Cheesecake Throwdown

big k and i have discussed it. we've neglected this blog for too long. we blame pat. him and his chicken/biscuit challenge...

this month's challenge is Cheesecake.

deadline: August 15th.

Winter? What's Winter?

Subject line has nothing to do with anything, ok I'm kidding. It's the middle of winter and what warms you up better than a nice piping hot bowl of soup? Well, this month's challenge is not soup, or stew or anything like that.

This month's challenge is chicken AND biscuits. Not chicken or biscuits. Chicken and biscuits. Crispy, juicy delicious chicken. Flaky, soft buttery delicious biscuits. The combination that can't be beat.

Try different breading, panko, pulverized cereal, honey, hot sauce, but make it delicious ...

Deadline Feb 28th, 2010.

Finally...Fudge!

Many moons after the deadline, here is my post. I bring to you peanut butter and chocolate swirled fudge. PB and chocolate are one of my top favorite flavor combos. I could eat it daily.

Recipe:

1/2 cup butter

2 1/4 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup peanut butter (i chose creamy but i'm sure crunchy would be delish)

1 tsp vanilla (i used a combo of extract and vanilla bean)

3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Melt butter then add the brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil stirring frequently. Let it boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and add the peanut butter and vanilla. Pour mixture into confectioners sugar and blend. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into 8x8 pan and chill.

The result is delicious. Matt, who doesn't like fudge, liked this kind. I kept a few pieces for us, but boxed up the rest to be sent to a friend. Better on his thighs than mine.

Packing Fudge

i used this recipe but added a bit of melted white chocolate on top to make it all marble-y. you know, cus it's kinda fancy looking etc.

this chocolate goodness tho, was not was for me to consume. all this chocolate-y goodness was sent to a friend for his birthday.

grow that ass.

And the kitchen sink!

Ok, first off, I've been really busy and sick in bed therefore my posting is 3 days behind - yet I'm still the FIRST to post?!?!

Second off, this challenge turned out to be a challenge. Not because the topic was hard, but was to pick to put into my fudge! Recipe was simple:

10 oz White chocolate chips
8 oz Milk chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp Vanilla
1 stick butter
4 peanut butter cups chopped
6 oreos chopped
1 cup of sugar

Combine all the ingredients except for the oreos and peanut butter cups into a saucepan and bring to a very gentle simmer, and then turn it down to low. Let simmer for 10-15 mins until the mixture is utterly smooth. Turn OFF heat and take off stove, let cool for 30 mins, occasionally stirring the mixture. After 30 mins, add in peanut butter cups and oreos. (I was going to add marshmallows too, but I didn't) Combine thoroughly and then pour into a baking sheet to set.

Challenge: Fudge

Make different flavors, colors, whatever. Make it interesting. I've never made it from scratch so who knows what will happen. And if you don't like fudge, it's a great office gift for someone (or you can send to charlotte!!).

Due date: Dec 31.

Good luck!

Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Halloween starts the holiday sugar fest for me. When pumpkin was decided for this challenge, I knew the result would be something sweet coming out of my oven.

I bent the rules. I made a pumpkin cake, but it's not made of pumpkin....it IS a pumpkin!

The flavor is a basic spice cake baked in a bundt pan. The icing is maple syrup flavored. Basically, it's a package of cream cheese, 1/2 stick of butter, four cups of powdered sugar, and maple syrup....(not Aunt Jemima)....i probably used 3 or 4 tablespoons. Any more and it would be too runny.

Obviously I tinted the icing. I used my red and yellow tubes....then threw in a dollop of my orange paste. The paste really adds more depth in color. For the stem I used an ice cream cone....the kind you don't like to eat because they taste like styrofoam. I piped the green lines which I hope gives it a more round look.

I'm taking it to work tomorrow. I secretly hope that the icing turns everyone's teeth orange.

Until next time fellow doorknobs...keep those ovens and buns hot!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN