5.31.2011

Banana Pecan Cake recipe.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup mashed bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup chopped pecans
PECAN FILLING:
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light cream
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FLUFFY FROSTING:
1 egg white
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in bananas and vanilla. Sift flour; then sift together with baking powder, soda and salt. Add alternately with buttermilk to the creamed mixture. Stir in nuts. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round cake pans. Sprinkle coconut on top of each cake. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until cakes test done. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove and cool completely. For filling, combine sugar, flour, cream and butter in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thick. Add nuts, salt and vanilla; cool. Spread filling on one cake layer with coconut side up. Place second layer, coconut side up, on top. For frosting, beat egg white, shortening, butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Frost sides of cake only. If desired, cake can be made without frosting.

Apricot Muffins recipe.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
2 teaspoons grated orange peel

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, combine the eggs, milk and oil; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until combined. Fold in apricots and orange peel. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.

Amber Beer Cheese Dip recipe.

Ingredients
2 (10 ounce) packages extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (such as Cracker Barrel�), shredded
3 tablespoons minced garlic
1 (12 ounce) bottle amber beer
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

Directions
Place the shredded cheese and garlic in the bowl of a food processor. With food processor running, slowly pour in the beer, scraping sides of the bowl as necessary; process until evenly blended. Season with cayenne pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and chill until ready to serve.

Best Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Corn Soup recipe.

Ingredients
2 (3 pound) whole chickens, cut into pieces
3 quarts water
3 onions, minced
1 cup chopped celery
2 1/2 tablespoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 ears fresh corn
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk

Directions
In a large pot over medium heat, combine chicken, water, onions, celery, salt, nutmeg and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 2 hours, adding water as needed, until chicken is very tender. Remove the chicken from the soup. Refrigerate chicken and soup.
When fat solidifies on surface of soup, remove from refrigerator and remove fat. Remaining soup should equal about 2 1/2 quarts.
Remove corn from cobs by splitting kernels lengthwise with a sharp knife and scraping corn from cob. Combine soup and corn in a large pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until corn is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, place two of the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop. Set aside.
Chop cooled chicken meat and add to soup.
In a medium bowl, beat remaining egg until light in color. Beat in flour and milk until smooth. Drop batter by partial spoonfuls into hot broth to make small (1/4 -1/2 inch round) dumplings. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 to 5 minutes, until dumplings hold their shape and float to the surface. Stir in reserved cooked egg.