the consistency is like honey. Remove from the heat and return the onions to the skillet and stir to coat. Set aside. To assemble, stretch each dough portion into a circle. Transfer one circle onto a pizza peel (a pizza size spatula) or rimless cookie sheet dusted with flour. Top in the following order using one-fourth of each topping per pizza: onion mixture, peppers, salsa, olives and mozzarella cheese. Using the peel or cookie sheet, slide the topped pizza onto the hot baking stone or baking sheet and bake for 5 to 7 minutes until the toppings are bubbling, the cheese is turning golden and the edges of the pizza are golden brown. Rotate the pizzas halfway through for even baking. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing. While one pizza is baking, repeat with the remaining dough and toppings. Makes 4 pizzas. Serves 8
Citrus Cheesecake
Seriously, who doesn’t love cheesecake? If your sweetheart is not a chocolate lover then try this delicious Citrus Cheesecake out. It is a nice “make ahead” dessert and sure to be a hit.
INGREDIENTS
Crust:
1 Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
¼ (1/2 Stick) Melted Butter
Filling:
4 (8 Ounce) Packages of Softened Cream Cheese
1 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Flour
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Lime Juice
1 Tablespoon Orange Juice
1 Teaspoon Lemon Peel
1 Teaspoon Lime Peel
1 Teaspoon Orange Peel
4 Eggs
Preheat your oven to 325° F. To make the crust mix together the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and butter in a medium size bowl. Press the mixture onto the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. To press the crumbs into the pan use the bottom of a glass to evenly press the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove and cool while you make the filling. To make the filling mix together the cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla in a medium size bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Blend in the citrus juices and the peels. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed until well blended. Pour over the crust and bake at 325° F. for 65 minutes until the center is almost set. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the rim of the pan to loosen the cheesecake. Cool completely before removing from the pan. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Overnight is best which makes this a great “make ahead” dessert. Serves 12
Valentine Cupcakes
INGREDIENTS
Cake:
1 1/3 Cups Unbleached Flour
¼ Teaspoon Baking Soda
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
¾ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
4 Tablespoons Softened Butter
1 ½ Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
¾ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Butter Milk (or Sour Milk)
Frosting:
½ Cup Softened Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Cups Confectioners’ Sugar
3 Tablespoons Milk
For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease the muffin pan and line with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside. In a large size bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Beat well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk and beat well. Pour into the muffin cups ¾ full. Bake for 15 minutes until done. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Take a knife and loosen the edges. Let cool completely before removing. Ice and decorate. Makes 1 dozen cupcakes.
For the icing: In a large size bowl beat the butter, confectioners’ sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth and blended. Beat on high for 1 minute until light and fluffy. Makes 2 1/3 cups.
Green Chile Quesadillas
Quick and delicious! My Green Chile Quesadillas can be made for lunch, dinner or party food. Serve with homemade guacamole if you like.
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups (8 Ounces) Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
4 Ounce Can Diced Green Chiles
2 Small Chopped Green Onions
1 Small Diced Tomato
Six 6 inch Fajita Size Flour Tortillas
1 Bunch Chopped Fresh Cilantro (Optional)
Salsa (Optional)
Combine the cheese, chilies, tomatoes and green onions in a medium size bowl. Spread ¾ cup of the cheese mixture on one tortilla. Place the second tortilla evenly over the mixture. Place the quesadilla in a medium size skillet that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cook over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown and the cheese is melted. Slice into quarters and garnish with cilantro and salsa if you like. Serves 6
Old Time Soft Sugar Cookies
INGREDIENTS
½ Cup Shortening
½ Cup Sugar
½ Cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
¾ Cup Buttermilk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Cups Unbleached Flour
½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
½ Teaspoon Salt
Topping: ¼ Cup Sugar & 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Cream together the shortening, sugar and brown sugar. Mix in the egg, then the buttermilk and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients in a medium size bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture. Chill the dough for 1 hour in the refrigerator. Drop the dough by round teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on either a lightly greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Combine the topping ingredients in a small size bowl and sprinkle on top of the cookie dough. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake for 8 minutes until set. Makes 4 dozen cookies.
Ultimate Ginger Snaps
If you like Ginger Snaps, like I do, then you will love these. They are nice and chewy with just the right amount of ginger. You just might want to double the batch because they are sure to be a big hit.
INGREDIENTS
2 ¼ Cups Unbleached Flour
½ Teaspoons Ground Cloves
½ Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Salt
¾ Cup (1 ½ Sticks) Softened Unsalted Butter
1 Cup Sugar
¼ Cup Dark Molasses
1 Large Egg
3 ½ Ounces Crystallized Ginger Chips
Preheat your oven to 375° F. Sift the dry ingredients together in a medium size bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Stir in the molasses and the egg. Add the dry ingredients to the ginger chips. For the best result, chill the dough for 1 hour. Form 1 inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Make sure that they are about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven while the cookies are still soft. Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes before removing and placing on a serving plate. Makes 3 dozen cookies.
Camille’s Pita Pizza
Camille created this “Pita Pizza” and loves how it tastes. Try it and see if you like it.
INGREDIENTS
1 Large Pita Flat Bread
½ Cup Humus
½ Cup Feta Cheese
¼ Cup Pitted Olives
½ Cup Diced Artichoke Hearts
¼ Cup Halved Cherry Tomatoes
½ Cup Baked & Shredded Chicken
Apply the humus to the pita flat bread. Sprinkle on the feta cheese. Layer with the olives, artichoke hearts and cherry tomatoes. Finish up with placing the shredded chicken on the top. Bake in a 350° F preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and slice like a pizza. Serves 4
Toffee Ginger Shortbreads
I used my simple shortbread recipe and added toffee and crystallized ginger chips. These shortbread cookies came out amazingly delicious.
INGREDIENTS
4 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Cup Sugar
1 Pound Softened Butter
½ Cup Crystallized Ginger Chips
8 Ounces English Toffee Bits
In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar and butter. Mix thoroughly. Add the ginger chips and English toffee bits and mix. The dough should be in the shape of a ball. Press the dough into a medium size baking pan that has been lined with parchment paper. If you don’t have parchment paper don’t worry. You don’t need to grease the pan. Prick the surface with a fork making evenly distribute perforations. Bake in a preheated 375° F oven for 40 minutes until the shortbread is delicately brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes. Cut into squares and place onto a serving plate. Makes 32 shortbreads.
Note: I like to use Heath English Toffee bits.
