Monday, January 28, 2013

Trail Mix Cookies

This is the perfect cookie to take with you on a hike or include in your kids lunches. The inspiration for this cookie came from looking at different trail mix recipes and wanting something different. This is a sweet treat thats good for you too! You can see the yummy trail mix chunks in every bite. Enjoy!

 
(Makes 3-4 dozen cookies, based on your scoop size)
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 c honey
2 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 c sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup old fashion oatmeal (not quick cooking)
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1 cup banana chips, coarsely chopped
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1 cup raisins
1 cup white chocolate chips
Zest from 1/2 orange

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a standing mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar and honey until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix to combine. Slowly add in the flour mixture. Add in the remaining ingredients and mix until just combined.
Using an ice cream scoop to get universal sized scoops, scoop onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Savory Treats: Potato Samosas!

A delicious flaky pastry crust, stuffed full of a decadent savory potato mixture and fried to golden perfection. A yummy vegetarian finger food that everyone will love! We used a pate brisee crust and deep fried it. The ending result was both buttery and flakey. So tasty!

Pate Brisee:
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup ice water (plus more if needed)
In the bowl of stand mixer using the paddle attachment, combine flour and salt and mix to combine. Add cold, cubed butter, and mix on low until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger pieces remaining. If mixing by hand, combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then cut in butter with a pastry blender until you get the same result.
Slowly add the ice water in a slow, steady stream, just until dough holds together without being wet or sticky. Do not over mix.
Turn out dough onto a clean work surface that is dusted with flour. Divide dough in half, shape into disks and wrap each in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour (or freeze to use later). 

Potato Filling:
Ingredients
1 1/3 lb. russet potatoes, peeled and quartered 
1/2 cup water
2 Tbs. canola oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. garam masala
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
3/4 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
3 Tbs. minced fresh cilantro
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice 

Eggwash:
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
Combine and mix well

Directions:
Remove the dough disks from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature. 
To make the filling, put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are just tender. Let the potatoes cool, then mash.
In a large pan over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the garam masala, cayenne, coriander, cumin, salt and mashed potatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is fairly dry and the spices are toasted, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add the peas, cilantro and lemon juice. Let cool completely.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough until 1/4 inch thick, dusting often with flour. Using a round cutter, cut dough into rounds and set aside.
For each samosa, spoon about 1 tablespoon of the potato filling into the middle of the dough. Brush the edges with the eggwash mixture, then pinch together to enclose the filling.
Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
In a deep fryer, heat oil to 350°F according to the manufacturer's instructions. Fry the samosas a few at a time, turning often, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the samosas to the prepared baking sheet. Serve immediately.







Pizzelles

 This is the crunchy, versatile Pizzelle, as included on our tiered cookie display at Desserts in Wonderland. The Pizzelle is an Italian cookie that is made using a Pizzelle iron, which is similar to a waffle iron. Great as thin and crispy cookies, but they can also be molded when they are still hot to be like a cannoli shell and filled or shaped into an edible bowl for a scoop of ice cream. If you have a Pizzelle iron or Brazeli press, give these a try!

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
6 large eggs (at room temp)
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
zest from 2 lemons
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (may also use lemon extract for more lemony cookies)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a large bowl, sift the flour, salt and baking powder.
In the bowl of an electric mixer (or using a handheld mixer), beat the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Slowly drizzle in the cooled, melted butter and vanilla extract. Add the zest. Slowly add the flour mixture until fully incorporated. Do not overmix. This dough will be sticky.
Preheat your pizzelle iron. Once heated, using a small ice cream scoop, scoop about a tablespoon of the batter onto the iron. Gently press down for a couple seconds to spread the dough. Let cook about 90 seconds until golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Carefully remove and let cool flat for flat cookies or place on a rolling pin while hot to cool and mold into a curved shape.
Store airtight at room temperature.


Sunday, January 20, 2013

Recent cake photos

We're constantly baking and getting projects to do, here are a few photos to show you our further work.


This was a devil's food cake, filled with chocolate mousse. We recently got the wedding photographer's version.



A chocolate cake, filled with brandied cherries and chocolate buttercream, heavy with piping.




Made for a coffee chain in Arizona, we piped their vintage logo with chocolate buttercream.




Chocolate cakes, soaked with dark rum, filled with chocolate mousse, wrapped with chocolate on transfer sheets and topped with dark chocolate ganache. These were made for a rehearsal dinner.







Saturday, January 12, 2013

Desserts in Wonderland Event

We had a successful event, filled with 8 tables of different desserts, and h'or doeuvres in the center of the room. We also added a projection screen to play White Christmas. Thanks to everyone who went and helped us.


  The event took place at the Canyon clubhouse, at Forest Highlands golf club

                                          Inside the clubhouse dining room

                                                  Our menu for desserts

                                            Kristi making madeleine batter

                                 Katrin decorating Gingerbread gentlemen



                                                 Take home baggies

                                           Mini pecan and pumpkin pies

 Buche de Noel. Chocolate sponge, filled with milk chocolate mousse, iced with chocolate buttercream.

                                              By the entrance

                                                  Toys for Tots marine

                                                   Custard table



                    Refreshments and projector screen, showing White Christmas

                                               Gingerbread house

                                                        Cake table


 Red velvet cake with mini red velvet village houses and hazelnut-chocolate wreath bundt.

                                          Cookie table with a cookie tower

 Gingerbread gentlemen, honey madeleines, coconut macarons, molasses cookies and pizzelles.

                                           Raspberry Financiers

                                      Mini lady apples dipped in caramel

                            The candy table, decorated with gumdrop branches

                  Peanut and hazelnut brittle, caramel popcorn and peppermint bark

                                      Pumpkin, rum and sherry truffles

                                         White chocolate-snowflake cake

                                               Bread and dip and cheese assortment

                                Baked brie filled with cranberry-cinnamon compote

                                    Mini roasted vegetable quiche

                                               Pretty, crunchy pizzelle

                 Some of our guests wanting pictures with the chefs! Thank you.

                                                         So classy.