Author Archives: wrks4me

German Chocolate Cake

19 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in Home

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
  • 1 ¾ cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 3/4 cups Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 cup Buttermilk
    (or make your own by adding 1 tbsp of lemon juice or white vinegar and enough milk to make a cup. Let stand for 5 min., use immediately)
  • ½ cup Oil (vegetable or canola oil)
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup Boiling Water

For the Coconut Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup evaporated milk (NOT CONDENSED MILK)
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

For the Chocolate Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup evaporated milk (add more if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

German Chocolate Cake:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease two 8 or 9 inch round baking pans. (I prefer spring form pans). You can line the bottoms with parchment or wax paper to make the cakes come out easier.

  1. Mix all the dry ingredients together, sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Then in another bowl combine wet ingredients, the eggs, buttermilk (or substitute), oil and vanilla and mix well. Combine the wet and dry ingredients together mixing well, then carefully add the boiling water, a bit at a time to warm batter and prevent eggs from cooking, (the batter will be very thin). Pour batter into pans.
  2. Bake for 25 – 35 minutes, depending on your cake pan size. An 8” pan takes less time to bake or test for doneness by inserting a toothpick in center and it comes out clean, . Allow to cool 5 minutes in the pan and then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.

German Chocolate Frosting:

  1. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, egg yolks, and evaporated milk to a medium size saucepan. Mix ingredients together, stirring constantly and bring to a low boil over medium heat. Continue to stir constantly for several minutes or until the mixture begins to thicken. 
  2. Remove from heat and add vanilla, nuts and coconut, stir together. Allow frosting to cool completely before layering it on the cooled cake.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

  1. Melt butter and add to bowl, then stir in cocoa powder. Alternate add a little powdered sugar and milk, beating till creamy. If needed add a small amount additional milk, to thin out the frosting, or a little extra powder, until you reach your desired consistency. Finish by stirring in the vanilla.

To Assemble The Cake:

  1. Place a cake round on your serving stand or plate. 
  2. Apply a thin layer of chocolate frosting over the layer, and then spread half the coconut frosting on top, making sure to leave a ½ inch from the filling and edge of cake. 
  3. Place the second cake on top of the first and add chocolate frosting over the entire cake including the sides.
  4. Add the remaining coconut frosting on top of the cake and spread out. 
You can also make it a rolled cake

Notes

Make Ahead Instructions: Both frostings (coconut and chocolate) may be put in a covered container and placed in the fridge. The coconut frosting will keep for 1-2 weeks, depending on the freshness of the ingredients used. The chocolate frosting will keep for 2-3 weeks. When ready to use, remove frostings from fridge at least an hour before you’re ready to frost the cake.

Freezing Instructions: After the layers are allow to cool completely, wrap them in plastic wrap and stick each layer in a ziplock freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months. Frost the cakes when they are frozen–they are much easier to frost this way!

You can also also freeze the assembled cake for 2-3 months. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.

Spanish Beans

07 Thursday Dec 2023

Posted by in Home, Side Dishes

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp of olive oil
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 4 gloves of garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp of sherry or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth
  • 2 1/2 cups of beans (white kidney or cannelloni beans or butter beans)
  • 1 cup tomato sauce or approx. 5 tomatoes grated
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 5 roasted red peppers in a jar diced
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Parsley

Directions

  1. Put oil, onion and garlic into a pan and cook on medium heat until onions are translucent
  2. Add the tomato sauce, paprika and vinegar stirring constantly
  3. After about 3 minutes add the beans (drained), broth, salt and pepper and slowly cook for 10 minutes
  4. Add the roasted red peppers and gently mix and parsley

Enjoy

Homemade playdough recipe

07 Thursday Dec 2023

Posted by in wrks4me - Crafts

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 3/4 cup salt
  • 1-2 cups lukewarm water (depending on how firm you want it)
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • food colouring

Directions

  1. Combine flour, salt and cream of tartar in a pot
  2. Add the oil and water
  3. Over medium heat, combine all ingredients stirring consistently
  4. Stir until dough thickens and forms a ball
  5. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly while kneading until smooth
  6. If adding colour divide dough into balls (I usually divide into 4 balls)
  7. Put a dough ball into a plastic bag (this prevents staining of your hands while adding food colour)
  8. Add about 5 drops of food colouring to each ball
  9. Knead bag until colour is evenly distributed throughout the dough
  10. When well mixed, get ready to play

Enjoy

Any Occasion Dark Fruit Cake

20 Tuesday Dec 2022

Posted by in Baking, Dessert, Home

≈ Leave a comment

This is a very moist and easy fruit cake to make.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups dried prunes (6 oz), chopped
  • 1 1/4 cups chopped dates (6 oz), chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups dark raisins (8 oz)
  • 1 1/4 cups golden raisins (6 oz)
  • 1 1/4 cups currants (6 oz)
  • ¾ cup butter
  • 1 cup dark or golden brown sugar
  • ¾ cup molasses
  • ½ cup coffee liqueur, or ½ cup strong black coffee (You can also make an instant coffee)
  • Zest and juice of 2 oranges or a combination of oranges and lemons
  • 1 cup chopped glace cherries
  • 1 cup candied citrus peel or pineapple, mango or papaya (I use a combination of each)
  • 1 1/2 cups pecans (7 oz), roughly chopped
  • 2 tsp allspice
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp powdered ginger
  • 1/2 tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 3 tbsp cocoa (Yes cocoa) it melds well with the coffee but doesn’t taste chocolatey)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ cup ground hazelnuts or slivered almonds or walnuts
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda

Note: This cake is a combination of all your favourite fruits and nuts, so substitute as you wish.

Prepare pans: I use 2 loaf pans. lightly butter the pans and then line with parchment paper. You can cut two pieces and line up then down then up the other side. Then use the remaining piece to line the bottom and up the sides in the other direction.

If you use a round springform pan, lightly butter sides and bottom. Line bottom with parchment paper then the sides with a strip of parchment paper.

Directions

  1. Melt butter over medium heat, add the dates, currents, prunes, raisins, molasses, brown sugar, spices, coffee or coffee liqueur, orange zest and orange juice in a large saucepan.
  2. Bring everything to a low boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and allow to cool down (about an hour). This is so when you add the eggs they will not become cooked eggs
  4. When cool, add in beaten eggs
  5. Sift in cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and flour
  6. Add all the ground nuts and the cooled boiled mixture
  7. Fold in the cherries, citrus peel and candied fruit
  8. Pour into the prepared baking pans.
  9. Decorate with pecan halves and candied cherries.
  10. Bake at 300 degrees F. for about 1 1/2 hours. depending on the pan size.
  11. Test for doneness with a tooth pick. This is a challenge due to the fruit sticking to the tooth pick.
  12. Remove from oven and allow to completely cool.

Note: If your candied fruit are too dry, add them while cooking the prunes, raisins etc. This will add back the moisture.

Options:

You can spread some of your favourite marmalade over top when the cake is still warm.

Or poke small holes in the top and bottom and pour about 4 oz of your favourite alcohol such as a flavoured brandy, rum or whiskey. Half on top and half on the bottom. Wrap several layers of alcohol socked cheesecloth.

Or soak your fruit in alcohol instead. Here is a link to show you how. Use the fruit above and soak according to directions in video.

Wrap cake in several layers of plastic wrap and store in a cool place

Enjoy

Pecan Pie/Tarts Please

11 Sunday Dec 2022

Posted by in Baking, Dessert, wrks4me - Recipes

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

This is an holiday favourite. The kids and family ask for it whenever we gather.

Ingredients

  • Unbaked pie crust or tarts
  • Shelled pecan halves (approx. 2 to 2 1/2 cups)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup of dark corn syrup (optional 3/4 cup dark corn syrup and 1/4 cup maple syrup)
  • 1/2 cup of your favourite packed brown sugar (light, medium or dark)
  • 1/4 cup of melted butter cooled to room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon of table salt

Directions:

  1. Place pie shell or tart shells on a baking sheet in case of spillage
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  3. Line bottoms of pie shells or tart shells with pecans
  4. Mix together all remaining ingredients
  5. Carefully pour to the top of shells

Bake:

  • Pie Crust:
    for 50-55 minutes in middle of oven (after first 20 minutes place a pie shield (silicon or aluminum foil) over edges of crust to prevent too much browning of edges
  • Tart Crust:
    for 20 minutes in middle of oven

Allow to cool as they are very hot. Serve at room temperature.

Enjoy

Based on Original recipe

Peanut Butter & Chunky Date Cookies

31 Thursday Mar 2022

Posted by in Baking, Dessert

≈ Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (100g) rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup (55g) almond flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup (125g) crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup (80g) maple syrup or sugarless table syrup
  • 1-2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
  • 3/4 cup chopped dates

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  2. Stir together the oats, almond flour, baking soda into a mixing bowl
  3. Add the peanut butter, maple syrup or sugarless table syrup, and vanilla.
  4. Add the chopped dates.
  5. Use a small cookie scoop and roll into balls
  6. Arrange balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silicon pad.
  7. Lightly press with a fork
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350ºF checking that the bottoms do not burn
  9. Place cookies on a cooling rack for at least 10 minutes.

Enjoy

Lemon, Garlic & Spinach Spaghetti

24 Thursday Mar 2022

Posted by in Main Dishes

≈ Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 4 Tablespoons salted butter
  • 4 Cloves garlic, sliced
  • 3 Cups baby spinach
  • 2 Cups grated Parmesan, plus extra for finishing
  • Juice of 2 lemons and zest of 1 lemon

Directions

  1. Prepare pasta according to package directions and save approx. 1 cup of pasta water
  2. Put butter, garlic and red pepper flakes into a large pan and cook over medium heat for approx. 2 minutes.
  3. Divide the spinach, parmesan cheese, lemon juice and lemon zest into 4 portions.
  4. Stir into pan one portion at a time and stir until spinach becomes wilted.
  5. Add a bit of pasta water to keep it moist.
  6. Continue to add each remaining portions one at time and continue to add pasta water
  7. Once everything is incorporated add extra parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy

Original recipe

Apple Pie Scones

11 Friday Mar 2022

Posted by in Baking

≈ Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar, plus extra for topping
  • 1 Tbs baking powder
  • 1/2 Tbs cinnamon, plus extra for topping
  • 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 2/3 cup apple pie filling, smashed
  • 3/4 cup milk

Instructions

  1. You can use a bowl or food processor
  2. If using a bowl: Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon and work in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. If using a food processor: Put flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon and cold butter into processor and pulse until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. Take the apples out of the apple pie filling and smash them with a potato masher, fork or your fingers and mix into milk. Stir into the flour mixture until well combined.
  5. Pat into an 8″ circle on a lined or greased baking sheet, making sure the thickness is even throughout.
  6. Cut into 8 even wedges
  7. Sprinkle extra cinnamon and sugar over top
  8. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy

The Ultimate Turkey/Chicken Burger

11 Friday Mar 2022

Posted by in Main Dishes

≈ Leave a comment

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
  • ½ cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs, divided
  • ½ small onion, finely grated and it’s liquid (That’s the secret)
  • 1 egg
  • 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions:

  1. Mix together with either ground turkey or chicken, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
  2. Divide mixture into 4 patties
  3. Place remaining bread crumbs and put into a flat plate
  4. Roll patties in crumbs to coat them
  5. Heat oil in a pan and cook patties at medium-high heat for about 5-6 minutes
  6. Turn over patties and continue to cook for about 4 minutes

Serve either on a bun or by itself

Enjoy

Dutch Oven Roast Beef

23 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by in Main Dishes, wrks4me - Recipes

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Here is a delicious twist on a classic recipe (family favourite)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups of beef broth
  • 1/4 cup of soya sauce
  • 1/4 cup of rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar or wine
  • 1 tsp garlic (sliced)
  • 1 large onion (sliced)
  • 2 washed carrots cut into 2 inch slices (peeling is optional)
  • Whole Peppercorns
  • 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary (optional), I don’t use them
  • 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh thyme (optional), I don’t use them
  • 2 to 3 Tbsp of olive oil (or canola, or vegetable oil)

Directions

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is roast-beef-1.jpg
  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
  2. Put a dutch oven onto of the stove at medium-high heat
  3. Add 2 Tbsp of olive oil into a dutch oven
  4. Add onions and toss til lightly brown and remove and reserve
  5. Add carrots and toss til lightly brown and remove and reserve
  6. If necessary add some more oil and put roast into pot to sear
  7. Sear all sides of roast (about 1-2 minutes per side)
  8. Remove roast beef and add 1 cup of broth to delaze pan by scraping the bottom of the pan
  9. Put the roast beef, onions and carrots back in along with garlic and add enough broth to cover halfway
  10. Sprinkle top of roast beef with peppercorns
  11. Optional: add your herbs at the point
  12. Cover and put into the oven for 2-3 hours
  13. Check the roast, it is ready when it is tender fall-appart

Use stock to make a delicous gravy. Simply add a little corn starch or a heaping Tbsp of flour and 1/2 cup of water mixed together added to stock and heat till thickened. If not thick enough add a little more thickening.

Enjoy