It has been too long since anything chocolate appeared on this blog. And while we're making upside-down cakes, what could be better than a chocolate variety?
2 T. melted butter
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 T. cocoa powder
1 egg
1/2 c. milk
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. nuts
Preheat oven to 350°. Mix all ingredients; spread in a greased 6"x 9" or 8"x 8" pan. Mix and pour the following over batter:
1 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 T. cocoa powder
1 T. cornstarch
1 c. hot water
Bake for 45 minutes. Serve upside down. (This upside-down cake should not be inverted onto a plate as a whole.)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Apple Upside-Down Cake
1/4 c. butter or other fat
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. milk
2-4 firm-fleshed apples
2 t. cinnamon, mixed with 1/4 c. sugar
Hard sauce* or whipped cream
Cream the fat while adding sugar, well-beaten egg, and vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; add alternately with milk to the first mixture. Spread a thick coating of fat on the bottom and sides of a glass baking dish or a very heavy pan (8-inch). Pare, quarter, and slice the apples thin. Spread in an overlapping layer on the bottom of the baking dish and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Pour cake batter over the apples. The batter is very thick and may need to be smoothed on top with a knife. Bake in a very moderate oven (300°-325°) for 45 minutes. Loosen sides of the cake; turn it out carefully, upside-down; and the top will be covered with a neat layer of transparent apples. (Apparently you're not supposed to use Jonathans. I did and my "transparent" apples were pinkish.) Serve hot with hard sauce* or whipped cream.
*What is hard sauce? Really, does anyone know? Because there was no recipe for it in this cookbook, and I have never heard of it. =)
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. milk
2-4 firm-fleshed apples
2 t. cinnamon, mixed with 1/4 c. sugar
Hard sauce* or whipped cream
Cream the fat while adding sugar, well-beaten egg, and vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; add alternately with milk to the first mixture. Spread a thick coating of fat on the bottom and sides of a glass baking dish or a very heavy pan (8-inch). Pare, quarter, and slice the apples thin. Spread in an overlapping layer on the bottom of the baking dish and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Pour cake batter over the apples. The batter is very thick and may need to be smoothed on top with a knife. Bake in a very moderate oven (300°-325°) for 45 minutes. Loosen sides of the cake; turn it out carefully, upside-down; and the top will be covered with a neat layer of transparent apples. (Apparently you're not supposed to use Jonathans. I did and my "transparent" apples were pinkish.) Serve hot with hard sauce* or whipped cream.
*What is hard sauce? Really, does anyone know? Because there was no recipe for it in this cookbook, and I have never heard of it. =)
Monday, November 16, 2009
Onion-Ranch Dip
This recipe was born of forgetfulness, necessity, and an internet query. Oh, and an ingenious idea from my sister, P.
1 pkg. onion soup mix
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. plain yogurt
ranch dressing
milk
black pepper to taste
Blend cream cheese and soup mix with a fork. Gradually blend in yogurt; add ranch dressing/milk for flavor and thinning until desired consistency is acheived. Stir in black pepper to taste. Cover and chill overnight or several hours for the flavors to blend.
Serve with vegetables, crackers, chips, etc.
1 pkg. onion soup mix
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. plain yogurt
ranch dressing
milk
black pepper to taste
Blend cream cheese and soup mix with a fork. Gradually blend in yogurt; add ranch dressing/milk for flavor and thinning until desired consistency is acheived. Stir in black pepper to taste. Cover and chill overnight or several hours for the flavors to blend.
Serve with vegetables, crackers, chips, etc.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Fresh Applesauce
8 cooking apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (Jonathan apples work well)
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. cinnamon
juice of 1/2 lemon (or a few drops of orange juice)
1 t. vanilla extract
water
Place apples in a 5-quart pot. Add sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and vanilla. Add just enough water to cover half the apples (to prevent a watery sauce).
Bring apples to boiling; reduce heat and simmer until apples are soft.
Hand-blend or mash apples to desired consistency (I just mashed gently with a fork--I wanted chunky sauce). Serve warm or cold.
This sauce is delicious served over pancakes! It is also delicious warm on vanilla ice cream.
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. cinnamon
juice of 1/2 lemon (or a few drops of orange juice)
1 t. vanilla extract
water
Place apples in a 5-quart pot. Add sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and vanilla. Add just enough water to cover half the apples (to prevent a watery sauce).
Bring apples to boiling; reduce heat and simmer until apples are soft.
Hand-blend or mash apples to desired consistency (I just mashed gently with a fork--I wanted chunky sauce). Serve warm or cold.
This sauce is delicious served over pancakes! It is also delicious warm on vanilla ice cream.
Pumpkin Pudding
1 15-oz. can pumpkin
2 slightly beaten eggs
1 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ginger
1/2 t. nutmeg
2 t. cinnamon
8-12 oz. whipping cream or evaporated milk*
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Mix ingredients in the order given. Pour into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Bake for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 45-55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Stir with a fork; cool completely and chill. Stir again before serving if necessary. Garnish with ground cinnamon, if desired.
*I used 12 oz. whipping cream, but the cream flavor was somewhat strong. However, 8 oz. might not be quite enough. Evaporated milk may be used instead of cream.
To make pumpkin pie:
Prepare, but do not bake, a 9" pie crust. Prepare filling as above; pour into crust. Bake as directed, but probably only 45 minutes at 350. Skip stirring. ;)
The above recipe for pudding was adapted from a pumpkin pie recipe.
2 slightly beaten eggs
1 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ginger
1/2 t. nutmeg
2 t. cinnamon
8-12 oz. whipping cream or evaporated milk*
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Mix ingredients in the order given. Pour into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Bake for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 45-55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Stir with a fork; cool completely and chill. Stir again before serving if necessary. Garnish with ground cinnamon, if desired.
*I used 12 oz. whipping cream, but the cream flavor was somewhat strong. However, 8 oz. might not be quite enough. Evaporated milk may be used instead of cream.
To make pumpkin pie:
Prepare, but do not bake, a 9" pie crust. Prepare filling as above; pour into crust. Bake as directed, but probably only 45 minutes at 350. Skip stirring. ;)
The above recipe for pudding was adapted from a pumpkin pie recipe.
1930's Recipes
My Grandma handed me a cookbook this weekend. It was compiled by the uncle of a distant relative. In the front of the cookbook is some history about threshing and the days when farmers depended upon their neighbors to help with their harvest. It also talks about the food women cooked for their threshing neighbors. The recipes are from his grandmother, mother, and aunts.
There is just something about family recipes that excites me. Even though it's not my family--I'm looking forward to trying some of these recipes! One thing I love about this cookbook: since the recipes are from the 1930's and earlier, this is real cooking. No boxed mixes involved. It has the feel of a pioneer cookbook or something!
After I use some of these recipes, they may appear here. Two of the things that sound yummy are Apple Upside-Down Cake, and Blueberry Dumplings. It's going to be fun!
There is just something about family recipes that excites me. Even though it's not my family--I'm looking forward to trying some of these recipes! One thing I love about this cookbook: since the recipes are from the 1930's and earlier, this is real cooking. No boxed mixes involved. It has the feel of a pioneer cookbook or something!
After I use some of these recipes, they may appear here. Two of the things that sound yummy are Apple Upside-Down Cake, and Blueberry Dumplings. It's going to be fun!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes
K, the next time your neighbor gives you ripe bananas, you can do this with your pancakes! =D
1 1/4 c. flour
1 T. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 1/4 c. milk
1 small ripe banana, mashed (about 1/2 c.)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 t. vanilla extract
1/3 c. miniature chocolate chips, divided
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. After thoroughly mixing, stir in milk, banana, egg, and vanilla. Fold in 1/4 c. chocolate chips. Grease nonstick skillet or griddle; heat over medium heat. Pour batter onto griddle making 3-inch rounds. Cook about 2 minutes, or until tops are bubbly; flip and cook another 2 minutes, or until golden. Prepare remaining pancakes, adding more grease to griddle with each batch. Place on individual plates and sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Yeild: approximately 4 servings.
1 1/4 c. flour
1 T. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 1/4 c. milk
1 small ripe banana, mashed (about 1/2 c.)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 t. vanilla extract
1/3 c. miniature chocolate chips, divided
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. After thoroughly mixing, stir in milk, banana, egg, and vanilla. Fold in 1/4 c. chocolate chips. Grease nonstick skillet or griddle; heat over medium heat. Pour batter onto griddle making 3-inch rounds. Cook about 2 minutes, or until tops are bubbly; flip and cook another 2 minutes, or until golden. Prepare remaining pancakes, adding more grease to griddle with each batch. Place on individual plates and sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Yeild: approximately 4 servings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)