Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Marshmallow Fondant


I found this recipe at this link. I love it and use it all the time, so I thought I should post it so that I always have access too it. Hope you enjoy it too.


MM (Marshmallow) Fondant Recipe
Marshmallow Fondant ingredients

16 ounces white mini-marshmallows (use a good quality brand)

2 to 5 tablespoons water

2 pounds icing sugar (please use C&H Cane Powdered Sugar for the best results)

1/2 cup Crisco shortening (you will be digging into it so place in a very easily accessed bowl)

NOTE: Please be careful, this first stage can get hot.

Melt marshmallows and 2 tablespoons of water in a microwave or double boiler: Put the bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds, open microwave and stir, back in microwave for 30 seconds more, open microwave and stir again, and continue doing this until melted. It usually takes about 2 1/2 minutes total. Place 3/4 of the powdered sugar on the top of the melted marshmallow mix.

Now grease your hands GENEROUSLY (palms, backs, and in between fingers), then heavily grease the counter you will be using and dump the bowl of marshmallow/sugar mixture in the middle. (By the way, this recipe is also good for your hands. When I’m done, they are baby soft.)

Start kneading like you would bread dough. You will immediately see why you have greased your hands. If you have children in the room they will either laugh at you or look at you with a questioning expression. You might even hear a muttered, “What are you doing?”

Keep kneading, this stuff is sticky at this stage! Add the rest of the powdered sugar and knead some more. Re-grease your hands and counter when the fondant starts sticking. If the mix is tearing easily, it is to dry, so add water (about 1/2 tablespoon at a time and then knead it in). It usually takes me about 8 minutes to get a firm smooth elastic ball so that it will stretch without tearing when you apply it to the cake.


I
t is best if you can let it sit, double wrapped, overnight (but you can use it right away if there are no tiny bits of dry powdered sugar). If you do see them, you will need to knead and maybe add a few more drops of water.

Prepare the fondant for storing by coating it with a good layer of Crisco shortening, wrap in a plastic-type wrap product and then put it in a re-sealable or Ziploc bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible.

MM Fondant will hold very well in the refrigerator for weeks. If I know that I have a cake to decorate, I usually make two (2) batches on a free night during the week so it is ready when I need it. Take advantage of the fact that this fondant can be prepared well in advance.


Now it’s time to start. Your cake should be baked, and completely cooled. If you have a shaped cake, you can trim it now and then place the cake on a prepared cake board. In other words, you are assembling the cake puzzle on the board. You can also place the cake on the board first and then trim (you must be extra careful not to damage the covered board). I personally find that shaping first is the easiest and then transferring the cake.

Give the top and sides of the cake a nice thick 1/4-inch coating of Buttercream Icing (click on the underlined for buttercream icing recipe). NOTE: At first I was wondering why I needed to bother with this step. Well, there are a couple of reasons: The buttercream icing helps the fondant to “stick” to the cake and this cushion of undercoating icing helps to give you the beautiful smooth nearly perfect finish that you are looking for.

When you are ready to use the rested fondant, the first thing you need to do is decide what size you will need to roll your icing to.

Next, you need to sprinkle a bit of cornstarch on your counter to help prevent sticking (rub it in). Give the fondant a little kneading to incorporate the Crisco coating. It will be pretty stiff when you try to knead it again, but it can be microwaved for 10 to 20 seconds, if necessary. Start off with 10 seconds

(please be careful as items that have high sugar contents can get hot in the microwave very quickly). The fondant will soften right up and be perfect for rolling out and playing with. You want the temperature to be close to your body temperature.

Now is the best time to add your food coloring. I prefer to store my fondant in it’s natural color of white. Some colors can change the consistency of the icing. If you do need to store colored fondant, wrap each color very well in plastic wrap or Saran Wrap. Colors like red and burgundy are notorious for “bleeding” into other colors and ruining them. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Bag everything in Ziploc bags. Remember that food coloring can also stain your hands and nails. I have food grade plastic gloves that I keep around. Add your food coloring, a little at a time, and knead it in. You can always go darker but it is difficult to go lighter. Red has a tendency to get darker as it sits and “ages”.

Pre-shape your icing into approximately the shape of your cake. For a round cake, make a disk shape. For a rectangular make a log shape.

OK, here is a point of controversy about the next step. Some instructors tell you to only sprinkle cornstarch on your counter before you put the fondant down, sprinkle with more corn starch, and then roll fondant out to desired shape. Some teachers advise that you grease the counter, put the fondant down, and lightly grease the top of the fondant as need to prevent sticking.

I prefer the cornstarch myself, but during very dry atmospheric conditions, I have been known to use the shortening method. The grease will help to hold in the moisture and keeps the fondant pliable. If necessary, add drops of water and knead it in thoroughly before proceeding. You will need to try out both ways in the future and decide what you like the most. A third alternative is a large-sized Roulpat Mat (31 x 23 inches). It really does work well and it can also help you with moving a large piece of rolled out fondant. I’ve never done it, but I was told that you just gently bend the mat edges downward with the icing still on it. Place the edge of mat and the icing next to the edge of the butter-creamed cake and flip the fondant over the cake. What was the top of the fondant that you rolled out, is now touching the buttercream and what was the bottom side is now the topside that you see.

Most folks do not have a nonstick rolling pin, but if you do, now is the time to use it. If not, lightly rub cornstarch on the surface of the rolling pin and roll out to the desired size.

I like to roll my icing at least 1/8-inch thick. It’s thick enough for ease of handling and strength integrity. I wouldn’t go any thinner than 1/8-inch for the cake covering. When I’m making decorations with the fondant, I will sometimes roll it thinner. The MM Fondant is very forgiving and rarely tears but everything has it limits.

The technique that I use is to gently roll the icing on the rolling pin like a piece of fabric. DO NOT FOLD! An edge will be hanging down.

Quickly place the fondant at one bottom edge of the cake and unroll the rolling pin, holding it about 2 inches over the cake. Your fondant will then “fall” into place. You should also have a bit of overhang over the edges.

You might need a little cornstarch at this stage, but only use it very sparingly if you have a dark colored icing. I very lightly sprinkle the cornstarch over the surface and use a buffing motion with my hand to move it around and to level the surface. This motion seals the fondant to the buttercream, works out the bumps in the icing below the surface, and removes flaws from the joined areas in the cakes surface below. Please use a VERY gentle pressure to rub the surface of the icing. I often have a little pile of the cornstarch on the counter and dip my hands in it as needed. Here is an important tip: Watch out for your fingernails as long nails can mark up your surface quickly and it is very difficult to smooth them back out.

If you notice a bubble in the surface, take a thin sharp needle and poke a tiny hole, at an angle, in the bubble. If you poke straight down, you can almost always see the hole even after the most careful smoothing. The angled hole lets the air out of the bubble, and with a tiny bit of rubbing you can reseal the hole.

I keep a clean, soft pastry brush close by, to move the cornstarch around.

Do this lightly or you can leave brush marks on the surface that are almost impossible to remove. A number of companies make fondant smoothers for around $10. I have one, but I’ve used it only once and I’ve used my hands ever since. For me, it is easier and quicker. If you don’t handle the smoother correctly, you can damage the fondant’s finish.

Gently, with the side of your hand, push the fondant into the sides of the cake against the cake board.

To trim the excess fondant, you can use a sharp knife.

I find that the easiest and neatest way is to use a Pizza Cutter. Hold it at a 45 degree angle from the cake board and the side of the cake. Go slow and follow the shape of the cake. If you hold the cutter at the correct angle, you will have an almost perfect bottom edge. Gently, with your finger tips, push any little leftovers in against the cake for the neatest appearance. If the edge isn’t as nice as you want, you can always add a fondant rope or pearls. Buttercream shells, stars, or flowers look wonderful also.

If your cake needs a bit of shaping, do it now. I used the outside edge of my hand to make the indents to define certain areas of the cake.

Well, you have finished the covering of your cake.

Many professional decorators feel that a fondant covered cake will hold the moisture in the cake for 3 to 5 days, depending on your atmosphere. I personally don’t want to go beyond 3 days. I like the cake to have a fresh taste.

Do not refrigerate your covered cake! When you take the cake out of the refrigerator, moisture will condense and destroy your beautiful surface. Your best option is to store the cake in a sealed bakery box. The cardboard sides of a box will keep the dust in the air off the cake, but allows the Fondant to breath.

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Thursday, March 12, 2009

Lemon Poppy Seed Cakes with Lemon Mousse


These are a must try. I am excited to get a chance at these. I am putting the recipe down so that I dont loose it.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cakes with Lemon Mousse
Ingredients:
For the cake:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup egg whites (from about 3-4 eggs)
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
zest of one lemon
1 tbsp. poppy seeds
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

For the lemon syrup:
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp. sugar

For decoration:
fresh strawberry slices (you could also use fresh raspberries, etc. Be creative!)

For the mousse:
1 1/2 tsp. gelatin
2 tbsp. cold water
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tbsp. lemon zest
1 cup heavy cream

Directions:
To make the cake, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9×13″ pan with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine. In a separate bowl combine the egg whites and milk. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and slowly add the egg white mixture while stirring with a whisk. Add the poppy seeds and the melted butter and mix with a whisk until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cakes are cooling, prepare the lemon syrup. Combine the lemon juice, water and sugar in a small saucepan and heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

Prepare to assemble the desserts. Line the bottoms of 4-5 ramekins with rounds of parchment paper. Make a ring out of another piece of parchment paper to line the edges of the dishes. (You could also use clean soup cans.) Once the cake has cooled, cut out rounds of cake and place into the bottoms of the prepared containers. (I cut a piece of card stock to fit the bottom of a ramekin, and then traced around it with my knife to cut the rounds so that they fit nicely.) Brush the cake rounds with the lemon syrup. Place strawberry slices around the perimeter of the dishes, snugly against the parchment paper.

To make the mousse, in a very small bowl sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let sit while you prepare the cream. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar and egg yolks together. Add the cornstarch and whisk until you have a thick, smooth paste. Set aside. Meanwhile, add the milk to a saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the milk, and add the remaining part of the bean to the pot as well. Heat over medium-high heat until boiling. Remove from the heat and add slowly to the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. (Pour through a fine mesh strainer if this happens.) Remove the vanilla bean. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Add the lemon juice and zest, cook for 30 more seconds, and remove from the heat. Immediately add in the gelatin and stir until completely dissolved. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream so that it does not develop a skin as it cools to room temperature.

Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold it into the cooled pastry cream. Spoon the mousse immediately into the prepared ramekins so that it reaches just above the top of the strawberry slices. Level the top and refrigerate until set. Remove the desserts from the ramekins, peel off the parchment paper and serve.

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Pesto with Farfalle Pasta with Roasted Chicken



Try this delicious pasta dish from Cristina Ferrare. It's the perfect solution for when you have leftover chicken.

Ingredients:
Pesto:

  • 4 cups fresh basil leaves
  • 4 cups Italian parsley springs
  • 4 large cloves garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
Roasted Chicken Salad:

  • 1 cup diced Roasted Chicken
  • 1 cucumber , peeled, seeded and diced
  • 2 cups mixed greens
  • 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts
  • 1/2 lemon , juiced
  • Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 pound farfalle pasta
  • Handful pomegranate seeds
To prepare the pesto: Chop basil, parsley and garlic in a food processor. Slowly add olive oil and keep chopping. Add salt.

To prepare the chicken mixture and final dish: Place Roasted Chicken, cucumber, pine nuts, 1 Tbsp. of pesto and olives in a bowl and mix together. Cook pasta until al dente. Add 2 tablespoons of pesto to the pasta and mix well. Top off with 2 cups of mixed greens and the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Add the chicken mixture to pasta and toss. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and pomegranate seeds
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Chicken Enchiladas



These chicken enchiladas make a great family meal—and they're simple to make!

Ingredients:


  • 16 ounce bottle or can enchilada sauce
  • 6 low-fat or fat-free tortillas
  • 1 jar salsa
  • 2 cans refried beans
  • 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup shredded sharp Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
  • 1/4 cup kalamata olives , pitted
  • 1 jalapeño , chopped and seeded
  • Roasted Chicken
Heat oven to 400°.

Pour the can of enchilada sauce into a pie dish. Dip tortillas in the sauce to soften them.

On a cutting board, gently spread refried beans on one side of each tortilla. Add enough diced Roasted Chicken to cover the beans. Sprinkle with cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Add olives, chopped jalapeño and salsa (optional).

Roll up the tortillas and place seam-side down in a 9" x 13" baking dish.

Blend the sour cream into the remaining enchilada sauce in the pie dish. Pour over enchiladas and sprinkle remaining cheese.

Cover and bake for 25-30 minutes until hot and bubbly.
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Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust




This is a feel-good meal! It's traditional without a catch but very satisfying—not to mention easy and fast.

Ingredients:


Filling:

  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1 medium Onion , chopped
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cups chopped Roasted Chicken
  • 1/2 cup frozen sweet petite peas
  • 1 potato , diced and boiled
  • 1 1/2 cup chopped, cooked carrots
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • Cracked pepper
  • Dash of Tabasco® sauce
Crust:

  • 3/4 cup white or yellow cornmeal
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tbsp. canola oil
To make filling: Preheat the oven to 400°. Spray a 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil and unsalted butter together. Add onion and sauté until tender, about 4 or 5 minutes. Add in flour until blended. Slowly stir in 2 cups of heated chicken stock, whisking well. Cook mixture over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, about 4 minutes. Stir in chicken, peas, potato, carrots, salt, pepper and Tabasco®. Pour into a 2-quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray and cook until heated and thickened. Spread evently into an ovenproof dish.

To make crust: In a bowl, stir cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Stir milk, egg and canola oil until well combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Spoon the batter evenly on the filling. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 22 to 25 minutes.
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Roasted Chicken



Ingredients:
Roasted Chicken:

  • 2 chickens , 4 1/2 to 5 pounds each
  • 6 lemons
  • A poultry mix of fresh herbs: Rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano work well
Marinade for one chicken:

  • 1 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup juice from fresh lemon (don't discard lemon rinds)
To make marinade: Place all ingredients in a nonreactive bowl. Whisk with a wire whisk until ingredients are incorporated well—the marinade should have a smooth and creamy consistency.

To make roasted chicken: Preheat oven to 425°.

Clean chickens well and pat dry. Place each chicken in its own baking dish.

Stuff cavities with lemon rinds and fresh herbs. A poultry mix is fine, usually consisting of rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano.

Pour marinade over chicken. Add cracked pepper and remaining herbs to the top of each chicken.

Place an oven thermometer in each chicken and cover with aluminum foil. Place on the lower rack of the oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, then remove the aluminum foil. Baste with a basting bulb. Keep basting often, ever 15 minutes until the thermometer reads 180°.
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Monday, October 13, 2008

Pumpkin Walnut Cookies



Pumpkin Walnut Cookies
By: Land O'Lakes

Cookies Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup (8 ounces) canned pumpkin (pumpkin comes in 15 ounce cans; not pumpkin pie filling)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon (I used pumpkin pie spice)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts

Frosting Ingredients:

2 cups powdered sugar (I recommend sifting this)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened (I used 1/3 less fat Neufchatel cheese)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon (I used pumpkin pie spice)
Walnut pieces, if desired

Direcetions:

· Heat oven to 350°F. Combine butter, brown sugar and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla. Continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Stir in 1 cup walnuts by hand.

· Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool completely. (I let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cookie rack to finish cooling - they are soft and delicate, so be careful.)

· Combine all frosting ingredients except walnut pieces in medium bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth. Frost cooled cookies. Garnish with walnuts, if desired.

Yield: 5 dozen cookies

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