Showing posts with label walnut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walnut. Show all posts

SANDRA'S WHITE 'N DARK CHOCOLATE WALNUT COOKIES


Watch out folks!

These newly created sinfully delicious cookies
will knock your socks off, they're every chocolate lovers' dream...


Yields: (Appx. 5 doz.)
Prep: 15 Mins.
Bake: 10 to 12 Minutes (per batch)

INGREDIENTS

Wet:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Dry (sift):
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon espresso powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon double-acting baking powder (or regular)
1/4 teaspoon table salt

Additions:
1/2 cup Mini Semi Sweet Chocolate chips
1/2 cup White Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts (measure after finely chopping)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 2 baking sheets with silpat liners or parchment paper; set aside.

Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in stand mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift dry ingredients together through a sieve, then gradually add and beat into dry mixture. Add both chocolate and white chips, and walnuts; mix, just to incorporate. Drop by a rounded mini-scoop (or teaspoon), 1" apart, onto prepared  baking sheets.

Bake in batches for 10 to 12 minutes/batch, until centers are set. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA'S RAVISHING RHUBARB-RASPBERRY-PINEAPPLE PIE

Just pulled this jewel of a pie
(made from the bounty of my garden this summer)
out of the oven as the hubs pulls in the driveway...


Servings: (8)
Prep: 30 Mins.
Par-cook filling: 20 Mins.
Bake: 1 hr.

INGREDIENTS:

Bottom Crust:
1 (10") prepared pie crust (store-bought, or Sandra's Homemade Pie Crust Recipe)

Filling:
4 cups frozen rhubarb, thawed, drained, and cut into 1/2" pieces
1 cup frozen raspberries, unthawed
1 (8 oz) can, crushed pineapple, with juices
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract (or regular vanilla extract)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of fine-grain sea salt

Crumble topping:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
4 tablespoons butter, melted

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set aside a 10" pie dish.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add all filling ingredients and stir to combine, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes, while occasionally stirring.  Remove from heat, and set aside. (This procedures allows the pie to bake faster, including reducing pie filling shrinkage while baking.)

Line pie crust in pie dish, trim and flute edges. Ladle in hot filling.

Prepare crumble topping by adding all ingredients to a small bowl and stir to combine, except the melted butter. Drizzle in melted butter, then stir with a fork to incorporate until small pea-sized shapes form. Sprinkle crumble mixture evenly over pie.  Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.  Remove to baking rack to let cool for a minimum of 1 hour to allow pie to set, prior to cutting. ~ Enjoy!

~~ An amazing dessert to serve with French vanilla ice cream ~~











SANDRA’S RHUBARB BANANA ORANGE CRUMBLE

The banana addition nicely sweetens 
this dessert, and is a great 
combination with the rhubarb...
Servings (6 to 8)
Prep: 10 Mins. |
Bake 50 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Filling
3 cups sliced fresh rhubarb, cut into ½” pieces
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
1/4 cup flour
pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3 medium ripe bananas, peeled and sliced (wait until adding to crumble; see below)

***Crumble
3/4 cup quick cooking rolled oats, (not instant)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped

METHOD

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 8”x8”x2” square glass-baking dish, and set aside.

Toss together rhubarb, sugar, orange juice, vanilla been seeds, flour, sea salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a large bowl, and pour into prepared baking dish. Dot top with butter pieces, cover with foil, and bake at 400°F, stirring once midway through, until crisp-tender, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine oats, flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon; with a pastry cutter (or two butter knives), cutting in butter until crumbly.

Remove rhubarb, and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Slice bananas, and carefully arrange over top of hot rhubarb in baking dish. Sprinkle crumble topping over bananas, while pressing gently to form an even layer. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts, and bake, uncovered, at 350°F until bubbly and crumble is golden, about 25 minutes.

Cool completely to set.  Serve with French vanilla ice cream. – Enjoy!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip:  This crumble is fantastic served over waffles, french toast, or pancakes as well ;)

SANDRA'S APPLE WALNUT CHEESE-FILLED CREPES over CUSTARD

A superbly decadent dessert that you and
anyone you serve it to will adore...
Servings: (8 total = 2 ea.)
Prep: 30 mins. |
Stand: 30 mins. |
Cook: 30 mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Custard
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Pinch of kosher salt
3/4 cup milk
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

***Cheese Filling
1 (16 oz. container) ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg

***Apple Walnut Filling
--[Or, click here for optional: Blueberry-Cinnamon Filling]
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
2 cups of fresh granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and cubed small
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cornstarch

***Sweet Crepes
1 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch kosher salt
2 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon fresh lemon zest
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup club soda
3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, plus 3 tablespoons for cooking crepes

***Garnish:
---4 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, sifted

METHOD

In a small mixing bowl, add the flour and salt and make a well in the center. Add the remaining ingredients, including 3 tablespoons of melted butter, and whisk together to combine. The mixture should be a loose batter. If the mixture is too thick, whisk in a bit of milk. Set batter aside for 30 minutes to set at room temperature.

Meanwhile, make the custard in a small saucepan, by whisking sugar, cornstarch and salt together until well blended. Whisk in the milk and cook over low heat until almost boiling, then remove from the heat. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and vanilla until well blended. Add a couple of tablespoons of the hot milk from the saucepan and whisk to temper the egg, and then add the tempered egg mixture to the rest of the warm milk in the pan; whisking to combine. Cook over low heat until the sauce begins to thicken (do not boil). Let the sauce cool slightly while making the filling, sauce, and assembling the crepes.

For the apple walnut filling, combine butter, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts in a small saucepan, and cook while stirring for 3 minutes. Add apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, vanilla, and cornstarch. Heat while stirring until filling thickens and apples are tender, but not mushy. Let filling cool completely.

For the cheese filling, mix all ingredients together in a small bowl, and set aside.

Melt the 3 remaining tablespoons of butter in a small glass bowl in the microwave. Place a small non-stick skillet over medium heat, and with a paper towel, dip into butter and wipe to lightly coat skillet. Keep the buttered paper towel close by, as you will need it before making further crepes.

Begin making crepes. Fill a ladle, almost about 3 tablespoons full, with batter and pour it into the preheated pan, while tipping and rolling the pan to evenly coat the bottom. When the edges of the crepe begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and the bottom begins to brown a little, about 1 minute, use a spatula to loosen the crepe, and turn over to cook it for about 1 minute longer on the other side. Remove the crepe from the pan between parchment- platter and let cool. Stack the crepes as they are cooked between wax paper square squares on platter to prevent sticking together. Repeat this process, until all the batter is used, wiping the pan with your paper towel and melted butter, as needed.

To make individual crepe desserts (allowing 2 per serving), spoon 2 tablespoons of the custard sauce on each dessert plate, spread 2 tablespoons of the cheese filling in a line down the center of each crepe and along with apple and walnut filling and roll up, and sprinkle with sifted confectioners' sugar. Repeat until all 4 plates are finished, and then serve. – Enjoy!

SANDRA'S APPLE WALNUT FILLING (or Sauce)

A very versatile apple and walnut filling
that can be used to enhance a variety of dishes...
Yields: (2 cups)

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
2 cups of fresh granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and cubed small
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cornstarch

METHOD:

Combine butter, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts in a small saucepan, and cook while stirring for 3 minutes. Add apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, vanilla, and cornstarch.  Heat while stirring until filling thickens and apples are tender, but not mushy. Let filling cool completely.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip:  This filling (or sauce) can be used to fill crepes, stuff braided bread, serve along side pork chops, or over vanilla ice cream, over hot oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, and so on.  -- The uses are endless - Enjoy!

SANDRA'S APPLE WALNUT BRAIDED BREAD

What a delightful presentation this
braided apple walnut bread makes,
and it's a fun to prepare,
plus a to-die-for dessert...
Yields: (1 large braided loaf, or 2 small)

Posted: by Sandra

Prep: 15 mins. |
Raising time: Overnight, plus a couple hours |
Bake: 35 to 40 mins.

INGREDIENTS:

*** Yeast Sponge
1 tablespoon dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 cup warm milk
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

***Dough
2 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup sugar
2-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (plus a bit more if needed)
1 stick of butter, at room temp.

***Apple and Walnut filling
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
2 cups of fresh granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and cubed small
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons cornstarch

***Egg Wash
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
---plus: cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling on top

METHOD:

Mix the sugar, yeast, and flour together in a small bowl. Pour in the warm milk. Beat until smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 1/2 hour.

Place the hook attachment on the stand mixer. Pour in sponge mixture into bowl of stand mixer. Add the eggs, salt, sugar, and one cup of the flour to the sponge. Beat until smooth on low speed until smooth. Then add the butter in small chunks and beat well. Add the remaining flour a handful at a time and mix in until the butter is incorporated. Knead on low speed for 5 minutes, until dough forms ball and is somewhat elastic.

Place the dough in a bowl sprayed with baking spray, rub around, and then flip over. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise and room temperature until doubled in size, 45 mins. to 1 hr. Deflate the dough, recover the bowl, and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, in a small pot, combine; butter, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts. Stir until combined. Add apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, vanilla, and cornstarch. Heat while stirring until filling thickens (apples will finish baking in oven). Let filling cool completely.

Combine the egg and milk in a bowl and beat until combined, and set aside.

Once filling has cooled, take the dough out of the refrigerator and gently deflate it. Divide it into two pieces. Use a rolling pin to shape each piece into a ½” thick rectangle.

Spread your fillings in the center of the dough.


At 45-degree angle, slice the sides of the dough into tabs approximately 1 inch wide. Alternating from side to side, fold the pieces in over the filling, and gently press on the tabs to seal the folds, and then tuck under ends for a smoother finish. Glaze the braid with egg wash. Cover loosely with plastic. Set aside to rise until doubled in size, approximately 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Just before placing the braid in the oven, glaze it again with remaining egg wash, and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake on the center rack of the oven for approximately 35 to 40 minutes, rotating it once after 20 minutes so that it bakes evenly. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for at least half an hour before slicing.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Variation:  Click here for recipe:  Blueberry Braided Bread Recipe

MAX'S RAISIN PECAN-WALNUT BREAD PUDDING topped with a CARAMEL RUM SAUCE

My husband Max's traditional
 Bread Pudding is a hit at every
Thanksgiving family get-together...
Serves: (12)
Prep Time: 15 Mins. |
Stand Time: 30 Mins. |
Bake: 50 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

***Bread Pudding:
1 (1-lb. loaf ) Cinnamon Raisin Bread, cut into ½” cubes
5 cups whole milk
2 (3.4 oz. pkgs.) Jello Vanilla Instant Pudding
1/3 cup dark rum
2 egg yolks, beaten
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup walnut pieces, lightly toasted
1/4 cup pecan pieces, lightly toasted
1/2 cup raisins

--Caramel Rum Sauce, (Recipe follows)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a 9"x13" glass baking dish with butter cooking spray. Cut bread into 1/2" cubes and place in prepared baking dish.

In a large bowl, combine milk, dry vanilla pudding mix, rum, egg yolks, and nutmeg. Whisk until well blended. Stir in pecans, walnuts and raisins. Pour mixture over bread cubes; press down lightly with a spoon on top of bread to submerge into custard. Let stand for 30 minutes to completely absorb.

Bake, uncovered, for 50 minutes, until top is golden brown and bread pudding puffs. Serve warm with Caramel Rum Sauce, as follows:

***Caramel Rum Sauce:
2/3 cup store-bought caramel sauce
3 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons dark rum

Combine caramel sauce, cream and rum in medium glass bowl. Heat in microwave for 45 seconds. Whisk to blend. Drizzle evenly over bread pudding. - We serve it with a mega scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream...Enjoy!

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