Monday, March 19, 2012

Teething biscuits

1 large egg
Scant 1/3 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups wheat flour
1 tablespoon ground flax
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cardamom or cinnamon
1-2 tablespoons ground brown rice (optional) for texture

Beat egg and sugar together. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, flax, cinnamon and rice together in a small bowl. Add vanilla to egg/sugar. Add flour mixture, add 1 tablespoon water., and mix for 5 min. Chill for 15 min. Shape into a 10 by 6 inch rectangle using water on your hands and rolling pin. Cut into 3 by 1/2 inch strips. Yielding 40 biscuits. Spay pan with Non stick spray. Bake at 325 for 25 min.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Texas sheet cake

Serves 24
Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Ingredients Cake
Chocolate Icing
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
Instructions
  • 1. For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 18- by 13-inch rimmed baking sheet. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in large bowl. Whisk eggs and yolks, vanilla, and sour cream in another bowl until smooth.
  • 2. Heat chocolate, butter, oil, water, and cocoa in large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk chocolate mixture into flour mixture until incorporated. Whisk egg mixture into batter, then pour into prepared baking pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to wire rack.
  • 3. For the icing: About 5 minutes before cake is done, heat butter, cream, cocoa, and corn syrup in large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Off heat, whisk in confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Spread warm icing evenly over hot cake and sprinkle with pecans. Let cake cool to room temperature on wire rack, about 1 hour, then refrigerate until icing is set, about 1 hour longer. (Cake can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.) Cut into 3-inch squares. Serve.