Monday, April 13, 2009

Cute Pig Picture


Pig from Green Meadow Farm in Hamilton, MA

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Champagne Cookie Recipe

I have called different bakeries and asked what the ingredients are in their Champagne Cookies and what flavoring they use to make these babies.
Some say almond, some say orange, several say vanilla.
I also studied the nutritional information on some bakery packaging at supermarkets.
The unfortunate thing about this, is that they put the ingredients for all the different types of Italian cookies on the packaging and you can't figure out what exactly is in the Champagne cookie. Depending on what you're use to, you may like a true butter cookie vs. a cookie made with vegetable shortening.
I have made many recipes for these delicate, delicious cookies.
You can find these special cookies mostly in the Boston area bakeries. I live north of Boston
and there are many bakeries that make them.
I will post several recipes based on what information I have. I will also show
you the pictures of the cookies I just made. They came out yummy! I do think
most people will need to adjust the flavoring for their own preference on what their
favorite local bakery serves....almond, vanilla, orange, etc.

Happy Easter
Oink Oink

Saturday, April 11, 2009

The Search for Champagne Cookie Recipe

For years I have followed blogs about Champagne cookies
For years I have looked for the right recipe to make these cookies at home.
Finally...I think I have found the right recipe and finally the answers we have
all been looking for!

More to come :)

Carrot Cake Recipe

2 cups unsifted unbleached flour
2 1/2 t baking soda
3 eggs
1 (8oz) can crushed pineapple in juice
2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup veg oil
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix flour, baking soda, cinn, salt in a bowl
Lightly beat oil, sugar, eggs till smooth
Add flour mixture, beat until smooth
Fold in pineapple, carrots, coconut and nuts

Grease a tube, bundt pan, or 13x9x2 pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes, till slightly firm

Remove from oven and cool on rack

Cream cheese coconut frosting
1 cup toasted coconut for topping (optional)
1 3oz pkg real Philadelphia cream cheese
1/4 cup unsalted butter-room temp.
3 cups confectioner's sugar
tiny pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of milk or more for desired consistency
1/2 t vanilla

With electric mixer beat cream cheese & butter
alternate adding the sugar, tiny bit of salt, milk and vanilla
beat until smooth

if adding toasted coconut
melt 1 tablespoon of butter in fry pan on medium heat
add desired amount of sweetened coconut
cook and toss till coconut is a tiny bit browned

Frost entire cake and sprinkle half or entire cake with coconut

Monday, April 6, 2009

Carrot Cake...recipe to come


I made this birthday cake for my son's friend.
It is one of the best carrot cake recipes and always comes out delicious! It's frosted with cream cheese frosting, I put toasted coconut on top. Some people are not coconut lovers like myself. I think the best solution is to add it to half the decorated cake and half without. The recipe also calls for coconut in the cake and it's delicious. Most people don't notice that there is coconut in the cake. My solution is to cut the coconut in half or not add it at all if you know that the people eating it are not coconut fans.
Recipe to come!

Favorite Easy Candy Recipe!

These little candies are a huge hit at gatherings, or just when you feel like a little something sweet and salty. A friend of mine brought these to our monthly Bunco game, all the girls gobbled them up!
People will be amazed that you made them yourself. They are so delicious, but soooo easy to make. Nobody can eat just one!

small flat pretzels, one medium sized bag (any shape that can lay flat)
package or 2 of Rolo's candy (you need one Rolo per candy)
Salted or plain cashew nuts...salted gives finished product a sweet and salty(my favorite)

Heat oven to 300 degrees.
On baking sheet lined with parchment paper lay flat pretzel pieces all over it.
Place one Rolo candy on each pretzel.
Place baking sheet in oven and bake just till Rolo is starting to melt.
About 10 minutes.
Take out of oven and press a cashew or other kind of nut on top of each Rolo and press down with back of spoon to make almost flat.
Cool candy completely and store in airtight container.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Best Eva Sugar Cookies Recipe
I love this yummy recipe...all the kids favorite!
I test tons of recipes and I will only post those that
come out consistently delicious and those that have
people begging for more!

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 lb unsalted butter, softened
1 cup superfine sugar
1 large egg and 1 egg yolk
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Frosting:
2 stick unsalted butter, softened slightly
3 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract...pure, not fake!
tiny pinch of salt
milk...1 tsp at a time till desired consistency
preheat oven 375 degrees
in bowl use electric mixer and beat butter for cookies
add sugar slowly. Add vanilla extract. Add egg & yolk one at a time.
Mix. In a separate bowl flour, salt...add to the butter/sugar mixture a bit at time,
beating gently till mixed.
Press into 2 discs. Freeze for an hour or two.

Roll out dough onto floured surface and cut out any desired shape.
I like my cookies on the thicker side. You can roll super thin.
Place on parchment lined cookie sheets.
Bake for 6-8 minutes...only till tiny bit golden on sides.
Mix up frosting mixture
blend butter with electric mixer
add sifted sugar, salt, vanilla, and milk a little at time.
Once cookies are completely cooled. Frost and put desired sprinkles or sugars on top.
makes 6 dozen

Oink!
I am a cupcake and sweets lover
I love all things pigalicious and adorable

and will share all my favorite recipes, food
finds, photos and more.


Hope you enjoy and follow my blog :)

Kindly,
Oink Cupcakes