Chocolate Lava Cakes (For 2)

Quick (First Try) Video of Chocolate Lava Cakes. Never video raped before. I was just kinda playing around. Because I could. Lol

Christmas Cookies - Quickie

For my hubs fams xmas these m & m cookies were fab! Snuck a few to keep here for us. 

RECIPE HERE.

 These are America's Test Kitchens famed sugar cookies. They were indeed crunchy and chewy. As promised. 

RECIPE HERE

OKAY! Thanks for stopping by! I'll add in a few more winter eats we made on my way out for your enjoyment. 

Less Common Cookware

There are some less common cooking items I want. Even if there are "one trick ponies". I know we try to keep a rule of multi-taskers in our kitchen, but sometimes you can't really get around it. 

Now not all on the list are one way devises. This list is just items we will eventually need. Or just want ;)

Aebleskiver pan

Silver dollar waffle pan

Crepe pans

Popover pans

Food mills

Flour mill

Meat grinder

Spice grinder

Coffee grinder

Ice cream pop molds

Ice cream machine

Food dehydrater

Yogurt maker

Pasta extruder/maker

Ravioli stamps

Pasta dryer

Pizza stone

Pizza peel

Calzone mold

Hand pie mold

Tortilla press

Tart pans

Mini tart pans

bundt pan

Mini bundt pans

Dough bands

Pie beads

waterbath canner

Set of jars, multi sized

Kitchen torch

Mandoline

Deli slicer

Flat and offset icing spatulas

Meat cleaver

Poultry shears

Tiered oven rack

Flour sifter

Sugar shaker

Bread machine

Deep fryer

Rotisserie 

Belgian waffle iron

Vacuum sealer

Immersion circulator 

All Clad or fancy Crockpot slow cooker

Small slow cooker

Waffle tongs

Popcorn maker

Juicer

Food processor

Kitchen aid mixer (copper)

Bialetti hot cocoa maker

Chefs choice electric kettle

Braun or Krups coffee maker

Rice cooker

Milk frother

Tea kettle

Tea  ball

Long slot toaster, proof glass

Cuisanart elite grill/griddle

Food scale

Meat thermometer

Oven thermometer

Whimsical mechanical kitchen timer

And more.

Like seafood tools, fruit and vegetable tools. I know I have missed some. But that's a pretty decent list ;)

Almost any of these can be found at our fave store : http://www.williams-sonoma.com/

Chocolate Souffle Cookies

XYLITOL FRIENDLY RECIPE! (make sugar free)

Souffle Cookies

That recipe (linked title above) was fabulous!

So rich and chocolatey! So soft inside!

It's a quick minimal ingredient fix. 

Melt Chocolate

Whip up egg whites/tartar

Add sugar, vanilla, nuts (opt)

Blend chocolate and whites

Once blended, spoon onto prepped cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven. 

Ours were not as pretty as hers, but they were oh my gosh tasty!

I'm obsessed with thinking about them now. 

Definitely worth the mess I made. :) 

Rich Fudge Frosting

Easy Sour Cream Fudge Frosting

Easy rich frosting? Melt chocolate in double broiler like typical ganache, let cool, then mix in sour cream and confectioners sugar until right. 

here.....from my fave ppl.. Williams Sonoma

• 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 10 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

In a medium-size, heavy saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and cream. Heat, stirring frequently, until the butter melts. Add the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; let cool to barely lukewarm, about 8 minutes.

Whisk in the sour cream until fully combined. Then whisk in the confectioners' sugar. Let stand until thick enough to spread, about 10 minutes. If the frosting becomes too stiff to spread, rewarm briefly over low heat and whisk again until smooth.

For mocha flavor: Add 1 Tbs. instant espresso powder or regular coffee powder to the butter and cream.

For peppermint flavor: Whisk 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract into the frosting before adding the confectioners' sugar.

For tangerine flavor: Whisk 1 Tbs. grated tangerine zest into the frosting before adding the confectioners' sugar

Makes about 2 2/3 cups.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library Series, Cakes, Cupcakes & Cheesecakes, by Sarah Tenaglia (Time-Life Books, 1995).

Quickie Fluffy Frosting

QUICK SOFT FLUFFY ICING?

Since I look and cooked it all I can't give measurements. Also, might I suggest that unless decent skill level, not everyone should try "look n cooking". I have been playing and cooking with food since before kindergarten, so I'm practiced enough, and it still won't always go well. 

this is a lite n fluffy buttercream amercian style. similar to the major chains, i used crisco instead of butter, whipped it, added vanilla and a pinch of salt, and then proceeded to the big part. Alternating between heavy cream and powdered sugar, add some then whip up, scrape bowl, then switch to the other, alternate doing that until its done. Now if you wanted chocolate like mine, add it now and finish it off with one last whip. mine has both melted chocolate and cocoa powder. you can mess with the ratios based on how sweet and heavy vs how light and fluffy you desire it. 

this is simply a quickie frosting one can whip up for cake or whatever. it be fabulous on a chocolate spongecake roll! 

my mom said mine reminded her of like kroger and publix style icing. fantasic! thanks mom! :)

I personally went for less powedered sugar than most prob would. but its all about you. also, you could add lemon rum or peppermint instead of vanilla. 

xoxo

Bestest Brownies - Part 2

LANI'S DARK FUDGE (GF) BROWNIES

Hi, Have you met me? My name is Lani and I can not EVER leave well enough alone! Even if I get rave reviews from everyone, and hubby loves it, I must continue trying to PERFECT it. This "it" was my brownies. I desired them to be more brownie-ish and slightly toned down on the "punch you in the face fudge" texture. But still deeply chocolately. 

THESE ARE 100% GLUTEN FREE! YIPPY! 

But not 100% guilt free, lol, dark as they are, there is sugar and crisco/butter involved! 

3 eggs

1 cup white

3 tbsp dark brown

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup Pamela's GF Baking mix

1/2 cup butter/crisco

+ 1 tbsp butter or oil ...

to add in melting chocolate if desired

2 oz semi and 2 oz unsweetened chocolate chopped

(or even one ounce more if you like)

1/4 cup dark cocoa powder

large pinch of salt

nuts, add ins and espresso or coffee optional.

pre heat oven to 400

prepare square pan with foil tightly wrapped both ways, spray.

set up your double boiler, once water in pot boils turn off - add glass bowl on top and put in chocolate. stir stir stir. on the side, sift together flour, salt, and cocoa. set aside. keep eye on slowly melting chocolate. now cream together butter, and sugars, until ...well ...creamy, lol. then add vanilla and eggs, mix together. add flour mix in parts, stiring in, then slowly stir in melted chocolate. 

pour into prepared pan and cook, 25 mins. (varies by pan, oven, altitude, etc) test with toothpick, quickly, then cover with foil. let sit 30 mins, then remove, wrap with plastic and let cont cooling to the touch with saran wrap. cut with pizza cutter or knife, whatever. wrap well, and save or serve. 

serve warmed with cold vanilla icecream, yum!