Recipe: Pumpkin Crack

From Denny: From Chow.com comes another easy popular recipe for a beginner cook or to do with your children. Usually, I prefer recipes with more technique but there are those days when you just feel like literally throwing the food together! :)


Pumpkin Crack

Ingredients:

One 16 oz can of pumpkin

Large can of sweetened condensed milk

3 eggs

one cup sugar

1 ½ tsp. Cinnamon

pinch nutmeg

1 box yellow cake mix (non-pudding)

two sticks melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans


Directions:

Mix the pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamom and nutmeg in a bowl. Pour into a greased 9X13 or two round pans. Sprinkle 1/3 of the dry cake mix over the top and gently swirl it into the wet ingredients with a knife. Then sprinkle the rest of the dry cake mix on top. Pour the melted butter evenly on top of the mixture, and sprinkle with the pecans.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour- it's done when brown around edges.

Recipe: Chocolate Espresso Bars

Chocolate Expresso Bars


From CBS: Instant espresso powder offers the most practical way to impart a rich coffee flavor to cookies, candies and cakes. Sold in well-stocked food markets and specialty coffee stores, the fine powder dissolves quickly in hot liquid, producing a bolder, more concentrated taste than regular instant coffee. This intense flavor comes with a solid dose of caffeine, however, so if you are sensitive to caffeine's effects, look for a brand of instant espresso powder labeled "decaffeinated."

Ingredients:


3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder

3 tbs. instant espresso powder

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

8 tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

2 eggs

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the glaze:

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tsp. instant espresso powder

4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped

Pinch of salt

16 chocolate-covered espresso beans (optional)


Directions: Preheat an oven to 350°F. Generously grease an 8-inch square baking pan.

Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder and salt into a bowl; set aside.

In a small, heavy saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and chocolate and heat, stirring occasionally, until melted, about two minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and brown sugar until blended. Gradually stir in the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the vanilla, then add the flour mixture and stir until blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the edges pull away from the sides of the pan and the center is springy to the touch, about 25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool.

Meanwhile, make the glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream and espresso powder and heat, stirring, just until the powder is dissolved and bubbles start to appear around the pan edges. Add the chocolate and salt, remove from the heat and stir just until the chocolate is melted. Let cool to room temperature.

Using a small offset spatula, spread the cooled glaze over the cookie in a thin layer. Refrigerate until the glaze is set, about 30 minutes. Cut into 1 1⁄2-by-2 1⁄2-inch bars or 2-inch squares. Top each bar with a chocolate-covered espresso bean. Makes 16 bars.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Collection Series, "Cookies," by Marie Simmons (Simon & Schuster, 2002 ).

Recipe: Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

From Denny: This is one of those ridiculously simple recipes that can be thrown together quickly. Read that as when you have a chocolate craving you will get satisfaction in about one hour! Even a child can make it and is a good one for a beginner cook.

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

From: The Best of South Louisiana Cooking

Yield: Serves 8


Ingredients:


1 cup flour

¾ cup sugar

2 Tablespoons cocoa

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon milk

2 Tablespoons canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup packed cocoa

1 ¾ cups hottest tap water

Favorite ice cream


Directions: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In ungreased 9 x 9-inch pan, stir together flour, sugar, 2 Tablespoons cocoa, baking powder and salt. Mix in milk, oil and vanilla with fork until smooth. Stir in nuts. Spread evenly in pan.

Sprinkle with brown sugar and ¼ cup cocoa. Pour hot water over batter. Bake 40 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes then cut into squares. Invert onto dish. Spoon on ice cream and then sauce that is formed on bottom of cake pan.

Recipe - Dennys Oatmeal Pancakes with Cherries

Dennys Oatmeal Pancakes with Cherries



Heart-healthy, easy to make and vegetarian!


Here is a wonderful and hearty recipe for cold weather days - and lazy Sundays! This recipe is heart-healthy with lots of oatmeal, cherries for the mineral iron and buttermilk as the American version of yogurt.

Photo by Denny Lyon

Recipe - Chocolate Bread Pudding

Dennys Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding and Sauces

This recipe is not so rich, full of calories or excess sugar so you can savor the chocolate! Easy to mix up by hand. Great for holiday menus or the novice cook. Serves about 8 - 10.

This is my own version developed 9 November 2008.

Less rich version with a lot less sugar, exploding with enough chocolate flavor to drown in it!