The Cheap Gourmet

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Patties No-Bake Recipe

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Patties are one of my favorite no-bake cookie recipes. They are super easy to make and include common ingredients most of us have on hand in our pantry and refrigerator. These are a great standby when unexpected guests show up because you can whip up a batch in less than 15 minutes.

I recently updated this recipe by using dark chocolate instead of regular cocoa. If you don't care for dark chocolate, feel free to substitute with unsweetened cocoa powder. While this recipe calls for smooth peanut butter, there is no reason you can't use chunky.

These no-bake cookies are exceptionally rich, so avoid the temptation to make them larger than the instructions state. Keeping them small also helps eliminate some of the guilt. I hope you enjoy them so much that you begin your own family tradition of serving them!

DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH PATTIES NO-BAKE RECIPE
Yield: 18 cookies
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Cool Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 stick unsalted Butter
3/4 cup granulated Sugar
2 Tablespoons Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa (or Unsweetened Cocoa, if preferred)
1/4 cup low-fat Milk (substitute with Soy or Almond milk, if desired)
1/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1-1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons quick-cooking Oats
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1) In a large saucepan, combine butter, sugar, cocoa and milk.
2) Over medium-high heat, cook the mixture until it boils; stir constantly. Once this comes to a boil, it will begin to bubble. At this point, remove pan from heat.
3) Add peanut butter, vanilla and oats. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
4) Drop mixture by teaspoonful on waxed or parchment paper. Flatten with backside of spoon to create 1/4-inch patties.
5) Let cool 15 minutes and serve.

Bacon Buttermilk Pancake Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at food blogs.

I'm excited to share my Bacon Buttermilk Pancake Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting recipe. Not to brag, but these are the best cupcakes I have ever baked. Not only do you receive the goodness of a bacon-stuffed pancake, but also the divine decadence of maple buttercream frosting topped with a piece of chocolate covered bacon. Life doesn't get much better than this!

I created the bacon buttermilk pancake cupcakes with maple buttercream frosting as an entry into the Denny's/Foodbuzz BACONALIA challenge. Not only do I have a chance to win cash and a gift card to Denny's restaurant, I was able to experiment with one of my favorite foods – BACON!

These cupcakes taste like buttermilk pancakes, but are the texture of carrot cake. They are very easy to make and perfect for birthday parties, cook-outs, and special occasion events.

 

It's best to prepare the bacon beforehand to provide ample time to drain excess grease. I used thick sliced smoked bacon and baked in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. You can find the recipe for spicy hot chocolate covered bacon here. You don't have to garnish with chocolate bacon, but it takes the cupcake to an entirely new level.

BACON BUTTERMILK PANCAKE CUPCAKES WITH MAPLE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON
Yield: 18 cupcakes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bacon Bake Time: 20-25 minutes
Cupcake Bake Time: 10-12 minutes

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:
12 slices thick Bacon
2-1/2 cups Cake Flour (can substitute with all-purpose or wheat flour, if desired)
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
1 teaspoon ground Ginger
1 stick unsalted Butter, softened
3/4 cup Dark Brown Sugar
2 large Eggs
1-1/4 cups pure Maple Syrup
1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Buttermilk (shake well)
3/4 cup Walnuts, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line 18"x13" baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange bacon slices, leaving a bit of room between each slice.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until dark golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and transfer to paper towel lined plate to absorb grease.
4. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ginger together.
5. In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugar. Using a handheld mixer on medium setting beat butter and sugar together until creamy.
6. Add eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla and mix until ingredients are incorporated.
7. Add one-third of flour mixture and mix for about 30 seconds. Add one-third buttermilk and mix for another 30 seconds. Repeat, alternating one-third flour and one-third buttermilk at a time.
8. Chop 6 slices of bacon into small bits.
8. Add bacon bits and walnuts to mixture and gently stir ingredients by hand to incorporate.
9. Line muffin tin with paper or tin cupcake liners or lightly grease muffin pan with butter, vegetable oil, or vegetable oil spray.
10. Bake for 20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
11. Transfer to baking rack and let cool to room temperature.

MAPLE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Yield: 2-1/2 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsalted Butter, softened
3 ounces Philly Cream Cheese, softened
2/3 cup Dark Brown Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 cup Maple Syrup
1/4 cup Pancake Syrup
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 cup Confectioner's Sugar

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a medium mixing bowl, add butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, and salt. Using handheld mixer on medium setting beat ingredients together until creamy.
2. In a measuring cup, combine maple syrup, pancake syrup, and vanilla. Slowly drizzle into butter mixture until ingredients are incorporated.
3. Slowly add confectioner's sugar, about 1/4-cup at a time, into frosting mixture. Increase speed to high and beat until frosting forms fluffy peaks.
4. Place frosting in refrigerator and chill for one hour.
5. Frost cupcakes using a flat icing knife or decorator bag with large tip.
6. Break remaining 6 pieces of bacon into 3 pieces per slice.

 


You might also like:
Outrageous Bacon Buttermilk Belgian Waffles with Homemade Maple Syrup Whipped Cream
Spicy Hot Chocolate Covered Bacon

Spicy Hot Chocolate Covered Bacon

If you've never tried spicy hot chocolate covered bacon you are in for the treat of a lifetime! The saltiness of the bacon combined with heat of freshly ground chili peppers and slathered in melted chocolate offers a taste bud sensation like no other!

Before divulging the spicy hot chocolate covered bacon recipe, allow me to tell you how it came to be. Last November, I was invited to participate in "A Chile and a Spoon Competition" hosted by Marx Foods.

Marx Foods provided a variety of dried chili peppers to food bloggers and allowed competitors to create any dish we wanted as long as it contained one or more of the sample peppers and could be eaten with a spoon. My entry was Smokin' Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cake.

I've been like a kid in a candy store since receiving the generous supply of chili peppers from Marx Foods. I've made a few dozen varieties of chili powder and used them in soups, stews, side dishes, desserts, marinades, sauces, and as meat rubs.

My all-time favorite use of freshly ground chili powder is pairing with chocolate. I can say with certainty I have not made one chocolate dessert without chilies since the chocolate lava cake entry. So, when my favorite foodie website on the planet, FoodBuzz.com, announced they were hosting a bacon recipe contest with a grand prize of $500 cash AND $100 Denny's restaurant gift card, the idea of spicy hot chocolate covered bacon came to mind. 

Please note the following recipe was created as part of the Denny's and or FoodBuzz BACONALIA challenge and is an entry for a chance to win.

This recipe calls for thick sliced bacon. If the bacon is too thin it will fall apart when coated in melted chocolate. I used hardwood smoked bacon, but I bet maple or pepper-crusted would be delicious as well.

While you can use any type of chili peppers, I highly recommend Marx Foods. They have a fabulous supply of unique peppers and the flavors are absolutely divine!

I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Here's the chocolate covered bacon recipe. Enjoy!

SPICY HOT CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON
Yield: 54 pieces
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 22-25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

18 slices thick hardwood smoked Bacon
1 dried Mulato Chili (mild)
1 dried Organic Limo Rojo Chili (hot)
7 ounces Chocolate Candy Discs or Baker's Dipping Chocolate

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Remove stems from chili peppers. Roast chilies in small skillet over medium-high heat until aromatic; about 5 to 6 minutes. Frequently turn to prevent scorching.

3. Grind peppers in coffee grinder or food processor until fine powder. Transfer to small container and set aside.

4. Line 18"x13" baking sheet with parchment paper. Place bacon strips side-by-side, leaving a little room to prevent sticking. Lightly sprinkle each side with chili powder.

5. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until bacon is dark golden brown and crisp. Transfer to plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease.
6. Using a double-boiler, melt chocolate candy discs over low heat or microwave according to package directions. Transfer melted chocolate to a medium bowl large enough to accommodate your hands.
7. Using kitchen shears, cut bacon slices in thirds. Add to melted chocolate and gently toss with hands until evenly coated.

8. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently shake off excess chocolate and place bacon pieces on baking sheet.

9. Place in freezer for 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to serving dish or resealable container. Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Marx Foods: A Chile and A Spoon Recipe Competition - Voting Now Open!

Yesterday, I published my Smokin' Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe for the Marx Foods: A Chile and A Spoon Recipe Competition. Today, I am asking for your vote and encouraging you to view all the amazing chile recipes submitted by food bloggers.

Marx Foods: A Chile and a Spoon Recipe Competition offers an eclectic collection of amazing recipes. Discover Peanut Butter Mole, Ice Cream Sundae with a Chile on Top, Aji Cereza Chili Pumpkin Soup, Slow Cooker Japones Pulled Pork with Thai Red Curry, Spicy Squash and Black Bean Chili, Vanilla-Almond & Chocolate-Cinnamon-Chile Pudding, Cuatro Chile con Carne, Chinese Hot & Sour Soup, and much more!

To cast your vote for your favorite Marx Foods: A Chile and a Spoon Recipe, click on the banner below. Voting is limited to one vote per ISP, so choose wisely. While I hope you vote for The Cheap Gourmet Smokin' Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cake, please vote for your favorite. All the participants worked hard to create unique chile recipes and each offers a delightful spicy dish.

While you're casting your vote, enter to win Marx Foods "Random Sausage Sampler Giveaway." All that is required is to post a comment about which Marx Foods sausage you would like to try.

Thank you for taking time to vote! May the best chile recipe win! Voting ends Sunday, December 5th.

Smokin' Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cake: A Chile and A Spoon Recipe Competition

The following Smokin' Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cake is a recipe I have created for the Marx Foods "A Chile and A Spoon" contest. Marx Foods sent me a generous supply of chiles and I have been having so much fun experimenting with them.

For the Smokin' Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cake recipe, I chose the cascabel chiles, which rattle when shaken. These unique looking chiles piqued my curiosity the moment I saw them. The heat index is mild, but when the cascabel chiles are roasted their flavor intensifies.

After much experimentation, I've finally perfected the chile lava cake recipe and am excited to share it with you today. It's best to roast the chiles first, make the chocolate ganache icing, than prepare the cakes. Let's get started.

Thanks to MarxFoods.com for these amazing dried chiles!

Fresh Roasted Cascabel Chile Powder

The cascabel chiles need to be roasted in order to grind them into chile powder. Simply heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the stem from 2 cascabel chiles and place in the skillet. Heat the chiles until they become aromatic; about 7 to 8 minutes. When the chiles begin to sweat, remove from heat and transfer to a coffee grinder or food processor. Pulsate grinder until peppers are a medium-coarse grind. Store leftover chile powder in an airtight container and place in the pantry.

Visit MarxFoods.com for a detailed guide to roasting chile peppers and making your own chile powder.

Tip: To clean peppers from grinder, add 1 tablespoon white rice and pulsate until a fine grind. Dump rice powder and wipe grinder clean with a paper towel. I learned this trick from MarxFoods and it works really well!

Chocolate Ganache Icing
Yield: 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions:
1. Chop chocolate and place in a medium bowl.
2. In a small pan, heat heavy cream over medium-heat. Bring just to a boil. Keep a watchful eye to avoid scorching the cream.
3. Pour cream over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Set aside until cakes are ready to frost.

Smokin' Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cake
Yield: 4 (6-ounce) Souffle Cakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 7 to 8 minutes

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon butter (to grease souffle cups)
1 teaspoon cocoa powder (for dusting souffle dishes)
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 large eggs
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoon cake flour
2 to 3 teaspoons cascabel chile powder (2 teaspoons is mild-medium heat, 3 teaspoons is smokin'-hot)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Lightly butter bottom of each soufflé cup. Dust the bottom of each cup with cocoa powder. Tilt to coat and tap out excess cocoa.

3. Using a double-boiler, melt butter stick and chocolate.

4. While butter and chocolate are melting, add eggs, egg yolks, and sugar to a medium sized bowl. Using a handheld mixer, beat until light and thick.

5. Slowly add butter and chocolate mixture. Do not add all at once or the egg mixture will curdle.
6. Add flour, chile powder, and cinnamon and mix well.
7. Divide mixture between 4 (6-ounce) soufflé dishes. Each dish should be about half full.
8. Place dishes on baking dish and place in oven.

9. Bake until sides are set and center is soft; about 7 to 8 minutes. DO NOT over bake or the cakes will not have a molten liquid center.

10. Allow cakes to cool for 15 minutes.
11. Add 1-1/2 to 2 tablespoons chocolate ganache icing per cake.
12. Grab a spoon and dig in!

Cheese and Honey Phyllo Rounds

I created cheese and honey phyllo rounds for my Greek Feast for Two entry into the Foodbuzz Project Food Blog Challenge. Although, The Cheap Gourmet did not proceed to the next round, I've acquired a love for Greek food and indulge in it whenever I can. If you haven't experimented with Greek recipes, I encourage you to do so. The flavors are amazing and many of the traditional recipes are relatively easy to prepare.

The cheese and honey phyllo rounds make a great appetizer and a semi-guilt-free dessert. As with anything, moderation is the key. You can change the type of cheese, but it's best to use a semi-hard cheese for this recipe. Soft cheeses will melt too much and you'll end up with a product that's more like a mozzarella cheese stick. 

The original cheese and honey phyllo rounds recipe called for cutting the dough into rounds. I didn't have much luck with that method and cut the sheets into quarters. This dish is intended to be served at room temperature, but my husband and I liked them best straight out of the oven. 

CHEESE AND HONEY PHYLLO ROUNDS
Yield: 16 rounds
Prep Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Bake Time: 12 to 14 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

8 sheets refrigerated Phyllo dough, cut into quarters
4 ounces Pecorino-Romano cheese, finely grated
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil for basting
1-1/2 Tablespoons Honey


 
DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place phyllo dough on large cutting board. Cut sheets into quarters and stack into a pile.
3. Use two sheets of phyllo dough for each cheese-stuffed round. You will need to work quickly so the dough doesn't dry out.
4. Place two sheets of dough on cutting board and lightly brush with olive oil. Place 1/2-teaspoon of cheese near the end of the square. Gently roll and lightly baste with olive oil. Carefully roll one end toward the center to create a snail shell.
5. Place on baking sheet and lightly baste each round before placing in oven.
6. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until light golden brown.

7. Remove from oven and immediately transfer to serving platter. Drizzle with honey. Serve at room temperature.

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Pink Champagne Cake with Whipped Cream Icing and Chocolate Covered Strawberries

The long awaited recipe for pink champagne cake with whipped cream icing and chocolate covered strawberries has arrived! This recipe was intended to be featured in the Luxury Dinner round of the FoodBuzz Food Blog competition. While The Cheap Gourmet blog did not advance, this cake recipe is way too good not to share!

The texture of the pink champagne cake is similar to a pound cake, while the flavor is similar to angel food cake. I used Andre Blush; a California pink champagne because it was on sale at the grocery store for $6.99. They don't call me cheap for no reason!

Only one cup of pink champagne is used between the cake batter and whipped cream icing, so the champagne flavor is exceptionally mild. This cake is perfect for nearly any special occasion. However, it must be refrigerated until served. Otherwise, the whipped cream icing will slide off. Enjoy!

Pink Champagne Cake with Whipped Cream Icing and Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Serves: 8 to 10
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 38 to 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

Cake Ingredients:

1 pound whole Strawberries
7 ounces Baker's Dipping Chocolate
2/3 cup unsalted Butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups granulated Sugar
2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
2-3/4 cups Sawns Down cake flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup Pink Champagne
6 Egg Whites, stiffly beaten

Icing Ingredients:

1 cup heavy Whipping Cream
1/4 cup Confectioner Sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/4 cup Pink Champagne

DIRECTIONS:

1. Select 10 large strawberries for dipping. Leave stem and leaves intact. Wash and dry thoroughly.

2. Melt Baker's dipping chocolate according to package directions. Dip strawberries in chocolate and place on plate to dry. Store in refrigerator until needed for decorating.


 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Lightly grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. Set aside.

5. Remove stems from remaining strawberries, cut into quarters, and place in food processor.

 
6. Gently pulse until strawberries are pureed.


 7. Separate egg yolks from eggs and place egg whites in medium mixing bowl. Using hand held mixer, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Set aside.


 8. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter.


 9. Add sugar and vanilla extract and beat until creamy.
 
10. Add flour, baking powder, salt and champagne. Beat on high for 2 minutes.

11. Fold in beaten egg whites and strawberry puree.

12. Pour half of cake batter into each cake pan. Bake for 38 to 40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

13. While cakes are cooling, prepare pink champagne whipped cream icing.

14. In a medium bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff; about 2 minutes.


 15. Add sugar, vanilla, and pink champagne and beat until incorporated; about 20 seconds. Be careful not to overbeat whipped cream or it will turn out like cottage cheese.

16. Once cakes are completely cooled, it's time to add the icing and chocolate covered strawberries.

17. Place one cake layer on cake stand. Spread a thin layer of whipped cream icing on top.


 18. Add second layer to cake and evenly spread remaining icing on top and sides.


 

19. Gently remove chocolate covered strawberries from plate. Place 8 strawberries around the outer edge of cake and position 2 strawberries in the center.


  20. Slice cake into 8 to 10 pieces and serve with a glass of pink champagne.

Nature's Pride Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Kahlua-Infused Raisins and Cinnamon Whipped Cream

The following Nature's Pride pumpkin bread pudding with Kahlua-infused raisins is a recipe I am submitting for a FoodBuzz.com competition. If my recipe is selected, I will have the opportunity to present my dish to food bloggers during the Nature's Pride Festival food blogger conference hosted in San Francisco in November.

My Nature's Pride pumpkin bread pudding with Kahlua-infused raisins was adapted from Martha Stewart's recipe for pumpkin bread pudding and Country Living's recipe for cinnamon whipped cream.

The original pumpkin bread pudding recipe used 10-ounce ramekins, but I substitued with 6-ounce custard cups. The great thing about this recipe is it can be baked in a variety of sizes such as regular and mini muffin tins. I recommend using mini muffin tins to serve pumpkin bread pudding during holiday parties. If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, substitue Kahlua with espresso coffee syrup.

I'd like to thank Nature's Pride bread for providing a coupon for a free loaf of their 100% whole wheat bread. Using whole wheat bread adds a rustic element to the pumpkin bread pudding and the cinnamon whipped cream brings all the flavor profiles together. I hope you enjoy this delightful bread pudding recipe!

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Kahlua-Infused Raisins
Yields: 8, 6-ounce custard cups; 18 muffins; or 48 mini muffins
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup raisins
1/2 cup Kahlua, coffee flavored liqueur
1/2 cup hot water
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature, for custard cups
1/2 cup light-brown sugar
12 slices Nature's Pride 100% Whole Wheat bread
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 large brown eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Place raisins in a small bowl and cover with Kahlua and hot water. Let soak until plump, about 20 minutes.

2. Lightly butter custard cups and sprinkle each with 1-1/2 teaspoon brown sugar. Lightly press sugar into bottom of cups. Set aside.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Place bread slices on baking sheet and heat in oven for 5 to 6 minutes or until bread is slightly crisp. Remove from oven and set aside; leaving oven turned on. Cut bread into quarters lengthwise and crosswise to make 3/4-inch cubes.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, eggs, granulated sugar, milk, vanilla, spices, and salt.

5. Toss in bread crumbs and mix gently with hands to evenly coat. Let stand a few minutes to absorb pumpkin puree and spices.

6.Fold in Kahlua-infused raisins.

7. Divide among prepared dishes, pressing down slightly to make level.

8. Bake until custard is set in the center and top is golden; about 38 to 40 minutes for custard cups and muffin tins; 17 to 18 minutes for mini muffins.

9. Remove from oven; let cool slightly. Un-mold onto plates. Top with homemade cinnamon whipped cream.

Homemade Cinnamon Whipped Cream

Yields: 1-1/2 cup
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar spice, optional

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to a medium bowl.

2. Using a hand mixer set on medium-high, beat ingredients until stiff peaks form.

3. Drop a dollop of cinnamon whipped cream on top of each pumpkin bread pudding and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture, if desired.

 

 

Truvia Shortbread Cookies by The Cheap Gourmet

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of making Truvia Shortbread Cookies and I must say they are the best shortbread cookies I have ever tasted! As you may know, The Cheap Gourmet was contacted by the marketing department of Truvia Natural Sweetener who graciously donated FIVE full-size boxes of this delightful zero-calorie sweetener to be given away to readers of this blog. The winners of the January Giveaway have been selected and contacted via email. Once they confirm their prize and grant permission to use their names, I will post the winners on the blog.

The Truvia Shortbread Cookie recipe is available at www.Truvia.com, along with several other tasty treats. Fortunately, this zero-calorie sweetener allows me to make extra yummy treats that don't end up on my thighs! Not only are they easier on the waistline, they taste just as good, if not better, than the high-calorie, fattening versions.

Many of the recipes presented at Truvia's website are inspired by Celebrity Chef, Marisa Churchill. Marisa was chosen as one of the top 40 pastry chefs in the country by Food Arts magazine. She has appeared on many of my favorite food programs including Bravo's Top Chef and The Food Network.

Truvia's shortbread cookie recipe is super simple to make. It took less than an hour from start to finish to create three dozen of these delectable treats. Better yet, Truvia's shortbread cookies only require eight ingredients: butter, Truvia sweetener, sugar, 1 egg, vanilla extract, flour, cornstarch and salt.

Once ingredients are blended together, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet.

Next, dip a flat-bottomed glass in a small amount of cornstarch. I'll admit, I added too much cornstarch to the glass bottom. If you make the same mistake, use a pastry brush to lightly dust-off the cookies prior to baking.

Bake for 16-18 minutes until shortbread cookies are light golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to baker's rack. Cool for 20-30 minutes and transfer to airtight container.

I had one extra packet of Truvia Natural Sweetener and decided to sprinkle a small amount on each cookie. This step is not included in the directions, but I found the addition of the Truvia sprinkles to add a bit of crunch and a little burst of extra sweetness.

After having the pleasure of using Truvia Natural Sweetener for the past month, I can honestly say I am a Truvia-convert. The Truvia Fudgy Brownies recipe was a huge hit with my family and as I recall they lasted about 1-1/2 days. That's a sure sign that my family loved every morsel ;-)

I am grateful that Truvia introduced their product to me and allowed me to experiment with the various recipes posted on their website. I am also grateful for their generosity to share their product with readers of The Cheap Gourmet Blog.

Personally, I love Truvia and will be trying more of the delightful dessert recipes, beverages and smoothies. I hope you will give Truvia Natural Sweetener a try as well. I think you'll be as pleased with the product as I am.

Tomorrow, I will be announcing the February contest. Please stop back by or subscribe to our "Get the Scoop" mailing list to be notified of new recipes and upcoming giveaways. Thank you for being part of The Cheap Gourmet family and good luck in upcoming contests and giveaways!

Happy Cheap Gourmet Cooking!

P.S. We are frequently adding new cooking contests, sweepstakes and giveaways in our Cooking Contests section. Please bookmark the page and stop back often!

Copyright © The Cheap Gourmet and Kathy Browning. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright and intellectual property rights. Reproducing or electronically submitting this article without written permission from the author is prohibited by law. Govern yourself accordingly. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Truvia Natural Sweetener Fudgy Brownies

As mentioned earlier, Truvia Natural Sweetener is the January sponsor of The Cheap Gourmet blog. I have had the joy of experimenting with Truvia and am very impressed with the product. Last night, I made a batch of Truvia Natural Sweetener Fudgy Brownies, which are delicious and decadent!

The recipe for Truvia Natural Sweetener Brownies is available at Truvia's website, along with recipes for more yummy baked goods, sauces, spreads, pudding and hot cocoa mix. Truvia brownies were very easy to make and required about 15 minutes of prep time.

Here are a few photos of Truvia Natural Sweetener Brownies:

This photo shows 12 packets of Truvia Natural Sweetener and two eggs and is the first step to creating these amazing chocolate brownies!

This photo is the melted unsweetened chocolate, butter and olive oil. The recipe calls for canola oil, but I did not have any on hand and substituted extra virgin olive oil.

Here is the unbaked Truvia Natural Sweetener Brownie Mix.

Voila! Beautiful baked brownies at only 130 calories! Life doesn't get better than this!

The Cheap Gourmet and Truvia Natural Sweetener will be giving away FIVE (5) boxes of this healthy sugar alternative on February 1st. The only requirement for obtaining an entry to win a box of Truvia is to leave a comment on the blog or subscribe to "Get the Scoop" mailing list. Subscribers receive monthly recipes, menu planners, grocery coupons, gourmet food sales, and cooking contest information. 

Please support our sponsor by visiting their website and purchasing their products. If you love brownies, I can guarantee you will love Truvia Brownies. If chocolate isn't your thing, perhaps you would enjoy shortbread cookies, sweet potato pie, pear and sour cherry crisp or raspberry oatmeal bars.

Thank you and Good Luck!

Thanksgiving and Holiday Dessert Recipe Resources

If you are reading this, chances are you're scrambling for Thanksgiving and holiday dessert recipes. The good news is you've come to the right place! Below I've listed my five favorite dessert resources. Each source provides dozens of yummy treats to serve on turkey day or throughout the holiday season. I know you're short on time, so let's get down to dessert business!

The Cheap Gourmet's Five Favorite Thanksgiving and Holiday Dessert Recipe Resources

Truvia.com – Truvia™ is a new all-natural sweetener derived from the stevia leaf. Truvia was recently featured on The Martha Stewart Show as one of "Martha's Finds" and part of O You!, The Oprah Magazine's signature event in Kansas City, Missouri.

Baking with Truvia is different than using granulated sugar, so be certain to review the Sweetness Conversion Chart if you decide to use Truvia in recipes other than those presented on their website.

My personal Truvia recipes include: Pumpkin Pie (of course!), Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Pie, Classic Cheesecake, and Apple Berry Galette. Give your guests the special treat of reduced-calorie, flavor-rich healthy desserts. I promise they will never know the difference unless you tell them!

MyRecipes.com – Featuring Thanksgiving and holiday recipes from Cooking Light, Southern Living, Coastal Living, All You, Real Simple and Health magazines, MyRecipes.com is featuring a special holiday pie section.

"9 Delicious Pies for Turkey Day" selections include: Double Apple Pie with Cornmeal Crust, Oatmeal Pecan Pie, Elegant Pumpkin-Walnut Layered Pie, Coconut Cream Pie with Pineapple, Tiramisu Toffee Trifle Pie, Peanut Butter Banana Pie, Cherries Jubilee Ice Cream Pie, Fudge Pie and Peanut Butter Pie.

KraftFoods.com – Kraft Foods has a special place in my heart as my mom whipped up many holiday meals and desserts using their product line. Their website presents a "Best Ever Thanksgiving Recipes" section that can help you with everything from turkey and trimmings to elegant desserts.

This year, I will be serving Kraft Foods Rocky Road Freeze pie. This decadent dessert is super easy to prepare, requires few ingredients, and is often accompanied by squeals of delight at first bite!

Other delicious dessert recipes include: Chocolate Truffle Pie, The Perfect Apple Pie, Candy Crunch Pudding Pie, Philadelphia Caramel Pecan Cheesecake, Ginger Snap Bread Pudding, Banana Pudding Squares, and Angel Lush; a diabetic-friendly dessert!

MixingBowl.com – This community-driven website is a great place to locate unique Thanksgiving and holiday dessert recipes while meeting other passionate foodies. Members can save and share recipes, create their own blog, upload photos, join groups and participate in cooking contests. Best of all, membership is free. Once you join, consider entering the "$2,500 Master Mixer Challenge" where five lucky winners will receive $500 cash!

Thanksgiving desserts include everything from Cranberry Apple Walnut Bread to Heath Bar Crunch Pumpkin Pie and "Mom's Pumpkin Pie" Sugar Cookies to Chocolate Stuffed Sticky Bundt.  

BakeSpace.com – Another social cooking site, Bake Space is a fun and interactive website offering an abundance of recipes for every day cooking to holiday entertaining. At present, Bake Space members have swapped more than 1 million recipes so chances are high you will find exactly what you're looking for along with many recipe surprises!

Dozens of Thanksgiving dessert recipes are included in the Bake Space database. A few of my favorites include: Pumpkin Custard Ice Cream, Zucchini Spice Cake with Lemon Sauce, Pumpkin Mousse in Cinnamon Pastry Shells and Apple Cider Float.

If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to subscribe to our mailing list. Subscribers are instantly notified of new recipes, product specials and cooking contests and giveaways. We have some amazing giveaways planned for 2010. Don't miss out on these exciting gifts! Subscribe today and you could be our next winner.

Last, but not least, post a comment on any blog post and you're automatically entered into November's giveaway. Details can be found at The Cheap Gourmet November Giveaway.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Thanksgiving Menu Ideas, Recipes, Cooking Tips and How-To Video Resources

Tired of the same ole' Thanksgiving menu? Ready to venture out and try new and exciting recipes? In need of cooking tips or searching for how-to videos that provide step-by-step cooking instructions? If so, you'll love the following Thanksgiving menu ideas and cooking resources!

For years, our family Thanksgiving menu consisted of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, noodles, the infamous green bean casserole, freshly baked rolls along with at least one pumpkin pie and one pecan pie.

This year we are joining friends for a Thanksgiving feast and I have been searching for unique dessert and side dish recipes. The following holiday cooking resources have helped me locate a variety of delicious, nutritious and healthy recipes. My biggest problem now is deciding which ones to prepare! I hope these resources help you locate recipes to complement and enhance your Thanksgiving meal!

Thanksgiving Menu Ideas, Recipes, Cooking Tips and How-To Video Resources

Every Day with Rachel Ray – Rachel Ray is infamous for creating recipes suited for home cooks who don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. Her website is packed with recipes for all occasions and includes a special section devoted to Thanksgiving.

At Every Day with Rachel Ray you'll find recipes for starters, sides, turkey, stuffing, soups, desserts and drinks. How-to videos are available and include: How to prep a turkey for roasting; how to carve a turkey; how to make stuffing; how to make gravy; how to make easy mashed potatoes; how to make an easy lattice pie; and much more!

Cooking.com – Here you will discover a vast database of recipes for every occasion. From breakfast, lunch and dinner to party planning and holiday fare, Cooking.com is a one-stop resource for recipes, cooking tips, kitchen gadgets and more!

Click on the Holidays and Parties link to locate complete menu planners or individual recipes. Wow your guests with unique pumpkin recipes such as Pumpkin Maple Crème Brulée, Pumpkin Walnut Cake or Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake. Go beyond traditional Thanksgiving casserole dishes by whipping up Pear and Red Onion Gratin, Whipped Sweet Potato Bake, or Canadian Bacon, Potato and Swiss Chard Gratin.

Campbell's Kitchen – Manufacturer of America's favorite soups, Campbell's Kitchen provides 115 holiday recipes certain to please even the pickiest eaters. From Skinny Mashed Potatoes to Sausage Walnut Stuffing and Herb Roasted Turkey to Brie en Croute, Cambell's Kitchen offers affordable and easy-to-prepare recipes practically guaranteed to make your Thanksgiving feast memorable.

Be certain to download Campbell's Kitchen Free Holiday Planner which includes all the recipes you'll need for the holidays and the leftovers to follow!

Eat Better America – Locating healthy holiday recipes can be challenging, but Eat Better America provides a vast assortment of great tasting, nutritious recipes that are low in calories while bursting with flavor.

Indulge in French classics such as Turkey Ratatouille or Italian favorites such as Turkey and Spinach Manicotti. Savor the intoxicating flavors of Thyme-Roasted Turkey Breast or save time by preparing the Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Stuffed with Rice.

Eat Better America recipe selections include: breakfast and brunch, appetizers and snacks, dinner, sides, breads, desserts and drinks. Take a moment to subscribe to their newsletter and receive diet, nutrition and fitness tips; discover simple ways to eat healthy; and obtain a variety of money saving coupons.

Cooking Club of America – Discover dozens of Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner recipes perfect for sharing with family and friends. Recipe categories include: Appetizers, Breads and Rolls, Cranberry Sauces and Relish, Salads, Stuffing and Dressing, Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes and Vegetarian Side Dishes.

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Planning on having holiday events catered? If so, check out Angie's List to obtain unbiased reviews and company ratings. Don't leave catered events to chance. Find out who is the best in your area by contacting Angie's List TODAY!

Thanksgiving Healthy Holiday Cooking Menu Planner

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is only six days away! If you are looking for healthy alternatives to traditional holiday fare, I'd like to share The Cheap Gourmet Thanksgiving Healthy Holiday Cooking Menu Planner.

The Thanksgiving Healthy Holiday Cooking Menu Planner includes recipes fit for a feast. Recipes range from appetizers to desserts and include family favorites such as oven roasted turkey and mashed sweet potatoes.

Thanksgiving Healthy Holiday Cooking includes something for everyone - from carnivores to vegetarians and vegans. You're certain to find recipes that will tantalize your tastebuds and impress your guests.

Download The Cheap Gourmet Presents Healthy Holiday Cooking Thanksgiving Recipe Collection 2009

Recipes include:

Appetizers:
Artichoke and White Bean Dip
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Soups:
The Great Pumpkin Soup
Quinoa Soup with Greens and Potatoes

Salads:
Quinoa Apple Salad
Persimmon Mesculin Salad

Entrées:
Roasted Turkey
Baked Cod Fillets

Side Dishes:
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Quinoa Stuffing
Roasted Beets
Couscous Stuffed Artichokes

Beverages:
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Orange Coconut Frost

Desserts:
Creamy Pumpkin Pudding
Rice Pudding with Cranberries

Feel free to pass along the Thanksgiving Healthy Holiday Menu Planner to health-conscious friends and family.

In closing, I'd like to thank each and everyone of you for supporting The Cheap Gourmet and wish you a bountiful holiday season!

Please support our affliates during the holiday season by visiting our Gourmet Foods Catalog. Discover unique gourmet gifts for all your food lover friends! Purchasing gifts through our carefully selected food purveyors and affiliate programs allows us to continue providing free recipes, menu planners, and great gift ideas.

P.S.Don't forget to leave a comment on any blog post to be entered into our fun November Giveaway!

Alouette Cheese Gourmet Fall Cheese Party Giveaway

It's not too late to enter the Alouette Cheese Gourmet Fall Cheese Party Giveaway. But, you better hurry because the winner will be selected at midnight on Halloween night, October 31st. My dear friend, Maeme, was gracious enough to open her home and host The Cheap Gourmet's wine and cheese party. It was a huge success and tons of fun. Here's Maeme enjoying one of Alouette's spreadable cheeses.

Kim, shown below, brought two bottles of Chocolate Wine, which was a big hit. After all, who doesn't love chocolate? The chocolate wine is definitely more of an after-dinner dessert wine. A small glass or two is the perfect accompaniment with a piece of dark chocolate and a slice of brie cheese. Thanks for the chocolate wine Kim. It was delightful!

We indulged in a bounty of finger foods, salads, veggie tray, fruit platter, nuts, candies, crackers, breads and cheeses. As you can see, everyone loved the luscious Alouette cheeses and were extremely impressed by the gorgeous cheeseboard that's part of the Gourmet Fall Cheese Party giveaway.

Delane loved Alouette's spreadable spinach and artichoke dip.

Bonnie's favorites included the spreadable Sundried Tomato and Basil and and Creme de Brie.

I have compiled a Wine and Cheese menu which includes several of the dishes served at The Cheap Gourmet's Wine and Cheese party. I hope you enjoy the recipes and wish you the best of luck in the drawing. 

Click here to download The Cheap Gourmet Wine and Cheese Party Menu

The winner of Alouette's Slow Down and Savor Life Gourmet Cheese giveaway will be announced on the blog on Monday, November 2nd, 2009. The winner will be notified via email to confirm the mailing address for their prize. If the winner does not respond within three days, a new winner will be selected at random. Be sure to check the blog and your email to see if you win!

How to Make a Cupcake Cake for any Occasion

How to Make a Cupcake Cake for any Occasion

Last weekend my husband and I attended a birthday celebration for friends who were both turning 60. Being such a milestone birthday, friends and family organized a semi-surprise party and planned a feast for royalty.

In July, I ordered mini cupcake pans from Easy Bakeware, which I had not had a chance to try out. Several years ago, another friend of mine taught me how to make cupcake cakes. The guest list included several children and I thought mini cupcakes would be a great way to keep them away from the "grown-up" cake until it was ready to be served.

I was preparing several dishes for the party and needed to save a little time, so I purchased boxed cake mixes and canned icing. Overall, I baked about 225 mini cupcakes. Although I only had two 12-cupcake mini muffin pans, the Easy Bakeware made the process a breeze!

I used mini muffin paper baking tins and filled each about 2/3rd's full of batter. Baking time per batch was 13 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. I used three types of cake batter - French Vanilla, Dark Chocolate and Butter Chocolate. The Butter Chocolate was by far my favorite; although all of them were quite tasty and addicting!

Next, I cut a cardboard moving box into a 24"x18" rectangle and covered it with foil. I had purchased decorative letters and colored sprinkles at the store. For the cupcakes used for the mini cupcake cake, I spread the icing evenly using a small icing knife, then placed one letter on each mini cupcake.

 

As  you can see, I used white frosting for the cupcakes with letters. It reads: "Happy 60th Birthday Maeme and Carl". I alternated flavors on each row. The first, third and fifth row are French Vanilla cupcakes, while the second and fourth rows are chocolate cupcakes.

Using some of the extra mini cupcakes, I created little islands on the sides to fill in the extra space. I purchased paper palm trees attached to a toothpick. These palm trees gave me fits because they had this teeny-tiny square adhesive covered in paper. The paper had to be removed and the palm trees stretched out and attached to the other side. Considering it was 4am when I was finishing up this cake, not all the palm trees came out uniformly. As they say, it's the thought that counts!

 

I used the butter chocolate mini cupcakes to create the islands and used a piping bag to swirl the icing. I placed 3 to 4 "island" cupcakes together and then placed one on top of the stack to create the illusion of an island. I then used white icing to pipe around the edges of the cardboard and topped with colored sprinkles. 

This was my first attempt at making a cupcake cake and while it isn't perfect, it was certainly a huge hit at the party. I placed the remaining cupcakes on dessert trays and when we departed the party, I noticed only 3 were left. The cupcake cake was completely devoured.

Not only was the cupcake cake a lot of fun to make, it didn't take much time and the guests absolutely loved it. Homemade gifts are always a great way to make people feel special. Even though I used boxed cake mixes, I could not have been more pleased with the final product.

If you are wondering how I transported the cake, I simply covered it loosely with foil. The palm trees helped keep the foil off the icing. I drive a Toyota Rav4, so the cardboard platform fit perfectly in the tailgate area. We drove extra careful to make certain we didn't need to make any sudden stops or take corners on two wheels ;-)

The possibilities of cupcake cakes are endless. Grocery stores, dollar stores, and party stores carry a wide range of novelty items that can be used to create all kinds of theme cakes. If you don't own a pasty bag and piping tips, you can place icing inside a sandwich bag and snip one corner off. Piping the icing on the cupcakes is considerably more efficient than using an icing spreader.

After using the EasyBakeware muffin pan, I can honestly say that I will be converting ALL my bakeware to this brand. The pans are made from silicone (I think!) and are super easy to clean. The muffins popped out easily and there was little mess to clean up.

EasyBakeware is currently offering FREE bakeware. You can receive any piece of bakeware for free, but will have to pay the shipping cost of $7.95. I've seen this type of bakeware in stores and the average retail price is $19.95 to $24.95 per piece!

If you're like me and love to bake, I highly recommend giving EasyBakeware a try. Click on the banner below and take advantage of the free offer before it's too late.

What's for Dessert? - 7 Simple Gourmet Dessert Recipes

I'll admit it. I have an insatiable sweet tooth. If I don't have some kind of dessert on a regular basis, I get cranky. Just ask my husband. I think it stems from my childhood. My mom always made sweet treats for us. We'd come home from school and the house would be filled with the scent of chocolate chip cookies or a freshly baked cake or pie. No matter how bad our day had been, the desserts always made everything better!

While I love to cook, I love to bake even more. I still hold onto my dream of opening a bakery some day, but for now I am content baking for my friends and neighbors. If I ate everything I baked my cholesterol would be sky high!

Today, I'd like to share my favorite dessert recipes with you. I'll forewarn you -- they aren't low-fat or low-calorie. I highly recommend sharing them with others because they are so tasty you'll find yourself eating way more than you want!

Monday: Mom's Famous "Just Peachy" Peach Cobbler - This stuff is addicting. Even my husband, who isn't a sweets-person at all, enjoyed this dessert. It's tasty served hot, cold or room temperature. It's even better served with a scoop of french vanilla ice cream. Yum! 

Tuesday: Cherry Delight Pie - This is probably the easier dessert you could ever make. It requires overnight refrigeration, so if you want to eat it on Tuesday, you'll need to make it Monday night. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like this pie and it is always a huge hit with co-workers.

Wednesday: French Toast Bread Pudding - All I can say is WOW! If you like french toast, you are going to love this dessert. This sweet treat requires overnight refrigeration so the bread can soak up the spices. It's well worth the wait and will fill your home with the most tantalizing aroma. Talk about a great way to start your day or end the evening. Magnificent!

Thursday: Fudge Pound Cake - This dessert will satisfy your need for chocolate. It's very versatile. You can serve it in thick or thin slices; eat it plain; frost it; spread cream cheese, preserves or jam on it; break it up and mix it in ice cream; and so much more.

Friday: Banana Split Brownie Pizza - This is the perfect dessert for family TV night, slumber parties, girls-night-in parties, soccer parties, football parties, any kind of party! Be careful though - this dessert is highly addicting!

Saturday: Blueberry Buttermilk Coffee Cake - There is no better way to start your day than with this luscious blueberry buttermilk coffee cake. This is by far one of my favorite weekend desserts. And, it's relatively healthy and uses organic ingredients.

Sunday: Chocolate Covered Cherries - When I was a young girl, my grandmother would give me a box of chocolate covered cherries every year for Christmas. When my daughter was a toddler she was cared for by a woman who was a baker. She taught me how to make homemade chocolate covered cherries. Although these require chocolate molds and are somewhat time consuming, they are definitely worth the time. Once you try these delicious candies you will never be able to eat boxed cherries again. These things are almost sinful!

Mom's Famous "Just Peachy" Peach Cobbler Recipe

My husband and I recently discovered the Daytona Flea and Farmer's Market. We've developed a relationship with one of the young ladies who works for a produce vendor. A few weeks ago she offered us a sample of peaches. Seems they had an abundance and were selling them for 59 cents a pound.

These were the sweetest peaches I had ever wrapped my lips around.  I love smoothies and since peaches freeze really well, I decided to buy nearly a bushel of my favorite fuzzy fruit. They don't call me The Cheap Gourmet without good reason. I LOVE a great bargain.

As I was preparing the peaches for freezing, I remembered mom's recipe for her famous Peach Cobbler. Considering I had nearly 10 pounds of peaches, I decided to bake a batch of cobbler.

Mom's recipe was a little vague and unfortunately, I can no longer call her up and ask for guidance. My first attempt didn't turn out so great. In fact, it was kind of a disaster.

The edges were black (as in "burnt") and the center was somewhat gooey. Although it tasted pretty good, it was lacking something. I went back to the drawing board and the second batch of peach cobbler came out much better.

It isn't 100% as tasty as mom's, but it is pretty darn close. Considering I still have about 7 pounds of frozen peaches, I will continue to experiment until I figure out what special ingredient mom included which isn't written on her recipe card. When I do, I'll be certain to update the recipe!

BARB'S "JUST PEACHY" PEACH COBBLER RECIPE:

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Bake Time: 35-45 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 stick unsalted Butter, sliced into one-inch pats
1 cup whole wheat or unbleached flour (can use all-purpose, if desired)
1-1/2 cups Sugar (can use Turbinado Sugar, if desired)
1 cup Milk (can use Soy, Almond or Rice Milk, if desired)
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground Allspice
4 cups fresh, sliced peaches (or two 15-1/2 ounce cans)
2-3 Tablespoons granulated Sugar, optional

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Arrange butter pats on bottom of 9"x12" baking pan.
3. In medium mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, milk, baking power and spices. Stir until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
4. Pour batter over top of butter pats.

 

5. Arrange peaches on top of batter.

 

6. Bake in 400 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until edges and top of cobbler are golden brown.
7. Remove from oven. Sprinkle top of cobbler with granulated sugar, if desired.
8. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve with whipped cream, scoop of vanilla ice cream or simply "as-is".

 

Other types of fruits can be substituted for peaches. Blackberries, blueberries, mangos, plantains and apples make for mega-yummy cobblers. You can increase or decrease the amount of fruit by up to one-cup. Using less fruit will create a cake-like batter, while more fruit will lessen the amount of pastry surrounding the fruit. It's all a matter of personal preference ;-)

Barb's Fall Harvest Pumpkin Bread

Since it is officially fall, I felt there was no better time to share mom's "Fall Harvest Pumpkin Bread" recipe. Mom served this hearty loaf bread throughout the fall and winter season. I remember one time she made the pumpkin bread for the adults attending a Halloween Party. I loved the aromas bursting from the oven and couldn't wait to indulge in a slice. Mom told me the bread was Halloween candy for grown-ups and if there was any left over, I could have it. There was never any leftover!

When I became a mom and my daughter was involved with Girl Scouts, I made mini loaves of mom's pumpkin bread and gave them to the parents. I attached a card that said "Grown-up Halloween Candy" and included the recipe on the back. Everyone loved the idea. With the holidays rapidly approaching, I'd be delighted if you baked mom's "Fall Harvest Pumpkin Bread" and give them away as gifts. Feel free to share the recipe with everyone you love and tell them it is a gift from heaven ;-)

BARB'S FALL HARVEST PUMPKIN BREAD
Yield: 2 bread loaves

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups Sugar
2/3 cup Vegetable shortening
1 1-pound can Pumpkin
4 Eggs
3-1/2 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground Nutmeg
2/3 cup Water
1 teaspoon Allspice
1/2 cup chopped Walnuts

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Grease and flour two 8"x4"x2-1/2" loaf pans.

3. In large mixing bowl combine sugar and vegetable shortening. Using hand mixer, cream sugar and shortening together on low speed.

4. Add pumpkin and mix on low for about one minute.
5. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat each egg for 20 seconds, then add another egg until all four eggs are combined with batter.
6. Using the low setting on the mixer, add flour 1 cup at a time until all 3-1/2 cups are combined with batter.
7. Add remaining dry ingredients, except for walnuts. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, or until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
8. Add walnuts and using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold nuts into mixture.
9. Pour half of the batter in each loaf pan and spread mixture evenly.
10. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
11. Remove from oven, place on cooling rack.
12. Cut into 1-inch slices and enjoy!

Cherry Delight Pie

As mentioned in an earlier post, "In Honor of My Mother, the Cooking Queen", my mom passed away on June 26th. She had a love for sharing food with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Everyone who indulged in her desserts, casseroles and home cooking always asked for her recipes.

While I intended to present mom's favorite recipes throughout the month of August, I simply wasn't able to bring myself to open her recipe box. Today, is the first time I have been strong enough to peruse mom's recipe collection.

The first recipe in the box was for Cherry Delight Pie. Mom absolutely loved this dessert because it is super simple to make, it's affordable and everyone who eats it goes bonkers for it. I hope it becomes one of your favorites!

CHERRY DELIGHT PIE
Serves: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Refrigerate Overnight

INGREDIENTS:

1 - 9-inch Graham Cracker Pie Crust
1 - 8-ounce package Cream Cheese (use low-fat, if desired)
1 cup Confectioner's Sugar (powdered sugar)
3 Tablespoons Milk (whole or 2-percent works best)
1 cup Whipped Cream (mom used Cool Whip)
1 - 15-ounce can Cherry Pie filling

DIRECTIONS:

1. In medium mixing bowl, add cream cheese, confectioner's sugar and milk. Beat until creamy, about 2-3 minutes.

2. Transfer to graham cracker pie crust and evenly spread mixture.

3. Top cream cheese mixture with an even layer of whipped cream.
4. Top with cherry pie filling.
5. Refrigerate overnight.
6. Cut into 8 wedges and top with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired

*Cherry Pie filling can be substituted with blueberry, raspberry, strawberry or blackberry.
** Double ingredients to make 2 pies

Dessert University: Cook Like a Chef, Even If You Can't Boil Water

Dessert University is the coolest thing I've ever seen! This multi-media collection includes over 100,000 recipes and step-by-step videos you can download to your computer and access at any time. The Dessert University package includes chocolate recipes, vanilla recipes, dessert recipes, candy recipes, sweet recipes and cooking lessons.

With Dessert University you can learn how to make any dessert known to man (or woman!). Expert videos will teach you how to make brownies, torts, truffles, cakes, exotic desserts, international desserts, death-by-chocolate desserts, gourmet quality desserts, and even health conscious desserts. You will be the envy of your friends, family and neighbors and everyone will invite you to their pitch-in events. With the click of a button you can quickly and easily become a master in the kitchen!

By now you're probably wondering how much this culinary training course will cost you, right? Believe it or not, Dessert University is currently available for only $34.95. Yes, you read that right -- you can have access to mouth-watering, tantalizing-tastebud sensations for a mere $34.95. There are no limits and no recurring fees. Once you pay the $34.95, you will have instant access to the entire Dessert University program.

This all-in-one package includes:

• The complete Dessert University Digital Download System
• The official Dessert University eCourse featuring 50 pages of step-by-step directions
• 1500 downloadable Video Tutorials
• Thousands of original recipes perfect for any party or social gathering

Order today and you'll receive Special Bonuses including: Candy Recipes, Unlimited Updates and FREE Membership to Dessert University Members group, which includes Live Personal Support.

If you're like me and LOVE desserts, you are going to go bananas over the Dessert University package. And, if for any reason you aren't completely satisfied with your purchase, it's covered by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

What more can I say? I love Dessert University and think you will too. Dessert University normally sells for $97, but if you hurry you can grab your copy for only $34.95. Don't delay or you'll miss out on this special price!

Click here to learn more and ORDER your copy of DESSERT UNIVERSITY.

Bone Building Strawberry Sorbet

Strawberries are an excellent source of Boron; a micronutrient that protects bone density. By using frozen strawberries, this sorbet is ready to eat without freezing. It's at its peak flavor when it comes directly out of the food processor.

Bone Building Strawberry Sorbet
Serves 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pound frozen unsweetened Strawberries
19 ounces Silken Tofu
1/2 cup all-fruit Strawberry Jam
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Lemon extract
12 fresh Mint leaves, optional

Directions:

Place all ingredients in workbowl of food processor or blender.
Process until thick and creamy.
Taste and add more vanilla or lemon extract, if desired.
Transfer to serving bowls, top with 3-4 fresh mint leaves.
Serve immediately.

Writing Awards and New Recipes

As you may already know, I am a Content Producer for Associated Content. My current portfolio contains 117 articles on a wide variety of topics, but until recently I had never posted any recipes. Last week I received an email from another AC writer, congratulating me on my reward. Funny thing is, I didn't know I had won an award.

I logged in to my account and lo and behold, what do I see but a shiny star with "Top 1000" printed on it. Rumor has it that AC has around 100,000 content producers. If this is fact, that places me in the top one percent. Not bad for a girl who barely graduated from high school, eh?

Associated Content recently brought back one of my favorite features, known as Call for Content (C4). The staff requests articles on specific topics, which makes it much easier to know what type of material they want. This past week they had several requests for various types of recipes. You can bet I was all over that!

I submitted three of my favorite recipes:

Napa Valley Chicken Salad ~ A tender chicken salad perfect for people who don't like mayonnaise. Moistened with a poppyseed dressing, this chicken salad includes sweet red grapes and crunchy pecans for a sweet and savory flavor combination. It's excellent wrapped in lettuce leaves, stuffed inside a tomato or as a topper for crackers or gourmet breads. Once you try this recipe, you'll never want regular chicken salad again!

Vegetarian Boca Burger Salisbury Steak ~ This tastes so much like "real" meat that even the meat lovers in your family will have a hard time telling the difference. Boca Burgers are a soy based product and have the texture of hamburger. The flavors of the gravy, onions and pepper infuse into the Boca Burger, giving them an authentic salisbury steak flavor. This dish screams for mashed potatoes, green beans and dinner rolls.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Patties ~ My grandmother made these no-bake cookies for me when I was a young girl. She never baked and rarely cooked, so this was a big treat for me. I recently updated the recipe by using dark chocolate instead of unsweetened cocoa. You can whip up a batch of these cookies in less than 15 minutes. They are super rich and will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Associated Content provides you with the option to email these recipes to yourself or a friend. You can also print them directly from the screen. Please take a moment to vote for the recipes or post a comment. If you'd like to be notified when I post new articles, click on the Subscribe button under my photo.

Bon Appetit!

French Toast Bread Pudding

Earlier today, I discovered French Toast Bread Pudding at Windy City Restaurant Hopper; a fabulous blog with amazing recipes! This blog has archives dating back to September 2006 and categories include appetizers, chicken, lobster, seafood, shrimp, wine pairings and more.

I think the thing I enjoy most about blogging is connecting with other passionate foodies who are eager and willing to share their secrets. I left a message at Windy City Restaurant Hopper and asked if I could post her French Toast Bread Pudding recipe. Robyn, the founder of the blog, contacted me within a few hours, granting me permission. Let's all give Robyn a round of applause and a great big THANK YOU! And, by all means, please stop by Windy City Restaurant Hopper and browse around. You'll be glad you did!

Please note the photograph below was "borrowed" from Windy City Restaurant Hopper. You can also obtain the recipe for French Toast Bread Pudding by clicking here.

French Toast Bread Pudding
Serves 6
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Bake Time: 40 minutes
*Requires overnight refrigeration before baking

Ingredients:
1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large Eggs
2 cups Half-and-Half
1 cup Milk
2 tablespoons granulated Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground Nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple syrup, if desired

Directions:

• Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs).
• Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices.
• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly.
• Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices.
• Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden.
Serve with maple syrup, if desired.

Praline Topping:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) Butter
1 cup packed light Brown Sugar
1 cup chopped Pecans
2 tablespoons light Corn Syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground Nutmeg

Unusual Crockpot Recipe: Caramel Apples

My friend, Jo, shared an interesting Crockpot recipe with me the other day. It's really quite ingenious and I wish I would have thought of it a few months ago. You see, it's a Crockpot recipe for Caramel apples! I made four dozen caramel apples for Halloween. This technique could have saved me a LOT of time.

If you've ever made caramel apples, you know they can be kind of a pain. You have to be somewhat careful while melting the caramel. It's easy to burn and it's easy to keep too cool, which in turns make it setup, then it's hard to get it to adhere to the apple. I usually break out the double-boiler, but even still it's hard to control the proper temperature to sustain the smooth consistency required for coating apples. That's where the Crockpot comes in! It keeps it at the same temperature for a long period of time.

The following caramel apple recipe is so simple, you're going to love it! And, clean-up is a snap too. As you probably already know, the Crockpot is one of the easiest things to clean. Baked on food just slides right off. I love it!

Anyhoo, I digress. Let's get down to business. Here is the Crockpot Caramel Apples recipe...

Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips Recipe

There's nothing better than banana bread with chocolate chips on a cold winter morning. This easy-to-prepare recipe is the perfect choice for Christmas morning breakfast, holiday brunch or any holiday celebration. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread makes a fantastic gift for teachers, mail carriers, neighbors, co-workers, family and friends. Simply wrap individual loaves in colored plastic wrap, tie with ribbon, stick on a festive bow and voila!, you'll have a gift everyone will enjoy!

Banana Bread with Chocolate chips pairs well with a cold glass of chocolate milk or a cup of steamy Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa . For an exotic flavor, try SBS Teas Chocolate Flame Chai or Winter Frost coffee, a delicious hazelnut coffee rolled in white cocoa powder. Now is the perfect time to indulge in Winter Frost coffee, as SBS is offering a 10% discount during the month of December.

To obtain more servings and offer guests "finger food", slice the banana bread in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 1-inch slices. Serve plain, top with ice cream or whipped cream, or slather on a layer of peanut butter and put two slices together to create a decadent chocolate chip peanut butter banana sandwich. Yum-O!

Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips
Yields: 2 loaves
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 45 to 50 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached all-purpose Flour
1 cup granulated Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup ripe Bananas, mashed (about 3 small or 2 medium)
1/2 cup shortening or solid Coconut oil (Coconut oil will add a rich coconut flavor)
2 Eggs
1 cup semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Pecans or Walnuts, chopped

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Grease bottom only of two 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/2-inch loaf pans.
• In large mixing bowl combine all ingredients except chocolate chips and nuts.
• Blend ingredients well using a hand-held electric mixer set on medium speed.
• Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
• Pour into prepared loaf pans.
• Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans and transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Fudge Pound Cake Recipe

The following Fudge Pound Cake recipe is one of my all-time favorites. But, before I share the recipe I'd like to share a story with you. Last week I made numerous baked goods for the company my husband works for. They were exhibiting their product at a trade show and provided holiday treats for everyone who visited their booth. It was especially important for the baked goods to leave a lasting impression.

Since the fudge pound cake is so scrumptious, I decided to quadruple the recipe. For some reason, I ended up with considerably more batter than I needed. I made the mistake of adding a little extra to each loaf pan. To make matters worse, I also forgot to turn on the kitchen timer. When I opened the oven door, I was aghast to see this...

At first glance I thought all was lost. After all, it's a little "crispy" on top and certainly isn't very appealing. The extra batter I added caused the pound cake to overflow, which turned out to be good for me. As I surveyed the damage, I noticed most of the outer edges could be trimmed off. First, I trimmed the edges while the pound cake was still in the pan.

Next, I flipped the cake out of the pan and trimmed up all the edges. It's looking much better, wouldn't you agree?

After trimming the pound cake, I then sliced it in half

Then, I sliced each half into 1-inch thick slices, which make for perfect finger food!

When making pound cake or other baked goods, keep in mind that just because the top is burnt doesn't mean the entire cake is a loss. Once the burnt pieces were trimmed away, this fudge pound cake was baked to perfection. Slicing it into smaller pieces is a great way to serve at any function or holiday gathering.

Below is the recipe for this decadent Fudge Pound Cake. I recommend making one batch at a time to avoid the problems I encountered ;-)

FUDGE POUND CAKE

Yield: 1 loaf
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Butter, softened
1-3/4 cups granulated Sugar
2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
3 Eggs
1-3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose Flour
2/3 cup Cocoa powder
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup Sour Cream (substitute with Light or Low-fat, if desired)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
• In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda.
• Blend one-third of flour mixture into butter mixture; then 1/3 cup Sour Cream. Alternate until ingredients are incorporated.
• Pour batter into a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.
• Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Tis the Season for Holiday Desserts

It's that time of year where holiday desserts are offered at office parties, home parties, school parties and family gatherings. The next few weeks, The Cheap Gourmet will focus on providing a variety of recipes that you can serve or take to holiday gatherings. No worries, I'll also be including low-fat, low-calorie desserts along with appetizers and a variety of healthy party foods!

Today, I'd like to share one of my favorite holiday dessert recipes with you - the Banana Split Brownie Pizza. This recipe is super easy to make and perfect for any party. You can take it to the office, serve it at parties or give it as a gift. It tastes so yummy that you might want to make an extra just for YOU!

This recipe requires the use of Parchment paper and a baking stone. If you don't have a baking stone, you can use a regular pizza pan. However, do not attempt to make this without the use of parchment paper or you'll end up with a big mess in your oven. You can purchase parchment paper in most grocery stores at a cost of around $3.50. Once you use parchment paper in your baking endeavors, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it! It makes things slide right off and eliminates sticking so you'll always have perfect desserts!

Banana Split Brownie Pizza
Serves: 16
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 (21-ounce) package Brownie Mix
1/2 cup Applesauce
1/2 cup Water
1 Egg
1 (8-ounce) package Cream Cheese, softened (use Light Cream Cheese, if desired)
1/2 cup Confectioner's Sugar
2 medium Bananas, sliced 1/2-inch thick and tossed in lemon juice to prevent browning
1 cup fresh Strawberries, sliced
1 (8-ounce) can crushed Pineapples, drained
2 Tablespoons Walnuts, chopped
4 Tablespoons semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl, combine brownie mix, applesauce, water and egg. Mix by hand as per package directions.
3. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of a 15-inch Baking Stone or pizza pan.
4. Pour brownie mixture on top of paper and spread into a 14-inch circle.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
7. In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Mix by hand or using an electric mixer until smooth.
8. Using an icing spreader or butter knife, spread cream cheese mixture over top of brownie crust.
9. Slice bananas and dip in small amount of lemon juice to prevent browning. Drain excess lemon juice and place banana slices on top of cream cheese mixture.
10. Slice strawberries length-wise and place on top of of brownie pizza.
11. Add crushed pineapple to pizza.
12. Sprinkle walnuts and chocolate chips on top of fruit.
13. Chill for at least one hour; longer if possible.
14. Cut into 16 wedges and serve.

For those watching their calorie intake one slice of Banana Split Brownie Pizza contains approximately 250 calories and 7 grams of fat.

Announcing: The Healthy Holiday Recipe Collection

It's official. The holidays are rapidly approaching and it's time to start thinking about what we'll be serving for holiday meals, social gatherings and office parties. Since many of us are attempting to eat healthier foods, I wanted to share my collection of healthy holiday recipes. Best of all, it's free! ;-)

The Healthy Holiday Recipe Collection is a 25-page report that includes a Holiday Menu Planner that is super easy to use. Simply select one recipe from each category, along with two side dishes and you'll be well on your way to creating a delectable, tasty holiday meal everyone will be talking about!

Categories include:

• Appetizers
• Soups
• Salads
• Entrees
• Side Dishes
• Beverages
• Desserts

Recipes Include:

• Artichoke and White Bean Dip
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• The Great Pumpkin Soup
• Quinoa Soup with Greens and Potatoes
• Quinoa Apple Salad
• Persimmon Mesculin Salad
• Roasted Turkey
• Baked Honey Ham
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Quinoa Stuffing
• Asparagus with Lemon Butter
• Pumpkin Dumplings
• Pumpkin Pie Smoothie with Homemade Whipped Cream
• Orange Coconut Frost
• Creamy Pumpkin Pudding
• Rice Pudding with Cranberries

Healthy Holiday Recipe Collection is a PDF file and requires Adobe Reader to view. If you do not have Adobe Reader installed on your computer, you can download it for free at www.Adobe.com.

Click the underlined link below to download your free copy of
Download Healthy Holiday Recipe Collection

Banana Spice Loaf Cake

Personally, I love banana spice loaf cake more than just about any type of dessert. They are easy to prepare and can be served with nearly any meal. Loaf cakes make a terrific snack or stand-alone dessert. They can be topped with ice cream, whipped cream, berries or fruit toppings. You can add fruits, veggies, nuts, flavored syrups and liqueurs. In essence, loaf cakes are probably the most versatile dessert on the planet.

The following Banana Spice Loaf Cake was developed by me when I worked at a famous Country Club. We would cut it into thin slices, slather one slice with a delicious cream cheese spread and place another slice on top. Then, we would cut the loaf cake "sandwich" diagonally to create four triangles. This technique makes the perfect appetizer or bite-size snack.

Banana Spice Loaf Cake

Yields: 3 loaves
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Ingredients:

6 very ripe Bananas
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup Applesauce
1/2 cup Butter, unsalted
2 cups Sugar
4 Eggs
3 cups Whole Wheat Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground Cloves
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1-1/2 cups Golden Raisins, Raisins or Currants
1-1/2 cups Pecans, Walnuts, Almonds or Hazelnuts, chopped

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly grease 3 loaf pans with butter.
• In a medium bowl, mash bananas with a fork, then add olive oil and applesauce. There is no need to mix ingredients. Set aside while making cake batter.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar using electric mixer set on medium speed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Stir in banana mixture and mix well.
• Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add to banana mixture.
• Stir in raisins and nuts and mix thoroughly.
• Pour mixture into loaf pans and place in oven.
• Loaf cake is finished when a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
• Cool on baking rack for 15-20 minutes.

You can leave the loaves in the pans, or remove them and transfer them to a serving plate. Run a knife along the edges of the pan to loosen cake. To freeze, double wrap cakes in plastic wrap, then wrap in aluminum foil. Cakes can be frozen for up to 3 months. To retain freshness, always cover cake in plastic wrap, waxed paper or store in airtight container.

Banana Spice Loaf Cake makes a great holiday gift. Wrap in colored plastic wrap and tie with festive colored ribbons. Write the recipe on an index card and insert inside the recipient's holiday card. They'll love you for it!

Sweet Cream Cheese Spread

Yield: 1 cup
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 (8-ounce) package Cream Cheese, room temperature
3 Tablespoons Confectioner's Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Directions:

• In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat ingredients until well-incorporated and creamy.
• Cover and store in refrigerator until needed.

If you're using this spread on loaf cakes, let it warm up a bit before trying to spread it. Otherwise, the bread slices will crumble. Leftover cream filled loaf bread sandwiches need to be refrigerated.

Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries and Almonds

Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries and Almonds
Yield: 1 loaf
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour (or all-purpose white)
1 tsp Cinnamon, ground
1/2 tsp Nutmeg, ground
1/4 tsp Ginger, ground
1/4 tsp Cloves, ground
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon Sugar
2 large Eggs
1 cup Pumpkin, canned, solid pack
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup Buttermilk
1/2 cup dried sweetened Cranberries
1/2 cup coarsely chopped unsalted Almonds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
2. Butter 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Line bottom and long sides with waxed or parchment paper.
3. In medium bowl, whisk flour, spices, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until blended. Set aside.
4. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy.
5. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating until blended.
6. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
7. Add pumpkin and vanilla; beat on medium-low speed until ingredients are well incorporated.
8. Slowly add one-third of of dry ingredients and one-third of buttermilk into pumpkin mix. Repeat two more times.
9. Fold in cranberries and almonds.
10. Pour batter into loaf pan.
11. Sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon sugar, if desired. 
12. Place loaf pan in oven and bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean; about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
13. Cool bread in pan on baking rack for 15 minutes.
14. Cut bread at short ends of pan to loosen. Turn bread out onto rack; peel off waxed paper.
15. Cool completely before serving.

*Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries and Almonds can be made up to two days in advance. Securely wrap loaf in plastic wrap and store in cool, dry area. Bread can be frozen up to 3 months if wrapped in plastic wrap, then a layer of foil. Let thaw at room temperature.