Recipes Posts

05May
0

Cupcakes For Vegans!

vegan cupcakesMore and more Americans are adopting the Vegan lifestyle. Whether it be for health or philosophical reasons, the Vegan choice has seen a significant surge in popularity over the last ten years. Those committed to the lifestyle wouldn’t dream of abandoning their beliefs for something as insignificant as missing out on mainstream baked goods. But, even the most content Vegan will admit to occasionally eyeing a cupcake or brownie with envy. The amazing folks at SimpleDish have created a Vegan Vanilla Cupcake that will wow everyone, vegan or not. These treats are no-fail, entirely vegan and absolutely delicious. Follow the recipe below, serve at your next get together and prepare to see the conversion happen in your friends.

Very Vanilla Vegan Cupcakes Baking Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

  1. 1 1/3 cup sorghum flour
  2. 1/3 cup potato starch
  3. 1/3 cup tapioca starch
  4. 1 cup of cane sugar or agave nectar
  5. 1 tbsp. milled flax
  6. 1 tsp. sea salt
  7. 1 tsp. baking powder
  8. 1 tsp baking soda
  9. 1 cup vanilla rice milk, mildly warmed
  10. 2 Ener-G egg replacer “eggs” or 1/4 cup vanilla coconut yogurt
  11. 1/2 cup of vegan soy-free butter
  12. 1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
  13. 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Baking Recipe: 

  1. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Prepare a 12-cupcake baking pan with cupcake liners.
  3. Mix the flours together with the guar gum, milled flax, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
  4. In a separate bowl, mix the melted butter, egg replacer (or yogurt), rice milk, vanilla extract and apple cider vinegar.
  5. Add the bowl of liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
  6. Spoon cupcake batter evenly into each liner.
  7. Place in the oven to bake for 18-20 minutes.
  8. Allow cupcakes to fully cool before topping with your favorite vegan frosting.

 

Posted by elizabethr in Creative Ideas, Cupcakes, Dessert Ideas, Recipes and tagged with , , , ,
05May
0

Grilled Pineapple: The Perfect Summer Starter

grilled pineappleSpring is here and BBQ season is upon us. As families everywhere get ready to kick off the season with a backyard grilling extravaganza, one might find themselves looking for an alternative to the normal BBQ dessert fare. Sure, the cookies, brownies and cupcakes that usually cover the table are delicious. But, for those of us trying to maintain a healthier lifestyle, these can be all too tempting. Enjoying yourself at your next BBQ does not have to mean choosing between indulging in these tempting baked goods and regretting it the next day or going without anything to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here is where Pineapple comes to the rescue. This delicious fruit is perfect for your sweet tooth and makes a perfect and easy grilled treat that won’t leave you feeling deprived.

Grilled Pineapple Dessert Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

  1. 1 fresh pineapple: peeled, cored and cut into one inch rings.
  2. 1/4 teaspoons of honey
  3. 3 tablespoons of melted butter
  4. 1 dash of hot pepper sauce
  5. Salt: as desired to taste

Recipe: 

  1. Place peeled and cut pineapple into a ziplock bag.
  2. Add honey, butter, hot pepper sauce and salt to the bag and reseal.
  3. Shake until the pineapple is coated evenly and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat an outdoor grill at high heat and lightly oil the grate.
  5. Grill pineapple for two to three minutes per side, or until heated through and grill marks appear.

Enjoy this sweet treat and skip the guilt!

Posted by elizabethr in Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Healthy Desserts, Recipes and tagged with , , ,
19Apr
0

Show Mom Some Sugar This Mother’s Day

Baking Recipe For Mother's DayOne of our favorite Mother’s Day traditions is breakfast in bed. After being the grateful recipient of mom’s love and devotion for decades, it is our time to give back. One of the easiest ways to do this is to have a delicious surprise waiting for her the moment she wakes up. These cinnamon-sugared scones fit the bill exactly. This simple and quick recipe has a sweet finish and the crunchy sugar topping adds an unexpected texture. And, who doesn’t love having dessert for breakfast?

Scone Ingredients:

  1. 2 cups all-purpose flour
  2. 1 tablespoon baking powder
  3. 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar
  4. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  5. ½ teaspoon salt
  6. 5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into ¼ inch cubes
  7. ½ cup cinnamon chips
  8. 1 cup heavy cream.

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping Ingredients:

  1. 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  2. 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  3. 1 teaspoon ground sugar

Baking Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Add the butter by using your fingers, two knives or a pasty blender. Keep mixing until the mixture resembles coarse meal with pea sized lumps of butter.
  3. Stir in the cinnamon chips.
  4. Pour heavy cream over the ingredients and stir with a spatula until the dough begins to form.
  5. Transfer dough to a floured countertop and knead dough by hand until it forms a ball. Pat the dough into a ¾ inch thick circle and cut into triangles.
  6. Place scones on a baking sheet.
  7. In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Brush scones with heavy cream and sprinkle with mixture.
  8. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Cool and serve.
Posted by elizabethr in Breakfast, Cakes, Creative Ideas, Holidays, Recipes and tagged with , , , , ,
28Mar
0

Fry Me A Cake!

deep fried chocolate pound cakeBetcha you’ve never said that before! Well, times are a changing. Leave it to the master chef Paula Deen to combine cake and a deep fryer. And, while your arteries might not sing your praises, your taste buds will certainly be signing for weeks. The little bites of fried cake goodness are a dessert recipe that will knock the socks off your guests and solidify your reputation as a dessert master! Let’s get right to it, then.

Deep Fried Chocolate Pound Cake Baking Recipe:

Ingredients:

  1. 2 cups crushed corn flakes
  2. 1 ½ tablespoons of sugar
  3. 3 ½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon
  4. 2 eggs
  5. 1 teaspoon of water
  6. Chocolate pound cake mix (of your choice)
  7. Oil
  8. Powdered sugar for sprinkling
  9. Chocolate syrup for drizzling

Recipe:

  1. Follow the directions for the chocolate pound cake mix you purchased. These should be on the back of the box the mix comes in.
  2. Mix cereal, sugar and cinnamon and divide equally between two pie plates or shallow containers.
  3. Beat eggs with water in another pie plate or shallow bowl.
  4. Cut pound cake into bite sized square pieces and cover each piece in cereal mixture.
  5. Dip coated squares into an egg wash and then roll in second container or cereal mixture.
  6. Freeze cake squares on a waxed paper lining sheet until solid (usually between four and six hours).
  7. Deep fry frozen pieces for 45 seconds and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
  8. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and serve with whipped cream and a cherry.
Posted by elizabethr in Cakes, chocolate, Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Recipes and tagged with , , , , , ,
15Feb
0

Avocado In Pie? Better Than You Think!

avocado pieBy now, the incredible health benefits of avocados are no secret. Everyone from health nuts to members of the medical profession is espousing the virtues of this delicious fruit. This green super-fruit has been shown to provide everything from a defense against oral and breast cancer to preventing strokes. Literally, is there anything this fruit can’t do?

Therefore, when I came across a dessert recipe for Avocado Pie dessert, I was curious – but skeptical. Despite the fact that both pie and avocado rank up there among my favorite things in life, the idea of mixing the two seemed a little strange. However, after following the recipe and tasting the results, I am sold. Put your skepticism aside and give this baking recipe a try. Your taste buds and overall health will thank you!

Ingredients:

  1. 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
  2. 1 medium sized avocado
  3. 3 ½ ounces of fresh squeezed lemon juice
  4. Heavy whipping cream
  5. Graham cracker pie crust

Recipe:

  1. Mix the milk and avocado thoroughly in a blender.
  2. Blend in the lemon juice.
  3. Pour the mixture in the pie crust IMMEDIATELY. The mixture sets incredibly quickly, so you will ruin it if you wait.
  4. Add unsweetened whipped cream to the top and refrigerate for a few hours.

Prepare to be amazed!

Posted by elizabethr in Cold Desserts, Creative Ideas, Healthy Desserts, Recipes and tagged with , , ,
20Jan
0

Strangely Delicious Cakes

The tried and true recipes that have been passed down from one generation to the next are tasty and classic. But, for the real baking enthusiast, the list can get a little old. Baking mavens crave new ideas and scour the internet for interesting baking recipes the way some of us hunt down the next “must have” pair of heels. Wowing friends and family is on top of their priority list. Knowing this, I’ve compiled a brief list of the five most “out there” and unusual, but delicious, cake recipes I could find. Try one, or all of them, and prepare to be amazed.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Crumb Cake: How could combining two American classics result in anything other than extraordinary goodness? Find out for yourself here: http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/peanut-butter-jelly-crumb-cake.aspx

Apple and Cheddar Cake: I’ll admit it sounds a little strange, but give it a chance and you’ll be surprised by how tasty it is: http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/apple-cheddar-cheese-cake.aspx

Chocolate Guacamole Cake: Reap the known benefits of avocado’s and the proven delights of chocolate with this combination of the two: http://lovelyhealthylife.com/2011/06/26/chocolate-guacamole-cake/

Curry Banana Coconut Coffee Cake: Is there anything this cake doesn’t include? Shockingly, the end result is heaven: http://www.cookthink.com/recipe/11503/Curry-Banana_Coconut_Coffee_Cake

Orange and Olive Oil Cake: This one is a bit of a challenge to pull off. But, if you think you are advanced enough to handle it, the payoff is worth it: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/orange-and-olive-oil-cake-recipe/index.html

Mastering these cakes will have people talking for months!

Posted by elizabethr in Cakes, chocolate, Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Recipes and tagged with , , , , , ,
19Dec
0

Apple Pie Sandwiches

Apple pie is epitome of traditional, American dessert decadence. It doesn’t get more “comfort food” than pie. While the baking of an apple pie is not nearly as challenging as it sounds, it still takes some time and patience. Often times, it’s easier to simply make a sandwich and call it a day!

Well, while we are talking about sandwiches, how about combining the two? This might be the equivalent of perfection. I stumbled upon this amazing baking recipe and simply had to share it with you folks. The best part is that it is infinitely easier to make than an actual pie, but tastes even better!

Apple Pie Sandwiches:

Ingredients:

  1. 2 cups diced, peeled tart apples
  2. 1 cup water
  3. ½ plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, separated
  4. 5 teaspoons cornstarch
  5. ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  6. ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
  7. 12 slices of day old bread
  8. 3 eggs
  9. 2/3 cup of milk
  10. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  11. Confectioners’ sugar (optional)

Directions:

  1. Cook apples and water over medium heat, in a large saucepan, for ten minutes (or until apples are tender).
  2. Combine ½ cup sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir into apple mixture and bring to a boil for two minutes (stir while cooking) or until thinking.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.
  4. Spread six slices of bread with 1/3 cup of the filling. Top with the remaining slices of bread.
  5. Beat eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining sugar together in a shallow bowl.
  6. Dip sandwiches in egg mixture and cook on a lightly greased hot griddle until golden brown on both side.
  7. Sprinkle with sugar and enjoy!
Posted by elizabethr in Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Recipes and tagged with , , , ,
13Dec
0

Pillow Cookies? I Must Be Dreaming!

My heart almost ceased beating entirely when I laid eyes on this baking recipe from Bakerella.com. They’re called Pillow Cookies. And, as if the name wasn’t delightful enough by itself, the end result is divine brownie baked inside a chocolate chip cookie! Does life get better than this?

My heart resumed beating and promptly sank as I imagined how difficult the recipe must be. After all, heavenly baked goods don’t just drop out of the sky pre-made right? Then, I read on. It’s actually incredibly easy! I’ve now found my new true love and can call my life complete. Read on for the recipe and stun your friends with your prowess.

Pillow  Cookies: 

  1. Bake up some brownies. Just use your favorite box mix. Then let them cool and cut them into 1 inch squares. You won’t need all of the brownies for the cookies, so you will have to use your imagination to come up with solutions for the extra brownies.
  2. Use your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough recipe (or pre-made dough, if you must) that has been chilled for at least an hour to create 1/2 cup mounds. (You read that right, half a cup mounds of cookie dough). Place the mounds on parchment paper and make indentations in the dough and place one brownie square in the center of each.
  3. Work the dough around the top to cover the entire brownie and shape them into balls.
  4. Place no more than 6 balls on a 15 x 20 inch baking sheet and place into an oven that has been preheated at 350 degrees. Bake for 18 minutes. Let cool and then prepare to be amazed!

 

Posted by elizabethr in Cakes, chocolate, cookies, Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Friday Food Porn, Recipes and tagged with , , , , , ,
13Nov
0

Pumpkin Pie Bites

I firmly believe that any baked good can be made better by turning it into a “mini”. Mini cupcakes. Mini cookies or brownies. Even cake pops fit into this category.

The very act of downsizing its look has the effect of instantly upping the cute factor. Not to mention all the good it does in terms of portion control. That is, if you are able to summon up the will power to have just one, which is harder than it sounds. These little guys give you a taste of the real deal without blowing your caloric intake for the day. And, they look beyond amazing on a serving platter!

These Pumpkin Pie Bites are no exception. These adorable bites of delish pumpkin pie are significantly easier to make than it would appear. Here’s your first huge hint: use ready to roll refrigerated pie crust to make the whole process simpler. If you buy a box at any of the common grocery stores, they will come with two rolls. Thin these rolls out with a rolling pin before you bake them and you will be able to get up to 24 mini pumpkin shaped pie crusts out of them.

Visit http://www.bakerella.com/pumpkin-pie-bites/ for the actual baking recipe and step by step instructions for turning your kitchen into a pumpkin pie making factory!

Posted by elizabethr in Cakes, cookies, Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Recipes and tagged with , , , , , , ,
08Nov
0

Cupcake In A Mug

As the winter cold is settling in, everyone is looking for a way to warm up and stay cozy. This baking recipe combines everything that makes winter so delightful: hot cocoa, marshmallows, a steaming mug and cupcakes. Best yet, all of it is housed in one adorably delectable dessert.

Essentially, this is a chocolate marshmallow cupcake housed in a wintery mug and served steaming to amazed guests. The mug cake uses hot cocoa mix in the batter. Marshmallows are thrown into the batter as well, since they will melt into the cake. A few marshmallows sprinkled on top at the end give it a truly “hot cocoa” look. Kids and grown ups alike will dive into this dish with abandon. Best of all, it is made in the microwave so it comes out ready and roaring to go in under 10 minutes with zero baking skill required! Here’s how.

Combine the following in an oversized mug:

  1. 4 tablespoons each of flour and sugar
  2. 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  3. 1 egg
  4. 2 ½ tablespoons of hot cocoa mix
  5. 3 ½ tablespoons of milk
  6. A splash of vanilla extract.

Whisk well with a fork until smooth. Add four or five mini marshmallows and microwave on high for a minute and 30 seconds. Insert a knife into the middle to make sure it is cooked through. If need be, cook for another 30 seconds. Add additional marshmallows on top and serve to guests with a spoon to devour.

Heaven!

Posted by elizabethr in Cakes, chocolate, Creative Ideas, Cupcakes, Recipes and tagged with , , , , , , ,
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