Tag: #easyrecipes

Posted in From My Kitchen

Mandarin Orange Cake

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I grew up making boxed yellow cake with my mom for countless family gatherings, so there’s something instantly comforting about this mandarin orange cake. Perfect for those impromptu summer gatherings, this Southern classic (aka pig pickin’ cake) is traditionally made with boxed cake mix, instant vanilla pudding, and Cool Whip. And while I’ll never turn down a slice of good-ol’ boxed cake, the pastry chef in me couldn’t resist giving this semi-homemade dessert a bit of a glow-up. 

In my riff, the addition of butter to the cake batter makes for a richer flavor, and a simple-yet-strategic swap of freshly whipped cream for Cool Whip keeps the overall sweetness in check. The result is a super-moist cake speckled with mandarin oranges that leans ever-so-slightly into pound cake territory. It’s frosted with a light and airy whipped topping that is perfectly sweet, thanks to the tangy bursts of pineapple. Light and tropical, yet unbelievably decadent, this mandarin orange cake is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. 

Why You’ll Love It

  • This classic got a slight upgrade. Using a blend of oil and butter in the cake batter makes for a super-flavorful moist and airy cake. In addition, the homemade whipped cream (in place of the Cool Whip) creates an unbelievably rich topping with just the right amount of sweetness.
  • It’s semi-homemade in the best way! Boxed yellow cake mix and instant vanilla pudding make for an easy dessert that can be whipped together in no time at all. 
  • It’s light, tropical, and perfect for a warm summer day. Crushed pineapple nicely balances out the creamy whipped topping. Want to take the tropical flavors up a notch? Add in sweetened shredded coconut to the cake batter for added texture and flavor! 
Creamy yellow dessert topped with bright orange mandarin segments, swirled texture.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Key Ingredients in Mandarin Orange Cake

  • Boxed yellow cake mix: Feel free to use your favorite vanilla cake mix. Just take care to use a 15.25-ounce box. 
  • Mandarin oranges: Provide a subtle orange note that pairs beautifully with the vanilla cake; it’ll remind you of a Creamsicle! 
  • Unsalted butter: Makes for a richer, more flavorful cake with a texture that’s ever-so-slightly more dense than if you used all oil. 
  • Instant vanilla pudding: Adds body to the frosting while helping to stabilize the homemade whipped cream for a longer shelf life. 
  • Crushed pineapple: Provides a tartness that cuts through the richness of the pudding and whipped cream. 
  • Heavy cream: Traditionally the topping is made with Cool Whip, but using freshly whipped cream not only takes this cake to the next level, but also allows you to more easily control the overall sweetness. 

The Kitchn

Posted in Cookbooks

ManBQue: Meat. Beer. Rock and Roll.

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

ManBQue is the next griller’s Bible for those in their 20s and 30s. Dedicated to meat, beer, and rock n’ roll, it starts with the basics: how to grind, assemble, and grill a perfect burger and how to season, sear, and rest a perfect strip steak. Then it moves on to other staples — perfectly cooked wings, slow-roasted BBQ, and handmade sausages. There are also suggestions for monster sandwiches and mouthwatering tacos. Once you’ve got that under control, it takes on all the weird stuff: the pig tongue and beef hearts, snails and, yes, even salad.

Along the way there are beer pairings, explaining the different styles and the basic principles of putting a bottle with whatever comes off the grill. Not content with simple descriptions, ManBQue worked with craft brew experts to tell you why that IPA goes so well with your lamb burger and which bock you should be dousing your brisket in.

But ManBQue is more than a cookbook, it’s a community; it’s a grilling and lifestyle organization that grew into a global society with thousands of followers. Once a month the members cast aside their daily responsibilities for good food and company. In this spirit, the margins are filled with stories of what you’re eating, which ManBQue member invented it, and how that insanely delicious process occurred. By the end, you too will be shouting “MANBQUE!”

Posted in From My Kitchen

Air Fryer Hot Pockets

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Here’s the deal: Hot pockets are a delicious convenience. Take the handheld cheese-filled bundle, heat it up, and you have a complete meal in under 10 minutes. The bread-like wrap somehow works with every ham and cheddar, bacon, egg, cheese, or copycat pizza combination. I discovered that “pop and fresh” crescent dough sheets minimize efforts; all you have to do is roll. Read on for some tips for how to make hot pockets at home.

Fillings
We’ve chosen a few that are super-easy to make. The separate recipes below create enough filling for 12 hot pockets, but if you want to mix and match, you can adjust the ratios to whatever you’d like. Your call.
– The Buffalo chicken filling is mixed with your favorite Buffalo sauce, broccoli, and cheddar cheese.
– The spinach-artichoke filling is garlicky and cheesy thanks to using both mozzarella and Pecorino. You can use Parmesan too.
– Finally, the pepperoni cheese filling features mozzarella, pepperoni slices, and tomato sauce. A sprinkle of dried oregano gives it that pizza touch. I used a high-quality jar of marinara sauce, but if you want to make your own, we recommend making our easiest tomato sauce.

Types of air fryers
There are a few types of air fryers on the market, so depending on which one you have, the cook time may differ. I tested the hot pockets in a dual air fryer-toaster oven, then in a single basket air fryer. The cook time was longer in the air fryer-toaster oven, but I was able to cook four at a time as opposed to two.

Storage
Hot pockets are best for up to 3 days in the refrigerator after being air fried. You can also reheat them using the air fryer or oven. You can also stuff them and store them uncooked in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

delish!

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

Posted in From My Kitchen

50 Amazing Ways To Make Homemade Ice Cream

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I scream, you scream, we ALL scream for ice cream, and it’s easy to see why: It’s the perfect dessert whether you’re turning it into a sundae, eating it alongside a fruity cobbler or pie, or enjoying it all on its own (with sprinkles ofc, we’re not monsters). The one issue? Making it at home can be intimidating. We get it, but we’re here to tell you—not only is it completely doable, it’s also SO worth it. From no-churn to completely from scratch, with a few showstopping ice cream cakes thrown in for good measure, we’ve got something here for everyone. Check out our 50 homemade ice cream recipes, then get to scooping!

There are two camps when it comes to homemade ice cream—completely homemade, using milk, eggs, and an ice cream maker; and no-churn, where you combine a little heavy cream with sweetened condensed milk, and freeze. We’ve got a number of recipes here in both categories, each with their own merits. For the former, try our homemade red velvet ice cream, our chocolate ice cream, our peppermint ice cream, or our pumpkin ice cream. For the latter, some of our faves include our mudslide no-churn ice cream, our cookies & cream ice cream, or our cannoli ice cream, but peruse the list and you’ll see—the sky’s really the limit for flavors here. Looking for a fun ice cream project with kids? Our ice cream in a bag or our mason jar ice cream are fun to make and to eat (and are a little educational, to boot).

We’ve also included a few frozen dessert recipes here—while they aren’t ice cream, per se, they’re ice cream-adjacent, so we’re counting them. Our gelato (check out our explainer on it vs. ice cream), sorbet, and granita follow some of the same tenets of ice cream, but with an extra-refreshing twist. Want to turn some of your homemade (or store-bought, we won’t tell) ice cream into something even more spectacular? Check out our copycat Dairy Queen ice cream cake, our baked Alaska, our cookies ‘n’ cream ice cream pie, or our strawberry shortcake ice cream cake for ideas. The best part about these? You can change them up with your favorite flavors and toppings every time you make them!

delish!

Posted in Cookbooks

Sweet Miniatures: The Art of Making Bite-Size Desserts

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Add a special touch to any occasion with this award-winning collection of over 125 mini dessert recipes that are sure to wow any group.

No one knows the art of making sweet miniatures better than acclaimed baking expert Flo Braker. And when it comes to charm and elegance, Sweet Miniatures has all the right ingredients for creating the perfect bite-sized morsel to suit any occasion. Welcome the coming of spring with a tempting bouquet of gorgeous Lemon Sunflowers, exquisite Chocolate Tulips, and a delicate sprig of White Blossom Circles. Chewy Panforte di Siena, crispy Florentine Squares, and tangy Shreveshire Tarts whisk family and friends away on an exotic, mouthwatering journey. Jam-paced with more than 125 delicious treats and luscious full-color photos, this IACP Award–winning cookbook explains, step-by-step, the methods, tricks, and techniques for ensuring a perfect batch of little pastries, cookies, cakes, or candies every time. Plus, you’ll find lots of great do-ahead, planning, and storage information that make miniature baking convenient all year round.

From cheerful Chocolate Hedgehogs to a set of Midas Cups for adding that golden touch to a festive soiree, Sweet Miniatures has all the right ingredients for creating the perfect bite-size morsel to suit any occasion.


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Sweet Miniatures Flo Braker proves that it is a small world after all. But don’t think of this IACP Award-winning cookbook as tiny. Rather, it’s a comprehensive introduction to creating fabulous and impressive miniature desserts. Braker, a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle and author of the much-loved Simple Art of Perfect Baking, offers step-by-step recipe directions, a complete list of baking needs, and helpful recommendations based on her own bakery and catering experience. Careful consideration is given to the basic art and science of baking, including sage advice on how to stock a kitchen with the necessary tools and ingredients. Novice and advanced bakers alike will find educational tips such as how to temper chocolate, how to use a pastry bag with tips and a coronet, and how to make simple yet elegant decorations. Braker’s focus here, however, is the miniature presentation, and she brings together more than 125 recipes of sought-after minicakes, pastries, cookies, candies, and tarts. Popular favorites include Individual Lemon Meringue Tarts as well as traditional European favorites such as Shortbread Cameos, Viennese Triangles, Krumkake, Pistachio Petit Fours, Neapolitan Wedges, and the holiday favorite, Lebkuchen. Full-color illustrations complement the recipes. Braker even suggests storage ideas to protect the most fragile pastries and to maintain their even more delicate flavor. With such an inclusive, smart, and instructional book Flo Braker lends credibility to the phrase “bite-size.” And it’s a mouthful. –Teresa Simanton

From Publishers Weekly

You’ve seen them at tea parties and fancy bakeries–tiny cakes, cookies, and pastries that offer a tantalizing choice of colors, tastes and textures. Braker ( The Simple Art of Perfect Baking ) launched her cooking career creating these tidbits, and her enthusiasm for them is infectious. She makes an artful craft sound easy, and points out that providing family or guests with several such dessert selections is bound to surpass the unveiling of a single kind of cake or pie. Her directions are invaluable and explicit; her many time-saving or do-ahead steps will maximize time spent in the kitchen. The recipes are precise, but also allow for experimentation. Experience with handling pastry dough or chocolate will give some readers a slight edge, but even newcomers will be able to tackle much of what’s here, baking their way up to the trickiest, airiest echelons. Ingredients are likely to be accessible, but readers will have to invest in miniature tart pans–a purchase well worth it for anyone quickly dazzled by Shreveshire tarts, chocolate galaxy peticakes or pistachio petits fours. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.