USVI-On-Line

It was raining today, and I had the day off from work. I had to use up some chicken that Rick cooked in the crock pot, so I decided to make chicken pot pies. I made 6, froze 4, and we ate 2 for dinner tonight. They turned out super good!





I'm also experimenting in making little loaves of banana bread for possible Christmas presents. The last batch was pretty much a failure, but these loaves look promising... they're still cooling.

can I get some banana bread with my morning coffee?

CG: every year, my mom baked a special banana bread to give away at the holidays. It had chopped walnuts, chopped maraschino cherries, and chocolate chips in it, and is still my favorite holdiday treat. Try just one loaf in your next batch, and see if you like it!
Hers was called "yule bread," but it was just banana bread with the additions.

Well, the banana bread is PERFECT! Probably the best I've ever made! Minde, I'm not real big on maraschino cherries, however I'll give the chocolate chips a try!

Cooking Light has a Coconut Lime Glaze Banana Bread that is awesome!

http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smar ... page3.html

LysaC wrote:Cooking Light has a Coconut Lime Glaze Banana Bread that is awesome!

http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smar ... page3.html

I am SO trying that!!!!!!

Birthday cake for my Dad--brown-butter pumpkin layer cake with cream cheese brown buttercream frosting and pecan-pepita praline. The recipe is from this month's Fine Cooking magazine:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/5112048739/" title="brown butter pumpkin layer cake by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1192/511 ... c72762.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="brown butter pumpkin layer cake"></a>


Next weekend is my brother's birthday and he has requested a chocolate cake. Does anyone have a favorite recipe? I have never made a chocolate cake before.

That cake looks & sounds fabulous!!

I haven't made this in years, but here's a chocolate cake recipe that used to get rave reviews whenever I made it. It's from the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook (you know, the red plaid one!)

Chocolate Fudge Cake
Oven 350°

In saucepan, combine 1 slightly beaten egg, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, and three 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate. Cook & stir over medium heat till chocoate melts and mixture comes just to boiling; cool. Cream 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup shortening till light. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Sift together 2 cups sifted cake flour, 1 teaspoon soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with 1 cup milk, beating after each addition. Blend in chocolate mixture. Bake in 2 greased & floured 9x1-1/2" round pans at 350° for 25 - 30 minutes.

Best Chocolate cake ever

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina- ... index.html

Black Magic Cake recipe is my default for cake and cupcakes. The original recipe is from Hersheys and uses Hersheys cocoa powder but I'm sure you could use any other cocoa powder.

It has buttermilk, no butter, so it quick and easy- no need to break out the mixer.

So moist.

I just Google Black Magic Cake and a boobillion hitrs come up. I suggest the one that uses less baking powder, or was is baking soda (about 1/2 of the orginal recipe).

Xislandgirl wrote:Best Chocolate cake ever

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina- ... index.html

I forgot about this one! I have the cookbook this came in and it looks perfect. Thanks for the reminder! I'll post a picture of the result next weekend.

mmm, pumpkin cake. What do you make for a May birthday ?

Maryanne wrote:mmm, pumpkin cake. What do you make for a May birthday ?

If it's late enough in May, I bet she'd make a fabulous strawberry/rhubarb pie! Yum.

Marcia, I can never, ever eat strawberry pie. I read "Thinner" in 5th grade and it scarred me for life.

Maryanne, I made a lemon chiffon angel food layer cake a couple of months ago that would be a nice spring dessert. You could decorate it with berries, if there are any in season. Let me know if you want a link to the recipe.

Another light fruity cake I make sometimes is a hollowed out angel food cake, stuffed with a mixture of chopped strawberries and whipped cream, then frosted with more whipped cream. This one does not keep for long though, and you probably cannot get good strawberries in May.

One last dessert note: I am making a Jamaican steamed black cake for Christmas this year for the first time--over the weekend I soaked and ground the fruits, and they are now macerating in almost an entire bottle each of rum and port wine. Should be interesting!