Whoville Cookies (Red and Green Pinwheels)

I love this recipe. These are the perfect Holiday Cookie. The Bright Red and Green Pinwheels make a very decorative cookie. I started to re write the recipe but I couldn't do it without posting a picture. The photograph tells it all. I am definitely making these this Christmas.

 Whoville Cookies


Whoville Cookies

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Homemade Tomato Sauce using a Box Grater

I recently saw this video and I was impressed. It all makes sense.
If you make Homemade Tomato Sauce, this process is sort of amazing.
I never knew this about a Tomato and a Box Grater!

Here's a link to the video:
How to Make Fresh Tomato Sauce | Food & Wine - YouTube

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Macaroons pas des Macarons!

I've taken classes at a local French Cooking Supply Store to learn how to make French Macarons, and I'm fascinated with them. They're colorful, delicious, very French!  They're extremely complicated to make.  Many people are afraid to make them. I have to admit that after taking classes, I'm very comfortable making them.  I realized that sometimes we can get back to simplicity and create a delicious, easy to make, Macaroon.
They're often mistaken for Macarons, but they have absolutely nothing in common!

Macaroons and Macarons are entirely different cookies.
Macarons are a French Cookie made with Almond Flour, Egg Whites and sandwiched with a Cream based Filling. They can be made in a variety of colors and flavors.
Macaroon is the American word for a version of a flourless cookie made with Coconut. They can also include Nuts and Chocolate.
I've research many recipes and this is what I come up with. If you will never attempt to make French Macarons, make these easy Macaroons.

Macaroons

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Sheet Pans lined with Parchment Paper.

1 - 14 oz. bg of Sweet Coconut Flakes
2 C Chocolate Chips, your choice.
3/4 C Chopped Salted Almonds
1 - 14 oz. can of Sweetened Condensed Milk

Here's the easy part:
Mix all of the ingredients well, in a large Mixing Bowl.
That's it!

Use a 1 3/4" Cookie Scoop and drop the mixture onto the Sheet Pans.
Use the bottom of a small glass to slightly flatten the top of each cookie.
Bake 12 - 14 minutes or until the Coconut is Golden Brown.

Remove the Pan to a Rack and cool completely.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

The Cowgirl Chef / Ellise Pierce

I've previously talked about Ellise Pierce on the Blog. I couldn't sleep last night but managed to make it until 4 am. I got up, made a cup of coffee and started blogging.
I research recipes, I create new recipes and I pick a subject or a category and talk about it with recipe examples.
Somehow I ended up being reminded that I have The Cowgirl Chef Cookbook and I decided to re read it from cover to cover.

In her book she talks about reading a cookbook and dog ear the pages of your favorite recipes. I do that with every cookbook I buy.
As I was reading the book this morning, I added additional dog ears to the pages of recipes that I want to make.
I met Ellise when I attended one of her cooking classes. Anne and I have taken a second class and they are Fun, Enlightening and Educational. Mostly fun and the recipes are amazing.
If you'd like to experience the philosophy of Ellise Pierce, her story and incredible recipes, take time to purchase her book.
I've added a link to Amazon for you.

Here are some of the recipes that I've highlighted:
Texas Killers: a spicy cheesy cookie
Tex-Mex Meatloaf
Cheesy Rosemary-Olive Flatbread
Roasted Veggie Melt
Roasted Broccoli-Red Bell Pepper Tart with an amazing Polenta Tart Crust
Happy Dance Pecans
Brown Butter Walnut Cakes
Peach Croustade


BUY THE BOOK! Cowgirl Chef: Texas Cooking with a French Accent

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Crispy Croissant Treats

This recipe sort of reminds me of Mexican Bunuelos. I used to make Bunuelos at Christmas to give as gifts, in Christmas Tins. They're a Crisp, Deep Fried Dough, sort of like a Fried Croissant Dough and it's coated in Cinnamon and Sugar. Here's a new treat that I call Crispy Croissant Treats. You could also make these at Christmas and give them as gifts in Decorative Holiday Tins.

NOTE:
Now that I've made them I have a few thoughts about it. I decided to keep it on the Blog. I wasn't impressed with the look in the beginning. But, I cut the dough in half before baking them because we were having more than 8 guests for a party. I think I'll keep the dough whole the next time and just break them into pieces after they're baked. They're crispy, delicious and taste great with a cup of coffee.

For the Holidays you can make them with
Duncan Hines Confetti Cake Mix.

Crispy Croissant Treats

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven at 400 degrees.
A Sheet Pan lined with Parchment Paper.

Topping Ingredients:
4 TBS Butter, cold
1/4 C Granulated Sugar
1/4 C Light Brown Sugar
1/4 C Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix (or Confetti Cake Mix)
1/2 C Flour
1 Canister of  8 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (this recipe makes 8, you can cut them in half before baking or you can double the recipe if you need to make more than 8.)

Icing Ingredients:
1 TBS Butter, room temperature
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 C Confectioner's Sugar
1 TBS Whole Milk
2 TBS of Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix


Topping Directions.

In a Mixing Bowl:
Butter
Granulated Sugar
Brown Sugar
Cake Mix
Flour
Use a Pastry Blender and mix to a Crumble Texture.

On the Sheet Pan:
Separated Croissants
Sprinkle the Crumble evenly over the Top of the Croissants.
Bake 8 - 10 minutes.
Transfer the Pan to a Rack to Cool completely.

Icing Directions.

In a Mixing Bowl:
Butter
Vanilla
Sugar
Milk
Cake Mix
Stir until well combined and creamy smooth.

Drizzle evenly over the Croissants. (after making them the first time, I would put the Icing in a Ziplock Bag, trim the corner and drizzle a nice zigzag pattern over them.

Serve them with Coffee!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Pineapple Coconut Cake

This is a very easy recipe. It's also very delicious.

Pineapple Coconut Cake

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" Glass Baking Pan

16 TBS Butter, divided
3 - 20 oz. cans of Pineapple Chunks i Juice, drained.
1/3 C Pineapple Juice
1 Box of Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix
2 C Sweetened Coconut Flakes

In the Pan, in the Preheated Oven:
8 TBS of the Butter, cut into TBS pieces.
Heat for 5 minutes until melted.
Remove the Pan from the oven.

Add:
Pineapple Juice
Stir to combine well.

Add:
Pineapple, evenly distributed.

Add:
Cake Mix
Sprinkle evenly over the Pineapple.

Add:
Coconut
Sprinkle evenly over the Pineapple.

Cut remaining Butter into pieces and sprinkle evenly over the Coconut.

Bake 45 - 60 minutes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge

This is a delicious Peanut Butter Fudge. It's a pretty basic and simple recipe!

Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge

Here's what you'll need:
1 - 8"X 8" non stick pan or line it with 2 pieces of Waxed Paper cut to extend 2" over all 4 sides.

3 C Confectioner's Sugar
2 C Creamy Peanut Butter
8 TBS Butter
1/2 C Light Brown Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

In a Large Glass Bowl for the Microwave:
Butter
Heat until melted.

Add:
Confectioner's Sugar
Peanut Butter
Brown Sugar
Vanilla
Stir well until completely combined.
Spoon into the Pan and smooth evenly with an Offset Spatula.
Refrigerate 2 hours.

Release the Fudge using the Waxed Paper.
Transfer to a flat surface and remove the paper.
Cut into squares.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!