Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Caramel Glazed Apple Spice Cakes


Ingredients (for cakes):
6 tbsp butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 1/2 cups applesauce

1. Preheat oven to 350 F 


2. In a large bowl, mix together butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs one at a time following with the vanilla extract.

3. In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.


4. Add a third of this mixture to the creamed butter mixture, mixing well following by gradually adding in the applesauce.


5. Pour mixture into muffin cups about 2/3 each full. Bake for 15-18 minutes until the cakes are firm when lightly pressed.


6. When cakes are done let cool on a wire rack.





Ingredients (for Caramel Glaze)
2 tbsp butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 salt
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1. Melt butter in a small saucepan.

2. Gradually stir in brown sugar, salt and milk. Bring mixture to a boil and stir for about two minutes.

3. Remove from heat and let cool down to room temperature.

4. Once the mixture is cooled stir in the powdered sugar

5. Ice cakes and enjoy!


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Laundry Day!

Clothes Pins by Owl & Lion 
(available on OwlandLionDesigns.etsy.com)




Monday, September 12, 2011

Nutty Chocolate Cherry Kisses


Ingredients:
- Bag of Hershey Milk Chocolate Kisses
- 4 Table Spoons of Red Cherry Preserves
- 1 Cup Roasted Mix Nuts

Cooking Instructions

1. Put one cup of mixed nuts in a zip-lock bag and cover with a paper towel, using a hammer chop the nuts until they are a fine texture.

2. Place prepared nuts in a small bowl. In another bowl spoon out 4 tablespoons of the cherry preserves.

3. Take a butter knife and run hot tap water over the tip of the blade for 20-30 seconds until warm. Stir the cup of preserves to soften them creating a more fluid texture similar to syrup. Repeat if necessary.

4. Unwrap the Hershey Kisses (as many as you want). Using a toothpick insert into the flat side of one of the kisses. Dip each chocolate tip down into the cherry preserve bowl and coat completely. Once coated sprinkle the chopped nuts over the kiss.

5. Hold the toothpick with the tip of the kiss facing upright, slide toothpick between lines of a fork so that the kiss is resting on the fork. Gently tug down on the toothpick to remove the candy piece.

6. Once your plate is complete put in the refrigerator and let cool completely. Store in air tight container until ready to serve.