Chocolate Pecan Bundt Cake

CHOCOLATE PECAN BUNDT CAKE W/ CHOCOLATE ALMOND GLAZE

 I made this yummy cake yesterday for Memorial Day Family Time. It was a hit. Not overly sweet. Just the right amount of chocolate and the pecans give it a little something extra.

What You'll Need:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup sour cream (4 ounces)
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans

 

FOR THE GLAZE

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 teaspoon Almond extract

Directions

1. Make the cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 14-cup Bundt pan ( I use Pam for Baking). Whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Mix milk and sour cream in a small bowl (set aside).
2. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. Lower the speed to the lowest notch and add flour mixture, alternating with milk mixture, ending with flour. Fold in pecans with spatula. Spoon batter into pan. Bake until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack.
3. Make the glaze: Place chocolate in a bowl. Heat cream in a small saucepan until simmering, then pour over chocolate. Let stand for 2 minutes. Add butter and mix until smooth. Add almond extract. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Pour glaze over cooled cake.

Seafood Mac N Cheese

SEAFOOD MAC N' CHEESE

This decadent dish combines all my favorite things! Pasta, seafood and cheese. Super yummy, super delish. Everyone will be singing your praises

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
•  4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
•  3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 pound coarsely chopped cooked lobster, shrimp, crawfish, or crabmeat, or a combination
• 4 cups (1 pound) mixed grated cheeses, such as Parmesan, cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere, and Gouda
• 1/2 block of velveeta cheese 
• Additional spices (garlic powder, thyme, paprika) to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni 2 minutes less than al dente. Drain; rinse with cold water. Set aside.

While pasta is cooking, melt butter over medium in a large saucepan. Add onion and garlic to pan; cook until softened and almost translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add milk; whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook until sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg. Add additional spices to taste. Fold in Cheese (reserving half a cup for topping) until all is melted and sauce is thick and creamy.

Remove pan from heat. Fold in seafood and macaroni; transfer to a shallow 4-quart baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining amount of cheese over top. Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until topping is golden and sauce is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. 

This can be served as a side or a main dish. But it is very rich so it's best served alone!

Carbonara

CARBONARA

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

1/3 pound pancetta , small dice 

5 to 6 cloves garlic, chopped fine

1/2 cup dry white wine 

3 large egg yolks

Salt and pepper (to taste)

1 pound pasta such as linguine or spaghetti 

Grated Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano  

1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

3 tblspns of EVOO

DIRECTIONS:

Bring a large pot of water to boil for pasta.

 

Heat olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add pancetta or guanciale, brown 3-4 minutes, then add garlic and some black pepper, and stir 2 minutes more. Add wine and reduce heat to low. Whisk up egg yolks and season with salt and pepper.

 

Add pasta to salted boiling water and cook to al dente.  

 

Add 1 full cup of starchy cooking water to egg yolks in a slow stream to temper them.  Reserve an extra half-cup starchy water in case the pasta gets too tight when you toss it.  Drain pasta and add to pancetta and garlic, remove from heat and toss with egg yolks and handfuls of grated cheeses, parsley, adjust salt and pepper to taste.

COOK'S NOTE: I also add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a bite of heat.

Red Velvet Waffles w/Cream Cheese Glaze

Red Velvet Waffles with Cream Cheese Glaze

What You'll Need:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1¾ cup buttermilk
• ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• Red food coloring (liquid or gel)
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup – 1 cup whole milk

Directions:

1. Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Grease waffle iron and begin preheating.
3. In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk, butter, vanilla, and vinegar on low speed until well-combined. Add red food coloring (you want to add enough to achieve a red a couple shades darker than you actually want – the color will get lighter when you add the dry ingredients).
4. Pour wet mixture into dry mixture until combined. You can also add additional food coloring at this point if you desire, just mix gently.
5. Cook waffles according to your iron and size. Generally, waffles are done when they stop steaming. Makes approximately 10-12 regular size waffles.
6. For the glaze: Beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy, a few minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar, alternating with the milk and vanilla. Start with ½ cup milk and add more to achieve desired consistency.