Eggnog Bundt Cake

Well, hubby stopped at Weigels and picked up their infamous eggnog so that I could try out this recipe that was posted by Sugar Baby Aprons on Facebook.

If the finished product is anywhere near as delicious as the batter was .....

For the Cake

1 cup of butter, softened

3 cups of sugar

6 large eggs

3 cups of sifted cake flour

3/4 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of eggnog

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

2 tablespoon of dark rum or brandy (optional)

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon 

3/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice 

1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves

Glaze

1 cup of sifted powdered sugar

2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of heavy cream or whipping cream

Grease and flour a 12 cup bundt pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cake

In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until creamy.

Gradually add sugar, beating 5-7 minutes.

Add eggs, one at a time mixing just until yoke is incorporated.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.

Add to butter and sugar mixture alternating with eggnog starting and ending with flour mixture. 

Stir on low speed just until blended after each addition.

Stir in vanilla and if desired, rum or brandy.

Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan.

Stir the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves in the remaining batter. Spoon spiced batter over plain batter and swirl together using a knife. 

Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool on rack.

Glaze 

Combine sifted powdered sugar and heavy cream.  

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

'Tis the season to enjoy pumpkin flavored goodies, so I had to try this recipe from my friend, Elizabeth.  Not only do I enjoy the flavors of pumpkin and bread pudding, I enjoy using my teacups and saucers for more than one purpose.  This pattern is "Leaf Berry" by Royal Stafford.

I halved the recipe and used an 8x8 pan.  The ingredient amounts I will list are for the 9x13 size.

First, I cubed the bread and set it aside in the prepared pan.  The original recipe calls for 1 loaf white bread. Chilling the bread in the fridge makes cubing easier  (or you could just rip it).

Because the following steps are not really photo ops that would enhance the appetite, I will dispense with the step out photos at this point.

In an extra large mixing bowl add each ingredient, blending as you go:

4 eggs, beaten

1 c. milk

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

12 oz. can evaporated milk

30 oz. can pumpkin pie filling

Toss bread cubes in mixture and return to prepared 9x13 pan.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

The recipe is not overly sweet, even with the sweetened condensed milk.  For those with a die hard sweet tooth, you could drizzle some white chocolate sauce over the top and sprinkle with a little cinnamon and sugar.

Variation on a Theme

One of my favorite sweets to make is Cracker Candy.  Here's a twist to the traditional recipe to enjoy the flavors of fall - Graham Cracker Candy.

Line an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with graham crackers, breaking into pieces to fit.  It's best to place aluminum foil inside the pan and butter it, but with my favorite Longaberger bakeware, I just buttered the pan.

Next, melt an 11 oz bag of Caramel Bits with 2 Tbs milk for 2 minutes in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.

Pour melted caramel onto graham cracker base.

Top with 1/2 cup coarsely crushed pretzels, 1/2 cup pecan bits,

1/2 cup marshmallow bits,

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.

Return to microwave for 60 seconds on High.

Allow to cool in frig for 1 hour.

Cut into bars.  Store in air tight container.  

Rooster Pup

I really wanted to sleep until 5am today, but as a slice of daylight broke through at 4:32am, our ever faithful Rooster Pup (aka, Angel) sounded her morning bark.  Some days - though not often - she will settle back in for a while, allowing a little more time for slumber.  But, not today.

So, after the morning puppy routine (clean up, feeding, loving) I took Gabi outside. While we were on our morning walk, lo and behold, what do I hear?  A neighborhood rooster.  A real rooster.  But, alas, it is now after 5am and the sun has been up for ... minutes.  That little guy is just a little late to the party.


As Gabi and I were walking through the neighborhood, I took the time to savor the 'cooler' temp and the subtle, underlying breeze - knowing that within hours, the thermometer would be on it's way to the 100 degree mark.  Any errands would definitely need to be finished by mid-morning.  Should be pretty easy considering that's still 5 hours away.


One of my errands was to restock our Southern Sweet Tea supply for the Keurig.  With the temps as high as they have been this past week, the ice in my tea has been melting just a little too quickly, diluting the tea before it's time.  So, I decided to include a run to the dollar store in my agenda to pick up ice cube trays.  Yes, I'm sure I have some, but I would venture to guess that they are in a box buried in the basement.


I set the brewer for 8oz.  Had I been a little more conservative with the portion in each section of the ice cube tray, that would've worked just fine.  By filling the sections completely, I would recommend about 10 oz.

I now have four trays of iced tea cubes in the freezer.  I'm thinking the flavor of the next glasses of iced tea will not fade as quickly now.

Emaline

Since learning of one of my 2g-grandmothers, I've been curious about her and the life she led.  I wonder how she spent her days as a single woman who had given birth to a child and then allowed that child to be raised in her brother's home as a complete part of that family.  Living nearby and seeing her child grow could not have been easy.  Tracing Emaline through records available during the mid-late 1800s is a challenge.  We do know that she did live with her parents and following the death of her father, relocated with her mother from TN to KY.  

I heard through a distant cousin about where Emaline was buried.  We planned to one day visit and my intent was to be sure that Emaline's grave was properly marked.  That day finally arrived this week.  And, to make the trip even sweeter, I discovered someone had generously placed markers on several of the graves that had only previously been known with a stone.  

As you can see, there is still only a birth date for her which was found in her father's ledger.  Online searches can only take you so far.  So, after seeing the stone, it led me on a trip to the local library so I could review information in their genealogy department.  Even after searching census records, mortality indexes, and funeral home records, I still am at a loss as to the date of her passing.  Guess I will be making one more trip to spend time going through records at the courthouse.  Maybe then, we will know more.  But, even beyond discovering another date, I still long to learn of her life.  It is truly a selfless thing to be a mother - and make those choices that are in the best interest of your child.

2012 OLW

Rediscover ...

. . . my 'one little word' for 2012

When prompted to think of one word that would sum up my goals and aspirations for the new year, I was challenged to think outside the box. So many 'resolutions' are made with the best intentions, but carry though is difficult. What I needed to think upon was something that would help me in more than one area of my life so that it would both create and enhance change.

Rediscover.

William Morris is quoted as saying,

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to beautiful".

This says a lot beyond physical items. To me, it also encourages positive words and actions.

The hymn writer, Cecil F. Alexander (1818-1895) sums it up for me:

All things bright and beautiful, all things great and small ...

... How good is God our Father, who doeth all things well.

Rediscover ways to do all things well.

When you rediscover, you change your perspective on things.

Here's one of my pre-2012 rediscoveries:

Who knew bobbins made great hat stands.

Instead of just adding to a vignette - as in the first photo at the top of the page, they can be useful beyond their original function.

May the New Year be filled with rediscoveries for us all.

Cake Mix Cookies

When visiting with a friend earlier this week, I was reminded just how easy and how tasty cookies are when made from a cake mix!

So, I found my recipe and got to work. Throughout the year, I'll use chocolate or yellow as the base and then add either butterscotch or chocolate chips or both! For Christmas, I decided to create some other variations.

First ... Lemmon Crinkles ... just the base recipe (lemon cake mix) rolled into balls and after they are baked and cooled, dipped in powdered sugar.

Next was the spice cake mix ... after baking, dip a pecan half into an eggnog glaze and push into cookie. After they are cooled, drizzle them with the glaze.

For the Almond Joy ... add to the white cake mix base a tsp of pure almond extract. Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar and then dip in chocolate. Chocolate is on my grocery list.

With just a couple of days left, we'll see if there's time for other variations.

Merry Christmas!

Base recipe:

1 box cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 c. oil

Eggnog glaze:

Mix together eggnog (Weigels' is the best, esp. for desserts) and powdered sugar to desired consistency.

Chocolate Crunch Brownie Delight

It was a rainy, stormy day. One where you just knew you would be staying inside. Thoughts of keeping warm, dry, and cozy automatically led to thoughts of things that comfort, which for me include wonderful aromas of fresh baked yummy-ness. So, the search began ... the search for the perfect recipe to make all of those thoughts become reality.

Here is the result of that search - a combination of various recipes discovered along the way. Enjoy!

Bottom Layer:
Combine 1/2 box milk chocolate dry cake mix with 1/2 c. melted butter, 1/3 c. water, 1/4 c. brown sugar and 2 eggs. Then add the other half of the cake mix. Spread into greased 9x13 baking pan (Longaberger, of course) and bake for 30 minutes at 350. Cool completely.

Middle Layer:
After cake has cooled, frost with homemade Hershey's cocoa frosting (recipe on box)

Top Layer:
Melt 2/3 c. peanut butter and 8oz chocolate chips. Pour over 2 c. cocoa krispies. Toss together until well coated. Spread on top of frosted brownie.

Refrigerate for one hour. Cut into small serving pieces and store in airtight container.

Brown Sugar Butterscotch Goodness

Nothing better on a cool, rainy day than something home made baking in the oven.
Perfect day for a new recipe!

Preheat oven 350.

• Melt 2/3 c. butter
• Add 2 c. packed brown sugar and 2 T. hot water. Allow mixture to cool

Add one at a time and mix well:

• 2 eggs
• 2 t. vanilla
• 2 c. flour
• 1 t. baking powder
• 1/4 t. baking soda
• 1 t. salt

Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan.
Sprinkle butterscotch chips on top.
Bake 25 min. - cool.

(I had to add an additional 15 minutes of bake time when using my Longaberger baking dish).

Enjoy!

Eggnog Glazed Cream Cheese Cookies

Cookies:

• Cream together 1 cup butter and 3 oz. cream cheese
• Add 1 cup sugar and beat until fluffy
• Add 1 egg yolk, 2 1/2 cups flour and 1 t. vanilla. Mix well.
• Chill 1 hour
• Roll into 1" balls and place on greased cookie sheet
• Bake at 325 for 12-15 min.

Glaze:

• Mix together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 t. vanilla, 2 t. corn syrup, 3 1/2 T. eggnog
• Spread on cookies. Add colored sugar or sprinkles, if desired.
  

One Week and Counting

It's official. One week today until Christmas. And for the most part, our family is on schedule with the seasonal preparations.

After moving to Tennessee, I decided to finally get back to a more traditional Christmas, decorating-wise. Through the years, we always celebrated, but not necessarily with a traditional tree. One year was a topiary, another year a poinsettia bush. Then I found a spiral tree which is still one of my favorites. My first year in Tennessee before Marlon was able to move here and 98.2% of all my earthly belongings were still in Michigan, I picked up a little pre-lit tree and some decorations to help make the season bright. Then last year, we found the perfect tree.

So, Christmas 2010 has officially began in our household. Marlon spent about 10 hours over 3 evenings restringing the approximately 1600 lights (that included a couple trips for more lights). Then we began decorating last night. A friend of Josh's had never decorated a Christmas tree, so she hung the first ornament


Progress was made with a little help from Mannheim Streamroller and Josh Groban.

While the main tree was being finished, the two little fireplace trees were getting new strands of lights.

The first 'lights out' view of Tree 2010. We sat back and took it all in while enjoying coconut cake and coffee (with the chocolate and marshmallows I made stirred in).

Now to add the train under the tree, decorate the mantel and add the stockings. Oh, and wrap a few gifts, too.

Merry Christmas!

Hot Chocolate - Yum!

Snowman soup on a stick ... Hot chocolate on a stick ... PMS treats on a stick ... whatever the name, the result is the same ... luscious chocolate goodness. If you don't eat it all first, once you've made and assembled everything, place in a mug of hot milk and stir until melted.

After looking at a lot of different recipes, here's what I used after some mixing and matching.

For the chocolate (thick, rich, fudge)

• ½ cup heavy cream
• 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  
• 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used 2 cups and then 1 cup cinnamon chips)
  
• 4 squares baking chocolate
  
• stirrers, craft sticks, or candy canes (I used cinnamon candy canes)
  

Combine the cream and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat until steaming, stirring often.

Add the candy chips and squares. Remove from heat and let chocolate melt for 10 minutes. After that time, whisk thoroughly to combine.

Spread mixture into a foil lined square pan. Set at room temp for 12 hours. Cut into desired amount. Enjoy with or without marshmallows - with or without milk.

Now the marshmallows:

• 3 envelopes of Knox gelatin
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2/3 cups light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  
• Confectioners’ sugar

In a mixing bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Allow to soak for 10 minutes. In the meantime, combine sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring mixture to a rapid boil. Boil for 1 minute.

Pour the boiling syrup into gelatin mixture. With a mixer, start on low and gradually move to high speed. Add the salt and beat for 10 minutes (will be fluffy and cooled down). Add in extract and beat another minute or two.

Grease your hands and a rubber spatula with oil and transfer marshmallow to a square pan which has been lined with greased plastic wrap. Press the marshmallow into the pan evenly. Take another piece of lightly oiled plastic wrap and press lightly on top of the marshmallow, creating a seal. Let mixture sit for a few hours, or overnight, until cooled and firmly set.

Sprinkle a cutting surface very generously with confectioner’s sugar. Remove marshmallow from pan and lay on top of the sugar. Dust the top generously with sugar as well. Cut into desired amount of squares.

While the fudge and marshallows are setting up, prepare the items you'll need for packaging:

2" squares of waxed paper

Something to wrap it all up ... zip lock treat bags, plastic wrap, or other closed container. I added a modified 'snowman soup' poem to attach to my bags.

If using candy canes as your stirrer, now is the time to unwrap them.

When fudge is ready, place squares onto pre-cut waxed paper.

Add marshmallow squares.

Add candy canes or stirrers.

Place in zip lock bags/container or plastic wrap.

Not a last minute project - you definitely need to do some planning.
Enjoy!

As the recipe evolves

This is one of those recipes you find that you decide, hmmm, I'd like this better or wow, this would really taste better if ....

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Trifle

1 package carrot cake mix
1 (3.4 oz) pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. allspice

Mix all ingredients. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 45 min.
Remove from oven and allow to cool thoroughly. Cut into 1 inch cubes.

Now to prepare the layers:

In a bowl, combine 2 (3.4 oz) pkgs. instant cheesecake pudding with 4 cups milk.
In another bowl, combine 2 (3.4 oz) pkgs. instant butterscotch pudding with 4 cups milk.
Allow to set for 5 minutes while you gather:

Caramel ice cream topping (squeeze bottle works best)
English toffee bits
Chopped pecans

Now the fun begins:

In a trifle bowl or large clear bowl, layer 1/2 the cake cubes on the bottom. Squeeze caramel generously over cake. Next spread 1/2 the butterscotch mixture and then spread 1/2 the cheesecake mixture. Sprinkle toffee and chopped pecans.

Repeat process for second layer.

Allow to chill in frig overnight before serving.

Memorial Day Dessert

Stawberry Cookie Mousse

1 quart strawberries, sliced
1 can sweetened condensed milk
12 ounces Cool Whip
1 box vanilla wafer cookies

Slice the strawberries into thin slices and put in a large bowl. If they're not ripe, crush them a bit to extract some of the flavor.
In the same bowl, mix in the sweetened condensed milk and cool whip. Stir together.
Chop the vanilla wafers in half and add those to the strawberry mixture.
Cover in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight, or at least 4 hours.

Out of Nutmeg ...

Allspice ... Cardamon ... Cloves ... Cinnamon ... no Nutmeg

So, I substituted cinnamon for nutmeg and these Doughnut Muffins are tasty,
if I say so myself.

Preheat over 375 degrees. Grease mini-muffin tin (12)/regular muffin tin (6) or use liners.

Mix 1/2 c. sugar, 1/4 c. margarine (I used butter) and 3/4 t. nutmeg in a large bowl.
Stir in 1/2 c. milk, then mix in 1 t. baking powder and 1 c. all-purpose flour until combined.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.

Bake 15-20 min. (mini) or 25-30 min. (regular).

Remove muffins and dip tops in 1/4 c. melted margarine (butter),
then dip in 1/2 c. sugar/1 t. cinnamon mixture.

Cool and serve.

Black-eyed Susan Cocktail

Black-eyed Susans. They grew bountifully in my 3 season garden in Michigan. What an easy way to add warmth and comfort to a room when placed in an old canning jar or milk bottle and placed on the kitchen table.

Well, here's another Black-eyed Susan. The recipe is from Southern Living but of course, I tweaked it to accommodate what I had in the house. It was the perfect complement to last night's season finale of Grey's Anatomy.

• 3/4 c. orange juice
• 1/2 c. pineapple juice ( I used 1-1/4 c. orange, pineapple, apple juice)
• 3 T. vodka
• 3 T. light rum (I used spiced rum)
• 2 T. orange liquor (I used Triple Sec)

Fill 2-12 oz. glasses with crushed ice (I used Sonic ice)
Pour each of the white liquors equally over ice
Add equal portions of juice and stir
Garnish with lime (I got some at Sonic when I bought the ice *Ü*)
You can also garnish with cherry, but not my fav.

The Best Ever Cookies

At a meeting last week, one of my colleagues brought these cookies she had made. They absolutely melt in your mouth. They're a step above shortbread - or maybe two or three steps. Anyway, I wanted to make them for a DAR meeting today. They came out beautifully and here's the recipe. Thanks, Rhonda B!

Just the Best Cookies

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 c. oil
1 c. oats
1 c. crushed corn flakes
1 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. coconut
3 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
Powdered sugar (to sprinkle on cooled cookies, if desired)

Pre-heat oven to 325. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and blend. Add oil, mixing until well blended. Add oats, corn flakes, coconut, and pecans. Stir until mixed. Add vanilla. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix well. Form into balls about the size of a walnut. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten with fork. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from pan.