Dark Chocolate Layer Cake is one of our favorite cakes. This cake features three layers of chocolate cake and a satiny and rich chocolate glaze. I love this cake for several reasons. First of all, I like that this cake is fairly easy to make. …
Easy Hibachi Chicken and Broccoli is one of our favorite quick and easy weeknight dinners. I like to make this on busy nights, when I’m short on time. I start this recipe by marinating my chicken. While the chicken marinates, I cut up the broccoli …
Easy Lemon Loaf Cake is one of our favorite desserts. I start this cake by baking up a buttery lemon cake. Then, I top the cake with vanilla whipped cream and sweetened strawberries. We like this dessert for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can make this whole dessert in just a little over an hour. Secondly, I like that this cake uses ingredients I always have in the house, which makes it inexpensive to prepare. And, lastly, we all love the buttery cake, the fluffy cream, and the sweet strawberries.
THE EQUIPMENT I USED
An Electric Mixer- You’ll need this to make the Easy Lemon Loaf Cake batter.
A Food Scale- For perfect baking results, be sure to weigh your flour and sugar.
A Sifter- Use this to sift together the dry ingredients.
A Pastry Bag- I used a pastry with a star tip to pipe on my whipped cream. But you can just spoon it on.
Butter- Use unsalted butter. I always use Kerry Gold Irish butter.
Milk- Be sure to use whole milk, not low-fat.
Eggs- Use large eggs for this Easy Lemon Loaf Cake.
Sugar- I always use Domino granulated sugar.
Cream- Use heavy cream to make the whipped cream. Don’t use half and half, or light cream.
HOW I MADE MY LEMON CAKE
First, I made the Easy Lemon Loaf Cake batter. Be sure to cream the butter and sugar together for the full five minutes. And be sure to beat in the eggs well. This will entail a lot of scraping down the bowl.
Next, I baked the cake. Be sure to bake the cake until a toothpick comes out almost clean.
Finally, I topped the cake with the strawberries and cream.
If you like lemons, you need to try this moist and buttery Easy Lemon Loaf Cake.
Begin by making the Lemon Loaf Cake: First, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray the pan with baking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and spray the pan again.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl and set it aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the paddle beater attached cream the butter for one minute, then add the sugar. Beat them for five minutes until the mixture is fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the eggs, one at a time, and the lemon zest and lemon extract. Beating well after each addition.
Add half the flour mixture, then half the milk. Beat until combined. Add the rest of the flour mixture, and the rest of the milk. Beat until combined. Scrape the bowl down after each addition.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for ten minutes. Use a knife to loosen the sides of the cake from the pan and remove the cake from the pan. Cool about 15 minutes to serve warm. Or, cool completely, if you prefer. Slice and serve with the Strawberry Topping and the Vanilla Whipped Cream.
For The Strawberry Topping:
Simply mix together the strawberries and sugar.
For the Vanilla Whipped Cream:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the whisk attachment on, start beating the cream on low power. Start on low and gradually increase the speed to high. When the cream starts to thicken add the vanilla extract and sugar. Beat until the cream is fluffy. I used a piping bag with a star attachment to pipe on the cream, but you can just spoon it on.
Creamy Salmon Cucumber Cups are one of our favorite teatime treats. I started my cucumber cups by making a creamy carrot and smoked salmon filling in the food processor. Then, I made little indentations in sliced cucumbers using a melon baller. Finally, I put the …
Prosciutto and Artichoke Arugula Salad is one of our favorite salads. I start this arugula salad by making a fig balsamic vinegar vinaigrette. Then, I toss together the arugula along with the cucumbers, onions, olives, artichokes and tomatoes. Next, I top the tossed veggies with the Prosciutto di Carpegna …
Easy Red Velvet Scones are one of our favorite winter treats. I start these scones by mixing together a rich red velvet dough. If you’ve never had a red velvet baked good, it has a light chocolate flavor. Next, I stir in some good quality white chocolate chips. Then, after I bake the scones, I top them with a sweet and creamy vanilla glaze. We love these scones for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can make these scones in just 35 minutes. Secondly, I like that I can mix up these scones by hand. No mixer is necessary. And, lastly, we all love the rich and sweet red velvet flavor.
The Equipment I Used
A Food Scale- For perfect results every time, please weigh your flour and sugar.
A Pastry Cutter- Use this to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Or, you can use two knives
The Ingredients Needed for Easy Red Velvet Scones
Flour- Be sure to use all-purpose flour. I like King Arthur flour.
Cocoa Powder- Don’t use Dutch process flour. I used Hershey’s cocoa powder for these scones.
Butter- I always bake with Kerry Gold Irish unsalted butter.
Milk- Be sure to use whole milk.
Red Food Coloring- I used McCormick food coloring.
Sanding Sugar- You can find this in the baking section of your market or at a craft store that has a baking section. You could also use a turbinado sugar.
White Chocolate Chips- I used Ghiradelli White Chocolate Chips.
How I Made my Scones
First, I sifted together my dry ingredients. This time I forgot to add the sugar, and had to stir it in at the end. But, the scones still came out great.
Next, I cut the butter in and then stirred in the wet ingredients and the chocolate chips.
Then, I patted the mixture into a round. Using a very floured knife, I cut the dough into 8 wedges.
Finally, I baked them for exactly 20 minutes and put on the glaze.
If you like scones, you need to try these rich and delicious Easy Red Velvet Scones.
Easy Red Velvet Scones
Red velvet scones speckled with white chocolate chips and topped with a vanilla glaze.
6tbsp.cold unsalted butter (84g), cut into half inch cubes
2large egg yolks
1cupheavy cream
3tbsp.whole milk
1tsp.vanilla extract
2tbsp.red food coloring
½cupwhite chocolate chips
2tbsp.sanding sugar
For the Vanilla Glaze:
1cuppowdered sugar, sifted
½tsp.vanilla extract
3tbsp.heavy cream
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture, until it resembles small peas.
In a small bowl, mix together the yolks, milk, cream, food coloring, and vanilla. Stir it into the flour mixture just until no streaks of flour are left. Stir in the white chocolate chips.
Dump the mixture onto a floured board, and pat it into a one inch thick circle. Using a floured knife, cut into eight wedges. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet, spaced two inches apart from one another.
Brush each wedge lightly with some heavy cream and sprinkle with the sanding sugar. Bake them for 20 minutes, or until they start to lightly brown around the edges. Cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack.
Make the glaze by combining the sifted powdered sugar with the vanilla and heavy cream. Use a piping bag to apply the glaze to the scones. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Baked Brie with Cranberries and Walnuts is one of my favorite holiday appetizers. The bright red cranberries make this appetizer feel so festive. And the warm baked brie is so warm and cozy on a cold winter night! In fact, eating this piping hot appetizer …
Pumpkin Butter Swirled Pancakes are one of our favorite fall breakfast dishes. I’ve probably cooked pancakes more than I’ve cooked any other dish. Since, when my girls were little, they wanted me to make pancakes every day. We all still love these pancakes for several reasons. …
Chicken and Poblano Pepper Enchiladas with Green Chile Sauce are one of our favorite chicken dinners. I start these enchiladas by making a cheesy chicken and black bean filling. Next, I roll the filling up in tortillas. Then, I make a creamy green Chile sauce to top the enchiladas. We like this dish for several reasons. First of all, I like that this enchilada dish can be made ahead of time. I like to make it early in the day and then bake it right before dinner. Secondly, I like that since this meal has chicken and beans, it’s very hearty. And, lastly, we all love the cheesy and delicious flavors in this dish.
The Equipment I Used
A Baking Dish- You’ll need a 9×11 baking dish to bake the enchiladas in.
Skillets or Pots- Use two of these to make the sauce and the filling.
The Ingredients Needed for Chicken and Poblano Pepper Enchiladas with Green Chile Sauce
Tortillas- I use flour tortillas because they don’t need to be softened. If you want to use corn tortillas, microwave them a few at a time to soften them enough so that they are pliable for rolling.
Cheese- Use a combination of extra sharp cheddar and Monterey pepper jack cheese.
Green Chiles- Use canned green chiles.
Heavy Cream- Be sure to use heavy cream, not light cream, or half and half.
Spices- These are integral to the flavor of this dish. Don’t leave them out.
Beans- I used black beans. I like to cook dried ones for all my dishes.
Begin by roasting the chicken and peppers: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the poblano peppers on a sheet pan. Place the chicken on another sheet pan and add some salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil. Bake both pans for 40 minutes and until the chicken is no longer pink inside. When the chicken is done, remove the skin and bones and chop the chicken into bite sized pieces. Also, remove the skins and seeds from the poblanos and chop them into half inch pieces.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×11 baking dish with butter.
Begin by making the Enchilada Filling: in a skillet, heat the oil and cook the onion and garlic until softened. Remove the pan from the heat. Add in the beans, chopped chicken and poblanos, and the rest of the ingredients. Set aside.
Next, make the Green Chile Sauce: In a second skillet on low heat, heat the oil and cook the onions and garlic until softened, for about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, chiles, stock, cream, and spices. Simmer ten minutes, or until the sauce thickens up a bit. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cheese.
To Assemble the Enchiladas: Fill each tortilla with some of the filling and roll them up. Place them close together in the baking dish seam side down. Pour the Green Chile sauce over the tortillas and then sprinkle on the cheese and bake for 20 minutes.
Top the enchiladas with the sour cream, tomatoes, and cilantro.
Creamy Chocolate Mousse Pie is one our favorite Thanksgiving pies. I love this pie for several reasons. First of all, I love that this pie can be made a day or two before Thanksgiving. Secondly, I like that this pie is quite inexpensive to prepare. …