Torta Caprese

Torta Caprese

Ingredients:

7 ounces dark chocolate
4 large eggs, separated
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups ground almonds
7 ounces butter, melted & cooled

Topping:

Powdered sugar or cocoa powder
Sweetened whip cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9-inch spring form pan.

In a food processor, process the chocolate until fine.

Beat the egg yolks with the sugar and vanilla extract until pale and thick.  Fold the chocolate, butter and ground almonds into the egg yolk mixture.

Use a clean bowl to beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks and then fold into chocolate almond mixture.

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for about 50 to 60 minutes or until set.

Cool 20 minutes, then remove from spring form pan.

Allow to cool to room temperature and then dust the top with powdered sugar or cocoa. Top with sweetened whip cream.

Serves 8

Gluten-free Oatmeal Cookies

Gluten-free Oatmeal Cookies
Recipe submitted by Luti Lauvao Gibbs

What Does Gluten Free Actually Mean? Gluten free means foods that do not have gluten. Commonly found in wheat, gluten is a type of protein. It is also found in barley and rye. Gluten is the ingredient that gives dough its elasticity.

Gluten is used extensively as food additive.  Its property to thicken is beneficial in giving rigidity to highly fluid substances.  Definition by forkoffgluten.com

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oil, butter or margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla
3/4 cup Namaste Perfect Flour Blend
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cup gluten-free oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Directions:

Cream together oil, butter or margarine with sugars, egg and vanilla until smooth.  Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes then move to wire rack and continue cooling.  Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Recipe submitted by Luti Lauvao Gibbs

Chocolate Bundt Cake w/ Chocolate Glaze

Chocolate Bundt Cake w/ Chocolate Glaze

This is the easiest and most delicious cake to make!  It is moist, and the whole family will love it!

Ingredients:

1 (18 1/4 oz) package devil's food cake mix
1 (4 oz) package instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 3/4 cups water
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Glaze

3 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
2 - 3 tablespoons hot water

Milk chocolate bar for decorative shavings

Directions:

Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour bundt pan, set aside.

In large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix and chocolate chips.

In another bowl, combine water, eggs, and vanilla mixing well.

Add egg mixture to dry mixture and mix with spoon until just blended.

Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake tests done when wooden pick in center comes out clean.

Cool 15 to 20 minutes before removing cake from pan.

When completely cool, drizzle cake with chocolate glaze.  Decorate with milk chocolate shavings.

Chocolate Glaze

Combine all ingredients in bowl.  Mix with spoon until smooth.  If needed, microwave a few seconds to heat the glaze to dissolve the clumps of powered sugar.

Gerard's Birthday

Yummy Birthday Cake

Lemon Scented Espresso Bars

Lemon Scented Espresso Bars
Recipe submitted by Patricia Robinson

You must try these heavenly lemon scented espresso bars.  They are out of this world delicious!

Ingredients:

Crust

8 oz. unsalted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling

4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup brewed espresso or double strength coffee, room temperature
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
3 to 4 tablespoons dark coffee beans, finely grated
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

To make the crust, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Blend in the flour, zest and salt.  Press the mixture evenly into ungreased 13x9-inch glass baking dish and bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.  Remove pan to a wire rake and cool at least 10 minutes.

To make the filling, beat the eggs and sugars in medium bowl until thick and smooth. Blend in the espresso, flour, zest, ground coffee and baking powder.  Pour over crust and bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove pan to wire rake and cool completely. Cover, chill and cut into squares. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Make 30

Recipe submitted by Patricia Robinson

Lofthouse Style Sugar Cookie - Copy Cat Recipe

Lofthouse Style Sugar Cookie - Copy Cat Recipe

Looking for a great, home-made Valentine's gift?  If yes, here's an easy recipe that your special someone will love to receive.  Happy Valentine's Day!

http://crowdedkitchen509.blogspot.com/2013/06/lofthouse-style-sugar-cookies.html

Italian Salami,Tomato and Mozzarella Plate

Italian Salami, Tomato and Mozzarella Plate
Recipe submitted by Wanda Bruce

Make this festive Italian appetizer plate 2 hours before serving.  Serve at room temperature.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
1 tablespoon basil
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup EXTRA virgin olive oil
Italian dry, thin sliced salami (7 oz)
1 pint RIPE grape tomatoes
Mozzarella cheese, part-skim, low moisture (16 oz), sliced thin

Directions:

Mix the first seven ingredients together, and then slowly whisk in the olive oil until blended. Brush over salami, tomatoes and mozzarella.

Make 2 hours before serving and serve at room temperature.

Recipe submitted by Wanda Bruce

Interested in another great recipe from Wanda Bruce?  If yes, check out her famous "BLT Pasta Salad" recipe.

http://crowdedkitchen509.blogspot.com/2012/07/wandas-blt-pasta-salad.html

Wanda's BLT Pasta Salad

White Bean and Ham Soup

White Bean and Ham Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb of white beans, Cannellini or Great Northern, about 2 1/2 cups
2 quarts water
3 to 4 lbs of smoked ham hocks or shanks
2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence, or Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup of diced onions (about 1 small onion)
1 cup chopped celery (about 2 to 3 ribs)
2/3 cup chopped carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
Tabasco sauce
Fresh parsley

Directions:

Soak the dry beans in hot water.  Fill a pot large enough to hold the beans with water and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the beans and soak the beans for about 2 hours. Drain the water.

Make the ham broth.  While the beans are soaking, put the ham shanks or ham hocks in a separate large pot and cover them with 2 quarts of water.  Add the herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning.  Heat on high heat until the water comes to a simmer, then lower the heat, partially cover and maintain the simmer for about 1 hour or 1 1/2 hours. Add water if needed.

Saute the onions.  Heat olive oil in a small saute pan on medium high heat.  Add the chopped onions and cook until translucent, about 5 to 6 minutes.  Add the minced garlic and cook a minute more.

Add vegetables and beans to the ham broth.  Once the ham hocks or shanks have been simmering for an hour, add the drained soaked beans, the onions, garlic, and the chopped celery and carrots.  Cook for another 40  minutes or so, uncovered, until the vegetables are soft and the ham meat easily pulls away from the bone.  Remove the ham bones from the soup and pull off any meat and return it to the soup.  Discard the bones.

Season to taste.  Add several drops of Tabasco to taste.

Serve with a pinch of chopped fresh parsley.

Serves 8