Thursday, December 22, 2011

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Cupcakes



Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Cupcakes
For the chocolate glaze:
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 tbsp fat-free milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
For the vanilla glaze:
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/8 tsp clear vanilla extract
  • 1 - 2 tsp fat free milk
For the face:
  • 24 low fat small vanilla wafers
  • 72 m&m's, 24 red, 48 brown
  • 12 pretzels, broken in half to create ears

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Line cupcake tins with liners.

Combine all the cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat until combined. Pour into prepared liners. Bake about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool before frosting.

Make the chocolate glaze: whisk all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Keep the chocolate glaze in the bowl.

Make the vanilla glaze by whisking all the vanilla glaze ingredients in another bowl. Place vanilla glaze in a piping bag.

To assemble the cupcakes, dip the tops of the cupcakes into the chocolate glaze and quickly press the vanilla wafer onto the bottom of each cupcake. The chocolate glaze will dry fast so you want to make a few at a time. Let the glaze harden at least 5 to 10 minutes.

Using the vanilla glaze, pipe 2 circles for the eyes and press the chocolate m&m's into the glaze. Pipe the vanilla glaze for the nose and press the red m&m onto the nose.
 

Then insert pretzel pieces for the ears and they are complete.

Original recipe retrieved from http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/12/rudolph-red-velvet-cupcake.html .
Vanilla Cupcake:
  • 1 1/3 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cups cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line one 12-cup cupcake tin with paper liners. (To avoid cupcakes sticking if they overflow slightly, lightly spray the tops of the pans.) Put tins on a baking sheet. Set aside.
Process sugar and butter in a mixer until very creamy, scraping sides as needed, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the egg and yolk, one at a time, pulsing after each addition. Add the milk, water, and vanilla and process to blend.
Whisk both flours, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients, in 3 batches to the wet, pulsing, and then scraping batter off the sides of the processor as needed after each addition. Process until the batter is very smooth and pourable like pancake batter, about 2 minutes.
Evenly pour the batter into the prepared cups, filling them 3/4 of the way full. Bake until the cakes are just firm and spring back when gently pressed, and the tops are golden, 18 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly in tin, and turn out of tin when cool enough to handle. Cool cupcakes completely on a rack before frosting.
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes

Recipe from Mrs. Gelowitz's personal collection.














 

Macarons! No, Not Macaroons - Macarons!

For a tutorial on how we made macarons go to this link - http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2007/10/how-to-make-macarons-recipe.html .






Christmas Cookies

Michelle's Soft Sugar Cookies
1 cup margarine
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

  1. Cream the margarine and add the sugar gradually. Beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition.
  2. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt gradually to the creamed mixture, stirring in by hand. Cover and chill dough overnight.
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  4. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and cut into your favorite shapes. Place cookies onto the prepared baking sheets.
  5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 6 to 8 minutes or until cookie has a golden appearance.
Recipe retrieved from http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Michelles-Soft-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx.                

 

Royal Icing

Ingredients

3/4 cup of warm water
5 Tablespoons meringue powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 kilogram powdered icing sugar

Instructions

1.  In mixer bowl, pour in the warm water and the meringue powder. Mix it with a whisk by hand until it is frothy and thickened…about 30 seconds.
2.  Add the cream of tartar and mix for 30 seconds more.
3.  Pour in all the icing sugar at once and place the bowl on the mixer.
4.  Using the paddle attachment on the LOWEST speed, mix slowly for a full 10 minutes. Icing will get thick and creamy.
5.  Cover the bowl with a dampened tea-towel to prevent crusting and drying.
Tint with food colourings or thin the icing with small amounts of warm water to reach the desired consistency.














Friday, December 16, 2011

Melting Snowmen Cookies


You can find a tutorial for these cookies at http://www.trulycustomcakery.com/tutorials/25.html.

Michelle's Soft Sugar Cookies
1 cup margarine
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

  1. Cream the margarine and add the sugar gradually. Beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition.
  2. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt gradually to the creamed mixture, stirring in by hand. Cover and chill dough overnight.
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  4. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and cut into your favorite shapes. Place cookies onto the prepared baking sheets.
  5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 6 to 8 minutes or until cookie has a golden appearance.
Recipe retrieved from http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Michelles-Soft-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx.                

 

Royal Icing

Ingredients

3/4 cup of warm water
5 Tablespoons meringue powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 kilogram powdered icing sugar

Instructions

1.  In mixer bowl, pour in the warm water and the meringue powder. Mix it with a whisk by hand until it is frothy and thickened…about 30 seconds.
2.  Add the cream of tartar and mix for 30 seconds more.
3.  Pour in all the icing sugar at once and place the bowl on the mixer.
4.  Using the paddle attachment on the LOWEST speed, mix slowly for a full 10 minutes. Icing will get thick and creamy.
5.  Cover the bowl with a dampened tea-towel to prevent crusting and drying.
Tint with food colourings or thin the icing with small amounts of warm water to reach the desired consistency.
























Ravioli and Sauce

Fresh Pasta:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
By Hand: On a clean surface make a well with the flour. In a measuring cup mix the eggs, water and oil and salt. Pour the wet mixture slowly into the flour and mix with your 2 fingers until all of the wet is incorporated. Do not force the dough to take all of the flour. If you are going to use a pasta machine to roll out the dough you may at this point form the dough into a disk and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour to rest. If you going to roll this by hand you should knead the dough on a floured work surface for 8 to 10 minutes.
Recipe retrieved from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/tortellini-recipe/index.html.


Butternut Squash Stuffing
1 large butternut squash - halved lengthwise, peeled and seeded
2 teaspoons butter
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).               
Place the squash cut side up on a baking sheet. Place 1 tablespoon butter in the hollow of each half. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Cover the squash with a sheet of aluminum foil tucking in the edges.              
Bake squash in preheated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, 45 to 65 minutes.                Scoop the cooked squash into a bowl, and mash until smooth. Mix in the allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and Parmesan cheese until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Recipe retrieved and adapted from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-ravioli-with-sage-brown-butter-sauce/detail.aspx.


Alfredo Sauce
1/4 cup butter 
1 cup heavy cream
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add cream and simmer for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cheese and whisk quickly, heating through. Stir in parsley and serve.

Recipe retrieved from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/alfredo-sauce-2/detail.aspx.

Arrabiata Sauce
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/8 cup red wine
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Heat oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil for 5 minutes.           
Stir in wine, sugar, basil, red pepper, tomato paste, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, black pepper and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered about 15 minutes.                Stir in parsley. Ladle over the hot cooked pasta of your choice