Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

Busy week here, so I'm just posting a couple of links to Fancy Desserts. Please post your own favorite!

Back in the 90s, I found this 'Chocolate Truffle Loaf with Raspberry Sauce' in a magazine ad. There are many versions of it now, but this one is the exact recipe I've used for years; it's not difficult, and makes an elegant, do-ahead dessert for a dinner party:

I once made an alligator cake for a kid's birthday party. It was made by using several pans of different shapes, and cutting the cake up to create the critter - I remember it had candy corn for teeth, and was so long that I had difficulty finding a sturdy piece of cardboard to cover with foil and carry it on.

But if I were doing a 'kid cake' today, I'd try this cute little cyclops 'Minion' cake:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/tipslibrary/baking-tips/despicable-me-minion-sheet-cake

MAKE A RAINBOW OF SORBETS in an instant.
Use the ziplok method w/ any type of canned or fresh fruit.

This recipe is almost too good to be true---delicious, fast and
easy. I thought I invented it. Then I heard professional chefs
use the exact same method. Nice for dieters.

PINEAPPLE SORBET (sample recipe)
Drain can of crushed pineapple. Put drained pineapple in ziplok.
Lay it on the counter--press to make it evenly flat. Now
freezer---freezes faster on the floor of the freezer.

When frozen, simply processor into a sorbet....
looks nice w/ threads of lime zest grated over.

NOTE: I use the NINJA chopper (not the blender)...
makes quick work of any kitchen job....like sorbets.

Can do four days ahead of party. Fridge/soften 20 min before cutting.

Creamy Frozen Orange Bars
CRUST stir/toast golden 2 min, 2/3 cup coarse-chp blanched almonds.
Offheat, add 5 tb butter; stir/melt. Add 60 vanilla wafer crumbs; mix
well. Press in bottom of dry 13x9" pan. Cool completely 10 min.

FILLING Mmarble 5 c softened vanilla ice cream into 2-3 c orange sherbet. Spoon over cooled crust. Saran/ freeze firm 4 hrs or more.

SERVE squares garnished w/ whipt cream, toasted almonds, orange zest curls.

FIVE MINUTE HAWAIIAN PIE

INGREDIENTS:
-- 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple “UNDRAINED”
-- 2 boxes instant Jello coconut pudding mix (these do not come in small boxes). You can sub 1 large 6 serving size vanilla if you don’t like coconut flavor
-- 8 oz sour c ream
-- 1 Extra sized graham cracker crust (I like to make my own 10” pie or 9” deep dish
-- 1 (8 oz) can pineapple rings ‘DRAINED”
-- 8 maraschino cherries (or more if you prefer)
-- ½ cup sweetened flaked coconut
-- 1 (8 oz) container of Cool Whip, divided

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, combine crushed pineapple ‘with’ its syrup, dry pudding mix and sour cream, mix until well combined
2. Fold in ½ of the container of Cool Whip
3. Put mixture unto pie crust
4. Top with remaining ½ of Cool Whip
5. Arrange drained pineapple rings on top of pie
6. Sprinkle flaked coconut on top of pineapple
7. Place cherries in center of pineapple rings.
8. Refrigerate several hours before serving
…Options…can lightly toasted coconut flakes

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY PIE

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 prepared 9-inch chocolate-flavored pie crust
• 1/2 cup strawberry preserves
• 2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed (an 8-ounce container is 3-1/2 cups)

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and peanut butter, mixing until well blended. Add sugar and milk; mix well.
2. Spoon cream cheese mixture into pie crust; chill.
3. Spread with preserves; top with whipped topping.

This is like a chilled coffee-flavored dessert.

ASIAN-STYLE ICED COFFEE

Layer in tall glass: coffee ice cubes (made w/ leftover
morning coffee), cooled fresh-brewed strong black coffee.

Pour in/stir chilled sweetened/condensed/milk to your taste.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.