Monday, June 12, 2023

Strawberry Shortcake


Classic All American Strawberry Shortcake:

A Summer picnic at my Grandmother's always included Strawberry Shortcake. 

The Traditional Shortcake is made with individual Bisquick Biscuits served with mashed Strawberries, soaked in Sugar and poured over the Biscuit. It was then topped with a mound of Whipped Cream.

This was our traditional Strawberry Shortcake
The appealing part of this recipe is that the Biscuit is made in a Cake Pan and then served sliced.
This recipe comes to us from Trisha Yearwood.

This is something that I make for Easter.

Here's what you'll need:

Preheat the Oven to 450 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of 2 - 9" Round Cake Pans with Butter or my Pan Release Mix (equal parts of Crisco, Vegetable Oil and Flour) Mix together well and store refrigerated in a Jar. I start with 1 C of each and I always have it available in the refrigerator in a Canning Jar. It's foolproof to release any of your cake recipes, especially the most detailed Bundt Pan designs.


4 C Sifted Flour

2 TBS Baking Powder

1 tsp Salt

1 1/4 C Granulated Sugar

2/3 C Butter (11 TBS) Cold and Cubed.

2 Large Eggs

1 C Whole Milk

2 TBS Butter, melted

3 Pints of Fresh Strawberries

1 C Heavy Cream, whipped.


Ia Large Mixing Bowl, sift together:

Flour

Baking Powder

Salt 

1/2 C Sugar

Add Cold Butter and Cut in with a Pastry Blender to a coarse crumble consistency.


In another Large Bowl:

Beat Eggs

Add Milk until well combined.

Gradually stir in Egg and Milk Mixture into the Flour Mixture.

Knead the Dough for no more than a Minute (do not overwork the Dough), on a lightly Floured Surface.

Pat Half of the Dough into each Cake Pan.

Brush the Top with Melted Butter.


Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes

Remove from the Oven and Cool in the Pan for 5 Minutes..

Turn them onto a Cooking Rack and Cool Completely.

Wash the Berries and remove the Hulls.

Reserve a few to Garnish the Shortcake.

Cut the remaining Berries in Half and place them in a Mixing Bowl with the remaining 3/4 C of Sugar. 

I Mash the Berries with a Potato Masher. It's what my Grandmother did.

Set Aside and let them sit for 30 minutes.

Place one of the Cake Layers on a Serving Platter.

Spoon Half of the Berries with some of the Juice over the First Layer.

Place the Second Layer on top and add the remaining Berries with Juice, over the Top.

Top the Cake with Whipped Cream and Garnish with Halved Berries.

Slice and Serve.


Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!



Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Loaf Cake:

1 C brown sugar
1/4 C butter
1 C applesauce
1 tsp baking soda dissolved in a little water.
2 C flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves.
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 C raisins
a pinch of salt

In a mixing bowl with a hand mixer, cream together butter and sugar.
Add spices
Add applesauce, flour and baking soda.
Add raisins.
Beat well.

Pour into a loaf pan buttered and floured well or use my Pan Release Mixture (equal parts of Crisco, flour and vegetable oil mixed well and applied with a pastry brush) This is my foolproof method to release anything I bake.
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

Enjoy! 

Peace in the Kitchen!

Summer Berry Muffins

Summer Berry Muffins

2 1/2 C flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 C + 6 tsp sugar, divided
1 C whole milk
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 C butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla
1 C fresh strawberries, quartered
1 C fresh blueberries
1 C fresh blackberries

preheat oven to 400 degrees

In a medium bowl:
flour
baking powder
salt
1/2 C sugar

In another bowl:
milk
eggs
butter
vanilla

Gently stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until mixed.
Fold berries into batter

Spoon batter into 24 paper lined cups in muffin tins.
Sprinkle 1/2 tsp of remaining sugar over the top of each muffin.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
Muffins will not test done with a toothpick because of the fresh berries.
Allow them to cool 5 minutes before removing from the muffin tins.
Remove paper lined muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!



Gruyere Soufflé


"Gruyère cheese is generally known as one of the finest cheeses for baking, having a distinctive but not overpowering taste. In Quiche, Gruyère adds savoriness without overshadowing the other ingredients. It is a good melting cheese, particularly suited for Fondues along with Vacherin and Emmental. It is also traditionally used in French Onion Soup, as well as in Croque Monsieur, a classic French toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwich. Gruyère is also used in chicken and veal Cordon Bleu. It is a fine table cheese, and when grated, it is often used with Salads and Pastas. It is used, grated, atop Le Tourin, a type of garlic soup from France which is served on dried bread. White wines, such as Riesling, pair well with Gruyere. Sparkling apple cider and Bock beer are also beverage affinities."



Gruyère Soufflé

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - Buttered 2 Quart Souffle Dish

2 Slices of Whole Wheat Bread pulsed in a Food Processor to make Bread Crumbs.
1 C Whole Milk
1 C Grated Gruyère Cheese
1 TBS Butter
A pinch of Salt
A pinch of Pepper
1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
2 Large Egg Yolks
3 Large Egg Whites, beaten until stiff peak.

In a large saucepan on medium heat:
Milk, heat to scald.
Reduce heat to low.

Add:
Bread Crumbs
Cheese
Butter
Salt
Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Cook until the Cheese melts, stirring often.
Remove from heat.

Whisk in Egg Yolks.
Fold in Egg Whites.
Pour batter into the dish.
Bake for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Spinach Puff Pastry Hors D'Oeuvres


Spinach Puff Pastries

Here's what you'll need:

Preheat the Oven to 400 degrees.





A Muffin Pan, Spray 9 of the Cups with a Vegetable Cooking Spray.

1 Sheet of Frozen Puff Pastry, Thawed

4 oz. Cream Cheese, Room Temperature

1 Large Egg

1 TBS Olive Oil

1 TBS Fresh chopped Dill

2 C Chopped  Fresh Baby Spinach

3/4 C Crumbled Feta Cheese

Salt & Pepper to Taste

1 TBS Butter, melted.


Microwave Cream Cheese for 10 second intervals until Soft and Melted a bit but not Liquid.

Add:

Egg

Oil

Dill

Mix to Combine Well.

In a Separate Bowl:

Spinach,

Feta

Do not Mix yet.

Pour the Cream Cheese Mixture on top, add S&P to taste and Mix well with a Blending Fork.

Cut the Sheet pf Puff Pastry into 9 Squares and Line the Muffin Cups. (Stretch them a bit & Press into the Bottom of the Cups.


Divide the Mixture among the Cups.

Bring the 4 Corners of the Squares together.

Lightly Brush the tops with Melted Butter.


Bake 20 Minutes, until Golden Brown and Puffed.

Remove the Pan from Oven to a Rack and Cool for 10 minutes.

Gently run a Knife around the edges to Loosen the and Pop them out. 


Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!