Monday, August 16, 2010

Colorful Veggie Bake

 Ingredients:
  •     2 (16 ounce) packages frozen California blend vegetables, thawed
  •      8 ounces process cheese (eg. Velveeta), cubed
  •      6 tablespoons butter, divided
  •     1/2 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers






Directions:

1. Prepare vegetables according to package directions; drain. Place half in an ungreased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish. In a small saucepan, combine cheese and 4 tablespoons butter; cook and stir over low heat until melted. Pour half over vegetables. Repeat layers.

2. Melt the remaining butter; toss with cracker crumbs. Sprinkle over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

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food in valencia
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Let's Get This Party Started!

Welcome to my blog- Here I will share with you all sorts of recipes and health related things for all of us to better our lives and those we love. Everything from what to cook and where to buy you ingredients to health care and health care products,from coupons for band aids to wheelchairs.

We'll start this off with one of my favorite recipes!

 Blackberry cupcakes with blackberry frosting via Confessions of a Foodie Bride. These look delicious and seasonal, perfect for spring!

 




Blackberry Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
3 6oz packs blackberries
1/3 cup milk, at room temperature
6 large egg whites, room temperature
2 tsp lemon juice
2 1/4 cup cake flour, sifted
1 3/4 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
12 Tbsp unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
1 recipe Blackberry Buttercream Frosting, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare two muffin pans with liners.
Puree blackberries in a food processor or blender. Scrape into a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl. With a rubber spatula, work the blackberries through the sieve, leaving seeds behind. Remove 1/4 cup of puree for the frosting. Your mileage may vary but you should have ~2/3 cup of blackberry puree leftover.
In small bowl, combine puree, milk, egg, vanilla and mix with fork until well blended. In bowl of stand mixer, add sifted flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and mix to combine. Continue beating at slow speed and add butter. Mix until combined and resembling moist crumbs.
Add liquids and beat at medium speed for about 1 minute or until full and evenly combined. Stop mixer to scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for 30 more seconds. Fill cupcake liners ~3/4 full.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center cupcake in each pan comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool in pans and then transfer to a covered plate.
Yields 24 cupcakes
Adapted from Cook’s Illustrated Classic White Layer Cake

Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
2 sticks butter unsalted butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
5 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 Tbsp meringue powder
pinch of salt
1/4 cup blackberry puree
Cream butter and extracts until smooth. Mix in confectioner’s sugar, meringue powder, and salt and beat 2-3 minutes on high. Add blackberry puree and beat for an additional minute. Adjust consistency, if desired, with additional confectioner’s sugar or water.