Thursday, June 29, 2023

My Mom's Coconut Cake

 


















Every year before my Mom moved to heaven I made her favorite Coconut cake. In total I probably made 67 of these cakes and each and every time I lit the candles and presented it to her, she would go on and on about how her daughter could make the best coconut cake in the whole world. She was the one who taught me how to make it when I was young and yet she insisted I made it better. I would light up as bright as she did over that cake. To know my Mom thought I was the best cook was quite an accomplishment in my life. I miss making this cake for her each year... and I cry each time I make it.

Mom's Coconut Cake

1 and 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
3 cups cake flour
5 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
4 ounces sweetened shredded coconut
 
Buttercream Frosting:

16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 box confectioners’ sugar, (16 oz.), sifted 
6 ounces sweetened shredded coconut for topping

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line each with parchment paper. Grease paper and dust with flour.


 







 











Mix butter and sugar on medium-high speed of an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add extracts and mix. The mixture will look a bit lumpy.

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Turn the mixer on low speed and add dry ingredients, alternating with milk, in three parts. Mix just until combined. Fold in coconut.

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Smooth the tops of each. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until tops are browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 30 minutes. Then, remove from pans to finish cooling on wire racks.



 



   




 

 


 

 

  Frosting:

Using an electric mixer on low speed, combine cream cheese, butter, and extracts. Add confectioners’ sugar and mix just until smooth.

Spread frosting on first layer. Place the second layer on top and frost the top and sides. Sprinkle top and sides with coconut.


 











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Thursday, June 22, 2023

Beer Battered Fish























This beer battered fish has that tender, crispy, light crunch and the inside is so moist and flaky!  I could eat an entire plate of these! You can use any meaty fresh white fish such as cod fillets, Halibut, Haddock, Pollock, or Whiting. I’ve even used frozen Cod and you couldn’t taste the difference.  So good!

Beer Battered Fish


6 cups vegetable oil
1 (12-ounce) bottle of beer 
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-2 pounds of meaty white fish, skinned with bones removed. 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

In a 5 quart pot or Dutch oven, heat oil to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, pour in 1 bottle of beer. Sift 1 1/2 cups flour into the bowl, whisking in gently until just combined, stir in salt, pepper and garlic powder. 


















Pat fish dry and season on both sides with salt and pepper and coat the fish in the beer batter. Dredge the pieces of fish in 1/2 cup of remaining flour and slide into oil as coated. 

  














 
 
 
 
Fry fish, turning over frequently, until deep golden and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and keep warm in oven. 

 
  













 
 
 
 
Fry remaining fish in batches, returning oil to 375 degrees between batches.  Serve fish with French fries, and if desired, tartar sauce and/or ketchup, and lemon wedges.





















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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Blackened Chicken Alfredo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 




 

Absolutely delicious.  I am not a fan of Cajun food and I’m not crazy about any dish that is too spicy.  But this is not at all like that.  This is restaurant quality dish with tender bites of chicken in a creamy incredible thick sauce with just a touch of seasoning to give it the right blend.  You will love this recipe!

 

Blackened Chicken Alfredo

 

1 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

3 cloves garlic, chopped

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 tablespoon Zatarain’s blackened seasoning

2 cups heavy whipping cream

4 cups penne pasta, cooked and drained well

1 cup Parmesan cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese

¼ cup fresh parsley

 

Lay out chicken breasts on a plate and brush with melted butter.  Then season to taste with salt, pepper, and blackened seasoning. 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Melt butter and olive oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add seasoned chicken to skillet and fry 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet and transfer to a plate. Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes and set aside.  You can also grill chicken if desired.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the same skillet, add garlic and cook, stirring constantly until it just starts to brown. Watch it as garlic burns easily.  Add the cream, and stir until it begins to thicken. 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Add the cooked pasta, stirring until evenly mixed.  Add in the cubed chicken and Parmesan cheese stirring until cheese melts and pasta is coated with the sauce.  Pour entire mixture into a 9 x 13 baking dish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over the top and bake for about 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. 













 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprinkle on parsley and serve. 

 







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Monday, June 12, 2023

Chicken Alfredo Roll Ups












One bite and you’ll say OMG, this one’s a keeper!  It is just that delicious. It’s like chicken alfredo but wrapped up in perfect little rolled up portions of chicken, cheese and the best homemade alfredo sauce you’ve ever tasted. You will make this time and time again.
Chicken Alfredo Roll Ups
8 Lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (or make your own)
2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
 
Alfredo Sauce

½ cup butter
1 pint heavy whipping cream (2 cups)
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse the noodles with cold water and lay them on a paper towel to remove excess water.













 





 



 





In a medium saucepan add butter, heavy whipping cream, and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat and whisk until melted. Add the minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk until smooth. 

 



















 








Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Turn down heat to just a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Remove from heat and continue to stir periodically while working to prepare roll ups.
















 
 












Line the bottom of the 9 x 13 inch pan with 1 cup of sauce.































Spread 2 tablespoons of sauce over each noodle leaving only a small amount of space along edges.  Add some chicken on top of the sauce on each noodle. Add some shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the chicken.  You can also mix the sauce, chicken and cheese together before topping each noodle if you like.




















Carefully roll up each lasagna noodle and place seam side down in your prepared 9 × 13 pan. Repeat until you fill your dish with roll ups. Any toppings that fall out you can put back in as you roll or add to the next one you make.

 


























Once they are all in the pan, pour the remaining sauce over the top.

















 





Then sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese all over the top. I like a lot of cheese but you can add more or less depending on preference. 
 











 






Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes until heated through and cheese is golden brown and bubbling around the edges.    



 
















Allow to cool for about 10 minutes and then slice and serve.










 



Wonderful with a tossed salad and some crusty Italian bread! 







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