Fallen Hot Chocolate Cake

Sometimes I change a recipe because I really don't want to run to the store for a minor ingredient. A perfect example is I needed 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder. Now, the last time I looked I thought I had two containers of cocoa powder. Yes, I did just clean out my pantry so shouldn't I remember I needed to pick up more cocoa powder? Shouldn't I have placed something like that on my shopping list? Well, I didn't and I was in the middle of making this recipe when I realized my mistake. I figured I had half an hour before the store closes. Then I realized I had tons of hot chocolate packages. Why not? I will say this flourless dessert came out so good. We caught my son licking his plate. I know manners dictate that you shouldn't lick your plate but there are occasions it happens. This dessert is one of them. My husband said this is probably one of the best desserts I have ever made. It is rich. It is smooth like a souffle or mousse. It is delicate. All I know is it's delicious.

Fallen Hot Chocolate Cake
1 1/8 cup sugar plus more for pan and topping
6 large eggs
1 package hot chocolate mix
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp salt
10 oz. 60% bittersweet chocolate chips 
1/2 cup unsalted butter
 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup chilled heavy cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray a 9 inch springform pan or eight 4" ramekins with nonstick cooking spray. Dust with sugar. Tap out any excess. Set aside.
3. Separate 4 egg whites from the yolks. Placing the egg whites in one medium bowl and the egg yolks into another medium bowl.
4. To the egg yolk bowl, add the hot chocolate mix, vanilla, salt, and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix until smooth. Set aside the two bowls.
5. In a double boiler, simmer water over medium heat. In the top pan, combine the chocolate chips, vegetable oil, and the butter. 
6. Stir the chocolate often until it is melted. Remove from heat.
7. Allow the chocolate to rest for 1 minute before gradually pour the melted chocolate into the egg yolk mixture while whisking continuously. Mix well and set aside.
8. With a mixer on high speed, beat the egg whites until frothy. Slowly beat in 1/2 cup sugar and continue to beat until firm peaks form.
9. Gently, fold half of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture until just incorporated. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites and mix until just incorporated. 
10. Evenly divide the batter between the prepared ramekins or gently pour into the prepared springform pan.
11. Carefully place the pans into the oven. 
12. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the top is puffed and the cake is starting to crack. The cake should be pulling away from the edge.
13. Transfer the cake onto a wire rack to cool completely. The cake should collapse in the center.
14. Before serving, whisk the heavy cream with the remaining 1/8 cup of sugar until soft peaks form. 
15. Serve the fallen cake with the whipped cream.

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit March 2013 magazine.

One year ago.........................I made Zucchini Fries.

Did you already know...........

-This recipe was inspired by Richard Sax's chocolate cloud cake.

-Richard Sax was author to eight cookbooks plus contributor to several magazines including Bon Appetit.

-He was founding chef-director of Food & Wine magazine.

Taco Quesadillas

I made tacos the other night and had leftovers. Since I had plenty of tortillas left, I asked who wanted taco meat in their quesadillas. I was surprised my family were all for it. I asked what toppings they wanted and they elected onions and salsa. My family has an inclination to onions. I like onions but not to this extreme. While my sister was visiting, she was opposed to onions so I had tried to limit the amount of onions I used. Maybe my family are just trying to make up for the lack of onions in their diet?

Taco Quesadillas per serving
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 8 inch flour tortillas
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup cooked taco meat
optional: salsa, sour cream, hot sauce, tomatoes, onions

Directions:

1. In a medium skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
2. Add one tortilla into the skillet.
3. Carefully, sprinkle the cheese onto the tortilla.
4. Spoon the taco meat onto the cheese.
5. Add any optional topping like onions.
6. Place the second tortilla on top.
7. Once the cheese has melted, carefully flip the tortilla over.
8. Allow the quesadilla to cook for a few more minutes and the bottom of the second tortilla is golden brown.
9. Remove and add any desired topping.
10. Serve immediately.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago...............................I made Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies.

I'm not eating what you are trying to take a photo of? I don't know what you are talking about.

Did you already know..................
-Queso means cheese in Spanish.
-Quesadilla are made fried flour or corn tortillas with a filling inside.
-There are plethora of recipes for quesadillas including oysters, pumpkin, salmon, lobster, pineapple and turkey.

King Ranch Casserole

When I was a kid, I would begin to ask my Dad a question and he would answer no. All I would have to say was Dad and he would say no. So, I learned early to ask him when he was asleep. Dad can I have some money? Yes. Dad can I take the car? Yes. Later, he would tell me not to ask him when he was asleep but it worked. Well, I didn't teach this technique to my children but they decided to try it. While my husband was asleep, my youngest daughter asked him if she could have something. In his sleep, he said, "Does Big Foot exist?" She didn't know how to respond to this question. She decided to come and ask me especially since I was awake. She did confess that he normally does say yes. I guess somethings are passed down through the generations like this recipe.

King Ranch Casserole
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
8 oz. button mushrooms, chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayene pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 cup all purpose flour
3 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 can of fire roasted green chilies
1 (10 oz.) can Rotel tomatoes
 3 cups cooked chicken
1 cup Monterey Jack with jalapeno cheese, shredded
1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
18 corn tortillas

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Add the onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic. Saute for 7 minutes.
3. Stir in the chili powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
4. Sprinkle in the flour and stir until the flour is mixed into the vegetables.
5. Whisk in 1 cup of chicken stock until smooth. 
6. Add another cup of chicken stock and whisk until smooth before whisking in one more cup of chicken stock.
7. Whisk in the heavy cream.
8. Stir in the can of green chiles and Rotel. Allow the sauce to thicken.
9. Mix in the cooked chicken and half the cheese.
10. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
11. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
12. In a medium bowl, add the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken stock and soak the tortillas in the stock.
13. Line the bottom of the baking dish with six tortillas overlapping. 
14. Cover the tortillas with the chicken mixture. 
15. Sprinkle a little cheese over the chicken mixture.
16. Cover the cheese and chicken mixture with 6 more tortillas.
17. Layer the rest of the chicken mixture on top of the tortillas followed by a little cheese.
18. Top the cheese and chicken mixture with the remaining tortillas.
19. Top the tortillas with the remaining cheese.
20. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The hot casserole should be light browned on top.
21. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen cookbook by Rebecca Rather. 

One year ago..........................I made Chicken Sandwich.

Did you already know............
-The King Ranch was established in 1853 by Captain Richard King and Gideon Lewis.
 -King Ranch is located in South Texas.
-The ranch is one of the largest ranches in the world. 

Pie Filling

Alright, I know Thanksgiving is months away but I'm already prepping for it. Why? Because the fruit is in peak season now. How many of you have strawberry rhubarb pie at Thanksgiving? Yes, I know pumpkin is popular and so is apple but nothing beats a great berry pie. To be able to have berry pie at Thanksgiving takes months of planning. All I do is prep the filling now. I have tried this technique on strawberry rhubarb and blueberry fillings. I'm not sure about other fruit so if you attempt it then please let me know. This way you can let someone else bring the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, you have blueberry pie to make.

How to freeze your pie filling:

1. Make your favorite berry pie recipe like blueberry.
2. Line a muffin tin with plastic wrap. (I use muffin tin so I can make individual pies at Thanksgiving since I can vary the number due to how many guests are attending.)
3. Spoon the pie filling into each muffin space.
4. Wrap the top with more plastic wrap.
5. Place in the freezer for a couple of hours or until the next day.
6. Take out each individual frozen pie filling and place into one large freezer bag. You can individual wrap each disk for more protection.
7. Make sure all the air is out of the bag. 
8. Place the freezer bag into another freezer bag to double wrap it and prevent freezer burn.
9. Place the freezer bags with the pie filling back into the freezer and wait.
10. When ready to make your pies, roll out the pie crust.
11. Make individual pie crust the size of each muffin tin space. 
12. Place one of the frozen pie filling disk on top of the pie crust.
13. Top with another piece of pie crust and bake at same temperature as the regular recipe. 

One year ago........................I made Pineapple Kolaches.

Did you already know..........
-Freezer burn is when frozen foods lose moisture.
-Freezer burn can be prevented by proper wrapping.
-Also, freezer should be set at 0 degrees F or below to prevent freezer burn.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

     I was in my early 20s when I remember having my first Snickerdoodle Cookie. I don't remember having them as a kid. We were a sugar cookie or chocolate chip cookie type family which I still love. I have made Snickerdoodle cookies a few times in the past but it has been years. They are the reason why I purchased cream of tartar. Is there any other reason? 
     Well, this week I wanted to make some cookies. I was discussing this dilemma at work when my friend suggested Snickerdoodle cookies. When I tried to find the recipe I used, I couldn't find it. I was thinking about just using a sugar cookie recipe and roll the dough into the cinnamon sugar but thought the cookie needs to be soft. I even googled a few recipes but they didn't look right. They should have cream of tartar in them. What I came up for a recipe was what I wanted in a Snickerdoodle. I think they turned out to be exactly right.

Snickerdoodle Cookies
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar mixed with 2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and oil.
2. Add the sugar and cream until fluffy.
3. Add one egg at a time. Mix well.
4. Add the vanilla extract and mix well.
5. Add the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Mix until combined.
6. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
8. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
9. In a small bowl, add the cinnamon sugar.
10. Scoop about 2 inch balls of dough.
11. Roll the dough in the cinnamon sugar and place onto the baking sheet. Space the cookies about 3 inches apart.
12. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden. The middle of the cookies should be soft but set.
13. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago, I made...................Victoria Sandwich Cake.

Did you already know..................
-The  origins for the Snickerdoodle Cookies are speculation. 
-Snickerdoodle cookies are believed to be German origin.
-In U.S, Snickerdoodle cookies began to appear in print in the early 20th century.