Variations on Cooking

This is a variation on my grandmothers Sugar Cookie recipe, I had bought this large bunch of Meyer Lemons and i thought it might be a light lemony taste if i switched out the Vanilla for lemon juice and zest. I actually like it better, enjoy. I always make big batches of cookies, i guess you can half the recipe. This makes about 8 dozen cookies Ingredients 6 cups of unbleached flour 4 cups of raw sugar 4 sticks unsalted butter, room temp 4 eggs 2 tablespoons of Meyer Lemon

These wonderfully thin, tender butter cookies, have a delightful raspberry-lemon glaze Ingredients Cookies 2 cups powered sugar 4 sticks unsalted butter 4 1/2 cups unbleached flour 2 egg yolks 4 teaspoons lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon salt Glaze 4 cups powered sugar 4 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons Framboise Whisk together the salt and flour In a stand mixer cream together the balance of the ingredients until light, then add the flour. Remove from mixing bowl, form into a bal

One more cookie recipe, then back to other dishes. I could never find a Linzer Cookie recipe that did not come out very dry, also it never tasted like the Linzer Tarts I use to get at this one bakery in Buffalo. So I set I myself to recreating that recipe to the flavor I remember. Ingredients 2 1/2 cups of Unbleached flour 1 cup of Hazelnuts 2/3 cups of raw sugar 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon of cardamon 1/4 teaspoon of salt 2 sticks of unsalted butter, diced 1/4 teaspo

Ingredients 6 sticks of unsalted butter at room temp 7 cups of all-purpose unbleached flour 2 cups of raw sugar 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoons of salt 1/3 teaspoon of real orange extract Directions In a large bowl whip the butter until creamy, next with the mixer on low, slowly add the sugar. Once all the sugar has been combined with the butter add the vanilla and orange extracts. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the flour and salt. Once the dough st

I received a request for this recipe. So here it is; now I have not made this since a dinner party we had several years ago and I think this is the complete recipe, my notes for this recipe are sort of on four pages, and judging by my notes it took several tries until a got it right. Ingredients 3 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon of ground cardamon 1 teaspoon of baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon of salt 2 1/4 sticks of unsalted butter. room te

One of my favorite desserts, well Cherries are my favorite fruit. I did a variation on the cake from the cardamon cupcakes I have posted earlier. Cherry upside-down cake Ingredients 12 tablespoons of unsalted butter plus 4 tablespoons for the top 1 cup of raw sugar plus 1/2 a cup for the top 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice 1 teaspoon dried basil 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamon 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 eggs 3 teas

Ingredients 1 cup of Whiskey 1/2 cup of golden raisins 1/2 cup of raisins 4 1/2 cups of unbleached flour 3 1/2 cups of chopped pecans 2 1/4 cups of raw sugar 2 sticks unsalted butter at room temp 6 eggs 2 teaspoons of baking powder 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 cup powder sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 to 3 teaspoons of water 1/4 cup chopped pecans Directions In a small bowl place whiskey and raisins and soak overnight. Pre

These are great light cakes to have with your morning coffee or tea. Ingredients 2 cups of unbleached flour 1 1/4 cup of raw sugar 1 cup of currants 3/4 cup of milk or half & half 1 stick of unsalted butter at room temp 1/3 cup of water 2 eggs 3 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon of orange rind 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. In a small saucepan place 1/2 cup of sugar, water,

There are a few steps to this dish but is so worth it. Ingredients 2 pounds of Shrimp 4 medium potatoes, chopped Olive Oil Salt & Pepper to taste 1 pint of mushrooms 1 cup of peas, cooked 2 tablespoons of butter 4 garlic cloves, minced hand-full of Fresh Italian Parsley & Thyme, chopped pinch of red pepper flakes Shrimp Pot 2 bay leaves 2 springs of fresh thyme 8 black pepper pods 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper 2 tablespoon of salt A large pot of water Directions With all the

It is that time of year here in the Pocono Mountains where you can find fresh trout everywhere. We actually have trout in the river we live on, but I'd rather watch paint dry then go fishing. I find it is much easier just to go to my local fish store and buy it. Ingredients 4 small trout, cleaned, wash and dried 2 pints of mushrooms of choice - I use Crimini and Hen of the Woods, chopped 2 Shallots, minced 4 cloves of garlic, minced 2 tablespoons of Grapefruit Vinegar 2 tabl

The variations on this dessert are endless just switch out the fruit. Ingredients Cake 3 cups of unbleached flour 1 1/2 sticks on unsalted butter, diced and cold 2/3 cup cream 2 eggs, whisked 1/3 cup raw sugar 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoon melted butter 1 teaspoon salt Filling 4 cups of peach slices Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1/2 cup powder sugar pinch of salt Topping 2 cups of heavy cream 1/2 cup powder sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extra pinch of salt Directions Prehea

Red velvet cake is a chocolate cake with either a red, bright red or red-brown color. It is traditionally prepared as a layer cake topped with cream cheese or cooked roux icing. Common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, cocoa, and flour for the cake, beetroot or red food coloring for the color. History James Beard's reference, American Cookery (1972), describes three red velvet cakes varying in the amounts of shortening, butter, and vegetable oil. All used red food color

Cherry Cheesecake Monkey Bread AUTHOR: GIRL VERSUS DOUGH PREP TIME: 2 HOURS 30 MINS COOK TIME: 40 MINS TOTAL TIME: 3 HOURS 10 MINS YIELDS: 8 TO 10 SERVINGS INGREDIENTS For the dough: 1 tablespoon plus ½ cup granulated sugar, divided 2¼ teaspoons (1 packet) Red Star active dry yeast ⅔ cup warm water (about 110-115 degrees F) 4¼ cups all-purpose flour, divided 2 tablespoons dry milk powder 1 teaspoon salt ⅔ cup milk 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled 1

Continuing with the sauce recipes here is my take on the classic Bearnaise sauce. Now this is not as easy as the Bechamel sauce, it often breaks and when that happens there is no way to save it and you need to start over. But take your time and you should be okay. Ingredients 1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, melted 5 egg yolks, broken 1/4 cup of Tarragon vinegar 2 springs of Tarragon & Chervil, minced 1 tablespoon of minced shallots 3 peppercorns 1/2 teaspoon ground Cayenne

I recently received a message asking about how to make a Bechamel sauce and what can it be used in. Well, it is a really simple sauce to make, it does take a bit of time at the stove but the uses are endless as well as the variations to the sauce. The best Mac and cheese recipes all start with a variation on Bechamel sauce. This sauce is the base for the best Mac and Cheese, Egg dishes; the base for sauces of fish, chicken, veal dishes; Souffles, Croquettes and so much more

I found this recipe in my Grandmother cookbook, it took me a while to translate her handwriting and to figure out the ingredients and take a guess on the ones I could not make out. I did a few test bakes and here is my Grandmother's Recipe. It is a really simple desert to make and oh so good. Ingredients 3 to 4 cups of pitted cherries 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 5 large eggs 1/3 cup raw sugar, plus a tablespoon 6 tablespoons unbleached flour 2 table spoons cherry brandy 1 table sp

Last night I started with one idea and ended up with something different then I planned. I was going to make a stuffed catfish but I ended up with the really great crab dish. Crab a la Michael Ingredients 1/2 Lb of bacon, chopped 4 andouille sausage, diced 2 red peppers, diced 1 yellow onion, diced 4 stalks of celery, diced 3 cloves of garlic minced 1/2 cup of Italian parsley, chopped and stems removed 16 oz of crab 4 tablespoons of butter 8 oz of goat cheese 1 egg 1 teaspoon

Ingredients 1 stick of unsalted butter at room temp (1/2 cup) 1/2 cup of sugar 1/4 cup firm packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour - I use unbleached 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1 cup dark chocolate chips - Sometimes I find them at Costco, Wholefoods, Wegmans or Giant 1 cup dried sour cherries - Costco in the fall, I stock up and freeze them 1 cup chopped walnuts Directions Pre-heat oven to 375

Ingredients 3 cups unbleached flour 3 sticks on unsalted butter, room temp 1 1/2 cup raw sugar 1 cup of Green and Blacks cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon salt Directions In the stand mixer cream together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. Turning the mixer to low slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter and the sugar. Once all combined turn out, shape into a ball, wrap in plastic, and

I had this cake, it is so good, Ina made it a few times for me, It also has the same frosting as the Orange Cake. Ingredients Cake 2 1/2 cups of cake flour 10 tablespoons of unsalted butter, room temp 1 1/2 cup of raw sugar 4 eggs whites 2/3 cup of half and half 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking power 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar Filling 1/3 cup of chopped figs 1/2 cup each of the following Raisins, wal