Living 2 Eat |

Tiramisu Toffee Torte

Cake:

1 pkg. white cake mix

1 cup strong coffee, room temperature

4 egg whites

4  1.4 oz. or 18 minature Heath Bars, very finely chopped in food processor)

Frosting:

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup chocolate syrup

8  oz. cream cheese

1 1/2 cups cool whip

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2  cup strong coffee, room temperature

Garnish:

Chopped Heath Bars  or Chocolate Curls

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour four 8 inch round cake pans.  In a large bowl, combine cake mix, 1  coffee and egg whites at low speed until moistened; about 2 minutes at high speed.  Fold in chopped toffee bars.  Spread batter equally in the four pans.  Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.  Cool 20 minutes and remove cake from pans.  Cool completely.

In a medium bowl combine sugar, chocolate sprup and cream cheese; and beat until smooth.  Add cool whip and vanilla and beat until fluffy.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

To assemble:  Drizzle first layer of cake with 2 tablespoons of coffee and spread with 3/4 cup frosting.  Repeat with layers 2 and 3.  Top with remaining cake and frost the sides and top of the cake with the remaining frosting.  Garnish with heath bars or chocolate and store in the refrigerator.

Jim’s Delicious Meatloaf

1-1/2 pound ground beef

3/4 cup tomato sauce 

1 cup Pepperidge Farms Herb Seasoned Stuffing
1 teaspoon Sage
1 clove garlic, diced

1-1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 eggs, gently beaten by hand

3/4 cup diced onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1-1/2 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1/3 cup Ketchup

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup French’s Fried Onions

Sauté onion, celery, & chopped green pepper in Olive oil. 

Mix ground beef, tomato sauce, Herb Seasoning, sage, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and eggs together in large bowl.

Add sautéed mixture to the ground beef mixture.  Place/press into a greased loaf dish.  Spread Ketchup on the top of the mixture and sprinkle brown sugar over the ketchup.

Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 1 hour.

Sprinkle French’s Fried Onions on top, and cook for 5 more minutes being careful not to burn.

Sweet Potato Soufflé’ 

Ingredients

·     6 sweet potatoes

·     1 cup white sugar

·     1/2 cup milk

·     1/2 cup melted butter

·     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·     2 eggs, beaten

·     1/2 teaspoon salt 

·     1 cup dark brown sugar

·     1/3 cup all-purpose flour

·     1/3 cup melted butter

·     1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1.     In a large stockpot, cover sweet potatoes with 1 inch of water; boil for 20 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain, allow to cool and remove skins.

2.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease or butter one 2 quart casserole dish.

3.     Place potatoes in a mixing bowl and with an electric mixer, beat on low speed until potatoes begin to break up. Increase speed to medium high and blend until smooth.

4.     Reduce speed to low and add sugar, milk, butter, vanilla, eggs and salt. Mix well.

5.     Allow any potato ‘fibers’ to remain on the beater and remove. Pour sweet potato mixture into the casserole dish.

6.     Prepare the topping in a small bowl by whisking together the brown sugar, flour, butter and pecans. Sprinkle mixture over potato mixture and bake for 40 minutes.

Serve with cornbread for a tasty fall meal…

Rosie Higgins
Lawrenceville, Georgia

Hamburger Stew

1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
4 cups (1-inch thick) sliced carrots
5 cups (1-inch cubes) potatoes
4 cups water, divided
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste

Brown ground beef and onion in olive oil in large skillet. Drain well and set aside.

Combine carrots with 2 cups water in large Dutch oven. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Add potatoes and remaining 2 cups water. Boil until vegetables are fork tender. Add meat mixture and remaining ingredients. Cook over medium heat 15 minutes.

Yield: 12 servings.

Fried chicken livers are one of my all-time favorite Southern foods…

Rick McDaniel

Chef Rick’s Southern Cooking

www.chefrick.com

Fried Chicken Livers

• 1 pound chicken livers
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Wash livers under cool, running water and pat dry.

In a 2-quart mixing bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, salt and black pepper. Dredge chicken livers in flour mixture.

In a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until it shimmers but does not smoke, 350 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Carefully place livers into hot oil. Fry until brown, about 4 to 6 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towel.

Yield: 2 to 4 servings

I am always looking for a good cake recipe and this one is definitely a winner, I found it in Paula Deen’s magazine.  So moist, light and tastes like summer!

Denise S. Plunkett

Fort Myers, Florida

FRESH TANGERINE CAKE

2 1/2 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

1 3/4 CUPS OF SUGAR

11/2 TEASPOONS BAKING SODA

1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

1/2 TEASPOON SALT

1 CUP VEGETABLE OIL

1 TABLESPOON TANGERINE ZEST

1 CUP FRESH TANGERINE JUICE ( 6-8 TANGERINES)

3 LARGE EGGS

1 (8 OZ ) SOUR CREAM

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES

SPRAY 2 (9 INCH) ROUND PANS WITH NON-STICK COOKING SPRAY WITH FLOUR.

IN A LARGE BOWL, COMBINE FLOUR, SUGAR, BAKING SODA, BAKING POWDER AND SALT.

BEAT IN OIL, ZEST, JUICE, AND EGGS AT MEDIUM SPEED WITH AN ELECTRIC MIXER UNTIL COMBINED

ADD SOUR CREAM, BEATING UNTIL SMOOTH

POUR BATTER INTO PREPARED PANS, AND BAKE FOR 25 MINUTES OR UNTIL A WOODEN PICK INSERTED IN CENTER COMES OUT CLEAN.

LET COOL IN PANS FOR 15 MINUTES, REMOVE AND PLACE ON WIRE RACKS.

ONCE COMPLETELY COOLED, SPREAD TANGERINE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING IN BETWEEN LAYERS AND TOP AND SIDES..

TANGERINE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING: MAKES 5 CUPS

1 (8OZ ) CREAM CHEESE, ROOM TEMPERATURE, SOFTENED

1/2 CUP OF BUTTER, SOFTENED

1 TABLESPOON TANGERINE ZEST

3 TABLESPOONS FRESH TANGERINE JUICE

6 CUPS CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR

IN A LARGE BOWL, BEAT CREAM CHEESE AND BUTTER AT MEDIUM SPEED WITH AN ELECTRIC MIXER UNTIL CREAMY.  BEAT IN ZEST AND JUICE UNTIL COMBINED.  GRADUALLY BEAT IN CONFECTIONERS SUGAR UNTIL SMOOTH.

This is a favorite holiday cookie… 

Donna Engle Godfrey

Massanutten, Virginia

Oatmeal Fancies

3 cups quick oats (uncooked)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shortening
1-1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drain and chop
1/2 cup toasted almonds, chopped

Preheat oven to 375F.

Grease baking sheet.

Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.

Combine shortening, sugar, egg, milk, vanilla and almond extracts. Add in dry ingredients. Stir in chocolates, cherries and almonds.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets.

Bake 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Do not overbake.

Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet.

Remove cookies to foil to cool completely.

Yield:  4 dozen

.

Makara Pumpkin-Raisin Spice Loaf

3 eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 cup cooking oil
1 1/2 cups pumpkin purée (fresh or canned)
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. Makara Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375°.

In large bowl, combine eggs, sugar and oil. Stir in pumpkin. Blend well.

Sift together all dry ingredients and add to mixture in bowl. Blend well. Add vanilla and raisins. Blend briefly.

Pour into greased 9″x5″x3″ loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes or until loaf is nicely browned and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan at least 15 minutes; then remove carefully, cool completely and wrap well. Store in cool place until ready to serve.

Makes one loaf.

Note: For an extra touch of flavor, sprinkle top of batter with finely chopped pecans and a liberal sprinkling of Makara Cinnamon just before baking.

… from one of my favorite ‘foodies’, Linda Mathieu

Midland, Michigan

Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches

*WINNING RECIPE

Prep: 20 min., Cook: 6 min., Bake: 30 min. Get ahead of holiday parties. Plan to stash a few batches of these casual, three-bite sandwiches in your freezer.

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 (9.25-oz.) packages dinner rolls
2/3 cup peach preserves
1/2 cup mustard-mayonnaise blend
3/4 pound thinly sliced deli roast beef, chopped
1/2 pound thinly sliced Havarti cheese
Salt and pepper (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325°.

2. Heat walnuts in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 5 to 6 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.

3. Remove rolls from packages. (Do not separate rolls.) Cut rolls in half horizontally, creating 1 top and 1 bottom per package. Spread preserves on cut sides of top of rolls; sprinkle with walnuts. Spread mustard-mayonnaise blend on cut sides of bottom of rolls; top with roast beef and cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover with top halves of rolls, preserves sides down, and wrap in aluminum foil.

4. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice into individual sandwiches. Serve immediately.

Note: To make ahead, prepare recipe as directed through Step 3, and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator, and bake as directed in Step 4. For testing purposes only, we used Rainbo Dinner Time Rolls, Hellmann’s Dijonnaise Creamy Dijon Mustard, and Boar’s Head Londonport Roast Beef.

Yield:  Makes 12 to 16 servings

From Southern Living, 12/2008

This recipe is for the Martha Stewart types that believe in creating homemade Halloween goodies.  Although I am not a big fan of candy corn, I am told this is an incredible recipe…   if you attempt this, be sure and take a few pictures and send so that I can post as a follow up.   Ben

Candy Corn

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup white corn syrup

1/3 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup powdered milk

food coloring (optional)

Combine sugar, butter, and corn syrup in pan and bring to a boil stirring CONSTANTLY.

Turn heat low and boil 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

In a separate dish, combine powdered sugar, salt, and powdered milk.  Add all at once to the mixture in the pan.

Add food coloring if desired.

Stir until cool enough to handle.

Shape into creative pieces.