Recipe: Fudge-Chip Cake with Whiskey Glaze

Fudge-Chip Cake with Whiskey Glaze

From: Bon Appetit

Yield: 12 servings

Preparation: 30 minutes plus baking and cooling time and easy to make


Note: The whiskey in the cake and in the glaze makes this dessert for adults only. To make cleanup a breeze, place waxed paper under the cake before pouring the glaze over the top.


Fudge-chip cake:


One 12-ounce package mini chocolate chips

One 18.25-ounce box Betty Crocker Super Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake with Pudding, divided

½ cup canola oil

3 large eggs

1 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup whiskey


Whiskey glaze:


2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

2 Tablespoons whiskey


Directions to make cake: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350° F. Thoroughly spray 12-cup tube pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Empty mini chocolate chips into small bowl. Toss lightly with 2 Tablespoons dry cake mix. Set aside.

Place remaining cake mix, oil, eggs, cream and whiskey in bowl of electric mixer fitter with whisk attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 minute, or until everything is just combined, stopping mixer once to scrape down sides of bowl. Remove bowl from mixer and add chocolate chips. Fold in chips by hand with rubber spatula, mixing until chips are thoroughly distributed and no dry cake mix is visible.

Scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing top with rubber spatula. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes while making glaze.

Make the glaze: Whisk together melted butter, confectioners’ sugar and whiskey in small bowl.

Invert cake onto wire rack; place sheet of waxed paper under rack. While cake is still hot, pour glaze over top of cake, letting glaze run down sides of cake and soak into top surface. Allow cake to cool completely on wire rack before cutting into 12 slices.

Note: For other recipes visit my other fun blog:
Comfort Food From Louisiana

7 Easy Tips to Help You Get Organized Fast

7 easy tips to help you get organized fast. The topics covered are the top 7 problems most people have trying to get organized.

By Elle Dixey

A place for everything and everything in its place. It sounds easy, doesn’t it? Then why are so many of us disorganized? Where does all the clutter come from? And what do we do with it? In this article, we will give you 7 easy tips to getting yourself organized.

First, here’s a brief overview of how organization works. Everything in your home or office, even your car, should have a home. A place where any particular item can be kept. Now it makes sense that something you use each day and possibly several times a day should be easily accessible. For example, whether you have a home office or an office out of the home, or both, perhaps you might use paper clips every day. These should be right on your desk, within easy reach. Maybe you only use the stapler once or twice a week. This doesn’t have to be front and center, You don’t mind reaching into a drawer or a cabinet to get the stapler once or twice a week, do you? Now, here’s the beauty of being organized. You get to choose. Do you mind reaching into the drawer for the stapler. Then let’s put it right out there within your reach. Suppose it’s kept on the right hand side of your desk. That’s the place you have designated for your stapler. But, you pick it up, use it, and put it down absentmindedly on the left side of your desk.

Now multiply this behavior by 20 or 30 times a day. You pick something up from where it is always kept, and set it down somewhere else. If you do this with 20 or 30 items every day in your office, what do you have when it’s quitting time? That’s right. A disorganized mess on your desk, However, don’t despair, there’s just one rule you have to follow. All you have to do is make an effort to put things back where they belong. Put that stapler back on the right side of your desk! This rule applies to just about everything, whether you are at home, in your office or in your car. As we said before, it sounds easy, and it is; once you get used to doing it. Go ahead, try it and watch what happens. The 7 tips below will get you started.

1. Paper Clutter - This might be the number one organizational problem people complain about, so if it’s yours, you are definitely not alone. As you probably know, the mail can pile up very fast. Sort your mail as soon as you get it. Send the junk mail to a shredder, recycling or the trash basket, unopened, right away. Separate your bills and personal mail. If don’t you have a place for these categories, get two baskets, two folders or two of any type of storage container. Put bills in one and personal mail in the other, But you knew that already, didn’t you?

2. Plan Ahead - It’s very easy to feel disorganized when you are rushed. If you have a lot to do in the morning, try to get a jump on things the night before, even if it just making a list of what you have to do, in the order they need to get done. Decide what you are going to wear the next day and set it out, so there’s one less thing to think about the next morning. If you drink coffee, get that ready the night before. Don’t worry if you don’t have a coffee pot with a timer. Just measure the coffee into the filter, fill the reservoir with water and you’ll be all set. Coffee doesn’t take that long to brew. When you get up the next day, pop into the kitchen and push the brew button on the coffee maker. It will be done before you know it.

3. Keep All The Same Things Together - How many times have you gone through the house looking for stamps, an envelope and a pen, just to send something off in the mail? When we say keep all the same things together, this is a good example. You know you will need at least these three items if you want to mail something. So why not keep them all together? Get a nice basket or any other container you like and store anything that has to do with sending mail in it. This could include different size envelopes, paper, note cards or whatever. Do you print out emails, then lose them? Make a folder for all emails you have printed. In your kitchen, keep all your measuring supplies together in a drawer or a cabinet. Measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, large spoons and your mixer. Paying bills? You already know where your stamps, pen and envelopes are. Make a bill-paying folder just for bills to pay. You will be surprised how many things you can group together once you start thinking about it.

4. Save Time By Multi-tasking - Do you have to go to the Dentist’s office? Take a book you’ve been wanting to read and haven’t had time to do. Walking your dog? Make an effort to take him or her out more often and go for a brisk walk each time. Jog or run if you can. You will be getting some exercise and so will your dog. What’s more fun, walking or running with your dog or mindlessly pacing on a treadmill? Paying bills but want to watch your favorite TV show? Gather up all your bill paying needs and settle down in your living room; watch TV and pay your bills at the same time. Trying to learn a new language? Get the lessons on CD and play them when you are driving.

5. Plan Your Meals For the Week - You can’t imagine how beneficial this is. Knowing exactly what you are going to make for dinner each night will definitely ease stress. Make a list of each meal and post it on your fridge. It will also save you money when you go to the market. With your list of meals in front of you, it is a lot easier to only buy what you need.

6. Put Things Away - It only takes a minute or two to put things away. But how many of us come in the house and toss our jackets on the back of a chair, rather than hanging it up in the closet or even on a coat hook? Enlist the other members of your family to put their things away when they are finished using them. If all else fails, make a set time for everyone to go through the house once a day, pick up their things and put them away. Allot 10 or 15 minutes for this activity. Once this activity interrupts other things your family would rather be doing, you may find they are a lot better at putting things where they belong right away.

7. Add Space To Your Home - Add some shelves to a closet that is a catch-all. You will be able to store a lot more in there with shelves and everything will be easier to find. Buy modular cubes that can be stacked on top of, and next to each other. Many of these can be purchased with storage baskets that fit right into the openings, giving even more versatility. Do you have an half-empty bureau or chest of drawers? Store little used items in those drawers.

Now that you know how easy it really is to get yourself organized, come on over to our site http://www.thebeautifulhome.net to get our Free Report - 50 Ways To Get Organized and more organizational and time-saving tips and also decorating ideas. When you get there click on "Organization" See You There!

Photo by marklarson @ flickr

Recipe: Marinated & Grilled Duck Breasts with Orange Ginger Sauce

Marinated and Grilled Duck Breasts with Orange Ginger Sauce

Yield: Serves 6

From: LSU Art Professor Michael Crespo whose passion for art is as great as his passion for cooking food all over the world.


Ingredients:


4 Tablespoons achiote powder (paprika with a dash of cayenne pepper can be substituted)

6 cloves garlic, passed through a garlic press (or very finely minced)

½ cup canola oil

½ dry red wine

6 duck breasts with skin (about 6 ounces each), trimmed

Orange Ginger Sauce (recipe follows)

Chives


Directions: Combine the achiote, garlic, canola and wine in a non-reactive bowl and stir together. Place duck breasts and marinade in a reclosable plastic bag and marinate overnight (at least 8 hours) in the refrigerator.

Heat an outdoor grill. Grill the duck breasts, skin side down, over medium-low heat until brown and the fat has rendered. Flip and cook, meat side down, for about 3-5 minutes for medium-rare. Slice the duck breast on an angle, spoon the Orange Ginger Sauce over and garnish with chives.
Serves 6.


Orange Ginger Sauce

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons peeled and julienned ginger (do not mince)

1 ½ cups freshly squeezed orange juice

1 teaspoon orange marmalade

1 Tablespoon butter

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Salt cayenne pepper

¼ cup pine nuts


Directions: Combine the ginger and orange juice in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half.

Stir in the marmalade, butter, lemon juice, salt and cayenne to taste. Stir in the pine nuts and keep warm.


Note: For other recipes visit my other fun blog:
Romancing The Chocolate

Recipe: Orange Apricot Layer Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Orange Apricot Layer Cake with Chocolate Frosting


Here’s a great flourless cake for Passover, any other occasion or gluten free diet.

Yield: 12 servings.



Ingredients for Apricot Puree:

1 (6 oz.) package dried apricots

1 ½ cups orange juice

6 Tablespoons sugar


Ingredients for Cake:

1 cup sugar

6 large egg yolks

1/3 cup canola oil

1 Tablespoon grated orange peel

½ cup matzo cake meal

½ cup potato starch

6 large egg whites

½ teaspoon salt


Ingredients for Frosting:

1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted pareve margarine


Dried apricots, cut into triangles (optional)

Grated orange peel (optional)


Directions for apricot puree: Combine dried apricots and orange juice in small saucepan over low heat until apricots are very tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to processor. Add sugar and puree until smooth. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Transfer to bowl; cover and chill.)

Directions for Cake: Position rack in bottom third of oven. Preheat oven to 325° F. Using electric mixer, beat ½ cup sugar, egg yolks, oil, orange peel and 1/3 cup apricot puree in large bowl until mixture is very thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in matzo cake meal and potato starch. Using clean dry beaters, beat whites and salt in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add ½ cup sugar, beating until whites are stiff but not dry. Fold large spoonful of whites into yolk mixture. Gently fold in remaining whites in 3 additions.

Transfer batter to ungreased 10-inch-diameter springform pan. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 42 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack (cake will sink slightly).

Directions for Frosting: Meanwhile, stir chocolate and margarine in saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Whisk in 3 tablespoons apricot puree. Remove from heat. Let stand until thickened but still spreadable, about 2 hours.

Cut around cake sides; remove pan rim. Cut cake horizontally in half to form 2 layers, leaving bottom layer on pan bottom. Place top layer, cut side up, on plate.

Spread bottom layer with 2/3 cup apricot puree. Spread ½ cup chocolate frosting on cut side of top layer. Place top layer, chocolate side down, on apricot filling.

Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill until frosting sets, at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature before serving. Garnish with apricots and orange peel, if desired.

Note: For other recipes visit my other fun blog:
Comfort Food From Louisiana

Louisiana Culture: Love of Eggplant Recipes

Louisiana Culture: Love of Eggplant Recipes - Fun article about Louisiana food culture. 3 eggplant recipes and 4 cooking videos will have you well on your way to cooking this versatile vegetable!

By Denny Lyon
Sauteed Eggplant with Cheese and Honey Photo by avlxyz @ flickr