Saturday, March 21, 2009

Parmesan Potato Balls

Ingredients:

* 2-1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 3 large potatoes)
* 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 2 tablespoons milk
* 1 tablespoon butter, softened
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 tablespoon chopped green onion
* 2-1/2 teaspoons onion soup mix
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
* Dash pepper
* 1 egg, lightly beaten
* 1-1/2 cups crushed cornflakes

Directions:
Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain.
In a large bowl, mash the potatoes. Beat in the cream cheese, milk and butter until smooth. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, onion, soup mix, salt, hot pepper sauce and pepper. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls.
Place the egg and cornflakes in separate shallow bowls. Dip potato balls in egg, then roll in crumbs. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 400° for 15-18 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Yield: 4-1/2 dozen.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Sincere Strawberry Cupcakes

Sincere Strawberry Cupcakes

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla paste or pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1 pkg (10-12 ounces) frozen strawberries, defrosted or fresh strawberries (please see specific instructions for below)
2 tablespoons of granulated sugar

If you're using fresh strawberries: First, rinse the berries really well and remove the stems. Quarter or rough chop them them into a bowl and add a few tablespoons of water and mix to coat. Then add a tablespoon or two of sugar (enough to coat the surface) and mix to coat again. Cover and refrigerate the berries for several hours or better yet, overnight.

If you're using frozen strawberries: Put the defrosted strawberries into a bowl and cover them with the sugar, mixing well to coat them. Let the strawberries sit on the counter for at least an hour to macerate (best to do this the night before or early in the day).

Once they are soft and mushy, use a fork to mash the strawberries. Be careful not to mash them too much (you want there to be some chucks). Place the berries in a mesh strainer and drain as much of the juice that you can. Reserve the juice.

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin tin with baking cups.

In medium bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer for 3 minutes. It should be very pale yellow and and fluffy. Add one egg at a time and mix for 1 full minute on medium-low speed (no cheating! :) ) - be sure to scrape down the bowl a few times to ensure that everything is mixing together properly. Add vanilla and almond extract and mix again for 30 seconds.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. Alternately add flour mixture and milk, in 3 batches, starting with the flour. Be sure to mix well after each addition and scrape the bowl down every so often.

Mix in the strawberries on low speed plus 1/4 cup of the strawberry juice. Scoop batter into prepared pan and bake for 21-23 minutes. The surface of the cupcakes should spring back when touched and just a little brown. You can also test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cupcake comes out with just a few pieces of cake clinging to it. Cool in the pan for about 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

While the cakes are still a little warm, using a clean pastry brush (or a folk), paint the surface of the cupcake with the strawberry juice (be careful not to saturate the surface). Let the cupcakes continue to cool completely. Frost if desired. Cover and store at room temperature or in the fridge. Frost with your favorite frosting or eat plain.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Melting Pot Wisconsin Trio Fondue

1 ½ cups (6 ounces) shredded Butterkase cheese
1 ½ cups (6 ounces) shredded Fontina cheese
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¾ cup white wine
¼ cup dry sherry
2 teaspoons chopped shallots
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ cup crumbled Blue cheese
2 tablespoons chopped scallions

Toss the Butterkase and Fontina cheese with the flour in a bowl. Place a metal bowl over a saucepan filled with 2 inches of water. You may also use a conventional double boiler. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and pour the white wine and sherry into the bowl. Stir in the shallots using a fork. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

Add half the cheese blend and cook until the cheese is melted, stirring constantly. Add the remaining cheese blend in a small amount at a time, stirring constantly in a circular motion after each addition until the cheese is melted. Fold in the pepper and Blue cheese. Pour into a warm fondue pot and keep warm over low heat. Garnish with the scallions.