Dulce de Leche Macaroons

This week's Project Pastry Queen was picked by Missy of Creative Missy. The Macaroons are rich, sweet, and delicious. My youngest daughter loves Dulce de Leche so she thought I should shouldn't be adding it to coconut but these are good. My Mom loves Macaroons and she liked them. 

I didn't add anything else to the batch I made. You can add chocolate or toasted almonds but I kept it simple. I wish I had thought to add English toffee to them since I have been making English fare but next time I will. My next post will be back to my culinary English journey.

Dulce de Leche Macaroons
1 can of Dulce de Leche (click here for recipe)
3 cups lightly packed sweetened flaked coconut
2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the cooled Dulce de Leche, coconut, and vanilla. Stir until combined.
4. Using a 1 3/4 inch diameter scoop, spoon a firmly packed spoonful of the coconut mixture onto the parchment lined baking sheet. Space the coconut mixture about 1 1/2 inches apart.
5. With a wet fingertip, lightly flatten the coconut mixture gently.
6. Bake the Macaroons for 12 to 14 minutes. The edges should be dark brown and crisp.
7. Allow the Macaroons to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen cookbook by Rebecca Rather.

Did you already know...
-Toffee became popular in England in the late 1800s.
-In 1889, a toffee house owned by Mrs. Bushell was located outside the Everton Football Club (Everton FC).
-Many football patrons purchased vast quantities of the toffee.
-In 1892, the football club was moved and Mrs. Bushell received permission to sell her toffee inside the football stadium before the games.
-The Everton FC's nickname is The Toffees.
-In America, Everton FC is a soccer team.

Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies

I debated about these cookies. Should they stay as cookies or be made into whoopie pies. My sister and a friend said they should be a whoopie pie. They are a soft cookie and would work but the kids voted for cookies. I realized during this debate that the kids ate the majority of the cookies. Why make a whoopie pie with only three cookies left? The kids won this debate this time.

Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 (8oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1 egg 
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup raspberries

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the butter with the cream cheese.
2. Add the oil and mix well.
3. Add the sugar and incorporate.
4. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix well.
5. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined.
6. Fold in the raspberries.
7. Refrigerate for 1 hour. 
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
9. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
10. Scoop the chilled dough onto the baking sheet with a standard size ice cream scoop.
11. Space the cookies at least 2 inches apart.
12. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
13. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe adapted from this recipe.

One year ago.........................Dulce de Leche Macaroons. 

Did you already know..........
-Raspberries aren't just red. There are black, purple, and golden raspberries too.
-Loganberries are a hybrid of raspberries and blackberries.
-Boysenberry are a hybrid of raspberries, blackberries, and loganberries.

Berry Cobbler

Since 4th of July is approaching fast, I decided to make a red, white, and blue berry cobbler. I placed the blueberry filling on one side. The other side had a raspberry and strawberry filling. I really liked both sides but my husband preferred the raspberry and strawberry filling better. Next time I make this recipe, I will mix all the berries together. This cobbler is really good and easy to make. I really should make more cobblers. They make me think of my Mom. She spoiled us by making cobblers for us. It would be perfect to bring to a 4th of July celebration!

Mixed Berry Cobbler
Filling:
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp flour
7 cups blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries

Dough:
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar plus more for sprinkling
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
5 Tbsp chilled, unsalted butter
1/2 cup chilled milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Spray the 2 quart baking dish with nonstick baking spray

For Filling:

1. In a large bowl, combine the berries.
2. Fold in the sugar and flour with the berries. Set aside.

For Dough:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. Add the butter and mix until coarse meal forms.
3. Stir in the milk. Combine until incorporated. 
4. Add the berries into the prepared baking dish.
5. Spoon on the dough evenly over the berries.
6. Sprinkle the top of the dough with a little sugar. 
7. Bake the cobbler for 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
8. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe adapted from Epicurious.

One year ago................................................I made Tri-Berry Pancakes.
Two years ago..............................................I made Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies.
Three years ago............................................I made Dulce de Leche Macaroons.

Did you already know.......................................
-Since 1777, Americans have been celebrating the 4th of July as Independence Day.
-In 1870, Congress made 4th of July an official holiday.
-Our 30th President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4th of July.