Brownie Pudding

I make brownies from  BOXED mixes all the time. Use ONLY ONE EGG no matter what the box says. That is if you like your brownies gooey. To make them even better, divide in half and put symphony bars on the bottom layer and spread 2nd half on top. Yum.  This recipe comes out like brownie with really undercooked center...yum.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus extra for buttering the dish
• 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup good cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean
• 1 tablespoon framboise liqueur, optional
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter a 2-quart (9 by 12 by 2-inch) oval baking dish. Melt the 1/2 pound of butter and set aside to cool.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 to 10 minutes, until very thick and light yellow. Meanwhile, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.

When the egg and sugar mixture is ready, reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla seeds, framboise, if using, and the cocoa powder and flour mixture. Mix only until combined. With mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.

Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan. Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for exactly 1 hour. A cake tester inserted 2 inches from the side will come out 3/4 clean. The center will appear very under-baked; this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding.

Allow to cool and serve with vanilla ice cream.

chocolate souffle

traditional valentine dessert...

•2 teaspoons unsalted butter, softened

•1/2 cup sugar
•8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
•4 large egg whites
•3 large egg yolks
•1/4 cup, plus 1 1/2 teaspoons orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)
•1/4 cup heavy cream
•3/4 ounce semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
•Confectioners' sugar

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Using the butter, grease 4 individual ramekins and sprinkle them with about 1 teaspoon sugar per ramekin.

In a large metal bowl, set over a pot of simmering water (not touching the bottom of the metal bowl), melt 8 ounces chocolate, stirring it with a whisk from time to time. Remove the bowl of melted chocolate from the heat.

In another bowl, beat the egg whites with 1/4 cup of the sugar until stiff and glossy.

Whisk the egg yolks into the chocolate one at a time, add 1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur, and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Fold in the egg whites and whisk until thoroughly blended.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the prepared ramekins, place on a baking sheet, and bake until they are puffed and somewhat firm, for about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the oven.

While the souffles are baking, prepare the chocolate sauce, and cover to keep warm.

For the chocolate sauce: Heat the cream in a small saucepan over high heat. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons orange-flavored liqueur. Start whisking in the 3/4 ounce chopped chocolate and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove the chocolate sauce from the heat. Serve immediately.



To serve: Place a ramekin on each of 4 plates and sift confectioners' sugar over the top of each souffle. Break the tops of the souffles and spoon in the warm chocolate sauce, allowing it to drip over the sides.



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molten chocolate cake

another valentine idea...

•For the cakes
•2/3 cup butter, plus more for greasing
•4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
•4 eggs
•2/3 cup sugar
•1/2 cup all-purpose flour

•For the caramel sauce, optional
•2/3 cup sugar
•1/4 cup butter
•1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons cream
•Squirt lemon juice, to taste

For the cakes:

Butter 6 ramekins and line with a disk of parchment paper, and then butter the parchment. In a double boiler, bowl or saucepan, very gently melt the butter and chocolate together over a water bath. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until thick, pale, and ribbony. Beat in the flour, and finally the chocolate mixture. Pour the mixture into the ramekins and chill.

Just before serving, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the ramekins on a baking sheet, and bake until the top is set, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove. Let sit 5 minutes, before unmolding onto plates. Serve with caramel sauce, if using, or a scoop of ice cream.

For the caramel sauce:

Add a spoonful of water to the sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat and boil to caramel, about 5 minutes. Do not stir with a spoon. Swirl the saucepan over the heat until desired color is achieved. Cook's Note: Be careful not to let it get too dark. Stir in the butter to melt (careful it will splatter), then the cream. Add a squirt of lemon juice, to taste.



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snicker pie

Need a valentine dessert...here's one...love snickers.

•2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened

•2 eggs
•1/3 cup sour cream
•1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
•1 tsp. vanilla
•10.3 oz. Snickers candy bars
•1/4 cup peanut butter
•1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bake pie crust for 5-7 minutes until just set. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

In medium bowl, combine brown sugar and cream cheese and beat well until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beaten well after each addition. Add sour cream, 1/2 cup peanut butter, and vanilla, and beat again until smooth.

Cut candy bars into 1/4" slices. Spoon 1/2 cup of the cream cheese mixture in bottom of pie crust; top with candy bars. Pour remaining cream cheese mixture over candy bars, making sure to completely cover all the candy. Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes until center is set when you gently jiggle the pie. Cool completely on wire rack.

In small saucepan, combine 1/3 cup peanut butter and semisweet chocolate chips and heat gently until chips are melted, stirring constantly. Carefully spoon and spread over top of pie. Refrigerate pie 2-3 hours before serving; store in refrigerator.

chocolate almond brickle

Brickle is different from brittle...it's softer. delicious. could eat my weight in this...

2 1/2 cups almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped, divided

1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cups (from 11.55-ounce package) milk chocolate morsels

Sprinkle 1 1/4 cup nuts over the bottom of a well-greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
Melt the butter in a medium, heavy-duty saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 280 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.
Pour the hot mixture over the nuts; let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with morsels. Let stand until morsels melt and become shiny and soft, about 5 minutes. Spread evenly.
Refrigerate for about 20 minutes. Break into bite-size pieces.

Chocolate Cheesecake Explosion

WOW...saw this on Paula Deen and thought, I've GOT to RUN go get the ingredients to make this one.

Crust:
 2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted

Chocolate Layer:
6 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Cheesecake Layer:
1/2 cup caramel syrup
1 (16 1/2-ounce) package refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sour cream

Chocolate Ganache:

6 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

For the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs and sugar. Add the melted butter, stirring to combine. Press the crust into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 6 minutes; let cool.

For the chocolate layer: Using a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter (or microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes total). Whisk in the sugar, eggs, and flour until just combined. Pour into the bottom of the cooled crust and bake for 15 minutes; let cool. (I cooked it 25 minutes)

For the cheesecake layer: Spread the caramel topping evenly over the cooled chocolate layer. Cut the cookie dough crosswise into 1-inch slices. Place the slices in an even layer over the caramel, pressing gently together to seal the edges.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and flour until just combined. Stir in the sour cream. Pour the mixture over the cookie dough layer and bake for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and gently run a knife around the edges to release the crust from the sides of the pan. Let cool completely. (I cooked it for 1 1/2 hours).

For the ganache: Using a double boiler, combine the chocolate and cream and melt (or microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 1 minute total). Spread over the cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours before serving.

mocha chocolate icebox cake

Kahlua, mascarpone, chocolate chip cookes and easy...doesn't get better than this.

2 cups cold heavy cream

12 ounces Italian mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Kahlúa liqueur
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Pernigotti
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3, 8-ounce packages of Tate's Bake Shop chocolate chip cookies

Shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnishIn the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the heavy cream, mascarpone, sugar, Kahlúa, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and vanilla. Mix on low speed to combine and then slowly raise the speed, until it forms firm peaks.


To assemble the cake, arrange chocolate chip cookies flat in an 8-inch springform pan, covering the bottom as much as possible. (I break some cookies to fill in the spaces.) Spread a fifth of the mocha whipped cream evenly over the cookies. Place another layer of cookies on top, lying flat and touching, followed by another fifth of the cream. Continue layering cookies and cream until there are five layers of each, ending with a layer of cream. Smooth the top, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

Run a small sharp knife around the outside of the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Sprinkle the top with the chocolate, cut in wedges and serve cold.

Banana Chocolate Gorilla Bread

OMG...I LOVE monkey bread...this is better!

Nonstick cooking spray
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup packed light brown sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
2 (12-ounce) tubes refrigerated crescent roll dough
6 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
2 bananas, sliced 1/4-inch thick
4 ounces (about 2/3 cup) semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar with the butter over low heat. Break open the crescent roll packages and separate the triangles of dough. Brush each triangle with sweetened condensed milk and top with 2 banana slices and 1 teaspoon chocolate chips; fold the edges of the triangle together and seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Sprinkle each with 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon sugar.
Put half of the walnuts in the Bundt pan and top with half of the dough packets. Pour half of the brown sugar-butter mixture over the dough and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the cinnamon sugar. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Bake until puffed, golden brown, and firm to the touch. Bake for 1 hour. Remove the pan from the oven, transfer it to a rack and allow it to cool for 15 minutes. Put a platter on top of the Bundt pan and invert. Slice and serve warm.
Servings: 8 servings

Coconut Cream Bread Pudding

If I had to choose between coconut and chocolate I'd have a hard time...but this recipe has BOTH...topped with Chocolate sauce. Anytime you see cream of coconut in a recipe or drink, you know it's gonna be good.

• Butter, for dish
• 1 (16 to 20-inch loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 (13 1/2-ounce) cans unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 (13 1/2-ounce) can cream of coconut
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Pinch mace
• 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut, plus 1/2 cup, toasted for garnish
• Chocolate Velvet Sauce, recipe follows

Directions

Lightly butter the bottom of a 9-inch square flameproof baking dish. Arrange the bread cubes evenly in the dish. In a large bowl, whisk together the yolks, whole eggs, coconut milk, cream of coconut, salt, nutmeg, and mace. Stir in 1 cup of the coconut flakes. Pour the custard over the bread cubes, pressing the bread cubes gently to soak up the custard. Let the mixture stand for 1 hour, covered, in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Sprinkle the top of the pudding with the remaining 1/2 cup coconut flakes. Cover the baking dish with foil, poking a few holes in the top to release the steam. Put the baking dish into a roasting pan on the oven rack. Pour hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake until the pudding is firm to the touch, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 15 minutes more. Remove the baking dish from the water bath and run it under the broiler, at least 4 inches from the heat, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Let the pudding cool completely. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Pour the sauce over individual pudding servings, as desired. Top with toasted coconut and serve.

Chocolate Velvet Sauce:

• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Make the chocolate sauce right before serving the pudding. Put the chocolate chips in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a simmer over low heat; immediately remove it from the heat and pour it over the chocolate chips. Whisk until smooth.

Notes

The chocolate sauce can be reheated in a saucepan over low heat. Add more cream, 1 tablespoon at a time as needed, to return it to the desired consistency.

Red Velvet Brownies

Lucy LOVES red velvet cake...now this is an easy way to make them and take them on a cookout or picnic. Also a way for Lucy to take one to school for a snack. 

1 cup flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon red food color

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (you know, I only use mexican)

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (recipe follows)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch baking pan with foil. Spray foil with no stick cooking spray. Mix flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.

 2. Mix eggs, granulated sugar, sour cream, food coloring and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Gradually stir in flour mixture until well mixed. Spread in prepared pan.

 3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. Cool in pan on wire rack. 

 4. Spread Chocolate Buttercream Frosting evenly over cooled brownie. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 24 squares.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting: Mix 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar and 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder in small bowl. Beat 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened, in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract; mix well. Gradually add cocoa mixture alternately with 1 tablespoon milk, beating until light and fluffy. If frosting is too thick to spread, gradually beat in additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Plum Cake Tatin (Caramel)

The caramel is what makes this delicious. Best thing is you could use peacher or even better apples with this instead of plums.

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing the dish
10 to 12 purple "prune" plums, cut in half and pitted
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Confectioners' sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 9-inch glass pie dish and arrange the plums in the dish, cut side down.

Combine 1 cup of the granulated sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until it turns a warm amber color, about 360 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Swirl the pan but don't stir. Pour evenly over the plums.

Meanwhile, cream the 6 tablespoons of butter and the remaining 3/4 cup of granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy. Lower the speed and beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the sour cream, zest, and vanilla and mix until combined. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt and, with the mixer on low speed, add it to the butter mixture. Mix only until combined.

Pour the cake batter evenly over the plums and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes, then invert the cake onto a flat plate. If a plum sticks, ease it out and replace it in the design on top of the cake. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with confectioners' sugar.

 

English Sticky Tofffee Pudding

OK, I like everything about even the name of this dessert...especially sticky and toffee! A
 way to use those dates you've harvested this summer! Ingredients


1 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup pitted dates
1 1/4 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

TOFFEE SAUCE:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream, whipped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch round or square baking dish. Sift the flour and baking powder onto a sheet of waxed paper. Chop the dates fine. Place in a small bowl and add the boiling water and baking soda; set aside. In a bowl of electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until blended. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Add the date mixture to the batter and fold until blended with a rubber spatula. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake until pudding is set and firm on top, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven to a wire rack. Toffee Sauce: Combine the butter, heavy cream and brown sugar in a small heavy saucepan; heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil gently over medium low heat until mixture is thickened, about 8 minutes. Preheat broiler. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the sauce over the pudding. Spread evenly on top. Place pudding under the broiler until the topping is bubbly, about 1 minute. Serve immediately spooned into dessert bowls. Drizzle with toffee sauce and top with a spoonful of whipped cream.

Peach Cobbler

This years crop is delicious.  The peaches are smaller but FULL of flavor. You just HAVE to make a cobbler. There's nothing better in the summer. My sister used peaches to make salsa too. Good season!

4 cups peeled, sliced peaches
2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup water
8 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/2 cups milk
Ground cinnamon, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the peaches, 1 cup sugar, and water in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Put the butter in a 3-quart baking dish and place in oven to melt.

Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, flour, and milk slowly to prevent clumping. Pour mixture over melted butter. Do not stir. Spoon fruit on top, gently pouring in syrup. Sprinkle top with ground cinnamon, if using. Batter will rise to top during baking. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes.

To serve, scoop onto a plate and serve with your choice of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Shaker Lemon Pie

It's hard to believe this pie doesn't have any cream or milk in it. But the ingredients give this a really interesting consistency. You just HAVE to try it. It is soooo easy.  From the Golden Lamb. 19th Century recipe from Shakers. This restaurant has operated inn town of Lebanon since 1803, one of Ohio's oldest businesses.

2 large lemons, sliced VERY thin (for paper thin use mandeline)
2 C sugar
5 large eggs, beaten
2 store bought pie crusts

For filling: in med. non-reactive bowl, mix together lemon slices and sugar. Cover and let stand overnight in refrigerator. Bring lemon mixture to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Fit 1 crust into a 9 inch pie pan. Stir eggs into lemon mixture and pour into pie pan. Top with remaining crust. Trim excess dough, fold top crust under bottom along rim, and crimp to seal. Bake for 45 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Pecan Pie with Cinnamon Pecan Caramel Sauce

OMG...as if pecan pie wasn't decadent enough...this caramel sauce puts it over the edge, especially if you put vanilla ice-cream on top of the pie.  Warning: may put you in a sugar  coma.

1 1/4 cups pecan pieces
1 (10-inch) pie crust, pre-baked
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Cinnamon Pecan Caramel, for serving

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Put pecans in pre-baked pie shell. In a large bowl whisk the remaining ingredients together until smooth. Pour the custard mixture over the nuts and bake the pie until the filling puffs and rises above the edges of the pie shell, about 30 minutes. Carefully remove the pie from oven and let it cool completely before serving. Drizzle the pie with Cinnamon Pecan Caramel and serve.

Cinnamon Pecan Caramel:

2 cups brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix all the ingredients together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth.

Buttermilk Pie

Dorothy Wiley is one of our prayer warriors at Pelham Road. This is her recipe  for  Buttermilk Pie. It's really, really easy and really, really good.

1/2  C buttermilk
3 eggs
1  C sugar
1  T flour
1 t vanilla
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 unbaked pie shell

Mix buttermilk,eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla  and melted butter in blender. Pour into pie shell and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.