Honeycomb Toffee / Cinder Toffee

Honeycomb Toffee

source: http://www.buzzfeed.com/tasty           

Recipe

2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup
1/3 Cup Water
1 Tbsp. Baking Soda

Dark Chocolate
Sea Salt/Maldon Salt

Candy Thermometer

Line a 9 inch baking tray with parchment paper and grease thoroughly.

Set aside a metal whisk and 1 Tbsp. of Baking Soda.

In a LARGE saucepan (bigger the better - as this will more than triple in size) over medium/high heat - combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir to incorporate then leave to boil. Insert candy thermometer and continue to heat - without stirring - until the mixture reaches 300˚F (150˚C). Remove from heat and - working quickly - add the baking soda and quickly whisk into the sugar syrup (whisking for no more than 5 seconds - to prevent deflating the toffee). The mixture will begin to expand, quickly pour it into the prepared pan and leave to set DO NOT MOVE for 1-2 hours.

Once the toffee has cooled and set, remove from pan and using a blunt object, shatter the toffee into bite size pieces.

Melt Chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 75-90 Seconds - stopping to stir after every 30 seconds. Dip the toffee pieces in chocolate and place on a lined baking tray. Finish with a sprinkle of sea salt and place in the refrigerator to cool for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Lemon Rhubarb Mascarpone Mousse Cake

 source:     delectable deliciousness: Fancy little lemon-rhubarb mousse cakes

Lemon Rhubarb Mascarpone Mousse Cake:

For the tulip paste:
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup egg whites, at room temperature
4 ounces all purpose flour, sifted
1 1/2 Tb cocoa powder.

Cream the butter and powdered sugar together in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Sift the flour and cocoa powder together and add to the butter mixture and mix until incorporated. Do not overmix. Use right away or store in the refrigerator, taking it out 30 minutes before you plan to use it.
Pour the batter into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a ruler set on top of the sheet as your guide, pipe lines with the tulip paste onto the parchment paper, or any shape you desire. You can also smooth a large amount of the paste on the paper and using a ruler set on the rim of the pan, use a decorator comb to drag on the batter to form lines. When I make somewhat straight lines, this is the method I use, and I use the pastry bag method for lace patterns and others. Set the baking sheet in the freezer until the tulip paste is firm. Keep frozen until you are ready to pour the cake batter on top.

For the ribbon sheet cake:
4 ounces finely ground almonds (I used slivered)
3 ounces powdered sugar
1 ounce all purpose flour
4 eggs
1 egg yolk
3 egg whites
1 ounce granulated sugar
1 ounce melted unsalted butter

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the almonds, powdered sugar, flour and 2 eggs until combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of your bowl with a spatula and add the remaining 2 eggs and the yolk until well combined. Set aside.
Whip the egg whites in a separate bowl until they appear foamy, add the granulated sugar in a steady stream and whip until you get a glossy meringue. Fold the meringue mixture into the egg/flour mixture. Stir in the melted butter and fold until all the ingredients are well incorporated but without deflating your meringue base.

Remove the baking sheet with the tulip paste from the freezer and pour the cake batter on top. Bake at 450F for about 6-8 minutes or until the sponge becomes to color. Remove from the oven, let cool a few minutes and invert your cake onto a piece of parchment paper. Peel the baking paper. Let cool before using. You can keep it wrapped in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for a month. Bring it back to room temperature before you fit it in the pastry rings. Line 6-8 pastry rings (depending on their size, mine are 3 inches wide) with parchment paper, cut 1.5 inches wide strips of cake and cut them to fit around the inside of your rings. Divide the mousse inside the rings and let set.

For the mousse:
1 egg, separated
2 TB sugar
2 oz mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
75 ml. heavy cream
1 tsp. powdered gelatin (1/2 sheet) + 1 Tb water
zest and juice of one lemon
1 cup cooked rhubarb

Sprinkle the gelatin over the water, stir and let sit to bloom. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the mascarpone with the sugar, add 1 egg yolk and whisk until well incorporated. Heat the gelatin for about 10 seconds in the microwave and quickly whisk it in the mascarpone batter. Add the lemon juice and zest. Whip the egg white until stiff, fold into the mascarpone mixture. Add the cooked rhubarb. Whip the heavy cream to medium stiff peaks, and fold into the mascarpone. Divide it evenly and carefully among the pastry rings. Store in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours or overnight.

Granted it takes a tad longer than a baking brownies but it is just as fun and as good, and if you like playing with shapes, batters and let your imagination run wild, this is a good project to tackle in the kitchen. The end result is so tasty you won't be disappointed!

Christmas Traditional English Trifle - Christmas Cake

 Recipe by Rosa Mayland, November 2011.

Ingredients For The "Cakes":
85g (3oz) Unsalted butter, at room temperature
85g (3oz) Castor sugar
2 Eggs (~ 63g)

1 Tsp Pure vanilla extract
125g (4.5oz) All-purpose flour
1 Tsp Baking powder
1/4 Fine sea salt
3 Tbs Whole milk 

Ingredients For The "Pastry Cream":
2 1/4 Cups (540ml) Whole milk
1/3 Tsp Fine sea salt
4 Tbs Cornstarch
1/2 Cup (110g) Castor sugar
2 Big eggs (~ 70g)
1 1/2 Tsp Pure vanilla extract

4 Tbs Unsalted butter, cut in small cubes
Ingredients For "Assembling The Trifle":
2 1/4 - 1/2 Cups (810 - 900g) Fruit compote (see comments)
2 Lemond (organic)
1 Tbs Light brown sugar
Red Port, to taste
1 Cup (250ml) Double cream (35%), whipped

1/2 Cup (90g) Matchstick almonds, toasted

 

 

Method For The "Cakes":
1. Preheat the oven to 180° C (350° F), then grease two 3x6 inches rectangular cake tins and
line the bases with baking paper.
2. Mix together the sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale, light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating the mixture well between each addition and a tablespoon of the flour with the last egg to prevent the mixture from curdling and separating. Then, mix in the vanilla extract.
5. Incorporate the flour mixture by gently folding it in the egg mixture and add enough milk to obtain a batter that falls reluctantly from the spoon.
6. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tins, level the top and bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted in the centre of each cake comes out clean.
7. Let cool in the pan for ten minutes before turning out on to a wire rack and leaving to cool completely.
Method For The "Pastry Cream":
1. Put the milk and salt in a pan, bring to a light boil.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth, fluffy and light in color.
3. While constantly whisking, slowly pour the milk into the egg mixture.
4. Return the whole to the saucepan.
5. Over medium heat and while whisking non-stop, cook until you get a thick consistency (just bring to a slight boil).
6. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Let cool for 10 minutes and then incorporate the butter, a little at a time, until the pastry cream is smooth and shiny .
7. Cover the surface with clingplastic, directly touching the cream. Let cool completely before placing in the refrigerator.

source:
Rosa's Yummy Yums: DELUXE TRADITIONAL ENGLISH TRIFLE - TRIFLE ANGLAIS TRADITIONNEL

Cake with blueberries and old fashioned lemon cream

Cake with blueberries and old fashioned lemon cream - almost best cake from my future cookbook ♥

Tort cu afine si crema de lamaie facuta ca pe vremuri - aproape cel mai gustos desert din viitoarea mea carte de bucate

Italian Cream Puffs with Custard Filling - from Joanne

Italian Cream Puffs with Custard Filling (St. Joseph’s Day Pastries)

 

These Italian cream puffs with a rich custard filling are a classic Italian dessert. They are traditionally eaten on St. Joseph's Day, but I say indulge in them year-round!

Yield: 12 large or 24 small pastries

Ingredients

For the pastry

• 2¾ cups unbleached AP flour
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 2 cups water
• 9½ tbsp butter
• 6 large eggs

For the custard

• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• 3 cups whole milk
• 4 egg yolks
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp rum

Instructions

For the pastry

1. Preheat oven to 425. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Sift the flour, salt, and baking soda together and set aside.
2. In a heavy saucepan, heat the water. Add the butter. When melted, remove the pan from the stove and add the flour mixture all at once. Beat with a wooden spoon, then return the pan to medium-high heat, beating the mixture until it comes away from the sides of the pan. Remove the pan from the heat and add the eggs one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon or hand mixer in-between additions to mix well.
3. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a ½-inch tip with the cream puff batter. Squeeze out 3-inch puffs, about ½ inch apart on a cookie sheet. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown. When done, carefully slit the side of each cream puff with a knife to allow steam to escape and to prevent the puffs from becoming soggy inside. Transfer to cooling racks and let cool.

For the custard

1. In saucepan over moderate heat, combine sugar, flour and salt. Add milk gradually, cooking and stirring until mixture is thick and bubbly.
2. Lower heat, stirring for 2 minutes and remove from heat. In a small bowl, add cream mixture to eggs slowly. Return mixture back to pan. Bring to gently boil for 2 more minutes, adding butter, rum, and vanilla. Tranfer to a shallow bowl to cool, placing plastic wrap on the top of the custard to prevent a skin forming. Refrigerate.
3. Once custard has cooled completely, pipe into opened pastry shells until they are so full they might pop, top with a cherry, and dust with powdered sugar.

 

Rulada cu capsuni

Rulada cu capsuni

         o reteta de pe www.prajituria.ro
1/5 dintr-un cub de margarina Rama Maestro (50g)
4 oua
1/2 pahar cu zahar (125g)
3/4 pahar faina (130g)
1 lingurita rasa praf de copt (4g)
Umplutura:
600 g de capsuni
2 jeleuri de capsuni
Zahar pudra pentru ornare

1 Pregatiti aluatul. Separati galbenusurile de albus. Bateti albusurile cu zahar pana la omogenizare. In continuare, amestecati incet, apoi adaugati treptat ouale si faina amestecata cu praful de copt. In cele din urma, turnati margarina Rama Maestro topita si racita si amestecati usor cu o lingura.
2 Turnati aluatul in tava de 22x27 cm acoperita in prealabil cu hartie de copt. Intindeti-l uniform si coaceti-l timp de aproximativ 10 minute la 180°C.
3 Scoateti blatul copt si puneti-l impreuna cu hartia de copt intr-o forma de prajituri cu dimensiunea de 8x27 cm.
4 Pregatiti spuma de capsuni. Dizolvati jeleurile intr-un pahar cu apa fierbinte si lasati-le sa se raceasca. Amestecati jumatate din capsuni cu jeleul dizolvat.
5 Asezati capsunile ramase pe blatul din tava si turnati spuma de capsuni. Puneti prajitura in frigider pentru o ora pentru a se intari.
6 Acoperiti prajitura cu un blat de lemn si intoarceti-o invers. Intai scoateti tava si apoi hartia de copt. Presarati zahar pudra sau adaugati un topping de ciocolata inainte sa o serviti.