Yellow Curry Chicken Salad is one of our favorite Thai-inspired salads. I start this salad by marinating chicken in a homemade yellow coconut curry marinade. Next, I pan grill the chicken and serve it over spring greens mixed with watermelon, blueberries, and crispy coconut flakes. …
Spicy BLT Eggs Benedict is one of our favorite summer breakfasts. I start this dish by making spicy and creamy hollandaise sauce. Then, I poach eight eggs. Finally, I top buttery English muffin halves with arugula, tomato, crispy bacon, the eggs, the hollandaise, and minced …
Strawberry Topped Coconut Cake is one of our favorite summer desserts. I start this cake by baking up a buttery coconut cake. Then, I top the cake with coconut 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 I can use all the farm fresh strawberries that are at their peak here in New York. 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 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.
The Ingredients Needed for Strawberry Topped Coconut Cake
Butter- Use unsalted butter. I always use Kerry Gold Irish butter.
Buttermilk- Be sure to use whole milk buttermilk, now low-fat.
Coconut Flakes- Use unsweetened coconut flakes.
Eggs- Use large eggs.
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 Coconut Cake
First, I made the 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 coconut, you need to try this moist and buttery Strawberry Topped Coconut Cake.
Strawberry Topped Coconut Cake
Strawberry Topped Coconut Cake
A Coconut Butter Cake Topped with Sweetened Strawberries and Coconut Whipped Cream.
Begin by making the Coconut Butter 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, and salt into a bowl and set it aside.
Stir the coconut flakes into the buttermilk.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the paddle beater attached cream together the butter and 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 coconut extract. Beating well after each addition.
Add half the flour mixture, then half the buttermilk. Beat until combined. Add the rest of the flour mixture, and the rest of the buttermilk. 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 Coconut Whipped Cream.
For The Strawberry Topping:
Simply mix together the strawberries and sugar.
For the Coconut 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 coconut 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.
Peachy Pork Pot Stickers are one of our favorite summer appetizers. I start these pot stickers by mixing together ground pork, minced peaches, cabbage, ginger, garlic and chives. Then, I stuff the pot sticker wrappers with the filling and fry them until they’re crispy and …
Salmon Tacos with Chipotle Aioli are one of our favorite summer dinners. I start this dinner by baking some fresh salmon. While the salmon bakes, I make pickled cabbage and a chipotle aioli. Finally, I fill flour tortillas with the salmon, the cabbage, and the …
Cajun Shrimp and Corn Alfredo is one of our favorite summer seafood dishes. I start this dish by making cooking onions and peppers until they’re tender. Then, I add in Cajun seasoned Gulf shrimp, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Finally, I stir in fresh corn, basil, pappardelle pasta and grape tomatoes. We like this Alfredo dish for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can cook this Alfredo dish in just about twenty minutes. Served with a salad, this is a complete meal. Secondly, I like that I can make this dish ahead of time. I made this shrimp dish earlier today, and then I’ll just reheat it in the microwave oven. And, lastly, we all love the spicy and rich summer flavors in this shrimp dish.
The Equipment I Used
A Big Skillet- You’ll need a big skillet to cook this dish.
A Pasta Pot- Use this to cook the pasta.
A Garlic Press- I used this to crush my garlic.
The Ingredients Needed for Cajun Shrimp and Corn Alfredo
Pappardelle- I used pappardelle pasta but you can also use fettuccini.
Corn on the Cob- Use fresh summer corn on the cob.
Begin by making the pasta: Bring a large pot of water with six quarts of water to a boil. When it reaches a boil, add nine teaspoons of kosher salt and the pasta. Cook the pasta until it's just al dente. The time for this should be on the pasta box. When it's done, drain it well.
Place the corn on a plate, cover with a paper towel and microwave for five minutes. Remove all the kernels from the cobs and set aside.
Season the shrimp with the garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, cayenne, and thyme.
While the pasta cooks, make the Alfredo sauce: In a large skillet melt the butter and olive oil on low heat. Add the onions and peppers and cook until the onions are soft, about five minutes. Add the shrimp and garlic and cook on low heat until the shrimp turns pink and is cooked through, about five minutes. Add the cream and bring it to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese until it melts. Then, stir in the tomatoes, corn, basil and pasta and serve.
Blueberry Topped Butter Cake is one of our favorite summer desserts. In fact, of all the desserts I’ve made this summer, this is my absolute favorite. I start this dessert by baking up an easy Tahitian vanilla butter loaf cake. Then, I make a sweet …
Lemon Chicken Cobb Salad is one of our favorite summer salads. I start this Cobb salad by roasting seasoned chicken breasts. Then, I chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces and arrange it on top of romaine lettuce. Next, I add on hard boiled eggs, crisp …
Minty Melon Mixed Salad is one of our favorite summer salads. I start this salad by making a zesty Lemon Mint Vinaigrette. Next, I tossed together arugula, cantaloupe, honeydew, mint, carrots, pistachios, and goat cheese. Finally, I drizzled the vinaigrette all over the salad. We like this easy salad for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can make this whole vegetable salad in just about ten minutes. Secondly, I like that I can make this salad ahead of time. I like to assemble the salad and make the dressing early in the day. Then, I just drizzle on the vinaigrette right before serving it. And, finally, we all love the sweetmelons, the creamy cheese, and the fresh mint.
The Equipment I Used
A Salad Spinner- I use this to dry my arugula. This helps the vinaigrette cling to the leaves.
A Julianne Peeler- This special peeler makes cutting the carrots really easy. I bought mine at Williams-Sonoma.
A Small Jar- I use a big bowl to toss my salad. This helps the vinaigrette coat everything.
The Ingredients Needed for Minty Melon Mixed Salad
Arugula- Use baby arugula. I like the Earthbound Farms brand.
Mint Leaves- I keep a small pot of mint in my kitchen. This is much more cost effective than buying mint all the time.
Goat Cheese- I store my goat cheese in the freezer and defrost it when I need it.
Pistachios- I like to store these in my freezer, too.
How I Made my Salad
First, I made the vinaigrette. To do this I simply tossed together all the ingredients in a small jar.
Next, I tossed together all melons, pistachios, goat cheese, carrots, mint, and arugula.
Finally, I drizzled on the vinaigrette and tossed everything together.
If you like melon, you need to try this fresh and delicious Minty Melon Mixed Salad.
Minty Melon Mixed Salad
Minty Melon Mixed Salad
Arugula tossed with goat cheese, carrots, pistachios, honeydew, and cantaloupe. Tossed with a Lemon Mint Vinaigrette.
Strawberry and Candied Pecan Salad is one of our favorite summer salads. I start this salad by making the candied pecans. Then, I make a sweet Strawberry Vinaigrette. Finally, I toss them all together with fresh strawberries, blueberries, red onions, and goat cheese. We like …