Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Cooking : Alannah's Chocolate Galaxy

Ingredients
6 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons hot brewed coffee
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
2 cups white sugar
2 cups packed brown sugar
6 egg yolks
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting
1 cup sweetened whipped cream
6 egg whites

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10 inch springform pan.
Place the chocolate in a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Stir in the hot coffee - hotter coffee will mix in better, but if the mixture suddenly hardens into a dull paste, that is okay too. It can still be used. Stir in the vanilla. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks gradually, then stir in the chocolate mixture. Mix in the flour just until incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whip egg whites with clean beaters until they can hold a stiff peak. Fold 1/3 of the whites into the cake batter until fully incorporated, then gently fold in the rest. Pour into the prepared pan. Adjust the oven rack to the center position.
Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the top of the cake springs back when pressed down gently. Cool in the pan over a wire rack. Cover the top with aluminum foil to keep the top crust of the cake from getting hardened. When cool, store in the pan until ready to serve.
To serve, run a knife around the outside of the cake, and remove the springform ring. Invert the cake onto a serving plate, and dust with confectioners' sugar. Slice and serve with dollops of whipped cream.

Cooking : Black-Eyed Peas Salad

Ingredients
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 (15.5 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can white or yellow corn, drained
1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup cooked wild rice
3/4 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup fresh broccoli florets
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions
Place the chicken in a large bowl; sprinkle with seasoned salt. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Cooking : Bing Cherry Congealed Salad

Ingredients
1 (16.5 ounce) can pitted Bing cherries, drained, juice reserved
1 (15 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained with juice reserved
1 (6 ounce) package cherry gelatin
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
6 fluid ounces cola-flavored carbonated beverage
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions
In a sauce pan, combine reserved cherry juice and pineapple juice to equal 1 cup. Bring to boil, add gelatin and whisk together. Remove from heat and add cream cheese and blend together until smooth.
Add cola and beat until mixture becomes fluffy. Fold in cherries, pineapple, and nuts. Pour into molded container, chill 6 to 8 hours or until firm.

Cooking : Banana Pudding Sugar Cookies

Ingredients
2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant banana pudding mix
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions
In a medium bowl, cream together shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla extract, baking powder, salt, and instant banana pudding mix. Mix in 2 cups flour. Gradually mix in remaining 1/2 cup flour as needed to form a workable dough. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease baking sheets. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Flatten balls to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned.

Cooking : Apple Cheddar Cheese Pie

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, chilled
1/2 pound shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup ice water
1/4 cup white vinegar
7 large Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cubed
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cheese. Combine water and vinegar, and gradually stir in until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C.) Roll one ball out to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place bottom crust in pie plate. Roll out top crust and set aside.
In a large bowl, toss apples in lemon juice to prevent discoloration. Drain and discard any excess juice. Stir in sugar and cinnamon. Arrange rows of overlapping apple slices, working from outer rim in. Dot with butter. Cover with top pie crust. Seal and crimp edges with fork, then trim excess dough. Cut a few slashes in top crust to allow steam to escape.
Bake on cookie sheet in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven, brush lightly with beaten egg, and sprinkle liberally with sugar. Bake 5 to 10 minutes more until sugar forms a crisp glaze.