Schamburger Birthday Cake

We decided to try Bob Blumer’s Schamburger cake  for a birthday dinner today. The “hamburger is made using two white cakes as the bun, a brownie (recipe below) as the meat patty, mango puree as mustard, raspberry puree as ketchup, green and yellow jello as relish and sliced almonds as sesame seeds.

(click for full-sized pictures)

Directions:
1. Mix all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

2. Melt butter in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir in cocoa powder. Blend in sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

3. Blend in dry ingredients and chopped nuts.

4. Pour batter into greased 13X9X2 inch pan. Bake at 350F 30 to 35 minutes.

Written by Ian McKenzie on January 21st, 2007 with 1 comment.
Read more articles on Baking and Cakes.

The 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest

Do you have a “million-dollar” recipe that everyone raves about? You can put that to the test and win the $1 million grand prize. It’s time once again for the Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest.

The rules are here, the prizes here and the list of eligible products here.

Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest on Yahoo! Food

Written by Ian McKenzie on January 19th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and News and Contests.

S’more Pie

I took this recipe from Morning Coffee & Afternoon Tea, doubled it, tweaked it and made a pie.

Ingredients:

• Crust
• 1 2/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• Filling
• 1 cup marshmallow creme, divided
• 1 1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• Topping (optional)
• Whipped cream
• Fresh fruit
• Shaved chocolate

Directions:

1. Crust
1. Melt butter or margarine.
2. Combine all ingredients, mixing well.
3. Firmly press crumb mixture evenly over bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 7 to 9 minutes.
5. Cool to room temperature
2. Filling
1. Spread 1/2 cup of the marshmallow creme on the bottom of the pie shell.
2. Place chocolate chips, sugar, milk and instant coffee in a small microwave-safe bowl.
3. Microwave on high for 1 minute, until the milk is hot enough to melt the chocolate chips.
4. Whisk the mixture until smooth, stir in the vanilla and cool to room temperature.
5. In a larger bowl, whip the cream until stiff and stir in the other 1/2 cup of marshmallow creme.
6. Stir half of the chocolate into the cream mixture and blend well. Fold the remaining chocolate in creating a “striped” effect.
7. Pour the filling into the pie shell and refrigerate until set.
8. Serve plain or with your choice of toppings.

Written by Ian McKenzie on January 14th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and Dessert and Pie.

Sacher Torte Squares

Ingredients:

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 325°F. Line 15-1/2×10-1/2×1-inch jelly-roll pan with wax paper or foil.

2. Melt butter in medium saucepan. Add sugar and cocoa; stir until well blended. Remove from heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture, beating until well blended. Spread batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly. Cool 10 minutes. Invert onto cookie sheet. Carefully peel off paper. Cool thoroughly. Cut in half lengthwise, then crosswise, forming 4 rectangles. Spread preserves over two rectangles. Top with remaining two rectangles. Cut into squares, about 1-1/2 inches; place on wire rack with wax paper beneath to catch drips while glazing.

4. Prepare SATINY CHOCOLATE GLAZE. Spoon glaze over each square, allowing glaze to drizzle down sides. Garnish with almonds. 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

SATINY CHOCOLATE GLAZE
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons HERSHEY’S Cocoa
2 tablespoons water
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter in small saucepan over low heat; add cocoa and water, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Do not boil. Remove from heat; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating with whisk until smooth. Add additional water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency. About 3/4 cup glaze.

From Hershey’s Kitchens

Written by Ian McKenzie on January 6th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking.

3-D Cookie Cutter Set

This looks like a fun variation on your standard cookie cutters.

Our 3-D cookie cutters make it EASY to stand out! Celebrate every occasion with your own fun creations. 12 plastic cookie cutters make 6 playful designs, including a teddy bear, unicorn, airplane, sailboat, dolphin and dinosaur. Simply fit the baked pieces together, decorate and enjoy! Perfect for party favours, holidays or just for fun. Finished cookies are approximately 5″ tall. Recipe and storage box included.

Fresh Finds Cooking Cooking & Baking 3-D Cookie Cutter Set.

Written by Ian McKenzie on January 6th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and Tools and Equipment and Cookies.

Sacher Torte Bites

My favourite Christmas cookie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter/margarine
• 1 package instant chocolate pudding (4 serving size)
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• apricot jam
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 Tablespoons butter/margarine

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cream butter and pudding mix together.
3. Beat in egg.
4. Mix in flour.
5. Shape into small balls, roll in sugar and place on greased baking sheet.
6. Make a dent in each ball with your thumb.
7. Bake for 5 minutes, remove cookies from oven and press dent again. Continue baking for 10 more minutes.
8. Fill dent with apricot jam.
9. Melt chocolate and butter in saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently.
10. Glaze top of cooled cookie with melted chocolate.

Written by Ian McKenzie on December 5th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and Cookies and Holiday Recipes.

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 cup oats (optional)
• 1 bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Stir flour with baking soda and salt, set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy and lightened in color (about 4 minutes).
4. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated.
5. Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture.
6. Stir in nuts, oats, and chocolate chips.
7. Drop by tablespoon onto greased baking sheets.
8. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

powered by performancing firefox

Written by Ian McKenzie on November 2nd, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and Cookies.

Baked Beans

Ingredients:

• 1 pound white or navy beans
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 pound salt pork or bacon, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup boiling water

Directions

1. Place beans in large saucepan and add enough water to cover.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour or until skins start to come off.
3. Drain beans and mix with remaining ingredients in an oven-proof casserole dish.
4. Place in 275 degree oven and bake for 4 to 6 hours, adding water as needed.
5. One hour before the beans are done, remove one cup of the mixture, mash and stir back in to thicken.

Technorati Tags: recipes, beans, legumes

Written by Ian McKenzie on October 21st, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and Main Dish and Side Dish.

Ganache Frosting

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened

Directions:

1. Melt the chocolate and whipping cream together in the top of a double boiler over warm water or in a microwave oven on low power for 30-second bursts. Stir often with a rubber spatula to ensure even melting.
2. When the mixture is smooth, remove the top pan of the double boiler and wipe the bottom and sides very dry.
3. Transfer the mixture to another bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and chill until thick, but not stiff, about 1 hour.
4. Using a mixer, beat the butter in a mixing bowl until fluffy, about a minute.
5. With the mixer on low speed add the chocolate and cream mixture in two stages. Blend for no longer than 1 minute or the chocolate may curdle.

Technorati Tags: baking, cakes, frosting, choclate, ganache

powered by performancing firefox

Written by Ian McKenzie on October 18th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and Cakes and Dessert.

Spicy Mini Corn Muffins with Cheese

Makes 2 – 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 1 small onion, quartered
• 1/2 medium red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese, jack or old Cheddar
• 3/4 cup Yellow Cornmeal
• 1 cup Flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 Tablespoons melted shortening, or bacon fat

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease mini muffin pans.
2. Place jalapeno, onion and bell pepper in food processor and process for 10 seconds. Add shredded cheese and pulse a few times.
3. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in the frozen corn and the pepper, cheese and onion mixture.
4. Add the wet ingredients and blend well.
5. Drop by heaping tablespoon full into muffin cups and bake for about 20 min.

If you like things really spicy, you could increase the jalapenos by one or two more. This is a good accompaniment to chili or other Tex-Mex style dishes. It multiples well if you want to feed a large crowd.

Written by Ian McKenzie on October 4th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and Appetizers and Bread and Tex-Mex and Side Dish.

« Older articles

Newer articles »