Sunday, October 17, 2010

Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate " Chocolate Cake and Frosting


  • Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate " Chocolate Cake
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans. 

Batter is very thin!!

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING. 10 to 12 servings.

VARIATIONS:
ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.

THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.

BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.

CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.


"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. 

yummy frosting

should of made my frosting thicker




This cake was awesome!!

Dressed up Coleslaw

This is so easy and people always enjoy it!

1/2 bag coleslaw mix
1/2 jar coleslaw dressing
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 pumpkin seed (can also use sunflower seed, sliced almond)
celery seed


Mix all together refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Sugar Cookies

This time we used Alton Brown's cookie Recipe and Peggy Cullian's icing. They turned out good I had a little trouble rolling the dough out with it cold. but after you do it a few times you get the hang of it.


Sugar Cookies
3 c all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking power
1/4 tsp salt
1 c unsalted butter, softened
1 c sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp milk
powder sugar for rolling out the dough

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Place butter, and sugar in large bowl of stand mixer beat until light in color. Add egg and Milk beat until combined.

Put mixer on low speed and gradually add flour mixture. Beat until  bater pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Divide dough in half and wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat over to 375

Sprinkle surface with powder sugar . Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough at a time
.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thick moving around to make sure it is not sticking to surface.

Cut to desired shape and place on greased cookie sheet, parchment or silicone baking mat.

Bake 7- 9 minutes  or until edges are just beginning to brown.  Let cool for 2 minutes then move to rack to cool completely then frost if desired.





Royal Icing Cookie Paint 


3 egg whites at room Temperature
16 oz powder sugar (3 cups)

Beat egg and sugar together on low speed. After 30 Seconds scrape the sides of the bowl and increase speed to medium.

Beat until Mixture thickens about 3 minutes.





Storing Icing

Keep in airtight container , or cover with damp cloth or plastic wrap.

Can be refrigerated for 2 days. Before using lightly beat with whisk or fork.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

French bread

This bread is so yummy!! I could see this replacing our store bought white bread.  I made two batches of this dough and the other did not rise,  I baked it and it came out VERY heavy and when I cut into it it was doughy. But I am pretty sure that that was because my water was not warm enough when I proofed my yeast.
I will make sure I alway check and that my water is at 110.



1 c warm water (110 degrees)
2 1/2 c bread flour
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp water

Combine water , yeast and sugar  allow to proof ( let  sit for 10 minutes), then add salt and flour. Knead until no longer sticky.

Place dough in oiled bowl turning to coat all sides. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until doubled. Dough is ready if an indention remains when touched.

Pouch down dough on a lightly floured surface. I then hand formed mine into a loaf.  placed it on a oiled baking sheet. making deep slashes across the top.

Cover and let rise for 30 -40 minutes

Preheat oven to375

Mix egg yolk with 1 tbsp water and brush over top

Bake for 20 minutes or until Golden brown



Cinnamon Rolls

Dough
2 c flour
2 tbsp sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp butter
3/4 milk









Filling
4 tbsp butter
1 c brown sugar
3 tsp cinnamon












Glaze
1/2 c powered sugar
1/8 cup milk











  1. Mix all filling ingredients, sprinkle 1/2 on the bottom of a 9x9 pan
  2. In a large bowl mix together flour,  sugar, baking power and salt
  3. Cut in butter
  4. Stir in milk to form a soft dough.
  5. Roll out on a lightly floured surface, in a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick
  6. spread remaining filling on rolled out dough
  7.  roll up and cut with a sharp knife into 18 rolls
  8. Bake 20 -25 minutes at 400
  9. For glaze combine sugar and milk mix until smooth, drizzle over rolls when done baking.

 












Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Pork loin w/ Whiskey, Cranberries and apples

a Moppy original....

1 pork loin
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 apple peeled , corded and sliced
1/8 c Jack Daniels
1/2 c chicken stock
apple pie spice




  1. Mix Chicken stock, dash of apple pie spice and whiskey together in crock pot on low. (whiskey will smell very strong, but it doesn't taste very strong when done
  2. add Pork loin
  3. top withe cranberries, apples and sprinkle with apple pie spice.
  4. cook on low for 6 - 8 hours

Grilled Mahi Mahi with fruit Salsa

another of my own creations...

2 Mahi Mahi Fillets

1/2 cup Grapes  sliced
1/2 strawberries diced
1/2 cup cucumber  diced
3 tbsp strawberry preserves
1 tsp dried mint
1/2 tsp salt

mix together fruit, preserves and mint cover and place in fridge for at least an hour I  usually make these types of things up hours in advance.


Coat Mahi Mahi with olive oil grill for 10  mintues or until done and fish flakes easily in the last few mintues top with a small amount of your salsa. let diner add more as they wish.. enjoy.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Made from scratch Chocolate cupcakes with Vanilla cream Frosting

Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
1 1/2 c flour
1 c sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/3 c cocoa
1/2 c olive oil
1 c milk
1 tsp vinegar

mix all ingredients well in mixer should be brown and smooth

                                                                           bake at 350 for 20 minutes
makes 1 dozen


































Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting
3 c powder sugar
1/2 c butter softened
3 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla


Beat all ingredients together until well blended and smooth

If frosting becomes too think beat in extra milk by the tsp.
makes about 3 1/2 c frosting

This frosting is just like eating sugar....  I will look for a different one to try next time.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Maple Oat Bread

Bread
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c oats
1 pk (.25 ounce)  dry active yeast
1/2 tsp ground clove
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 c warm water
1/4 cup maple syrup


Top of bread
1 tbsp water
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp oats


In large bowl stir together flours, oats, yeast, spices and salt. 

combine oil, water and maple syrup.  Stir into flour mixture.


When dough is stiff enough turn out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 7 minutes).

Knead in more flour is necessary to keep dough from being sticky (i didn't need to add any). Place dough in oiled bowl turning to coat. Cover and set aside in a warm place to rise till doubled in size.
 Punch dough down form into a tight ball by folding in sides, the tighter the ball the more it will rise instead of just spreading. Place on greased baking sheet with seam down . Let rise for 20 minutes or until your finger leaves a dent when you poke it.

 Preheat the oven to 375, mix topping , top, bake for 35- 40 minutes




Whole Wheat Honey Banana Muffins

OK so these weren't a big hit, I over baked them a bit and it just needed more banana flavor. 

13/4 c whole wheat flour
1tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 olive oil
1/2 c honey
2 eggs
1 c mashed banana
1/4 c hot water
1 pinch cinnamon

1 pinch clove


Stir together dry ingredients

beat oil and honey together. add eggs beat well

add banana beat to combine

add dry ingredients to wet alternating with hot water

bake at 325 for 15 minutes or until golden brown

makes 1 dozen

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Oatmeal Strawberry Apricot Macadamia Nut Cookies


OK so I really had to play around with this one and finally got it, think I will wait a while until I try to come up with my own concoction, but  they tasted great !





1 c butter
1 1/4 c brown sugar
3/4 white sugar
1 tbsp honey
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking power
3/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
4 c rolled oats
1/2 c macadamia nuts
1 1/2 c strawberries , hulled and cup up
1/2 c dried apricots


Preheat oven to 350

cream together butter, sugar and honey then add vanilla and eggs blend well

Fold in dry ingredients including oat meal when just about blended fold in  nuts, apricots and strawberries

drop by heaping spoon fulls on greased cookie sheet about 2 in apart

Bake 9 -12 min until cookies are set, middles are dry looking and edges begin to brown