Erin Cooks Contest

Erin Cooks - one of the foodblogs I follow is having a Cookbook Giveaway. You can find out about it here:

http://erincooks.com/an-erin-cooks-contest-the-gastrokid-cookbook/

Orange Ricotta Cookies

I had three pounds of ricotta that was going to go south (not to Florida) and I had to use it up - and wanted to bake - so I ended up with 72 orange ricotta cookies. I hear they freeze well and I have many takers for them.

This was originally a Giada recipe and I found it on bigoven.com - my substitutions are noted - and I tripled this recipe.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 TBS orange zest (doubled)
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut (only used in half of the batter and I used sweetened)

Instructions:

Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp lemon juice (used orange juice)
1-2 tsp milk (didn't use)
a bit of almond flavor (didn't use)
Added: lots of orange zest

To make the icing, place all ingredients in a plastic bag and mix until it comes together.
If it is too dry: add more milk a bit at a time.
If it is too runny: add a bit of powdered sugar to bring it to the right consistency.
You don't want it to be too runny. You want the icing to stay on the cookie.
ALTERNATELY, You can also melt some chocolate and drizzle over the cookies for a more dramatic look).

(I just made it in a bowl and drizzled with a spoon).

Directions for cookies:

Preheat the oven to 375.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. (I never do that. I mix the wet ingredients together then add the dry.)

In the large bowl combine the softened butter and the sugar. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and orange zest. Beat to combine.

Stir in the dry ingredients. Lastly, add the coconut and stir just till combined (only used the coconut in half the batter and I did put some on top to be toasted on a few). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. I used a small ice cream scoop. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes (I never wait that long - I don't have the space).

Etouffee

I made Tyler Florence's etouffee today - it was very good but labor intensive. My adult son kept coming into the kitchen repeating "what smells so good?". The recipe can be found here:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chicken-and-smoked-sausage-etouffee-recipe/index.html

I didn't use green peppers (don't like them) but basically followed his recipe - I browned off a few chicken breasts too - and then sliced them and added the slices to the gravy.

I'm neglectful

I've been neglectful of this blog - but it is because I've been cooking and baking so much - check out Erin Cooks - for great info and a contest!

http://erincooks.com/2009/05/05/win-jam-pickle-cure/

So....I've been

making great recipes but no time to post things. It's been madness. My goal is to get this blog underway in September will all the pictures I've taken and all the recipes I've tried.

What smells better than...

bacon frying? then potatoes browning in the bacon grease.....

the beginnings of my corn and potato chowder...more later.

New blog....

I've decided to be more creative in my cooking. I have hundreds upon hundreds of cookbooks, recipe magazines, printed recipes, pages pulled from magazines....it's time to mix it up a bit -- now that the medication has taken effect and I feel better :-) ....hence - ToothsomeTreats - my new food blog.

This holiday weekend we went to the beach and I brought BBQ'd wings and Twix brownies. Yesterday we had dinner at a friends and I took more Twix brownies for dessert. Everybody loves the Twix brownies!

Twix brownies are very simple.

All you need is:

Brownie mix(es)
Twix bars

I make a huge batch because everyone loves these. I prepare three boxes of brownie mix per box instructions....and into a prepared 15 x 18 pan -I spread 1/2 of the batter - spread it out evenly. Then lay Twix bars about an inch apart and cover with the remaining batter. Let them bake @ 350 for 30-35 minutes - cut with a plastic knife while warm (too hard to cut later)...and then remove from pan after they cool a bit.

That was my first easy made from a box recipe. I like making many things from scratch but when something works and pleases the crowd...hand me a mix!