Delectable Dessert Collection

Bûche de Noël

11:49 PM |

This year I will be making a Bûche de Noël for my family. For those of you who do not know what a Bûche de Noël is, it is a cake shaped like a log. It is served in France and certain francophone countries before Christmas.

"Buche de Noel.--Gateau symbolique qu l'on prepare chez tous les patissieres de France, a l'occasion de la fete de Noel. Cette buche se fait generalement avec des abaisses de genoise fine, qu l'on fourre avec des cremes diverses (le plus souvent, une creme au beurre), qu l'on faconne en forme de buche, et que l'on decore a la poches munie d'une couille cannellee, avec une creme au beurre aux chocolate ou au moka qui cimule l'enorce de al buche. Nota: Pour le Noel, on fait aussi un autre gateau symbolique auquel on donne l'aspect d'un sabot. Ce gateau, qu l'on fait ordinarement en nougat, se garnit de petits fours divers."
---Larousse Gastronomique, Prospere Montagne [Librarie Larousse:Paris] 1938 (p. 528)

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Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

10:53 AM |

Today's recipe is Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies. Normally I would make this with dried cranberries or raisins. Since my husband likes neither cranberries or raisins, I divided the batch and added the raisins to the second half.

I first found this recipe on all.recipies.com. The problem with many of their cookie recipes is that the recipes are too large. They previously had a function where one could size up or size down the recipe. One could even convert it to metrics if they wanted. The website looks different and not as user friendly.

I cut the recipe in half by hand and changed a few things. After cutting it in half, there was too much batter. I am now in the habit of freezing my treats.

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Kamikazi Tomato Basil Soup

1:00 PM |

After my wonderful basil plant decided to take a kamikazi suicide mission off my balcony, I had to salvage the remaining leaves and sent that wonderful plant up to basil heaven. I was really upset. That plant produced so much in a few short months. What a loss.

I used the dearly departed basil leaves in this yummy soup. This recipe called for some of my garden fresh basil leaves, onions, carrots, tomato and a few other goodies. Unfortunately I was short on tomatoes. I was able to pull some from the refrigerator, some from my garden, but it just was not enough. I decided to make it a carrot, tomato, basil soup. Why not? So long as it tastes good, who cares about the name. This soup was served as an appetizer for our main chicken dinner.

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Pictures of my Kick Ass Pumpkin

9:11 AM |

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Halloween Playlist

11:17 AM |

Hello All,

While putting together my Holiday Playlist I browsed a few others on YouTube. Linked below is a playlist published by All Recipes. I have been a contributing member of all recipes for several years. Their videos are very simple, and straight to the point. So, I linked them below.

Enjoy!

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Rainbow Bright Muffins

1:00 PM |

Rainbow Bright Muffins

This recipe is exactly the same as my Berry Orange Muffin Recipe. Click on the link >>>LINK, for recipe and basic Muffin making instructions. Remember - do not over beat these babies or they will slap you right back.

The recipe calls for Lemonade Concentrate Juice.

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Chocolate Cherry Cookies

12:30 PM |

missing the white chips, but still good

We’ve now arrive at my favorite time of year, Fall. The stores are stocked with Halloween decorations, candy and costumes. I love this time of year most of all because I get to make my favorite fall treats. Get ready for many recipes calling for pumpkins, corn, gourds, ham, turkey, gravy, stuffing and pies. I am always being inspired by the old and the new. What inspires me the most in the kitchen is family and tradition? I am a firm believer that families should create their own traditions.

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Brine Chicken in Salt Water

6:06 PM |

Whole Chicken Brining in Bag

I was looking to do something special with three chicken breasts. I first learned about brining meat when I found a recipe reproducing KFC chicken. Before KFC prepares their chicken, they soak it in salt water. Just plain old salt water. Salt water is the most basic brine for poultry and foul. It causes water and salt to be drawn into the chicken´s flesh making it more juicy. Brining chicken makes a big difference. It should be done at the bare minimum, four hours before cooking. Brining prevents your chicken from drying out while cooking it.

Two major processes at work during brining:

Diffusion. This is when particles move from a region of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. For example, when you're brining chicken, the brine has a lot more salt in it that the chicken. To balance things out, the salt gets absorbed by the chicken — not just on the surface, but all through the meat (although it does take a bit of time).
Osmosis. This is when water (or another liquid) moves through a membrane from one region that has more water to another region that has less water. When you brine chicken, you're creating just that situation: the brine has a lot more water than the chicken, so the water moves through the chicken cells, from the brine to the chicken. The result? Moister chicken!

Instead of just salt, this would be an excellent time to add other flavorings to the brine...sugar, juniper berries, whole allspice berries, pepper berries, etc. It is recommended to first boil the additional flavorings, allow the brine to cool, then add the meat. This is called boiled brine, but remember...do not put your chicken in hot water, the water must be cold.

Brining is an easy way to get extra flavor into meat as well as moisture. I have not had a chance to brine my poultry yet, this is the first I heard about it. I will be sure to try it.

Today I made fried chicken with a twist

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My blackberry cordial is done!

1:00 PM |

Bottled it up in an old vodka bottle.

I must confess that when I first strained the berries I made a huge mess. About half a bottle of blackberry cordial ended up in the sink. I was pretty upset. But the cordial turned out lovely. It had a smooth taste of blackberry and it was also intoxicating. I felt it after one drink. So - go easy on this stuff. It will get you trashed.

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Blackberry Cobbler By Naomi

12:30 AM |

Yesterday I decided to start using up some of my frozen blackberries. Here is my recipe for you guys. Since the serving was so small, only two ramekins, there are no measurements that I can give you. Just follow along and you should not have a problem.

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chocolate and vanilla swirl pancakes

1:36 PM |

These were super simple to make. Just separate the batter to two bowls. In one, add vanilla extract, in the other add chocolate and sugar. Be careful not to cook these too slowly! This is a fast process and not for a novice.

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How to Make Perfectly round cookies

1:29 PM |

Have you ever wanted to make perfectly round cookies without a cookie cutter? It takes awhile, you will have to refrigerate or freeze the dough.

Here are my photos. As usual, I take pictures of the entire process.

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