Desserts, Desserts, Desserts...

Here are few GREAT recipes that I have tried. Memorial Day we went to my sister's house for a BBQ, and she has a friend whose family is doing a sugar fast (staying away from sugar)....not something I think I could ever do. I volunteered to bring the dessert, so I had make a sugar free dessert. I chose to make the Wave Your Flag Cake...but making it all sugar free. Therefore, I could not buy the pound cake that it calls for, I made it. I found a Splenda Blend Sour Cream Pound Cake. Now I am no Splenda fan, but this was not bad at all. So, I made the cake, I used sugar free Jello along with sugar free cool-whip. It was a very good sugar free dessert....I WAS IMPRESSED :)

 

Now...these are nothing but sinful....mmmmhmmm!! Check out these yummy cupcakes - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes. I made these especially for my brother-in-law who loves anything peanut butter. Besides, I needed some reason to make them :)

Oooooo.....yes!! Remember that Taste of Home Cooking School I brag about so much...this great recipe is from there. How about an Orange Chocolate Tart. Yep!! It was so delish....

What you need is -
6 Tbsp. Butter, cubed

7 oz. semi sweet chocolate, divided

1 sheet refrigerated pie crust
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. orange extract
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whipped topping
Orange Peel, Optional

How you do it -

1. In a microwave safe dish, melt butter and five chocolate squares. Cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, line 9-in. fluted tart pan with removeable bottom with pastry. Line pastry with a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake at 450 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove the foil; bake 3 minutes longer. Reduce heat to 350 degrees.
2.  In a small bowl, beat eggs, sugar and orange extract until thickened, about 4 minutes. Stir in cooled chocolate mixture. Beat in flour, mix well. Pour into crust. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick interted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
3. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Melt remaining chocolate. Pour melted chocolate into a ziploc bag; cut a small hole in the corner of bag. Pipe eight to ten small hearts onto waxed paper. Refrigerate until set. Spread whipped topping on pie; garnish with chocolate hearts and orange peel if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

What I changed....I used a pie plate because I do not own a tart pan. It worked just as well. Then...for the orange extract I used the one I made....mmmmm, so good :) Then I used freshly whipped whipping cream in place of the Cool Whip for the whipped topping. If using whipped cream you could add the orange extract in place of  vanilla!!

Angel Food Cake

Well, after trying the Heavenly Coconut Cake I have become an Food Network - Alton Brown fan. So, before we moved to Elko, I was watching that show one night and seen him make an Angel Food Cake...OH YUMMMMMM was my exact thought. So, finally I have made it and I can tell you...I love Angel food cake but I will never buy another store bought one after making this one. I decided if I can master the coconut cake I can handle just about anything....YEP, I can handle this one.

Last week Smiths had blackberries on sale10/$10. I stocked up and I made lots of blackberry goodies. After making this Angel Food Cake I decided to use the lemon sugar that I had made and toss with the blackberries. Then I made up some whipping cream and used the homemade lemon extract that I had made. Oh, and in the cake I had used the homemade orange extract where extract was called for. Then I layered it all up and made blackberry short cake type things. They were really good :) A must try dessert!!

Oh yes....I almost for got...I used a bunt pan because believe it or not...I do not own a tube pan. That is something I need to invest it.

Recipes for the extracts and sugar coming very soon :)