Daily Thoughts

Homemade French Crumb Apple Pie

This is the recipe for the pie that I made Monday for the video on YouTube and FB. It is such a pretty pie with the crumb topping and the cinnamon apples that have been cooked with butter (of course). About the only time I make an apple pie is when requested. Cherry pie or any type of cream pie, oh yes, and buttermilk and pecan pie are always at the top of my list, but since a friend was sick and requested one, it was indeed fun to make and delivered to her door Monday afternoon. If you don’t want to take the time to slice apples or just prefer to use canned apple pie filling (actually I like of like the apple pie filling better than using fresh apples….do not send me hate mail, that is just my weird preference). But if you do use canned pie filling, just sprinkle a little brown sugar over the top of the apples before the topping along with a little cinnamon and of course (you know what I’m going to say)….slice some butter on top as well. Then top it with the second crust or the crumb topping.

If using fresh apples:

4-5 large apples, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup of butter, sliced

1 cup of water

2 teas corn starch dissolved in 1/3 cup water

2 teas ground cinnamon

3/4 to 1 cup of light brown sugar

Cook altogether until apples are tender and mixture begins to boil. Add the cornstarch-water mixture and stir until mixture is thick. Set aside for about 15 min to cool a little

Place a pie crust in bottom of pie plate. Pour the lukewarm apples in pie shell. Either top with another pie crust or sprinkle crumb topping over the apples. Bake in preheated 425 oven for about 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

CRUMB TOPPING:

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 light brown sugar

1/2 cup cold butter, sliced

Using a pastry cutter, cut in butter with the sugar and flour until mixture resembles crumbs. When it is coarse crumbles, sprinkle over the apple filling. Bake as directed above.

to watch video of making this pie go to YouTube Sassy Southern Trudy K Cox.

Cakes · Chocolate · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Uncategorized

Caramel Chocolate Chocolate Chip # Cake

Made this cake for a friend this week and it was such a hit. Several friends have ask for the recipe when they saw the picture on FB so here it is. It is easy and so yummy. Also, a friend of mine told me the other day that she didn’t understand how my cupcakes were always so soft and moist. The secret is, keep them in the refrigerator (covered) until about an hour before serving them.

1 Duncan Hines Chocolate Fudge cake mix
1 small package instant vanilla or cheesecake flavored pudding mix
4 eggs at room temperature
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup oil
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips. Beat on high for 2 minutes and then stir in the chocolate chips. Pour into greased and sugared bundt pan. (yes, I use sugar instead of flour for pound cakes, as it adds a nice crunchy texture to the outside of the cake)
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven until cake tests done. I take it out when there is still little shine to the top of the cake. IT will continue to “bake” for a few minutes after removing from oven, so that way, the chocolate cake doesn’t get to dry.

When cool, turn upside down and remove the cake from the pan onto a serving platter.

Using a good brand of caramel ice cream topping, place about 1/2 cup of caramel in the microwave oven for about 12 seconds. Drizzle the caramel over the cake. Then when it has set for a few minutes, Drizzle some of the chocolate frosting glaze over the cake in-between the caramel drizzles. Sprinkle more chocolate chips if desired onto the top of the cake.
Any left over caramel and chelate frosting can be poured in to the center of the cake so that will give you more yumminess when you cut the slices to pour over each serving of cake.

Chocolate Drizzle
1/4 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup whipping cream or milk (add gradually as you might not need all of this)
1 teas vanilla

Add all ingredients together and beat on high until no more lumps from the powdered sugar remain. Add the whipping cream or milk gradually until texture is a good consistency to drizzle over the cake. If desired, you can put into microwave after you have mixed all ingredients together, for about 10 seconds to thin and make it easier to drizzle over and downs the sides of the cake.

Cakes · Chocolate · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Fruit · Uncategorized

Nutella Filled Cupcakes With Raspberry Frosting

1 Duncan Hines chocolate fudge cake mix
1 small package of chocolate instant pudding mix
4 eggs at room temperature
1/2 cup veggie oil
1 1/4 cup water
Mix all ingredients together and beat for 2 min on high, Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners. Fill each liner about half full. ( I use a large cookie scoop to fill them… so much easier to make them exactly same size and less messy)
Bake until cupcakes are done. Be careful to take them out when there is still a little shine left on top. Chocolate is so easy to be dry so you want to take them out before top looks a dull chocolate color. Cool completely. Repeat until all batter us used.
When cool, using an cupcake corer (under $2 at Walmart, will post picture), make a hole in the center of each cupcake. Fill each hole with Nutella. Set aside.

Frosting
1 box (3 1/2 cups) powdered sugar
1 stick (8 oz) butter at room temperature
Milk or whipping cream to thin frosting (about 1/3 cup)
3 tables raspberry preserves
1 teas raspberry extract

Beat all frosting ingredients together adding milk or cream till frosting is a good consistency to spread over filled cupcakes.

Cakes · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Fruit · Uncategorized

Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake

If you are a strawberry shortcake lover, this cake is for you. While trying to think of a cake that would taste great for a friend of my Jodi’s (my daughter) last week in Phoenix, I thought about this cake. Rochelle, Jodi’s friend had told me she wanted a cake that did not have buttercream frosting, but one that had fresh fruit. Jodi and I thought it would be so nice to bake her a cake for her birthday so this is one that we thought would hit the spot. Last week, when I was at Jodi’s house, I made a Pistachio cake when I first arrived for the week. It was Caleb’s birthday (our 11 yr old grandson) so when your grandson tells you that “anything you bake Nana will be better than anything we could buy” well…..after signing over every dollar I had to him in my will, I proceeded to bake his cake. After we devoured the Pistachio cake in 2 days, it was time to think about baking another cake for Rochelle. Because we loved the cake texture of the Pistachio cake, I wanted to use the same recipe, but with a different flavor of cake mix. So that’s exactly what I did. This is the cake.

Cake
1 box of Duncan Hines White cake Mix
3 eggs, room temperature
1 cup veggie oil
1 cup club soda
1 small box of French Vanilla Instant Pudding mix

Beat all ingredients together and divide into prepared and greased 2 or 3 (9″) baking pans. (or you could actually bake in aa 9×13 baking pan, if you are just wanting a one layer cake.)
Bake in preheated 350 oven until cake tests done and cool completely.

Whipping Cream
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup of powdered sugar

Whip cream until it begins to thicken. Gradually add the sugar until the sweetness is to your liking. You might not need the whole 1/2 cup. When whipping cream is thick, cover and place in fridge until you are ready to frost the sides and top of cake.

Glaze and filling for between the layers (or if you bake in 9×13, use half of this filling for pouring over the top of the cake before placing the whipped cream on top of cake)

2 cups water
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
5 tables cornstarch
1 small box of Jello Strawberry flavored jello

Combine the water, sugar and cornstarch, stirring until cornstarch is dissolved. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. When mixture is thick and clear, add the box of the jello, stirring until jello is dissolved and mixture is combined. Mixture will thicken more as it cools. Cool completely.

Spoon some of the jello mixture between layers of the cake, reserving some of the filling/glaze to pour over the top of strawberries.

Since about 2 cups of fresh strawberries and slice in half. Allow to dry on paper towel. When cakes are assembled and you have frosted the cake with the whipping cream, place the fresh berries over the top. Spoon the glaze over the berries allowing it to drip over the sides of cake.

Cakes · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Uncategorized

Easy & Quick Coconut Cake

We got home from church and since Randy is needing to work overtime on the weekend, I decided that I would bake, while he worked. When I ask him what he was in the mood for, he said anything but chocolate since sometimes eating chocolate in the evenings keeps him from sleeping well. We had talked today about him needing a phone because the hand me down he got from me last year (for me to get a new phone with more memory) is acting up, so between me looking at recipes and new phones on the internet, I also was looking at puppies, since we do want to get another doggie when we end up moving to a new place. I was on a web site that had teacup yorkies when Randy walked in to ask what I had decided to bake. Before answering him, I showed him the cutest little yorkie with a pink bow in her hair and looked at him with puppy dog eyes that immediately told him I found an adorable yorkie. He looked at it and said, “how much does that cute little thing cost?” When I responded that she cost about $3000, he looked at me and said, “$3000? I wouldn’t even pay that for you.” I think this sheltering in place is beginning to show its ugly face. And please don’t write and tell me I’m awful for spending that much money on a dog when they have so many in shelters. We would NEVER pay that much for a dog or anything close to that. I just have fun looking at pictures of cute puppies. So now back to the cake. Going to the pantry to see what I had, I discovered I had the necessary ingredients to make a coconut cake. It ended up so moist and yummy and will have it to snack on for a couple of days. I use a small bundt pan that allows me to make two so I can put one in the freezer for another time. Picture is of the two small cake pans I used

Ingredients:
1 Duncan Hines White Cake Mix
1 (small 3.4 oz) box of coconut instant pudding mix
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1/3 cup veggie oil
1 teas coconut extract
1/2 teas almond extract
1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut

Blend all ingredients except the shredded coconut in a bowl and mix with electric mixer for about 2 minutes.Add coconut and using a spatula, mix well into batter. Pour into prepared baking pans. Use 2 (9″) baking pans, or 2 small bundt pans or 1 (9×13″) pan. Or you can make 24 cupcakes.
Bake in preheated 350 oven until cakes test done.

Frost with the following:

2 cups powdered sugar
1 stick (8 oz) softened butter
1 teas almond extract
1/2 cup coconut
Enough milk to get to spreading consistency. Add coconut and frost completely cooled cake.

Breads · Breakfast · Cakes · Daily Thoughts · Uncategorized

Blueberry Streusel Skillet Breakfast Cake

My sister-in-law sent this to me yesterday after texting me and telling me that she had made it and it was simply wonderful. She says the streusel just makes it and the flavor is just so good. She even liked it better than one of the lemon pound cakes we make often. So here it is. Hope you enjoy it as much as she did. Will be making as soon as I get to the store for more butter. I went through about 5 lbs of it this week.

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9″ cast iron skillet with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, whisk 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour and a pinch of kosher salt. Add 3 tables melted unsalted butter and stir until crumbly with some large pieces still intact.

In another medium bowl, whisk 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teas baking powder and 1 teas salt. In a large bowl (yes, I know, the dishwasher will be full after making this, but she tells me it is worth all the dirty bowls.), beat 1/2 cup (8 tables) unsalted butter, which should be at room temperature for 1 min or until smooth. Add 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar; beat 2 minutes or until fluffy. Stop to scrape sides down on bowl and beat in 2 large eggs. (remember eggs should always be at room temp to get the full volume they need to be), 1 large egg yolk and 1 tablespoon vanilla. In 2 additions, beat in 1/2 cup whole milk or buttermilk and flour mixture, alternating between each. Gently fold in 2 tables lemon zest, 1 tables lemon juice and 2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (or frozen, tossed with 2 tables flour). Scrape mixture into prepared skillet. Sprinkle top with the brown sugar mixture.
Bake about 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and top is light golden brown.
Transfer the skillet to a wire rack; cool for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl (yes another bowl), combine 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tables lemon juice; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.

(Janece did not use the lemon or the glaze. She said the streusel topping was all the cake needed. And with the tables of vanilla, she omitted the lemon zest and juice.)

Chocolate · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Uncategorized

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Bars

One of the things I have missed most about curbside grocery pick up is just the great time of strolling the baking aisle and seeing any new products on the shelf. Monday when I braved the “social distancing while wearing a mask” time of going inside the store, I had a ball. When I saw this box, I knew it was mine.

Oh the things I can now make, even though I can’t fit into any of the clothes I have now, the recipes just came flooding in. German Chocolate Fudge pie, Chocolate Almond Ice Box pie. Peanut butter pie with chocolate crust. And the beat (list) goes on. When I turned over the box to look at the recipes on the back, this recipe jumped out to me. So here it is folks. Be the first to share this with anyone who you like (or maybe those who you don’t like but am trying so hard to do so). This sounds like a treat that the whole family will enjoy. And to think, you saw it here first.

Crust:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tables granulated sugar
2 cups Keebler Chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1 egg white

Filling:
2 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 teas milk or whipping cream

Topping:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup whipping cream

1. Line an 8x8x2 inch baking pan with foil, allowing excess foil to hang over sides.
2. For crust, in medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup peanut butter and sugar. Stir in Keebler Chocolate Graham Cracker Crumbs and egg white. Firmly press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake in preheated 375 oven for 10-13 minutes or until dry. Cool Completely.
3. For filling, in a large mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, 2/3 cup peanut butter and 1/2 cup softened butter. Beat on medium to high speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in milk, 1 teas at a time, until light and fluffy. Spoon in dollops over crust. Evenly spread over crust.
4. For topping, in small microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and cream. Microwave uncovered for 30 to 60 seconds, or until smooth. Stirring thoroughly every 20 seconds. Let stand for 10 minutes after stirring to be sure all chips are melted and mixture is smooth.
5. Spread over filling and the cover and place in fridge at least 1 hour or until firm. Use foil ends to remove from pan. Cut into squares and keep covered in the refrigerator.

Cakes · Chocolate · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Fruit · Holiday Fare · Uncategorized

CHEWY CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CAKE

 

 

This recipe is taken from a Taste of Home Magazine in the Easter Edition. 

Sprinkle fresh raspberries around the cake platter and have a bowl of fresh whipping cream sitting beside this wonderful cake and oh my, the compliments you will receive!

3 Cups sugar

3/4 lb melted butter

4 eggs

1 tables vanilla

1 tables almond extract

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 teas salt

1/4 cup raspberry jam

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

3/4 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 300.

Mix the sugar and butter in a mixing bowl on low.

Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add the extracts. Sift together dry ingredients and add to the batter, mixing until smooth. Pour into greased and papered 9” cake pan, reserving about 1/3 of the batter.

Carefully smooth out a thin layer of the raspberry jam. Top with chocolate chips and half the sliced almonds. Carefully cover with the remaining batter.

Sprinkle the top of the cake with the remaining sliced almonds.

Bake for 1 hour and almost 45  minutes or more to be sure cake is done when knife inserted in center comes out with just a few crumbs on it. 

Cakes · Daily Thoughts · Fruit · Uncategorized

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

We have a winner folks. These cupcakes are truly decadent, light, flavorful, beautiful, sunshine in your mouth wonderful!  Everyone who has had one, (and so far that is about 50, (two different times of baking them and taking them to different places) has told me that this is their new favorite flavor of cupcake, or cake, that I have made. The first time i made it, was in a cake with cream cheese frosting for the filling and then wrapped it in whipped cream. As that is, to me, the best way to enjoy anything, (wrapped in whipping cream) these cupcakes just are so light and fluffy, that you could eat 5 of them in one sitting. I wish I could say it is because we have great will power to not do that, but the truth of the matter is, that we are in “stay at home” mode due to the CV. I don’t want to run out of eggs, or flour, which I am being told is very hard to find right now. So thankful I had bought a 10 lb bag  of flour last time I went to the store and 36 eggs. Because I make a shake pretty much every morning for breakfast with frozen blueberries I usually always have frozen blueberries in the freezer so when I began to think yesterday what I would bake, these came to mind, as the sun finally came shining through the kitchen window after about eleven days. So in honor of the beautiful sunshine, lemon blueberries were the baked good of the day.

1 Duncan Hines or Pillsbury lemon cake mix

1 small box of lemon instant pudding mix (yesterday I only had french vanilla pudding mix so used that.)

4 eggs, room temperature

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup water mixed with 1/2 cup lemon juice=1 cup liquid

1 cup frozen blueberries or pint of fresh blueberries, sprinkled with a little flour to keep them from sticking together in batter. (sprinkle about 1/8 cup or 2-3 tablespoons over the blueberries and stir flour to just coat them)

Mix all ingredients, except for blueberries for 2 minutes.  Stir in the blueberries just until they are mixed in well.  Do not stir much. Using large cookie scoop, fill cupcake liners and bake until the tops of cupcakes still have a little shine. Cupcakes continue to bake because of the hot cupcake pan, so you need to always take them out when there is still a little shine on the top and they are soft to the touch. This keeps you from making a dry cupcake.

Remove from pan and continue until all the batter is used. . This recipe makes 28 cupcakes if you use the large cookie scoop.  Cool and Frost.

Frosting

3  1/2 cups of powdered sugar

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

4 oz cream cheese, softened

Whipping cream to thin or milk if you prefer. Takes only about 1/3 cup , (but add this gradually by tablespoons so it doesn’t get to think) to get frosting to spreading consistency.  Add by tablespoon if you need a little more.

Mix all together and continue to mix until frosting is very light and fluffy. Frost cupcakes ( or cake if you have made this into a 9×13 cake). Store in refrigerator, covered.

 

Chocolate · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Uncategorized

Chocolate Fudge Pie

Today, another rainy beginning to this new normal of everyone working from home and kids being home schooled as well as parents trying to teach, and learn right along with them, while still trying to do what is necessary to bring in a pay check. These are difficult days, and challenging times when we all have to step up and change what we have been doing. What do we do to still serve when so many are confined to their homes? This week, when we began to hear about seniors being ask to self quarantine, I began to think of ways that I could help serve them.  What should be my part in stepping out of my comfort zone to share God’s love by meeting the needs of those who are seniors? As I was sharing these thoughts with Randy the other night, he watched me and listened to what I had to say. Then without a moments hesitation, the minute I ask him what he thought I should do, he smiled at me and said, “uh do you realize that in a couple of months you will be 70 and you are suppose to be one of those who are to self quarantine for awhile?” WHAT……but, wait a minute. That thought never crossed my mind that I am considered old. When did that happen? Quickly I responded to him, that because I eat garlic almost everyday and enough chocolate to ward off most bacterias, I should be able to hang a garlic bulb around my neck and get out there among the true old folks. Why I’m still young because I  still wear cute little blingy sandals and capris (even though these cute little capris might have elastic waistbands) and wear loop earrings that could easily be mistaken for “tapers”. And….I teach other people how to use their phones. So truly, I can’t be considered someone who needs to stay at home…? But because so many stores and restaurants are closed down, I haven been forced to spend more time at home than normal. It is allowing me time to work on another book, which will be called Tis So Sweet and is full of dessert recipes and stories of women who are willing to share how God has been faithful in difficult circumstances in their lives. Also, I have been baking a little more than normal, which means that instead of making a dessert each day, I’m now making two or three. It is fun to share food with others. Last night I made up a recipe that actually turned out really good. Was so easy and simple and I had everything on hand so no trip to the store was necessary. It was a baked chocolate fudge pie that we ate watching a really good movie on Netflix.  That is Randy’s job each night. To find us a good movie that is fun to watch and family friendly so that we can recommend to others without fear of it being full of foul language or sexual content. So far, he is batting a thousand. Two for two. Tues night we watched Faith, Hope and Love and last night we enjoyed a little french film called French Toast.  Darling movie. Here is the easy peasy recipe for a great chocolate fudge pie for you to up your immune system…at least that is what I tell myself when I am cutting a big piece and topping it with whipped cream.

1 bought chocolate oreo cookie crust

1 bar (4 oz) of semi sweet baking squres

1 stick (8 oz) unsalted butter

1 teas vanilla

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Melt the chocolate with the butter over low heat. When butter and chocolate are melted, remove from heat and stir in the can of milk. Set aside. In a medium bowl, stir the sugar, eggs, and flour together until smooth. Add the cooled chocolate and vanilla. Stir in the pecans and coconut and pour into the pie shell. The pie shell won’t hold all of this. With the left over mixture, I placed two chocolate chip cookies in the bottom of a small loaf pan and poured the rest of the mixture over them and baked them right along with the pie.  Bake in preheated 350 oven until knife inserted comes out clean. Cool and top with whipped cream.

Keep covered in fridge. Was even better the second night.