Cakes

1. Aunt Beatty’s Chocolate Cake by Ina Garten
   

   

   
   

   Ingredients

   		Butter   for greasing the pans
   1 3⁄4	cups	all-purpose flour   plus more for pans
   2	cups	sugar
   3⁄4	cups	good cocoa powder
   2	teaspoons	baking soda
   1	teaspoon	baking powder
   1	teaspoon	kosher salt
   1	cup	buttermilk   shaken
   1⁄2	cup	vegetable oil
   2		extra-large eggs   at room temperature
   1	teaspoon	pure vanilla extract
   1	cup	freshly brewed hot coffee
   		Chocolate Buttercream   recipe follows
   6	ounces	good semisweet chocolate   (recommended: Callebaut)
   1⁄2	pound	(2 sticks) unsalted butter   at room temperature
   1		extra-large egg yolk   at room temperature
   1 1⁄4	cups	sifted confectioners' sugar
   1	tablespoon	instant coffee powder

   Directions

Tunnel of Fudge Cake

1 3/4 Cups butter softened

1 3/4 Cups sugar

6 eggs

2 Cups powdered sugar

2 1/4 Cups flour

3/4 Cup cocoa

2 Cups chopped walnuts

Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light an fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Gradually add powdered sugar, blending well.  By hand, stir in flour, cocoa and walnuts until well blended.  Spoon batter into greased and floured bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 58-62 minutes.  Cool upright in pan on cooling rack 1 hour.  Invert onto serving plate.  Cool completely.  Can have a glaze like chocolate ganache, but it is great plan.  Nuts are essential for the success of this recipe.

Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Heat heavy cream to boiling. Pour over chocolate chips and let sit for 4 minutes without stirring. Whisk until the mixture becomes dark and thick.
2. Ganache can immediately be poured over cake or it can be cooled to room temperature and piped.

Double Chocolate Tiramisu

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for garnish
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 bar (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 24 ladyfinger cookies (from a 7-ounce package)

Directions

1. 1. In a medium bowl, mix cocoa powder with 1 1/2 cups very hot water until dissolved; set cocoa mixture aside. In a small microwave-safe bowl, place 1/4 cup cream and chocolate; microwave in 1-minute increments, and stir until melted. Cool to room temperature.
2. 2. Transfer cooled chocolate mixture to a mixing bowl; add cream cheese and sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat until blended. Add remaining cream; beat chocolate filling until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. 3. Spread 1 cup chocolate filling in the bottom of a 2-quart serving dish. One at a time, dip 6 ladyfingers in cocoa mixture, then arrange in a single layer in dish; spread with 1 cup chocolate filling. Repeat with three more layers, ending with filling.
4. 4. Cover tiramisu, and refrigerate at least 2 hours (or up to 2 days). Dust with cocoa powder before serving. 

    

   Picture and recipe from Martha Stewart

Holiday Carrots

14-15 carrots

3/4 Cup mayonaise
1 TBS horseradish
1 TBS grated onion

Peel carrots, cut in half and in half lengthwise.  Cook until not quite done.  Place in an 8 x 8 casserole dish.  Mix remaining ingredients and pour over the carrots.  Sprinkle with grated sharp cheddar cheese - just enough to cover, and then cover that with buttered bread crumbs.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Crusts

Pie Crust - All Butter

2 1/2 Cups  flour
2 TBS sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Cup unsalted butter
1/2 Cup and 2 TBS Cold water
In a bowl mix flour, sugar and salt together.  Cut the butter into small pieces, then add to the bowl.  Use pastry cutter to cut into the flour until pea size pieces of butter.  Add the ice water and mix until the mixture is crumbly but holds together when pinched.  Dump dough onto parchment paper and pull dough together.  Refrigerate before rolling out.

Sweet Pie Fillings

Caramel Pecan Tart

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2/3 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons whipping cream

How to Make It

Step 1 - Arrange pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool.

Step 2 -Pulse flour, powdered sugar, and 3/4 cup butter in a food processor 5 to 6 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture evenly on bottom and up sides of a lightly greased 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom.

Step 3 -Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool.

Step 4 -Bring brown sugar, honey, 2/3 cup butter, and whipping cream to a boil in a 3-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in toasted pecans, and spoon hot filling into prepared crust.

Step 5 -Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool on a wire rack 30 minutes or until completely cool.

Can be made into bars: Prepare recipe as directed, pressing crumb mixture evenly on bottom and 3/4 inch up sides of a lightly greased heavy-duty aluminum foil-lined 13- x 9-inch pan. When completely cool, using the aluminum foil as handles, carefully lift the tart from the pan, and transfer to a serving tray. Cut into squares.

Savory Pies

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on

3 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

5 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade

2 chicken bouillon cubes

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

2 cups yellow onions, chopped (2 onions)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 cups medium-diced carrots, blanched for 2 minutes

1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas (2 cups)

1 1/2 cups frozen small whole onions

1/2 cup minced fresh parsley leaves