Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Snowflake Rolls

















I have been making these rolls for my Christmas dinner for as long as I can remember.  My Mom always served Snow Flake rolls with Christmas dinner and I just carried on the tradition.  But I do one thing different.  I use Star Butter Flavored Olive Oil and it makes my rolls so soft with a mild buttery flavor. And I cut back on saturated fats, sodium and cholesterol too without losing that buttery flavor.  My Mom would have loved using it too!  Sometimes I use a little lace snowflake doily and then sprinkle on my flour to really dress them up for the holidays.

Snowflake Rolls

2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast (or use 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast) 
1 1/8 cups lukewarm water (about 110 degrees) 
3 cups all purpose flour 
1 1/4 teaspoons salt 
3 tablespoons sugar 
13.5 teaspoons Star Fine Food Butter Flavor Olive Oil (about 1/4 cup) 
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk 
1/2 cup instant mashed potato flakes

Dissolve yeast it with a pinch of sugar in 2 tablespoons of the lukewarm water. Let the yeast and water sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, until the mixture has bubbled and expanded. If you're using instant yeast, you can skip this step.

Combine the dissolved yeast (or instant yeast) with the remainder of the ingredients. Mix and knead everything together—by hand, mixer or bread machine set on the dough cycle—till you've made a smooth dough. If you're kneading in a stand mixer, it should take 5 to 7 minutes at second speed, and the dough should barely clean the sides of the bowl, perhaps sticking a bit at the bottom. In a bread machine (or by hand), it should form a smooth ball.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl, and allow the dough to rise, at room temperature, until it's nearly doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Rising may take longer, especially if you've kneaded by hand. Give it enough time to become quite puffy.

While the dough is rising, lightly grease two 9" round cake pans, or a 
9" x 13" pan. Gently deflate the dough, and transfer it to a lightly greased work surface. Divide it into 16 pieces. Shape each piece into a rough ball by pulling the dough into a very small knot at the bottom, then rolling it under the palm of your hand into a smooth ball. 

Place eight rolls in each of the round cake pans (or all 16 rolls in the 9" x 13" pan), spacing them evenly; they won't touch one another. Cover the pan(s) with lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow the rolls to rise till they're very puffy, and have reached out and touched one another, about 1 hour. While the rolls are rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Bake the rolls until they're a deep golden brown on top, and lighter on the sides, about 25 minutes. Remove the rolls from the oven, and after 2 or 3 minutes, carefully transfer them to a rack. Gently shake four from a sifter or shaker on top of warm rolls.

You can buy Star Butter Flavored Olive Oil here:  Raley’s, Walmart, Stater Bros., Food Maxx and online at http://bit.ly/ButterFlavoredOliveOil.
























Photography is the property of and copyrighted to ©Welcome Home.


Disclaimer: I have an ongoing relationship with STAR Fine Foods for my recipes and photography using their wonderful products. This post is sponsored by STAR. I am compensated for my time and work and I am sent products as I request them. However, all opinions of the product stated in this post are 100% my own. I truly love their products!
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Monday, December 15, 2014

Olive Tapenade
























I love Italian Food. I mean good Italian food served in an authentic Italian restaurant. I love the smell when you walk in and the ambiance with warm glowing candles lit on top of white linen table cloths one each table. I love the soft music playing in the background.  I especially love the look and smell of fresh made bread sticks. One of the first things served in a real Italian restaurant is an Olive Tapenade with fresh rounds of Italian bread or those warm bread sticks.  It's usually just chopped olives, a little garlic and a good quality olive oil.  
























When I am having guests over for one of my homemade pasta dinners, I like to give them that same feeling. My Lasagna is in the oven. The candles are lit and I bring out my own Olive Tapenade for all the enjoy! I start with Star Fine Food Spanish Olives and add sweet roasted peppers, zesty capers, garlic and spices and it's so good! 


Olive Tapenade

1 cup Star Fine Food Spanish Manzanilla Olives
1 cup pitted black olives, such as kalamata
1 roasted sweet bell pepper, chopped fine  (any brand in a jar)

1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted and finely chopped
1/2 cup Star Fine Foods Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup basil, loosely chopped
3 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed and dried
1 medium French or Italian baguette, sliced (about 25 slices)


First, infuse the olive oil:

Put the olive oil, garlic, basil, and lemon juice and zest in a small saucepan or frying pan, and warm the mixture over moderately low heat for about five minutes (the garlic should appear softened, but not golden.  If it starts to bubble, turn down the heat and remove the pan from the stove top for a few seconds).  Set the mixture aside until cooled.
























Next, make your Tapenade

Pulse the green olives in a food processor until finely chopped and place in a medium bowl. Then pulse the black olives in the food processor and add to the bowl. Add the capers, almonds, sweet roasted red pepper and olive oil mixture to the medium bowl, and stir well to combine. 


Spread on baguettes and/or crackers. Enjoy! 






















 
Disclaimer: I have an ongoing relationship with STAR Fine Foods for my recipes and photography using their wonderful products. This post is sponsored by STAR. I am compensated for my time and work and I am sent products as I request them. However, all opinions of the product stated in this post are 100% my own. I truly love their products!

Photographs are the property of and copyrighted to ©Welcome Home.


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THE WELCOME HOME ONLINE MAGAZINE


































Good morning friends. Hope everyone had a pleasant weekend and that you're finding the spirit of Christmas somewhere in the midst of all the commercialism out there this time of year. 

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen this past weekend, cooking and baking, writing new recipes and taking photos for the new January issue of the Welcome Home Online Magazine ready for release on the first day of the year. That's where you will find all my new recipes now. Recipes I do not share anywhere else.

What is this online magazine you ask? 

Well, it's not an actual print and paper magazine that comes in the mail each month. The kind you get in your mailbox and leaf through it in a few seconds and put it away to look at later....if you ever get to it. No, this is an online blog magazine. It's a private website that you can visit as often as you like on your computer, laptop, cell phone, tablet or iPad, Kindle, Nook....whatever device you have the Internet on.

It is exclusive to only those people that subscribe to it. It is a very private website that we give you a key or link to access. You hold on to that key and it unlocks the door so you go browse through it as often as you like. Each month a new issue comes out and because you become a member of an exclusive private fan club or group, you are the first to know about it.

What's in this online magazine? 


Lots of recipes you've never seen before. Each issue is just full of great recipes I save only for this online magazine. Many are from my Mom's collection with big vibrant pictures to match every dish. I have illustrated step by step recipes and a lot of how to's along with kitchen tips and advice. You'll find contests and give a ways and even a gift shop where you can get great bargains on wonderful things.

I'm certain you'll instantly see the value that your $2 a month subscription brings. The magazine website is so private that no one can even find it out there unless you know me or know of my mission here at Welcome Home and subscribe to it. As always, some of the proceeds from The Welcome Home Kitchen Magazine will help me save the lives of dogs and cats who are killed unnecessarily while waiting in Kill shelters for someone to come and adopt them. And some of the proceeds will help me feed the homeless.

If you haven't subscribed yet, you really should. It is a great way to help those in need and in return you get so much. Not only the satisfaction of knowing you have saved a life but you get great recipes too! 

So I'm off to finish writing recipes for those great Peach Thumb print cookies and Chocolate Macaroons I made yesterday and that gorgeous Cheesy pasta dish I made the day before. There are some really good recipes in this next issue and there is so much left to do to get it ready for January 1st. Remember the second you subscribe, you'll have instant access to all the past issues too. You'll find over 150 recipes and tips so far.

How do you subscribe?



IMPORTANT:  First set up a Gmail account.  You can keep the email address and account you have now.  This gmail account is just your key to the magazine.

Step 1If you do not already have a free gmail address, you want to create one first. This is the most important step.  You do NOT have to change your existing email address. What you have now can stay the same. You just need to create a new Gmail account to access the magazine IF you do not already have one.Get paper and pen so you can remember what username and password you choose and then go to this link and create a new Gmail address:  https://accounts.google.com/SignUp


Again, you can keep your same email address to use as you always have. This is Gmail address is just the key to get to the magazine.

Step 2:   At the top of this page, under the cover photo collage, click on the tab that says, MY STORE. Or click on this link:  http://www.welcome-home-blog.net/p/my-store.html

Step 3:   Click on the little tab that says BUY FROM 2CO

Step 4: Enter your name and your new Gmail address and your other information and then go to the next step. Enter your payment information for the $24 annual subscription. You can choose a credit card you'd like to use or you can click on PayPal.  If you do not want to use either method, contact me at intelesales@aol.com and we can make other arrangements.  Please rest assured that this is the safest online payment processing system online today.  No need to worry.

Step 5: Complete your order and within seconds you will receive a receipt and email confirmation at the Gmail address you created and typed in when you were ordering.

Step 6. Within a few minutes, as soon as I get your purchase confirmation, I will send you an invitation to become a private member of The Welcome Home Kitchen to your new Gmail address. Click on the orange button that says ACCEPT.  You must still stay logged into your gmail account when you go to the magazine.  Then you will be directed to the link of the new magazine. And you're all set.

Step 7:  Each month....around the 1st of the month, you will be notified that a new issue has just been released. You will always have access to all past issues just by visiting and each month will shown so you can go back and find whatever you are looking for.  The announcement will come to you in the exclusive group that you will be a member of called The Welcome Home Magazine Fan Club.


OR you can contact us and we will help you get there in seconds.....

You can send a message through the contact box on the right margin of this page.


OR you can message us through Facebook at  www.facebook.com/welcomehomefriends/

Or you can email us at the Welcome Home gmail address at:
You can email us at welcomehomefriendsLLC@gmail.com 


We will walk you through step by step to get you in the magazine!
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Monday, December 08, 2014

♥ Chocolate Raspberry Brownies














 










 

Chocolate Raspberry Brownies


4 large eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cups unsalted butter, melted
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract...
1 1/2 cup all purpose
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup toasted walnuts
3 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and line a 9 inch square pan with parchment paper and then butter the paper. Set aside.

Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and frothy. Whisk in the sugar and then slowly whisk in the melted butter and vanilla. Sift together the flour, cinnamon and cocoa powder. Gently stir it in and then stir in the nuts. Spread the batter in the prepared pan, level the surface and bake for 25 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Allow to cool completely.

Once they are cool, carefully remove from the pan and cut in half horizontally with a sharp knife. Warm the jam and spread it onto the bottom half of the brownies. Sandwich with the top later. Frost with some butter cream frosting. Cut into squares to serve. Delicious! Makes one 9 inch square pan.

Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3½ cups powdered sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
½ teaspoon table salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon almond extract
4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Cream butter for a few minutes in a mixer on medium speed. Turn off the mixer. Sift 3 cups powdered sugar and cocoa into the mixing bowl. Turn your mixer on the lowest speed until the sugar and cocoa are absorbed by the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add a little more sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add additional milk 1 tablespoon at a time.

http://theenglishkitchen.blogspot.com/2013/02/raspberry-brownies.html
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Jumbo Glazed Cinnamon Rolls


















They're oooey, goooey and rich and they're jumbo for that oversized mug of coffee! I am particular about my cinnamon rolls. They have to be soft and sticky and especially buttery. I use Star Fine Foods Butter flavored Olive oil now for most of my baking because I get the same buttery taste and at the same time I can cut back on saturated fats, sodium, and cholesterol without sacrificing that buttery flavor. Here's a tip for you: Use dental floss method to cut the rolls and you'll get perfect slices. Another tip: You can freeze these for later: Follow the instructions and slice you dough and then place them in a greased foil pie pan. Cover them with foil and then put the pie pan in a ZipLoc freezer bad. Later, when you want to make them, take them out the night before and remove the pan from the bag. Remove the foil and place them into your oven. Don't turn on the oven....just turn on the oven light for slight warmth. By morning, they have risen and are ready to bake.

Jumbo Glazed Cinnamon Rolls

2 packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 tsp)
1-1/4 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
1.5 cups warm milk (110° to 115°)
3 tablespoon Star Fine Food Butter Flavored Olive Oil
1 egg
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons salt
7 cups all-purpose flour

FILLING:                                                                      


3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/8 cups packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

GLAZE:

1.5 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons milk

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water; let stand 5 minutes. Add the milk, butter flavored olive oil, eggs, honey, salt and 1.5 cups flour; beat on low for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.


Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a large greased bowl; turning once. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide into two pieces. Roll each into a 14-in. x 8-in. rectangle; spread with butter. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges and press into dough. 


Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Cut each into 12 slices. Place cut side down in four greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks.

For glaze, in a large bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over rolls.



Photographs are copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.


Disclaimer: I have an ongoing relationship with STAR Fine Foods for my recipes and photography using their wonderful products. This post is sponsored by STAR. I am compensated for my time and work and I am sent products as I request them. However, all opinions of the product stated in this post are 100% my own. I truly love their products!
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Tuesday, December 02, 2014

♥ Cream of Turkey and Rice Soup


























I usually make my soup more like a chunky stew with a thick and creamy base instead of a thin broth. I had this for lunch the other day and it was so good. Rich and thick and full of tender moist turkey breast....yum!

Cream of Turkey and Rice Soup

1 cup chopped onion
4 cloves minced garlic
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
6 cups chicken broth
3 cups water
4 cups already cooked and shredded boneless turkey breast.
2 (4.5 ounce) packages Uncle Ben's quick cooking long grain and wild rice with seasoning packet
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons butter
3 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk

Saute’ onion and garlic in a little olive oil. Add carrots and celery and continue cooking until tender.

In a large pot over medium heat, combine chicken broth, water, the carrot and celery mix you have set aside, and the cooked shredded turkey breast. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice, reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in contents of seasoning packet and then reduce heat to low. Next whisk in flour in briskly to make a paste like consistency. Allow to cook for one minute and then whisk in cream and milk, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir cream mixture into chicken, broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.

If base is too thick, add a little more milk and stir.





Photograph is copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home 2014.
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Monday, November 24, 2014

My Mom's Moist and Juicy Roast Turkey





















I had a request last night for my recipe for Roast Turkey. Last year I deep fried my turkey in my butterball deep fryer but this year I have decided to go back to basics and make my Mom's wonderful recipe for Roast Turkey. Just the good old fashioned traditional way of making the juiciest turkey ever.

My Mom's Moist and Juicy Roast Turkey

For the Turkey

1 fresh turkey (12-14 pounds)
salt and pepper
1 bunch fresh thyme
1 whole lemon, halved
1 yellow onion, quartered
1 head garlic, halved crosswise

Remove the turkey from the refrigerator about an hour before you are ready to roast it so that it can come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. This is just to get the oven nice and hot before roasting. You will turn the heat down later.

Take the bag of giblets and the neck and rinse the turkey inside and out. Pat the turkey down all over the outside with paper towels to dry it thoroughly. Lift the turkey and generously salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity.

Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, the lemon, the onion, and the garlic. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.

Next, make an compound herb butter.

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary, chopped fine
1 tablespoon of fresh sage leaves, chopped fine
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, fresh herbs, lemon zest, salt and pepper, and garlic. Stir together with a spoon until well blended. Next, run your hand between the skin and meat of the turkey, gently separating them and being careful not to tear the skin. Do the same from the other side, loosening the skin around the thighs and legs. Use about two thirds of the compound butter to rub over the actual meat that is under the skin of the turkey. Remember, the butter will melt as it cooks so don't worry too much about smoothing it out. Save the remaining butter and set aside.

Next place your turkey on a roasting rack inside a large roasting pan. Pour 2 cups chicken broth in pan under rack, making sure not to allow the turkey to make contact with the broth. The juice will steam the turkey keeping it moist and tender through roasting process. Cover tightly with foil.

Transfer the pan to the oven and cook at 425 degrees for 45 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and and continue to roast for about 2 hours. Then take turkey out of oven and remove foil. Melt the remaining compound butter in the microwave and then brush it all over the turkey. Continue to roast for another 30-40 minutes or until you get a reading of 160 degrees when you insert an instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the breast.

For those last 30-40 minutes, you want to monitor the browning of the skin and once it has reached the desired shade of golden brown, after about 30-40 minutes, tent loosely with foil throughout any remaining cooking time.

http://blog.marketamerica.com/
(A 12-14 lb. bird will take approximately 2-2½ hours). Another way to tell if your turkey is done, is to make sure the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh.

Most important: you want to allow the turkey to rest before carving. If you carve the turkey immediately out of the oven it will be tough and dry. Remove turkey from oven and Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil for 20-30 minutes before carving.

Photography Source:  The food network
Recipe adapted from Ina Garten
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Monday, November 17, 2014

Snickers Roll Ups

























It all started with that half a bag of Snickers fun sized candy bars leftover from Halloween.  And that can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls in the refrigerator that was  getting close to the expiration date.  It ended up being so delicious...so decadent...so incredibly good!

Snickers Roll Ups


1 (8 ounce) can Pillsbury Crescent Dinner rolls
6-8 snack size  Snickers candy bars
2 tablespoons butter, melted


Glaze (optional)

1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 teaspoons milk

Heat oven to 375 degrees. 



Separate dough into 8 triangle pieces. Cut each candy bar into quarters. Place chopped candy on the widest side of triangle and then roll it up. 






Start at shortest side of each triangle and roll to opposite point. Pinch edges of dough to seal. Brush each roll with melted butter and place them on an ungreased baking pan. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan. Cool slightly. 

In small bowl, combine all glaze ingredients until smooth, drizzle over warm rolls. 




Photographs are the property of and copyrighted to ©Welcome Home.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Caramelized Shallots























I saw this recipe the other day while watching the cooking show. Ina Garten made it look so easy...so I said why not?  I looked up the recipe and saw glorious reviews of this dish. I had some wonderful Star Fine Foods Red Wine Vinegar in the pantry and some fresh shallots. It sounded good. It looked delicious....so I made it.  And oh my gosh was it delicious.  You will love this simple recipe my friends and I promise you will make it often.  Shallot are glazed and so sweet their almost like candy!  Savory sweet!  I ate a whole bowl!

















Caramelized Shallots                                                 

6 tablespoons butter
2 pounds fresh shallots, peeled, with roots intact
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons Star Fine Foods Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Melt the butter in a 12-inch ovenproof saute pan, add the shallots and sugar, and toss to coat. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the shallots start to brown. Add the vinegar, salt, and pepper and toss well.

Place the saute pan in the oven and roast for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the shallots, until they are tender. Season to taste, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten, The Food Network

























Disclaimer: I have an ongoing relationship with STAR Fine Foods for my recipes and photography using their wonderful products. This post is sponsored by STAR. I am compensated for my time and work and I am sent products as I request them. However, all opinions of the product stated in this post are 100% my own. I truly love their products!

Photographs are the property of and copyrighted to Welcome Home.
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Thursday, November 06, 2014

Boston Cream Whoopie Pies



My Mom used to make the best Boston Cream Pie...wonderful pastry cream sandwiched between two layers of yellow cake and topped with wonderful chocolate. But I could never eat an entire pie so I decided to play a little with her recipe and make some Boston Cream Whoopie Pies and they are just perfect! You'll love this recipe! 

Boston Cream Whoopie Pies


2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.

In a larger bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Add in the oil and the eggs one at a time beating to blend in each egg. Stir in half of the flour mixture and then add your buttermilk and vanilla extract. Finally, add the remaining flour, mixing just until all ingredients are blended well.

Using an ice cream scoop, drop batter into rounds onto prepared baking sheet, as you would for cookie dough. Cakes will spread out while baking. You can make these as large or small as you like. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until cake is set and springs back when lightly pressed. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Pastry Cream

1/2 tablespoon butter
1 cup whole milk
1 cup of heavy cream (whipping cream or full cream)
7 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
pinch of salt

In bowl, combine eggs, sugar & cornstarch. Whisk until light in color and set aside. In heavy bottom saucepan, bring the cream, milk and the butter to a boil. Then turn down your heat to low and slowly pour in your egg mixture whisking as you pour. Continue stirring for about a minute until custard has thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt. Pour custard in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap so film does not develop. Refrigerate for several hours until thickened.

Chocolate Ganache

4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter

Break up the chocolate into small pieces & place in medium bowl. Heat the cream & butter until very hot, but not quite boiling. Pour the cream & butter over the chocolate & whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is shiny, creamy & smooth. Let the ganache sit for just a few minutes to thicken.

Now pair up the whoopie cakes matching them up to equal sizes that will fit together well. Take one half of each of the whoopie pies and spread about 1 tbsp chocolate over the rounded portion of the cake. Allow to set up at room temperature. You can also dip them in chocolate as I did.

Fill a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off with the pastry cream and pipe a generous amount (2-3 tbsp) onto the flat portion of the cakes that are not covered with chocolate. Top each with a chocolate covered cake.

Drizzle

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon half-and-half or 1 tablespoon cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the powdered sugar and half and half or cream and stir until the sugar is completely absorbed by the cream. Add the teaspoon of vanilla extract. I went a little nuts with my drizzle but you can make it as pretty as you like!

Photographs are copyrighted and the property of Welcome Home.
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Creamy Mashed Potatoes

































Now we can't have Thanksgiving dinner without these, can we? I'm sure you all have your own recipes, tips and tricks for making these but I will share my own basic recipe. It is simple and yet always a crowd pleaser.

Creamy Whipped Potatoes

4 pounds Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste

Wash and peel your potatoes, then cut them into large chunks and place in a large pot. Pour in enough cold water to cover the potatoes by 1 to 2 inches and then add a generous amount of salt. You want the water to taste salty. Place the potatoes on a burner and set to high heat and allow the water to boil rigorously. Then reduce the heat to medium and cook until potatoes are fork tender. Usually about 20 minutes.

Drain the potatoes in a large colander and return them to the pot and cover them to keep them warm. In a sauce pan, combine the butter and cream and heat on low until butter has melted and mixture is hot.

With a hand mixture, begin to whip the potatoes. Add small amounts of butter and cream as you continuing mixer until the potatoes are fluffy and creamy and when you get the right consistency you like best. I usually use it all. As you are mixing add your salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with butter or gravy.



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