Recipe of the Day: Macaroon Kisses *National Macaroons Day*

Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 egg white, whipped
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 (14-ounce) package flaked coconut

Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with foil; grease and flour foil. Set aside.

In large bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, egg white, extracts and coconut; mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets; slightly flatten each mound with a spoon.

Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Immediately remove from baking sheets (macaroons will stick if allowed to cool); cool on wire racks. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Preparation Time
10 minutes

Macaroon Kisses: Prepare and bake as above. Press solid milk chocolate candy piece in center of each macaroon immediately after baking.

Recipe found here: Macaroon Kisses

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Recipe of the Day: Mocha Layer Cake

Mocha Layer Cake

Ingredients
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) devil’s food or chocolate cake mix
1-1/3 cups brewed coffee, room temperature
1/2 cup canola oil
3 eggs
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

FROSTING
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
7 tablespoons brewed coffee, room temperature, divided
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, coffee, oil and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Pour into two greased and floured 8-in. round baking pans.

Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes; invert onto a wire rack.

Sprinkle each cake with 1/4 cup chocolate chips; when melted, gently spread chocolate over cakes. Place cakes in the freezer.

Meanwhile, for frosting, in a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in cocoa and extract. Beat in 5 tablespoons coffee, 1 tablespoon at a time until light and fluffy. Spread between layers and over the top and sides of cake.

In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and remaining coffee; stir until smooth. Pour over cake; carefully spread over the top, allowing it to drizzle down the sides. Yield: 10-12 servings.

Recipe found here: Mocha Layer Cake

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Recipe of the Day: Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits *National Biscuit Day*

Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup cold butter or margarine
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup buttermilk

Directions
In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cayenne. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the cheese and toss. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened.

Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times. Pat or roll to 1 in. thickness; cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. biscuit cutter. Place 1 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees F for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits

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Recipe of the Day: Asiago-Crusted Pork Chops

Asiago-Crusted Pork Chops

Ingredients
4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated Asiago cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 lemon wedges
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

Preparation
1. Place pork between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; pound to an even thickness (about 1/4 inch) using a meat mallet or a small heavy skillet.

2. Place egg white in a shallow dish. Combine panko, cheese, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Dip pork in egg white; dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently with fingers to coat.

3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add pork; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Squeeze 1 lemon wedge over each pork chop; sprinkle each evenly with thyme.

Recipe found here: Asiago-Crusted Pork Chops

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Recipe of the Day: Cherry Pound Cake Dessert *National Cherry Dessert Day*

Cherry Pound Cake Dessert

what you need
1-1/2cups boiling water
1pkg. (6 oz.) JELL-O Cherry Flavor Gelatin, or any red flavor
1-1/2cups cold water
1can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
1pkg. (12 oz.) prepared pound cake, cut into 10 slices
2cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

make it

ADD boiling water to gelatin mix in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water and pie filling. Refrigerate 1-1/4 hours or until slightly thickened.

LINE bottom of 13×9-inch dish with cake slices. Spoon gelatin mixture over cake.

REFRIGERATE 2 hours or until firm. Spread with COOL WHIP just before serving.

kraft kitchens tips

SUBSTITUTE Substitute 2 pkg. (3 oz. each) JELL-O Cherry Flavor Gelatin for the 1 pkg. (6 oz.) gelatin.THAW COOL WHIPPlace unopened tub of COOL WHIP Whipped Topping in the refrigerator. For complete thawing, allow these times: 4 hours for 8-oz. tub; 5 hours for 12-oz. tub; 6 hours for 16-oz. tub. Do not thaw COOL WHIP in the microwave.

Recipe found here: Cherry Pound Cake Dessert

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Recipe of the Day: Strawberry Trifle

Strawberry Trifle

Ingredients
1 cup cold milk
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped
8 cups cubed angel food cake
4 cups sliced fresh strawberries

Directions
In a large bowl, beat the milk, sour cream, pudding mix and orange peel on low speed until thickened. Fold in whipped cream.

Place half of the cake cubes in a 3-qt. glass bowl. Arrange a third of the strawberries around sides of bowl and over cake; top with half of the pudding mixture. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining berries. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Yield: 8-10 servings.

Recipe found here: Strawberry Trifle

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Recipe of the Day: Beef and Broccoli Wellington

Beef and Broccoli Wellington

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 (6 1/2-oz.) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 (20-oz.) pkg. frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
2 (8-oz.) pkgs. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
2 (8-oz.) tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

Preparation
Brown ground beef with onion and mushrooms in a skillet over medium heat; drain. Stir in broccoli and cheese. When cheese is melted, stir in sour cream.

Line a lightly greased 13″x9″ pan with one tube crescent rolls. Spoon ground beef mixture over rolls; arrange remaining of tube rolls on top.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15 minutes or until golden. Cut into squares to serve.

Recipe found here: Beef and Broccoli Wellington

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Recipe of the Day: Taffy *National Taffy Day*

Taffy

Ingredients
2 pounds sugar
4 pounds corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cups milk
3 drops red or peach coloring
2 teaspoons peach flavoring, for taste
Cornstarch, for sprinkling on pulling table
Special equipment: 4 (15 1/2 by 10 by 1-inch) well-buttered baking pans; table or marble slab, for pulling; yardstick; waxed paper, cut into 2 by 4-inch rectangles, for wrapping and twisting

Directions
In a saucepan, mix together the sugar, corn syrup and butter, stirring over high heat until mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Reduce heat and slowly add milk and cook until thermometer reaches 248 degrees F.

Pour mixture onto the 4 buttered baking trays. When taffy is cool enough to handle, butter your hands and bring corners to the center to form into a ball. Take all 4 balls and form into 1 large ball.

Place onto a table or marble slab so you and a helper can start the pulling process. Start folding and stretching your taffy ball. You should pull the taffy from your friend, fold over and over in your hands, then let your friend pull the taffy from you, repeating this process until the taffy turns light in color. Pulling the taffy adds tiny air bubbles throughout the candy, making it lighter and chewier.

Place the taffy on your pulling table/slab, add the color and flavoring, and start the pulling process all over again until the liquids are well incorporated and the taffy is the color you want.

Now you can lay the taffy on the table that has a small amount of cornstarch to keep it from sticking. While still soft, press into a 3/4-inch thick sheet. Take a yardstick and cut a straight line with buttered scissors or knife. Continue cutting the taffy into 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide strips. Cut strips into pieces that you want to wrap, about 2-inches. Begin wrapping the pieces in the waxed paper and twisting the ends.

*Cook’s Note: will keep for 6 months in airtight container at room temperature.

Recipe found here: Taffy

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Recipe of the Day: Old-Fashioned Vanilla Pudding “National Vanilla Pudding Day*

Old-Fashioned Vanilla Pudding

Ingredients
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup 2% milk
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat.

Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolk; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in butter and vanilla.

Cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to dessert dishes. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Recipe found here: Old-Fashioned Vanilla Pudding

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Strawberries and Cream Cake

Strawberries and Cream Cake

Ingredients
2 3/4 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups white sugar
1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup strawberries, pureed

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups quartered strawberries

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9 inch round cake pans.

In a large bowl, beat sugar, gelatin and butter until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Mix flour and baking powder, and beat alternately with the milk into the sugar mixture. Fold in 1 teaspoon vanilla and pureed strawberries. Divide equally into three 9 inch round cake pans.

Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then remove from pans and cool completely.

To make the filling: Beat whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla on high until stiff. Fill each layer with 1/3 of the whipped cream and 3/4 cup sliced strawberries.

To make the frosting: Beat the margarine, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Spread over the sides of the cake, and pipe an edge of frosting around the top of the cake.

Spread remaining whipped cream on cake top. Top with quartered strawberries.

Recipe found here: Strawberries and Cream Cake

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