HARD CHOCOLATE SHELL FOR ICE CREAM

 This fudge-y treat is rich, delicious, quick to make and fun to serve, AND....when you pour it over something COLD, it turns hard, just like commercial "Magic Shell" ice cream topping (except it is a lot more budget friendly).

I've only ever made chocolate (duh!!) but I don't see why peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips or even mint chocolate chips wouldn't work just as well!!


1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat the chocolate, butter and oil until the chocolate melts. I do this in the microwave, starting at 30 seconds on high, then stir, then 15 more seconds and stir and a final 15 seconds and stir.

At first, it will seem like the ingredients don't want to blend, but whisk it for 10-15 seconds and it will go together beautifully. Once it is smooth, whisk in the vanilla extract.

Cool to room temperature, (you can use it right away, but if you use it before it cools down, it will take a few more seconds to harden on the ice cream).


NOTE: If you use your microwave to melt the chocolate, watch it carefully, since your microwave might cook faster or slower than mine and chocolate scorches easily.

NOTE: With the addition of butter and oil, I thought this might have a greasy taste, but it does NOT. While it is still hot (which is my favorite) this has a velvety texture, almost like the best hot fudge sundae taste.

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Es Dawet Selasih

In every destinations that I have visited while traveling, local traditional markets are always on the list.
Other than seeing and learning the local products and people, most of the traditional markets are the right place where we are introduced to the 'real' local culinary.

"Travel is the only thing you buy, that makes you richer".
Pasar Gede (means: Big Market), the oldest and biggest

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[event & review] IDFB Gathering at Master Wok, Ciputra World.

Wok is one of the most common cooking utensils used in Chinese and in some Asian kitchens. Most of the cooking methods can be done using this cooking tool, from stir frying, steaming, pan frying, to deep frying. It can be also used for poaching, boiling, braising, searing, stewing, making soup, smoking, and roasting nuts.

Now, let's try what the 'Master Wok' is serving for our lunch.



Saturday

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MINI MAPLE CHEESECAKES

We love the world of mini desserts these days; with an "empty nest", mini desserts are an easy better way to battle the mega-calories that a big ole' cheesecake in the fridge tempts us with.

Picky-picky husband LOVES all things maple, so I've been on a search for a maple cheesecake for a long time. This recipe is a combination of several other recipes combined with my own personal tweaks. WE
are very pleased with the results; they are sweet, smooth to the tongue, maple-y and super easy to make.

CRUMB CRUST
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter

Mix until well combined; I do this in a plastic food bag (saves on clean up). 

Preheat your oven to 275° and put paper cupcake liners in a cupcake pan.

Put a slightly rounded tablespoon of crumb mixture into each paper liner and press down.

CHEESECAKE FILLING
8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
1/3 cup REAL maple syrup (I've never tried pancake syrup)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon maple extract
1 egg
2 tablespoons flour

Beat the cream cheese until it is fluffy and well mixed. While the mixer is running, drizzle in the maple syrup (scrape the sides of the bowl down if necessary).

Beat in the egg, extracts and flour until smooth.

Pour over the crumb crusts, filling almost to the top.

Bake at 275° for 30 to 35 minutes or until set. 

NOTE: My electric oven took 35 minutes to bake these because my maple syrup and egg were cold (right out of the fridge). If you bring the syrup and egg to room temperature before making these, it would probably only take 30 minutes to bake.

NOTE: I've never used artificial pancake syrup in these little cheesecakes, so I can't tell you if that will work or not, although I'm guessing it would (it just wouldn't taste as good).

NOTE: This recipe made 10 little cheesecakes.

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77 Hours in Jogjakarta.

The Adventurers : 
2 adults who visited Jogya for the 3rd time in the last 4 years*. 
2 pre-teenagers, Jogya's 1st time visitors.
*counted since we moved back to Indonesia (from Mumbai) on June 2009.



This was the trip that our children were really waiting for. For the last couple of years, they learn about our cultures, nation, traditions, and those 'new things for them' make their curiosity

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Crock Pot Turkey Breast with Cranberry Gravy

Turkey the easy way!

 Put your turkey breast in the crock pot.

Combine sauce ingredients; pour over the top.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper or 

a house blend. 

Cover and cook for about 8 hours.

 Shake a little cornstarch and water in a jar.

Whisk into the sauce and let it thicken on high.

Whisk occasionally for about 10 minutes while the

turkey rests.

 slice

 This makes a very moist turkey. Perfect

leftovers for sandwiches during the week.

Serve with mashed potatoes and plenty
of cranberry gravy. Try this the next
time you're in the mood for turkey but
 not the work. You'll be thankful!

Crock Pot Cranberry Turkey

1 turkey breast, 5-7 lbs

1 pkg dry onion soup mix

15-oz can whole berry

cranberry sauce

1/2 C orange juice,

 chicken broth or wine

salt & pepper

Spray the pot with Pam. 

Put the breast inside.

Combine the ingredients and pour

over. Sprinkle with s&p.

Cover and cook on low for 

6-8 hours

Remove the breast to a platter and

let rest while you make the gravy.

Gravy

Turn the heat to high.

Combine 2-3T cornstarch with 1/2 C

water in a jar and shake to blend.

Add to the broth in the pot and

 whisk to combine. Cover and cook another

5-10 minutes, whisking a few times. 

Serve with the sliced turkey and

mashed potatoes.

Enjoy!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Confessions Of A Plate Addict,
Coastal Charm, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style

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CAKE DECORATING 101

I don't profess to be a great cake decorator but I do "OK"; lets just say if I can do it, certainly YOU can do it; it isn't rocket science.

This post has a very good basic butter cream frosting recipe and a few tricks of the trade that I've learned over the years. Don't be nervous, just jump in and "give it a go". Practice makes perfect and your friends and family will love eating those "practice cakes" (our kids grew up on them).

Those of you who follow my recipe blog, know that I often comment about my never ending "recipe issues" when it comes to the pallet of

my "picky-picky" husband.

 

He is a good sport when it comes to being called "picky-picky" (it's all in good fun). Actually, he is the most important person in the world to me; we were high school sweethearts; Happy 65th Birthday John!!

 

 

 

BUTTER CREAM FROSTING

1 cup white Crisco vegetable shortening
1 cup butter (room temperature)
8 cups powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2/3 cup heavy cream

With an electric mixer (stand mixer works best) beat the vegetable shortening and (room temperature) butter until it is well mixed together.

Add half of the powdered sugar, salt, extracts and half of the cream. Beat until very well mixed.

Add the last half of the powdered sugar and the last half of the cream.  Beat on high for 2 or 3 minutes until very fluffy (makes a lot of frosting).

 

NOTE: Some people freak out about shortening in the frosting and I understand that, but, remember.....when you buy a cake from a chain type bakery, the frosting is made with ALL shortening, trust me!!

If you are dead-set against using vegetable shortening, you CAN use all butter, but the taste is very heavy; it is your choice.

NOTE: This frosting is great for the entire cake including borders and piping words, etc., but it IS a soft frosting and it WILL melt if you have it out in the sun or in a very hot room.  I like to frost  my cakes and then chill them until about an hour before serving.

If you don't have time to freeze the cake, just make sure it is completely cooled before frosting it (not even just a LITTLE bit warm).

DECORATING TIPS

Cupcakes are very popular right now and they are super easy to do. Using the above frosting recipe and a Wilton M1 decorating tip, you can have cupcakes that look like they came from a bakery in no time; that big M1 tip is the secret.

The following mini-lesson, is for a simple "every day" one layer 9x13 cake.

1. Brush all the crumbs off of the cake (you will thank me later)because it is easy to get the crumbs mixed in with your frosting and that isn't pretty.

2. I like to wrap or cover my HOT cake with saran wrap (right on the surface of the cake) and then let it cool down and put the wrapped cake in the freezer overnight.  The day you want to serve the cake, take it out of the freezer and frost it while it's still frozen. A frozen cake is sturdy and the frosting stays right where you put it.
Don't put it back in the freezer!!  The frozen/frosted cake will thaw out in about 60-90 minutes and be perfect for serving.

3. Put a thick layer of frosting all over your cake; don't worry about it looking smooth at this point, just try to cover it evenly.

 

 

4. Now here is a little trick that I learned a million years ago. Get a small fine mist spray bottle (that isn't used for anything else) and fill it with cold water. Give the frosting a light mist (from the distance of about a foot(just a super quick fine spritz) then smooth the frosting with a smooth bladed knife(wiping off your knife in between each stroke).  I always use an off-set spatula for this (see photo below) but any non-serrated knife will work in a pinch.

If you don't have a spray bottle, you can almost get the same effect by dipping your spatula into very hot water (then shaking off all excess water) before smoothing your frosting.

 

 If you are a perfectionist  (which I am not) and want NO frosting lines, just keep smoothing.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only use the spritz technique on white frosting. If you use it on colored frosting, it will run and make your frosting look uneven....especially blue or green.

5. You can go crazy and buy all sorts of decorating tips and doo-dads, but you certainly don't need them.  Get just get a few of the basics and you will be amazed at what you can do.

You will need:
Disposable plastic frosting bags (a true MUST)
2-3 couplers (2 piece couplers let you change tips)
Decorating tips  (a large star and a round writing tip)
Off-set spatula  (not an absolute must, but very handy)
Food color paste (not the watery stuff) Check Walmart
Water bottle for misting

After you "flat frost" the whole cake, it is time to put on the borders/trim and any writing or drawing  you want on the cake. Now is the time you will use the frosting bags and metal tips.


6. The disposable frosting bags are probably the handiest part of this process. You can use non-disposable ones, but once you try to wash one, you will quickly see the "beauty" in the disposable kind.

7. The couplers, are not absolutely necessary either. You can just slide the metal decorator tips down inside the frosting bag and snip off the end. However, if you want to use a variety of decorating tips, the coupler is the way to go. Each one has two pieces; the larger part slides down inside the frosting bag and then the metal tip fits onto it from the outside, then the coupler band is screwed on (does that make sense?)

 

Once you have the decorating tip on, nestle the decorator bag inside of a large mug or measuring cup and fold the top raw edge down over the container, sort of like folding down a collar. Now put a cup or two of frosting in the bag (the "container" is just to hold the bag steady while you fill it).

Twist the top of the frosting filled bag closed and apply pressure with your fingers. As the frosting comes out the end, you will have to re-twist it tighter before continuing. When you are done using the frosting bag, just use scissors to cut the bag off just above the coupler, then throw the coupler and tip into the dishwasher!!

The base of your cake should have the larger frosting border than the top edge of your cake. Practice making a shell pattern on some wax paper before you try it on the cake.

 

8. I like to use a Wilton M1 tip on my cake base; it is a huge star tip and it takes an over sized coupler as well.

 

 

NOTE: When you first start to decorate, you will be fairly slow. Keep in mind that the heat of your hands can soften the frosting in the frosting bag and that can be a problem. If you find it getting too soft to hold its shape, put it in the fridge for about 20 minutes.

NOTE: Don't use regular (watery) food coloring in this frosting recipe; not only will it effect the consistency of your frosting, but the colors will  never get any stronger than a pastel color. 

Get some food coloring paste (it is very concentrated and gives you very deep colors, so go easy with it at first); one drop of blue will color an entire bowl of frosting. 

Walmart sells the food color paste in their cake decorating section.

NOTE: A fun thing to try is edible glitter. It is basically a transparent food starch that has been dried and flaked, but you can sprinkle it on ANY color frosting and it will look shiny and sparkly; it is GREAT for cupcakes or little girl princess cakes.

Another fun decorating tip is called a grass tip.

Grass Tip

 

Using a grass tip is super easy, you just apply lots of pressure, then immediately release the pressure and lift up at the same time which will make "blades" of grass.
 

 

GIVE IT A TRY !!

 

 

 

HAVE FUN !!!

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Crock Pot Sausage & Peppers

I usually make sausage and peppers on top of

the stove, but sometimes I like to assemble

everything late morning when I have the time

and l know I will be out or busy most of the day.

It's nice not to have to fuss with dinner when 

I arrive home late or tired. I let this 

 slow cook all day and then I just need to boil
the pasta when it's time for dinner while I unwind
 and enjoy a glass of red wine. 

To the crock pot add: the sausage and peppers cut
into bite-size pieces, the chopped onion and garlic,
the seasonings. Add the spaghetti sauce.

 Add a little wine to the jar and swish around.

 Add to the pot and stir it all to combine.

 tip: I love to reuse these Mason jars. HERE, HERE.

 Combine all the ingredients, cover and cook
on low for 6-7 hours. Cook your 1/2 box penne

and stir into the pot before serving.

Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese.
Easy!

Crock Pot Sausage & Peppers

  with Penne

3/4- 1lb hot Italian sausage cut into pieces

1 large green pepper, diced

1/2 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, smashed or chopped

1 t Italian seasoning

(1/4 t red papper flakes only 

if using mild sausage)

Pasta sauce, 24-26oz jar 

(they keep changing the size!)

1/2C red wine

~~~~~~~~

Combine all ingredients, adding the wine to the

 empty pasta sauce  jar to swish out all the 

sauce before adding. Cover and cook on low for

 7 hours. Before serving add, 

 8oz cooked penne to the pot and stir

 to combine. serve with parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Coastal Charm, A Stroll Thru Life,
Confessions Of A Plate Addict,
Stone Gable, Savvy Southern Style,
Designs By Gollum, Common Ground,
My Romantic Home, The Charm Of Home

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S'MORE CUPS

This has to be the cutest idea that I've seen in a while. It (and the photo) is from  At Home With Amy.   They are delicious and so much fun.

7 whole graham crackers finely crushed
1/4 cup powdered sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter
4 milk chocolate candy bars (see note)
12 large marshmallows

Mix the graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and melted butter together until crumbly and evenly mixed. Put a small scoop of these crumbs in each cup of a mini-muffin tin and press down and up the sides to form a little "cup".  Bake at 350° for 4 or 5 minutes or until the edges are bubbling.

White the cups are baking, break apart the candy bar into sections (Hershey's are already scored into sections) and cut the marshmallows in half (scissors dipped in cold water works well for this).

Remove the cups from the oven and put a square of chocolate in each crumb cup, then top with a marshmallow half. Return to the oven for 1 or 2 minutes or until the marshmallow is just slightly puffed.

Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing them, then cool them completely. 

Melt the remaining chocolate (microwave works well) and dip the top of the completely cooled S'more Cups into the melted chocolate. Let them sit for about an hour to "set" the chocolate.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week. "Reheating" these in the microwave for a FEW seconds, is beyond delicious.

NOTE: Any (ALL chocolate) candy bar will work, whatever is your favorite....dark? white? milk chocolate?

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