Friday, July 27, 2012

ChocoFlan

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Note: the recipe is made with cajeta, a Mexican caramel made from goat’s milk, if you don’t find it you can just use caramel, but it tastes MUCH better with cajeta. You can also make it yourself is really easy .. here’s the link: How to make Cajeta

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Ingredients:
- 1 box of chocolate cake mix plus the ingredients in the box to make it
- 4 eggs
- 1 can (14 oz) condensed milk
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup Cajeta

Preparation:
  1. Follow the instructions to make the cake, adding 1/2 cup of the Cajeta and set the batter aside.
  2. Blend the condensed milk, the evaporated milk, the eggs, and the vanilla extract on high speed.
  3. In a container, spread thoroughly the remaining Cajeta, as if it was butter (use more if you need to). Then add the blended mixture, and after it, add the cake mixture.
  4. Bake at 500°F for 40 min.
  5. Let it cool and then unmold.

Helpful Tips

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  • When melting chocolate , place chocolate chips or squares in a small saucepan dish and set in a larger pan filled with 1 inch of boiling water. Stir the chocolate until it melts. Be sure no water or steam gets into the chocolate.
  • Sliced celery or baki g soda when added to beans as they cook may aid digestion.
  • A leaf of lettuce, when added to the top of a pot of soup can absorb some of the grease.
  • Nuts and seeds keep fresh lo ger in the freezer.
  • Leafy greens spoil more quickly when stored with seedy vegetables like tomatoes and cucumber.
  • Potatoes will more like,y turn bad when stored with onions.
  • Carrots become bitter when stored with apples.
  • To keep your salt shaker from clogging , add a few grains of rice.
  • Keep a slice of bread on your brown sugar to keep it from hardening.
  • If soup or stew is too salty add a litter cider vinegar and sugar.
  • To prevent boil-overs add a tbsp of cooking oi to water.
  • For most kitchen clean-ups use equal parts of ammonia & water in a spray bottle. It is the best and most economical bet.

Equivalents & Measurements

Here are some measurements & equivalents that can be really helpful!

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Cake Pops!

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When I tried the cake pops at starbucks I was like OMG this tastes so delicious! I thought they were really difficult to make but in fact they are a piece of cake!!
You can make a variety of cake pops by changong the flavor of the cake & frosting, or using white chocolate coating instead of dark, or you can even color it with food coloring as I did.. USE YOUR IMAGINATION!!(:

Ingredients:
- 1 box of cake mix ( I used chocolate) &; the ingredients in the box to make it
- 1 package of frosting (I also used chocolate)
- 1 (24 oz) package of chocolate to melt (I used bark/candy coating)
- lollipop sticks
- sprinkles, pecans, marshmallows, etc to decorate
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Preparation:
  1. Follow the instructions of the box to bake the cake.
  2. When the cake is cool, crumble it, & then add the frosting and mix it thoroughly with your hands.
  3. Make little balls with your hands and put them in a container. Take to freezer for about 15 min.
  4. Meanwhile melt the chocolate with the directions on the package.
  5. Take out of the freezer the cake balls. Dip the tips of the lollipop sticks into the melted chocolate, then insert it into the cake balls, and then dip the whole cake ball into the melted chocolate until completely covered.
  6. Take it out and decorate with sprinkles or pecans as you wish, then put it in a styrofoam board until it cools.

Lime Jello with Pineapple & Cottage Cheese

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This is a different way to prepare jello! You can take away the pecans or add more! Hope you enjoy it(:

Ingredients:
-1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
-1 can (14oz) condensed milk
-1 package (3 oz) lime flavored jell-O (green)
-1 cup of boiling water
-1 can of pineapple chunks
-1 cup (8oz) cottage cheese
-1 cup crashed pecans

Preparation:
  1. Add the jello package to the boiling water and stir until dissolved.
  2. Blend the cottage cheese, the evaporated milk, the condensed milk, and the previously mixture of jello in a blender.
  3. In large container, put the pineapple chunks( drain off all juice) and the crashed pecans; then add the blended mixture.
  4. Refrigerate until firm.

Mosaic Jello

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This delicious jello is fun and easy! Note: for the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and table cream I used Nestle brand.

Ingredients:
- 4 (3 oz) packages of jell-O ( each different flavor)
- 3 Tbsp powdered gelatin
- 1 can (12oz) evaporated milk
- 1 can (14oz) condensed milk
- 1 can (8 oz or 237 mL) table cream OR half &half cream
- 13 cups of water

Preparation:
  1. Prepare each package of jello separately by adding two cups of boiling water to each; stir until completely dissolved. Then add one cup of cold water to each and stir again. Refrigerate until firm. Then, cut in cubes.
  2. Boil the remaining one cup of water and add it to the powdered gelatin, stir until dissolved.
  3. Then blend the dissolved gelatin, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and table cream.
  4. Put the jello cubes in a large container, and add the blended mix. Refrigerate until firm.

Food Substitutes

Has it ever happened to you that you want to do a recipe but you can't because you are missing an ingredient? Well don't worry! My advice to you: MAKE IT HAPPEN!!! Here are some helpful substitutes that can save your life!

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Coconut Cake



Hi! This coconut cake is so yummy I guarantee you'll do it more than once!! It goes perfectly with the Cream Cheese Frosting I assure you it's the most perfect combination for a heavenly taste!!

Ingredients
• 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsaltes butter, room. temp.
• 1 cup cannes sweetened cream of coconut
• 4 egg yolks
• 4 egg whites
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. Blend flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, using electric mixer beat sugar, butter, and sweetened cream of coconut until fluffBeat in egg yolks and vanilla extract. On low speed, incorporate dry ingredients and then buttermilk.
  4. Beat egg whites until stiff in separate bowl using clean beaters; add them to batter.
  5. Bake until tester inserted comes clean, about 45 min.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Cream Cheese Frosting


This cream cheese frosting goes perfectly with coconut cake, as well as carrot or nut cake. It is easy, different, and delicious!!

Ingredients:
  • 2 packages of cream cheese (preferebly Philadelphia brand)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temp.
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup canned sweetened coconut cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Preparation:
  1. Beat cream cheese  in bowl until fluffy.
  2. Add butter and beat to blend.
  3. Add sugar, sweetend cream of coconut, and vanila extract and beat until well blended.