Hi everyone,
  I have been a little slack recently about my blog because the last time I posted my photo would not upload.   I just got a little frustrated about that.   I haven't been able to get that to work so I am still trying to figure out what happened.   I will post again soon, promise. 
 

Cardamom Pistachio Cupcakes

                                 Ingredients:

1   1/4   cups cake flour
1/4  tsp.  baking powder
1/2  tsp.  baking soda
1/2  tsp.  salt
3/4   cup sugar

2 eggs
1 tsp.  vanilla extract
1/2   cup oil  ( canola or vegetable)
1/2   cup buttermilk
 1/2   stick butter
 1/2   tsp of ground cardamom



 Preheat your oven 350 degrees

  In a medium bowl, add cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir together with a whisk. 
   In a different medium bowl, with an electric mixer, add the eggs and beat till mixed. Maybe 20 seconds. Add your sugar and continue to beat about 30 more seconds on medium speed.  Add in the oil, softened butter, vanilla and cardamom. 
  Reduce speed to low and add the dry ingredients  and milk ... alternating each one till all are combined .  Continue till  all ingredients are incorporated.  The batter may be a little thin. That is ok.  
  Fill the muffin tin with liners and fill with the batter about 2/3 full. 
Place in the oven and bake for about 12 to 14 minutes. Test with a toothpick to see if done. When the toothpick comes out clean it is done.  
 Cool for about 5 minutes . Remove and cool them on  a wire rack till fully cooled. 

Icing: 

1  pkg. cream cheese
1  pkg. confectioners sugar
1/2   stick butter
1/2  package of pistachio pudding   (dry)  1/2 tsp. 
1/2  tsp. butter flavoring
1/2  tsp.  vanilla flavoring  ( Can use any flavor you like, I sometimes add rum flavoring just for a little extra flavor)

Using a mixer, In a large bowl  beat the butter and cream cheese and flavorings till creamy.  Add the sugar  and pudding mix slowly until mixed well.
If the mixture is stiff  you can add a tsp. of water or milk, whichever you choose till the mixture is smooth to texture you desire.  If you are going to pipe the icing it is best to have it a little stiffer . 

After the cupcakes set up a few minutes you can roll the top in some Chopped Pistachios. 

Hope you like these as much as I do!

Happy Holidays!!

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday!!  
  Unfortunately my oven is on the blink right now so I haven't been able to bake for my blog!   Man, this is really disturbing.  I tried a few cakes but they didn't turn out so well so I am having to readjust.   I will be making something else though.   I will post recipe and pictures as soon as I am able. 
In the meantime, I appreciate your patience as I am a newbie blogger.  Hope all you wishes come true!

Bread Pudding

This recipe is really simple.  I make it a lot and it is really good served warm or cold.  I like to add some caramel to the top when it is warm and it just tops it off great!

INGREDIENTS:

1  loaf of cinnamon bread
1/2  pack of any kind of pastry, I use bowtie doughnuts or a cinnamon roll 

5  egg yolks
3  whole eggs
1  cup sugar
5  cups heavy whipping cream
1/4  tsp cinnamon
1/4  tsp nutmeg
1/4  tsp cardamom
1/2  tsp vanilla flavoring
1/2  tsp butter flavoring
4  tbsp bourbon  (optional)


PREPARATION:  Preheat oven to 220 degrees

Cut  the  loaf of cinnamon bread and pastry into about 1 inch pieces and set aside in a large bowl.

After separating the 5 eggs,  put the yolks into a large bowl.  Add the 3 whole eggs.  Using a mixer,  slightly mix the eggs together to blend, about 30 seconds.   Add the sugar,  heavy whipping cream, spices, flavorings and bourbon if you choose to put it in.
Note: the alcohol will mostly cook out and it will just add the flavor.
With mixer on medium speed , blend together to incorporate all the ingredients together.
Pour the mixture over the bread in the large bowl.  Let it stand to soak up the liquid for about 5 to 10 minutes. 
Prepare a large pan,  usually I use a 9x13 
You can oil it slightly if you wish but I do not.
When the mixture is soaked into the bread , pour  the mix into the pan.  The way to cook this is in a water bath.  You need a larger pan than you are cooking the pudding in.  If you don't have one that large , then I would separate it into two smaller pans.  Put them into the larger pan with about 1 inch of water in the bottom of the pan you are using for the water bath.

Cook for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
It will rise a lot, that is normal.  Usually it does not come over the top of the pan . Depending on how hot your oven gets,  check it at about 55 minutes to see if it is browning.  It  does not always test done in the usual way, with a toothpick.  It may still seem a little doughy.  It it has risen and is golden brown on the top and has cooked at least one hr. to one hr. and 10 minutes it is probably done.  Allow it to cool a few minutes.
 While still warm, I pour some caramel topping over it.
Serve Hot or Cold. 

ENJOY!!!

Welcome

Hi, 
  Thanks for stopping by my new blog!   I am new to this and am just getting things set up.  I can't wait to begin blogging and sharing with all of you my love for food and cooking.  Just let me say up front that I am kinda not computer savy  so have some patience as I make this exciting journey.   I am looking forward to getting to know you and have you know me.  May this be an exciting journey for us.