Great-Grandma’s Coconut Cupcakes - Sprinkles

Great-Grandma’s Coconut Cupcakes
From Sprinkles pastry chef Candace Nelson
Makes 18 to 20
2 cups sifted cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup whole milk
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon coconut extract
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 large egg whites, plus 1 whole large egg
Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature. Heat the oven to 350 degrees and line two greased standard muffin pans with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a measuring cup, combine the milk and extracts. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the egg whites and the egg and mix until they are combined. Add half of the flour mixture and mix until it is combined. Gradually drizzle in all the milk mixture. Add the remaining dry mixture and mix carefully until just combined. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake cups (they should be two-thirds full) and bake about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cake springs back when pressed lightly and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.
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Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
Makes about 2 1/2 cups
8 ounces cold cream cheese
8 tablespoons butter (1 stick)
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/2 cup sweetened coconut shavings
In the bowl of an electric mixer, slowly mix the cream cheese, butter and salt until fluffy and combined. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Mix in the extracts until incorporated and the frosting is smooth. Frost each cooled cupcake with about 2 tablespoons of frosting and immediately top with 1 teaspoon of sweetened coconut shavings.

Love Bars

LOVE BARS

1/2 cup butter; softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 Tbs. vanilla

1 1/2 cup peanut butter

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. salt

2 cups flour

3 cups oats

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch pan. Beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla and peanut butter and beat until light and fluffy. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Press mixture evenly into pan and bake only 10 minutes or lightly browned (will be underbaked). While still warm, evenly distribute chocolate chips. When chips have melted, spread into a thin layer. Cool and enjoy!

Recipe found here

Polenta Gratin with Mushroom Bolognese

Serves 4
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 rib celery, peeled and chopped
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, peeled and very finely chopped
1/2 to 3/4 pound mixed wild mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed, and chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tomato, seeded and diced
1 cup store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
1 cup polenta
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 to 4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Directions
In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery; season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add mushrooms and thyme leaves; cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are almost tender, about 3 minutes. Add tomato and cook, about 2 minutes more.
Add stock to skillet, 2 tablespoons at a time, bringing liquid to a simmer before each addition. Simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and set mushroom bolognese aside to cool.
In a medium bowl, mix polenta with 2 tablespoons water to moisten. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add a pinch of salt to boiling water and slowly stir in polenta. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and immediately reduce to a simmer. Cook polenta, stirring occasionally, until no longer grainy, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in olive oil and season with salt.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spoon half of the polenta into a medium baking dish and cover with reserved mushroom bolognese. Top with remaining polenta and sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano.
Transfer baking dish to oven and bake until top is golden, about 40 minutes. Serve immediately.

Recipe found here

Simple Spinach Quiche

SIMPLY SPINACH QUICHE
10 oz. pkg. Frozen Spinach (let thaw in fridge for a day)
5 Eggs, beaten well
8 oz. carton small curd Cottage Cheese
2 cups grated combination Cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheeses
1/8 cup dried or chopped Onion
1/8 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground Black Pepper
9 inch deep dish unbaked pie shell (in the frozen foods aisle)

Preheat oven to 375°. Drain thawed spinach in colander, pressing with paper towels to remove all liquid. In large bowl of mixer, combine eggs, cottage cheese, spinach, 2 cups grated cheese, onion, salt, and pepper. Beat to blend and pour into unbaked pie shell. (At this point, quiche can be refrigerated overnight.) Bake 50-60 minutes. Let sit 5-10 minutes before cutting. Cut into wedges and serve warm.Yield: 6-8 servings.

Asian Salad Dressing

asian salad dressing
3 cups mayonnaise
1/2 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 Tab sesame seeds
1 Tab sesame oil-Blend all ingredients in a blender (or bowl) until combined. Dress with a cabbage salad of julienned carrots, sliced cucumbers and chopped tomatoes. Makes a lot! -about 4 cups.

Recipe found here

Tomato Basil Soup

Tomato Basil Soup



3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons good olive oil

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)

6 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 (28-ounce) canned plum tomatoes, with their juice 4 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1 quart chicken stock or water


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss together the tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the tomatoes in 1 layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.
In an 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the butter, and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade. Taste for seasonings. Serve hot or cold.



Recipe can be found here.

Pumpkin Crisp

PUMPKIN CRISP

2 cans (15 oz ea.) solid pack pumpkin (you can also use 1 29 oz can but I've found I like it best with the two smaller cans. That extra ounce of pumpkin really packs a punch.)

1 C. firmly packed brown sugar

1 C. granulated sugar (Yes, this is A LOT of sugar. Although I never have, you could probably reduce this and it would still taste really good.)

3 eggs, beaten

1 TBSP vanilla

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground allspice

1 box yellow cake mix

3/4 cup butter or margarine

3/4-1 C. chopped nuts (I like pecans)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the pumpkin, sugars, eggs, vanilla, evaporated milk and spices, mixing well.Pour into a 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle the dry cake mix on top and pat down gently. (Make sure the cake mix is free of large clumps before you sprinkle it on the top.)Melt the butter and drizzle evenly over the top. Sprinkle with nuts.

Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes or until lightly browned and set.

Let cool.

This is delicious with a big dollop of cool whip.



Recipe found here.

Chicken Stir-Fry Wraps

Ingredients
Serves 4
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved horizontally and thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 large red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, mixed with 1 tablespoon water
12 to 16 Boston lettuce leaves (about 2 heads)




Directions
Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over high heat. Add half the chicken; cook, stirring constantly, until opaque throughout, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining chicken.
Add remaining tablespoon oil to pan, along with the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until onion is tender and golden, about 4 minutes (reduce heat if browning too quickly).
Reduce heat to medium; add garlic, ginger, and red-pepper flakes; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds.
Stir in soy sauce, vinegar, and cornstarch mixture; remove from heat. Add chicken and any accumulated juices; toss to coat. Serve in lettuce cups.



Recipe found here.

Classic Cheese Fondue

Cheeses have different fat and moisture contents and therefore react differently to heat. When making fondue, select cheeses that melt well and yield a smooth, creamy consistency.


Ingredients:
1 garlic clove, halved
2/3 cup dry white wine
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
10 oz. Emmentaler cheese, grated
10 oz. Gruyère cheese, grated
1 Tbs. cornstarch
3 Tbs. kirsch
Pinch of freshly ground white pepper
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of paprika
1-lb. loaf French bread, cubed
Directions:
Rub the inside of a saucepan with the garlic halves; discard the garlic. Pour the wine and lemon juice into the pan, set over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Gradually add the cheeses, stirring in a figure-eight motion, until the cheeses are combined, 3 to 4 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and kirsch until blended. As soon as the cheese mixture begins to bubble, add the cornstarch mixture. Continue to cook gently, 2 to 3 minutes more, then stir in the white pepper, nutmeg and paprika. Reduce the heat to low and keep the fondue warm, stirring occasionally, until ready to serve. When ready to serve, assemble the fondue pot, add the cheese fondue to the pot and keep warm according to the manufacturer's instructions. Set the fondue on the table and serve with bread cubes and individually marked fondue forks for dipping. Serves 6.



Recipe can be found here.

Dumplings

Filling
1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion
1/4 wedge cabbage, pureed in blender or food processor
3/4 t. salt
1 t. soy sauce
1/8 t. pepper
Wrap.
2 eggs
1 1/4 c. flour

Brown ground beef, add onion and cabbage and rest of ingredients. Cook until onion is tender. Mix flour and eggs together to make a wrap, knead a few times (should look like pasta dough). Cut into circles. Fill with about 1 t. filling, fold over and seal. Fry in small amount of oil until brown on one side, then turn and add water, put lid on and steam. Serve by dipping in 1 part rice wine vinegar, 1 part soy sauce.

Recipe found on here