Category Archives: DESSERT RECIPES

APPLE CRISP WITH SPICED RUM AND CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM

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What with the cold crisp weather we have been experiencing lately in the Pacific NW, I decided it was high time you had another type of crisp in your life. Apple Crisp. (After all, if cold crisp weather and warm apple crisp don’t go together perfectly, I don’t know what does!)

Now I am well aware that most cooks already know how to make a great apple crisp. But if by any chance you are one of the few who doesn’t or you might like to try a new recipe for a change of pace, this simple and delicious recipe should do the trick.

I have been making this dessert now for many years. And as delicious as it is, it could not be easier to prepare. Just a few simple ingredients, a small amount of time, and you are well on your way to enjoying a classic American dessert. And a fairly modern “classic” to boot. (There was no mention of any dessert like apple crisp or crumble in the first edition (1896) of the Fannie Farmer Cookbook, for example.) But if you ask just about anyone who has lived in the USA for a number of years if they like apple crisp, you will usually hear a resounding YES!!

So don’t forget about this wonderful classic when you are thinking about what to serve your family and friends – even for a special occasion. And of course you can always serve the crisp with vanilla ice cream. Delightful. But if you want to take your apple crisp to a new level, try serving it with Spiced Rum and Cinnamon Whipped Cream. And if you should happen to have any of the whipped cream left over, give some to your husband to add to his morning coffee. He will be forever appreciative.

  • 4 c. peeled and thinly sliced semi-tart apples (about 6 medium)
  • 1/3 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ¾ c. packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¾ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • ½ c. unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ½ c. rolled oats

Place apples in lightly buttered 8×8-inch baking pan. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add spices. Mix in flour and rolled oats until crumbly. Spread over the apples and bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for about 30-35 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature topped with Spiced Rum and Cinnamon Whipped Cream (recipe below).

SPICED RUM AND CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM

  • 2 c. heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 tsp. spiced rum (amber or dark rum works too)
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
  • ¼ c. powdered sugar

Whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Add the vanilla, rum, ground cinnamon, and powdered sugar and beat until well combined. Serve dolloped over apple crisp. Give each serving a light sprinkle of cinnamon for color.

 

 

CARIBBEAN BLACK FRUITCAKE

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OK, since I started 2017 by cancelling a brunch because of icy condition on the fair isle of Camano, I might as well go the whole way and offer up a fruitcake recipe to start 2017.

Now some people might see this as a bad sign for the coming year. But those of you who know me well, or don’t know me personally, but trust me none-the-less, realize that it is not in my nature to steer you wrong!

So, if you are one of the lucky people who have experienced a truly great fruitcake in your past, let me tell you without even a quarter ounce of equivocation, that this is a fruitcake not to be missed. It is full of flavor, with a lovely moist, dense, and tender crumb. Hints of orange and the taste of exotic spices fills your mouth, while the occasional crunch from the nuts is a pleasant offset to the soft texture of the cakey part. And the best thing about this fruitcake – you can make it yourself! You don’t ever again have to pay $39.95 plus tax and shipping to enjoy a high quality, fantastic tasting holiday treat. You can do it all fairly easily in your very own kitchen.

All you need is a modicum of planning, a few interesting ingredients, a visit to a grocery store for bulk dried fruits and nuts, an internet search for burnt sugar syrup (it’s what makes the fruitcake black), and an adventurous spirit! Put it all in the oven (not the planning, internet search, or adventurous spirit, of course, but all the rest) and share this little bit of heaven with your family and friends.

And in case you were wondering where I learned to make this delightful creation, it was during our vacation to Belize. My friend Vicki and I took a class from a local chef and this recipe is as close to her recipe as was reasonable. (You had to be there to understand why I couldn’t quite match her recipe ingredient for ingredient.) (If you want to know more about our adventure while in Belize, search under “Belize” and all will be revealed.)

So faithful readers, when you are planning your holiday goodies at the end of this year, please consider making fruitcake. I know some of your family will make jokes about receiving fruitcake, like – great, we can use a slice to balance our wobbly kitchen table, or it will work as a sandbag during flooding season, or my personal favorite – we can use it as a speed bump to slow down the drag racers in our neighborhood. But their verbal lampoon will swiftly disappear with their first bite. I’ve actually known grown men (not mentioning any names here Willie) who love fruitcake so much that they will actually hide or eat most of it themselves, thus preventing their wives (Eden – one of my daughters) from partaking of this treat meant for BOTH of them! But I digress…..

So please don’t hesitate to make this recipe or the Holiday Fruitcake recipe at the bottom of this post. Both are absolutely delicious. Even the most jaded connoisseur will become a devoted fan of fruitcake if given a chance. Sandbag, indeed!

CARRIBEAN BLACK FRUITCAKE    

  • 1 c. pecans, coarsely chopped
  • ¾ c. whole raw almonds, coarsely chopped
  • 3 c. dried fruit* (apricots, cherries, blueberries, pineapple, etc.), coarsely chopped
  • ½ c. pitted dates, coarsely chopped
  • ½ c. currants
  • 4 oz. container candied orange peel
  • 4 oz. container candied red or green cherries, halved
  • 2½ c. dark rum (I used half Cruzan Aged Rum and half Myer’s Original Dark Rum)
  • ½ c. Crème Sherry

Mix together all ingredients in a 3-quart glass container with a tightfitting lid. Cover and store in a cool, dark place for 1 week.

*I used ¾ cup golden raisins, ½ cup candied pineapple pieces, ½ cup dried blueberries, ½ cup chopped candied papaya, ½ cup chopped dried apricots, and ¼ cup chopped dried cherries

For the cake batter:

  • 3 c. all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 T. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. espresso powder
  • 1 T. ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1½ tsp. ground allspice
  • 1 tsp. ground clove
  • 1 lb. (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2¼ c. packed light brown sugar
  • 6 lg. eggs, room temperature
  • zest of lg. orange
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • ¾ c. burnt sugar syrup (Blue Mountain Country is best) (it’s what makes the cake black)

Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, espresso powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves together in a large bowl. Set aside.

Place butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, and beat on medium speed until light, fluffy, and pale yellow. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and return the mixer to medium speed. Add eggs one at a time, letting each mix in fully before adding the next. Add orange zest and vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and return the mixer to low speed.

Drain macerated fruit and nuts. Set aside. Do not discard the left over liquid!

Add flour mixture, any unabsorbed booze from macerating the fruit, and burnt sugar to butter mixture; mix until just combined. Let the batter rest for about 2 hours. Add the drained fruit and nut mixture to the batter. Divide batter evenly between 3 buttered 9 x 5-inch or 5 buttered 8 x 3 7/8-inch loaf pans. (I personally prefer the smaller pans.)

Place a large shallow pan of water on the lowest rack in your oven.

Bake fruitcakes on a rack in the middle of a pre-heated 300 degree oven until a cake tester comes out clean, about 2 hours for 9 X 5 loaf pans or 90 minutes for 8 x 3 7/8-inch loaf pans.  (The cake centers will be moist but not wet.)

Let cool completely. If you have baked the cakes in aluminum pans to give away, don’t remove the cakes from the pans. If you have baked them for your own consumption, you can leave the fruitcake in the pans or turn out of the pans and wrap in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Best if aged for a couple of weeks.

To age, store each cooled cake in a re-sealable plastic bag or covered with aluminum foil at room temperature for up to 2 months. A dark cupboard or pantry is ideal, but do not refrigerate, as the moisture level will change the texture.

HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE

  • 1 lb. dried fruit medley (peaches, pears, apricots, apples, and golden raisins or currents)
  • ½ lb. dried Bing cherries
  • 1 lb. chopped dates
  • 1 lb. candied/glazed pineapple, coarsely chopped
  • 21-oz. container red candied/glazed cherries, coarsely chopped
  • 1 lb. coarsely chopped pecans
  • 3 c. spiced rum
  • 1 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 c. brown sugar
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1½ tsp. ground allspice
  • 1½ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 5 lg. eggs
  • 2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt

Combine fruit, nuts, and rum in a covered glass container for 3 to 7 days. 7 days is best.

Cream butter, sugar, and spices until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Stir into butter mixture along with the macerated fruit, nuts, and any remaining liquid.

Place a large shallow pan of water on the bottom rack of your oven to prevent the cakes from baking too dry.

Line 3 greased 9×5-inch loaf pans or 1 greased 9×5-inch and 5 greased 7×4-inch loaf pans with parchment paper and grease paper lightly. Divide the batter evenly and bake in the middle of your pre-heated 275 degree oven for 2-2½ hours or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on racks for one hour. Remove cakes from pan, and carefully peel off the parchment paper. When completely cool, wrap in foil and store for at least 1 month.

 

BOURBON PECAN PIE WITH BOURBON WHIPPED CREAM

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If there is anything more decadent than pecan pie, I wish you would enlighten me. Because as far as I’m concerned, pecan pie wins hands down. Now I know, chocolate decadence and a really yummy cheesecake come in a close second and third. But for richness, pecan pie sets the standard.

So what did I do, I upped the ante by adding a wee dram of bourbon. And I know, it’s been done before. But I remain firm in thinking that this is the quint essential recipe. And yes, I know that sounds very conceited, but if I didn’t think my recipes were special, I sure as heck wouldn’t have started a recipe blog. (One simply must believe in oneself if you are going to put yourself out there for all to criticize, critique and generally trust to provide above average ways to cuisine enlightenment.)

So try this recipe for yourself. I promise you won’t be disappointed.  

And BTW, sorry I haven’t posted any new recipes lately. But I was on vacation, hosted a JazzVox concert, prepared a complete Thanksgiving dinner, spent a week with my daughter in White Salmon, and completed a travel journal of our Belize vacation complete with pictures. So if you have missed me – sorry. If you are upset that I was missing in action – tough noogies! You’ll get over it! Never-the-less, I’m back and won’t be gone again for several months. So look forward to more new recipes in the near future.

  • ½ c. granulated sugar
  • ½ c. light brown sugar
  • 1½ c. clear corn syrup (or half clear and half dark)
  • ¼ c. butter (½ stick)
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 3 T. bourbon, divided
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 3 c. pecans, coarsely chopped
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
  • 1 pint heavy cream
  • 3 T. powdered sugar

In a heavy saucepan, boil sugars and corn syrup together for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add the butter. Set aside to cool slightly.

In large bowl beat eggs and very slowly pour the syrup mixture into the eggs, stirring constantly. If it looks necessary, strain the mixture to make sure it’s smooth and lump free. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the bourbon, vanilla, salt, and pecans; pour into crust. Cover the edges of the pie crust with narrow pieces of aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. 

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 45 to 60 minutes or until set. (If you have an instant read thermometer, stick it into the middle of the filling. When it reaches 200 degrees, the filling is perfect.) Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

While the pie is cooling, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Add the powdered sugar and remaining 2 tablespoon bourbon and whip for 1 minute. Place whipped cream in refrigerator until ready to serve. Serve pieces of pie dolloped with flavored whipped cream.   

   

 

GF CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

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In an effort to include recipes for everyone, young and old, sober or otherwise, vegetarians, gluten avoiders, spicy lovers, and even those poor souls who only eat meat and potatoes, I offer up this adaptation of a Bette Hagman GF recipe for all of my readers who are gluten intolerant. (Usually I can’t abide intolerance, but for gluten, I make an exception!)
And if ever there was a cake that almost everyone loves and should be able to enjoy, it’s carrot cake. My feeling is, if there’s a way around a problem like gluten flour, then let’s go for it. And Bette Hagman, one of the pioneers in GF cooking, did just that.
Now of course, I couldn’t leave even a Bette Hagman recipe alone! (I’d apologize to Bette, but she now resides with the angels, and my direct line to heaven seems to have been severed.) But even if I could apologize I would argue in my own defense. I simply like a spicier base cake, and I happen to think toasted coconut in a carrot cake is essential.
So if you and/or yours happen to be gluten intolerant or simply want to try giving gluten a rest, give this lovely cake a try. It’s moist and delicious, and I promise you, no one will miss the gluten. And really, when you think about it, who knows what gluten tastes like anyway? No one I know walks into my home and begs to be fed a soup spoon full of wheat flour. Or runs up to me, grabs me by the arm, leads me to the pantry screaming “give me flour, or give me death”! So who really gives a buttery French croissant if there is or is not a spec of gluten in a recipe? As long as the end result is delicious, which incidentally is the goal of everyone who spends any time in the kitchen, then life is good. So experiment my friends. And if you have a favorite GF recipe you would like to share with the world, please write it down and send it to my email address www.chezcarrcuisine@wavecable.com. I will gladly prepare the recipe and if it meets the exacting standards of Mr. C., I will post it and take all the credit. Just kidding. The glory and recognition will be all yours. And of course, the undying thanks from my GF readers.

  • 16 oz. crushed pineapple
  • 1 c. golden raisins
  • 2 c. granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 c. mayonnaise (yes – mayonnaise)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3 c. grated carrots
  • 1½ c. toasted chopped walnuts, divided
  • 1½ c. toasted coconut, divided
  • 1½ c. white rice flour
  • ½ c. soy flour
  • ½ c. potato starch
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. ground mace
  • ¼ tsp. ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

Pour the pineapple plus juice into a small saucepan. Add the raisins and simmer over low heat until the raisins are plump and juicy. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

In a large mixing bowl cream the sugar, eggs, and mayonnaise together. Add the vanilla, carrots, 1 cup of the toasted walnuts, 1 cup of the toasted coconut, and the cooled pineapple/raisin combination.

In another bowl, whisk together the flours, soda, salt, cinnamon, mace, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir the flour mixture into the carrot mixture until well blended.

Pour into a lightly buttered and rice floured 10×16-inch glass baking dish*. Smooth top with an offset spatula or table knife. Bake in a pre-heated 325 degree oven* for approximately 40-45 minutes. If already getting brown after 20 minutes or so, gently tent with aluminum foil to prevent further browning. Remove from the oven when a pick stuck in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Place pan on a wire rack. Cool completely before topping with Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below). Garnish with remaining half cup of toasted coconut and half cup of toasted walnuts.

Please note: Most of the time when I bake cakes or breads that contain veggies or fruit, I freeze them for a couple of days before I frost and serve them. But with this cake, because I am a novice at working with flours other than wheat, I have not frozen the cake before serving. If any of you are GF experts, I would welcome your thoughts on the subject. Thank you.

*If using a metal baking pan, increase heat to 350 degrees and check if done after 35 minutes.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • ½ c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • pinch salt
  • 3½ c. powdered sugar or more if needed

Cream butter and powdered sugar together until well blended. Add the vanilla and salt and enough powdered sugar to make a firm but not stiff consistency. Beat until smooth and easy to spread.

GF OATMEAL COOKIES

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My friend and neighbor Marsha made these cookies to share at our annual homeowners meeting. I had been on the board for 6 years serving as president the last year. And Marsha was on the board for my last year serving as a director-at-large. She is a most delightful woman, with a sterling intellect, logical mind, and a terrific sense of humor. In other words, an absolute delight! And, BTW, a fabulous addition to our homeowners board of directors, as well as being a great baker. And speaking of delightful – these cookies definitely fit that category. They are crisp, light, and full of flavor. You would never guess they were GF.

So if you or someone you know needs to stay away from gluten, then these are the oatmeal cookies for you or them. And a wonderful addition to a dessert table when you have no idea whether or not some of your guests might be gluten intolerant. Your only trouble is going to be keeping your non gluten challenged guests from keeping them all to themselves! A bit of hand slapping might be necessary. Or maybe baking a double batch would be the more politically correct course of action. I’m not sure. I used to have a pretty good idea what was and wasn’t politically correct. But this year’s presidential election has thrown everything I felt defined common decency or political correctness right out the window.  (I know, I promised no more commentary on politics, but I set myself up without any intention of going politically postal on all of you again!)

I’m OK now, but I think I need a cookie. And since I just happen to have baked a batch of these cookies for Mr. C. and the other members of the seven piece jazz group (Seabreeze Jazz Band) that are, as I write, rehearsing in our living room, I’m going to leave you now and grant myself an attitude adjustment. You’re on your own. But if you too need your attitude adjusted, these little darlings just might be the ticket. And no, I’m not going to say anything about tickets, political or otherwise! I’m simply going to stop now while I’m ahead.

Thanks again Marsha for this wonderful recipe.

  • 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1 c. granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 c. GF flour (see note about GF flours below)
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • 2 c. GF oats* (some of them aren’t!)

Cream butter and sugar until pale yellow. Add the vanilla. Whisk the flour, soda, salt, and nutmeg together. Add to the butter mixture and beat just until the dry ingredients are thoroughly blended. Mix in the oats. Drop by small ice cream scoop or rounded teaspoons onto lightly greased cookie sheet two inches apart. Flatten slightly with your fingers.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are golden and middle is mostly set. (I found that it helped to turn on the convection option on my oven for the last 3-4 minutes to help brown the center of the cookies.)

Please note: For this recipe, Marsha uses what she calls her “Cookie Flour Blend”. (See recipe below.) It has a sweeter taste overall and is not as dry as other gluten free mixes. For all other cooking she uses GF Cup 4 Cup flour. It is the closest to wheat flour she has ever found. In place of her cookie flour and for easy baking she would have no qualms about using Cup 4 Cup in this or any other cookie recipe. GF flour can usually be found among the other flour varieties, or if not there, the grocery store might have a separate area dedicated to GF products. At least, the GF area is where I found my bag of Cup 4 Cup flour at our local Haggen.

COOKIE FLOUR BLEND (recipe found in a Washington Post article)

Equal parts:

  • mochiko flour
  • sorghum flour
  • tapioca flour
  • cornstarch
  • almond flour

Whisk all together and store in an airtight container. Use in any of your favorite cookie recipes.

*According to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, “oats are technically gluten-free since they aren’t a type of wheat, barley, or rye grain, the three groups of whole grains that naturally contain the protein gluten”.

So pure oats themselves are GF and safe for most people with gluten-intolerance. The problem with oats in gluten-free eating is contamination. Most commercial oats are processed in facilities that also process wheat, barley, and rye. So unless the packaging specifically states “GF”, you might not be safe eating just any old oats if you truly suffer from celiac disease. However, many people with just an intolerance to gluten are fine eating oats that are not specifically rated as being “GF”.

 

 

 

CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

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So I know, every good cook has a recipe for carrot cake. But does every good cook have a “killer” recipe for carrot cake. (There is a difference you know!) I consider this recipe, which I have been preparing since a few of you were only glimmers in your father’s eyes, the most moist and delicious vegetative cake that I have ever had the pleasure of taking out of my oven. But one thing I must warn you about, besides of course the tendency to become addicted to it, is that this cake only reaches its full potential after it has been frozen. It really needs to spend a short time in your freezer to attain the moist consistency all of us treasure in a truly wonderful carrot cake.

Now I know that statement sounds preposterous. But if you have read any of my other recipes for cakes or breads that contain fruit or veggies, I almost always recommend a short resting period in your freezer as the best way to ensure perfection. (And no, I didn’t learn this trick from my many years studying at Le Cordon Bleu. I learned it from my dear friend Linda’s mother Rhoda. And to the best of my knowledge, Rhoda didn’t learn this trick from her years at Le Cordon Bleu either! (Like either of us ever attended any cooking school, much less Le Condon Bleu!) We both perfected our culinary skills in the school of “what’s for dinner, mom”?

But you truly can’t appreciate this cake until you have sunk a fork down through the not-too-sweet frosting and into the moist and tender crumb of this cake. When it reaches your mouth, you not only have the wonderful mouth feel, you have the depth of flavor from the spices, golden raisins that have simmered in pineapple juice, the toasted coconut, and the lovely tasty crunch from the toasted walnuts.

I am not going to tell you that this cake comes together in 30 minutes, because it absolutely does not. You have to simmer the raisins, toast the coconut and walnuts, grate the carrots, and mix the batter, etc. But, if you want to create a cake that has all the characteristics of that perfect carrot cake that you long for every time you see it on a menu, you have to spend the time and do it right. Of course you can always go to your favorite restaurant or bakery and pay through the teeth for just one piece. Or you can set aside a bit of time and make yourself a treat that can be shared with your family and friends for a fraction of the cost. Of course the advantage of making this cake rather than just buying a piece, is that you get to have seconds. And who in their right mind doesn’t want a second piece of carrot cake, especially around midnight or with their morning coffee?

So do yourself and your family a favor. Make one of these cakes for your next birthday celebration, or as a treat for your family and guests after your next dinner party. Remember, you really need to bake the cake ahead of time, freeze it, and then frost it the day you plan to serve it for dessert. So the hard work is all done ahead of time. That leaves you with plenty of time the day of your get-together to concentrate on the other dishes you are planning to serve. And isn’t that a plus?

So enjoy my friends. And always remember to eat your veggies!

  • 8 oz. crushed pineapple
  • 1 c. golden raisins
  • 2 c. granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 c. vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 c. grated carrots
  • 1½ c. toasted chopped walnuts, divided
  • 1½ c. toasted coconut, divided
  • 2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. ground mace
  • ¼ tsp. ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

Drain the pineapple juice into a small saucepan. Set pineapple aside. Add raisins to the juice and bring to a simmer over low heat. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.   

In a large mixing bowl cream the sugar, eggs, and oil together with a whisk. (No mixer needed for this recipe.) Add the vanilla, carrots, 1 cup of the toasted walnuts, 1 cup of the toasted coconut, the reserved pineapple, and the cooled raisins.

In another bowl whisk together the flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, mace, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir flour mixture into the carrot mixture just until thoroughly blended.  

Pour into a lightly buttered and floured 9×13-inch glass baking dish. Bake in a pre-heated 325 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes or until a pick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack. Cool completely before covering with plastic wrap and placing in the freezer for no shorter time than 2 days. (I warned you in my introduction!)

The day you plan to serve the cake, remove from freezer and allow to come to room temperature.

Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below) and garnish with remaining half cup of coconut and half cup of walnuts.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • ½ c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • pinch salt
  • 3½ c. powdered sugar or more if needed

Cream butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla, salt, and enough powdered sugar to make a firm but not stiff consistency. Beat until smooth and easy to spread. Spread evenly over cake. Garnish with remaining half cup coconut and half cup walnuts.

 

REVERSE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

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Some people think that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And to the best of my knowledge, those “some people” are absolutely right! But in my husband’s case, on the way to his heart, many times the food item must first take a little detour past his sweet tooth. Because if ever there was a person who took his sugary treats seriously, it’s Mr. C. Of course he loves savories too, but in his world, each meal must be followed by a little something sweet. Except of course for breakfast. For breakfast he wants his bit of sweet before his eggs and bacon!

Now I realize that Mr. C. is no different than a lot of my friends, both male and female. These sophisticated sugar lovers want to get the most bang for their sugar “buck”.  And I truly have to say, these cookies deliver in every way. They are chocolaty to the max. They are chewy on the inside, and crisp around the edges. But, in all honesty, they do not have a lot of staying power. They are absolutely at their best when they have only been out of the oven for a couple of hours. So sending these in a Christmas package; not such a good idea. Making them in the afternoon to serve as a casual after dinner treat; perfect!

So next time you want a quick and easy cookie, give this recipe a try. And don’t worry about the cookies not having a long shelf life. They are so good, they probably won’t even make it to an airtight container, much less a shelf!

  • 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ¾ c. granulated sugar
  • 2/3 c. packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 lg. eggs, room temperature
  • 2¼ c. unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 c. cocoa
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 2 c. white chocolate chips (the real white chocolate chips, not the white baking chips)

In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract together until light and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture. Stir in white chocolate chips.

Using a small ice cream scoop, place dough onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, remove to wire racks and allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

 

 

CHOCOLATE KAHLUA ICE CREAM SAUCE

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Now I realize that really good vanilla ice cream doesn’t require a topping, but what the heck – why not? If you are considering ice cream in the first place, you might as well indulge yourself or your family or friends, and go all the way. And if this ice cream sauce doesn’t make a believer out of you, then I don’t know what could! (Unless of course, it’s one of my other sauces (see Caribbean Rum-Raisin Ice Cream Sauce for 3 other delicious sauces.) But back to this recipe.

I made this recently for one of the desserts for a JazzVox pre-concert meal. People loved it. Then I also served it, along with my Caribbean Rum-Raisin Ice Cream Sauce to good friends at our small “open trailer” get together in Anacortes. Again our friends thought it was definitely worthy of posting on this blog.

So you, my dear readers, are getting the benefit of my friend’s unsolicited approval. And don’t you deserve it too! It’s been a rough year. If the presidential race isn’t enough to put you off your feed, there’s always the drought in California, hurricanes all over the world, and the melting ice cap! I tell you, if there ever was a time we all needed (and I mean needed) a little pampering, it’s now. So don’t deny yourself. Eat ice cream and of course vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Pardon the unpaid political proclamation, but if ever there was a time to stand up for what I believe, this is it. And I believe strongly in America and am proud of the humanitarian nation it has always been. But unless we all vote for a reasonable candidate, it could so easily dissolve into a non-respected, joke of a country. Please don’t let that happen. Don’t let hearsay or unverified accusations sway your thinking. Don’t be faithful to a party just because you have always voted their agenda. Now is the time to really think about the lasting effect your vote could make. Take time to read each party’s platform. I want my children and grandchildren to enjoy the same freedom and ability to succeed as I have enjoyed all my life. I want them to be able to go camping in our national parks, and know that the politicians in command care about each and every citizen, not just the people that look and think exactly as they do. And if I’m not mistaken, you probably want the same for your descendants too.

So get out there and vote. Spread the word, and don’t let anyone tell you that by not voting you are making a difference, because they might actually be correct! Your abstinence might just help the one candidate you don’t want in office, to actually win this election. The future of our country is just as much in your hands regardless if you go to the poles or not. But taking the high road and saying that you are not voting because you don’t like any of the candidates is the equivalent to indulging in a  political game of Russian roulette. Remember, no one is perfect. And our candidates are just like everyone else in that regard.  

So please accept my apology if I have offended you or you feel I have over-stepped my position as a food blogger. But I am also a real person who feels deeply about the welfare of our country. I strongly believe, that if we don’t take a firm stand, and vote to retain the integrity and intelligence our leaders have displayed in the past, our country as we know and love it, is going to change dramatically. And I don’t believe it will be for the better!

Again, I know a food blog is not the best place to voice my opinion on something other than the relative merits of dark chocolate over milk chocolate. But being a passionate person, I have interests that far outreach the confines of my kitchen. I do promise however, not to write any more about the upcoming election, at least on my blog.

If you would like to read more about my feelings on the upcoming presidential race, you can follow the steps listed below to a guest editorial I wrote for our local newspaper:

–          Search under Stanwood/Camano news

–          Choose e-Edition

–          Click on Stanwood/Camano News – Updated Aug 29, 2016

–          Click on the right arrow in the white circle at the upper right hand corner of the page

–          Keep clicking until you get to page A4–the Opinion section (3 clicks, I think)

–          My editorial is entitled “Fate of world on the line in U.S. election” (I did not write the title – the newspaper did!)

  • 1½ c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 3 T. unsalted butter
  • tiny pinch salt
  • ½ c. heavy whipping cream
  • 2 T. Kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueur

Melt the chocolate chips, butter, salt, and whipping cream together in the microwave, being especially careful not to burn the chocolate chips. Remove from microwave and whisk in the Kahlua. Serve warm or at room temperature over vanilla ice cream. And please enjoy the two other ice cream sauce recipes to follow.

DARK CHOCOLATE AND ORANGE ICE CREAM SAUCE

  • ¾ c. Dutch processed cocoa
  • 6 T. sugar
  • 2/3 c. water
  • 4 T. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 T. Cointreau or other orange flavored liqueur

Whisk cocoa and sugar together in a medium-sized saucepan. Gently whisk in the water. Slowly bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in butter, vanilla, and Cointreau. Serve warm or allow to cool completely and store in the refrigerator. Warm before pouring on ice cream.

FRESH STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM SAUCE

  • 1 qt. fresh strawberries, divided (raspberries, blueberries, Marionberries, blackberries, etc. can also be used)
  • ¼ c. sugar or more to taste
  • ½ tsp. vanilla

Wash strawberries and remove the stems; cut each berry into 4 or 6 pieces, depending on the size of the berry. Combine half the strawberries, sugar, and vanilla in a saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. The mixture will appear too dry for a while, but then the juice will begin to appear and produce the syrup. Cook until sauce thickens, about 15 minutes.

Remove from heat. When the sauce is completely cool, add the remaining strawberries. Store covered in the refrigerator. Also great over shortcake or pound cake with sweetened whipped cream.

 

 

 

CARIBBEAN RUM-RAISIN ICE CREAM SAUCE

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When it comes down to it, there really are no bad ice cream sauces. Well at least not if they are homemade. But once in a while a really amazing sauce comes along, and your taste buds go into overdrive. That’s what happened when I played with a basic caramel sauce recipe to serve with vanilla ice cream for the pre-concert JazzVox meal I served last weekend featuring Caribbean food. I knew that plain rum, both dark and light, were essential to Caribbean cuisine. But I like spice rum for desserts, so I used a combination of rums plus a bit of cinnamon to enhance the spice flavor. What I turned out was pretty darn good if I say so myself. Which of course I am saying. (Believe me, when I try new recipes and they are not worthy of your discerning palate, the paper they are printed on goes straight to the circular file and the “delete” button gets pushed sending the word document to “who knows where or cares”!)  

This recipe however, should find you running to your local emporium for all the ingredients you don’t already own and the largest container of really good vanilla ice cream you can carry. It is just that delicious and so different from other ice cream sauces. I also made a Kahlua Ice Cream Sauce (next recipe to be posted) that turned out great, but it’s more of a standard ice cream sauce. But it’s equally delicious, if you happen to like chocolate and Kahlua that is!               

And just because I care so much about all of you, I’ve included a couple other really delicious ice cream sauces for your edification – Spiced Rum Sauce and Bourbon Caramel Sauce. Both too are easy to prepare, economical, and far above any product sold on the market. (OK, there are some really good ice cream sauces available commercially. But they are really expensive, and you don’t get that happy feeling of a job well done when someone else builds a product you know you can do better, or at least equally as well.)

So enjoy the recipes and have fun with them. Believe me, there is nothing like this sauce out there. But beware. Once you have served this to family and friends, there will be no going back. If I weren’t so lazy, I would start a business selling this to local stores. But doing such a bizarre thing at my age a) sounds like way too much work, b) sounds like way too much of a monetary investment, and c) sounds like way too much work! So if you want rum-raisin sauce for your ice cream, you’re just going to have to make it yourself! At least now you have a recipe! Enjoy

  • ½ c. dark rum
  • ½ c. spice rum
  • ½ tsp. cinnamon
  • ¼ c. golden raisins
  • ¼ c. dark raisins
  • 1 c. brown sugar
  • ¼ lb. (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • pinch salt

Pour the rum into a bowl. Add the cinnamon and raisins, cover, and place in the refrigerator overnight. Just before making the sauce, drain the raisins reserving both the liquid and the raisins.

Whisk the brown sugar, butter, and salt together in a heavy sauce pan until the butter is melted and the mixture starts to go a darker color and develops big frothy bubbles. Usually takes 4-6 minutes.  

Remove from heat and gently pour in the reserved rum. Whisk for about 2 minutes and return the pan to the stove. (The alcohol should have all dissipated by now.) Stir or whisk continuously over low heat about 10 minutes while the mixture gently simmers to a slightly thicker consistency. (The sauce should display tiny bubbles on the surface the entire time the sauce is cooking.) Remove from heat and stir in the raisins.  Serve warm over vanilla ice cream, apple pie, bread pudding, gingerbread, crêpes, pound cake, pumpkin pie, or any other dessert item that takes your fancy. It would also be wonderful served over baked ham or pork tenderloin. And don’t get me started on what this sauce would add to a simple baked sweet potato!

Note: This is a very potent sauce. Use sparingly.

SPICED RUM SAUCE

  • 1 c. packed brown sugar
  • ½ c. unsalted butter
  • ½ c. heavy cream
  • 2 T. spiced rum
  • ¼ tsp. cinnamon

Combine brown sugar and butter in a medium sized heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes or until butter completely melted and mixture is smooth. Add heavy cream, spiced rum, and cinnamon. Bring to a simmer and cook for approximately 5 minutes or until mixture thickens and is reduced to about 1½ cups. Serve warm. Can be made ahead and refrigerated. Bring to a simmer again before serving or gently warm in your microwave.

BOURBON CARAMEL SAUCE

  • ¼ c. unsalted butter
  • ½ c. brown sugar
  • ¼ c. heavy cream
  • 2 T. good bourbon
  • pinch freshly ground nutmeg, opt.

Whisk butter and brown sugar together over medium heat in a small heavy saucepan until brown sugar is dissolved completely. (This happens after the mixture comes to a boil and is allowed to burble for a couple of minutes or until it turns kind of shiny.) Continue whisking the whole time the mixture is on the heat. Remove from heat and gently whisk in the heavy cream, bourbon, and ground nutmeg. Serve warm, or allow to come to room temperature and refrigerate.

 

 

 

 

 

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CAKE

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A long time ago, in a world far away, I used to be a mother. Well, actually I’m still a mother, but I’m no longer a “mommy”. Mommies cook meals for their children, do their laundry, and make sure they take a bath at least every other night. Mommies also read bed time stories, tuck their children in with a kiss, as well as chauffer the little darlings all over God’s creation. While, of course, at all times remaining positive, cheerful, understanding, and loving. (My children say I was all those things, but frankly I have no recollection. It’s all just one big happy blur. Not really, but some of it is!)   

But alas, those days are over. My 4 grown children, all amazing BTW, are potty-trained, know how to say please and thank you, and I’m reassured by their partners that they take showers without being cajoled. In other words – my job with them is done!

But while I was still wearing my “mommy” hat, I used to fix this cake periodically because not only was it delicious, it was flat out easy to prepare. And as a working mother of 4, I needed all the help I could get in the kitchen. And especially when I went completely crazy and invited friends over for dinner after a long day working around the house.

It was nothing to clean the house on Saturday morning, run a couple loads of laundry, work in the yard until 3:00 pm and then decide I wanted to have friends over for dinner. Oh the energy in those days!

But life was easier in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I didn’t have to research a new and improved spaghetti sauce recipe on the computer; I just consulted my Betty Crocker cookbook. I didn’t have to grate the Parmesan; it came all nicely fine crumbled in a big green can. And salad dressing – it came from the grocery store, as did the bread if it was a last minute get-together. All that was needed was a simple call to my friends. They were either home and I got an immediate response, or they weren’t home and we didn’t see them that evening. No leaving a message, then spending time checking the voice mail on my land line or text on my cell phone. No checking my email, and while I’m at it, making certain nothing new had been posted on Facebook! Just a simple, personal phone call that said, “Sorry for the late notice, but I miss you, and can you come for dinner tonight?” Terribly simple and for me, terribly nostalgic – just like this cake.

So next time you need a quick and easy cake perfect for any occasion, whip up one of these babies. This recipe may have been around as long as the Beatles, but just like the Beatles, it has endured the test of time. (Now if only I could say the same thing about myself! Sigh…..)

  • 2 eggs
  • 21 oz. can cherry pie filling
  • 1 tsp. almond extract
  • 1 chocolate fudge cake mix
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 5 T. butter
  • 1/3 c. milk
  • 6 oz. (1 cup) chocolate chips

In a large bowl lightly beat the eggs. Add the cherry pie filling and almond extract. Stir until well combined. Add the cake mix and stir just until combined. Pour into a buttered and floured 9×13-inch glass* baking pan. Bake in a pre-heated 325 degree oven for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Don’t overbake. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, combine the sugar, butter, and milk in a sauce pan. Boil for one minute, remove from heat, and stir in the chocolate chips until the frosting is smooth. Pour on cooled cake and allow to harden before serving. (The frosting will be soft but will harden as it cools.)

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*If using a metal pan, increase the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 25-30 minutes.