PINK LEMONADE ICE CREAM PIE

3/4 cup gingersnaps*

2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs*
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
1 can (6-oz) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9-inch pie pan with nonstick spray; set aside.

Crush gingersnaps and add the the graham cracker crumbs; mix in the sugar and butter. Press mixture firmly into the prepared pie pan covering the bottom and sides. Bake at 350 degrees 10 minutes; cool.

Combine the ice cream and lemonade concentrate in a bowl; mix well. Pour into the cooled crust.

Free pie until firm.

*May use all graham cracker crumbs or use a prepared graham cracker crust.

file photo.

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES WITH VANILLA FILLING

1 pkg (16-oz) angel food cake mix

2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups halved strawberries (fresh berries)
Prepared Homemade Vanilla Custard (previous recipe on this blog)
24 fresh mint sprigs, if desired

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Line 24 cupcake tins with paper liners.

Make the cake mix according to package directions using a paddle attachment on mixer.  Stir in the vanilla.  Spoon the batter into the paper-lined muffin cups; fill cups full.  (The cakes will rise over the edges of the paper cups; gently loosen with a paring knife.)  Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes in the center of the oven.  Toothpick test for doneness.  Allow to cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.

Gently loosen cakes with the paring knife and remove from the pans to the wire racks; cool completely.  This will take around 20 minutes.

Scoop out centers of cakes (use discarded cake for other purposes), leaving 1/2-inch of cake on the bottom and the sides.  Pipe the vanilla custard into the cake cavities.  Top with the strawberry halves.  Cover cakes and refrigerate until serving time.

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HOMEMADE VANILLA CUSTARD

2 1/2 cups milk

3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract

Whisk together the milk,  sugar, flour, and egg yolks in a heavy-duty 3-quart saucepan.  Cook mixture over medium heat, while whisking constantly, for 10 to 12 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from the heat then stir in the vanilla extract.  Cover and chill for 3 hours before serving or using in a recipe.

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INDIVIDUAL SALTED CARAMEL PUMPKIN PIES

1 refrigerated roll of pie crust for a 9-inch pie

1 can (15-oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 3-oz pkgs cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup caramel sauce + more for drizzle
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 large eggs
Flaky salt for topping
Whipped cream for serving

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Spray 12 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Roll out the pie crust into a 12-inch circle. Use a 2 1/4-inch biscuit cutter or glass to cut out 12 circles of the crust. Set the dough rounds in the bottom of each of the muffin cups. Bake about 6 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly. Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, cream cheese, caramel sauce, and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Whisk in the eggs.

Divide the pumpkin mixture evenly into the 12 muffin tins. Sprinkle a little flaky salt over the top of each.

Bake at 325 degrees about 25 minutes until the filling is set, lightly browned and domed on top.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack in the muffin tin/s.

To remove pies, slide a small offset spatula or butter knife around the pies and under the bottoms to loosen. Remove to serving plates and serve topped with whipped cream, drizzled with caramel sauce and a sprinkle of flaky salt.

Yield: 12 individual pies

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CREAM CHEESE PASTRY CRUST

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2-oz cold cream cheese, cut into pieces
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp ice water

In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, salt; add butter and pulse until it is the size of peas. Add cream cheese and pulse again until the size of peas. Add the vinegar and water; pulse again until dough holds together when squeezed.

Gather dough into a ball on a sheet of plastic wrap. Pat into a disk, wrap and chill at least 4 hours before using.

Yield: 1 disk

photo from pinterest

 

RASPBERRY CREAM CHEESE COFFEE CAKE

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sour cream
1 large egg
1 tsp almond extract

Topping:
1 block (8-oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup raspberry preserves
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9" or 10" springform pan; set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour and 3/4 cup granulated sugar; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture; set aside.

To the remaining flour mixture, add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, sour cream, 1 egg, and the almond extract; blend well. Spread mixture over the bottom and 2" up the sides of the prepared pan.

To make topping:
In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, sugar, and egg; blend well. Pour over the batter in the pan.

Slightly warm the raspberry preserves and carefully spread over the filling.

In a small bowl, combine the reserved crumb mixture with the almonds; sprinkle over the preserves.

Bake cake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until the filling is set and crust is a deep golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool 15 minutes before removing sides of pan.

To serve, cut cake into 16 slices. May be served warm or cool. Leftovers should be refrigerated.

file photo for reference only

CHOCOLATE NAPOLEONS

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

2 cups cold milk
2 cups sour cream
2 pkgs (3.9-oz each) instant chocolate pudding mix

TOPPING:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
2 squares (1-oz each) semisweet chocolate, melted & cooled

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

On a lightly floured flat surface, roll puff pastry into a 12-inch square; cut into 12 4-in x 3-in rectangles. Place on ungreased baking sheets and bake at 400 degrees for 9 to 12 minutes or until pastry is puffed and golden brown.  Remove from baking sheets to wire racks to cool.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk milk and sour cream together until smooth.  Add the pudding mix and whisk for 2 minutes or until blended.  Refrigerate for 5 minutes.

Split each pastry in half creating a top and a bottom.  Spoon the pudding mixture evenly over the 12 bottom halves; replace tops over the pudding.

To make the topping, combine the powdered sugar and the milk until smooth and drizzle over tops of the napoleons.  Drizzle the melted chocolate over the napoleons.  Serve immediately.

Yield: 12 servings

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APPLE WALNUT MUFFINS #3

1/2 cup sugar

2 large apples, peeled and diced
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup golden raisins
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease or line with paper cups 18 muffin cups; set aside.

Combine the sugar and apples in a medium mixing bowl; set aside.

Beat the eggs, oil, and vanilla together; add to the apples.

In a separate bowl combine remaining ingredients, mixing well. Stir in the apple mixture; combine thoroughly. This will be a stiff batter.

Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Yield: 18 muffins

This is a Kraft photo for reference.

STRAWBERRY-BANANA CREPES

CREPES:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 to 2 tablespoons butter

In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, milk, and eggs.  Cover mixture and refrigerate for 1 hour.  

In an 8-inch nonstick skillet melt 1 teaspoon of the butter.  Stir the batter and place 2 tablespoons of the batter into the center of the skillet.  Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom.  Cook until the top appears dry; turn and cook 15 to 20 seconds longer.  Remove to a wire rack and continue repeating the process until all batter is used, adding more of the butter as needed. 

When the crepes are cool, stack with waxed paper in between.  Can be kept in the refrigerator overnight or used after they are cooled.

FILLING:
1 pkg (8-oz) cream cheese, softened
1 carton (8-oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup powdered sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the filling ingredients until smooth.  Spread two tablespoons of the filling mixture on each crepe.  Roll up and spoon the topping (below) over the crepes.

TOPPING:
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
2 medium-sized firm bananas, sliced
1/4 cup sugar, if desired

Combine all ingredients and spoon over the filled crepes for serving. Garnish with fresh strawberries and banana.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen crepes.

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CREAMY FRUIT

1 block (8-oz) cream cheese, softened

1 jar (6-oz) peach baby food
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 can (21-oz) peach pie filling
1 can (15-oz) fruit cocktail, drained
1 can (11-oz) mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 cup crushed pineapple
1 tub (8-oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
additional whipped topping for garnish
12 long-stemmed maraschino cherries for garnish
12 mint sprigs for garnish, if desired

In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the baby food and spices; mix well.  Stir in the pie filling, fruit cocktail, oranges, and pineapple.  Gently fold in the whipped topping, marshmallows and nuts.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

To serve, place into individual serving bowls and top with an additional dollop of whipped cream and a long stemmed maraschino cherry.  Add a sprig of mint, if desired.

Yield: 12 servings

Recipe and photo from a 2005 TOH.