03 March

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March 14, 2012

Whoopie Pies

Posted by HI Cookery under 03 March | Tags: , , , |
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Whoopie Pies

Whoopie Pies

March 14 (3.14): National Pi (π) Day

Whoopie!!! HI Cookery has guest chefs for National Pi (π) Day!

Our goddaughter, Keira B., and her older sisters, Keisha and Kiana, who live in Maine, would send Whoopie Pies in care packages to us and our families on birthdays and the holidays. Whoopies Pies are little round sandwich cakes with a creamy marshmallow filling. The snack cake originated in the northeast region of America, is a popular dessert in Maine and is becoming a trendy treat nationwide. The classic “pie” is chocolate filled with vanilla flavor. But red velvet, pumpkin and other cake flavors and fillings are creatively combined for seasonal celebrations. Also, the sides of the filling may be rolled in nonpareils or mini chocolate chips for a party-style presentation.

Thanks to Keira and her sisters for being the guest chefs on HI Cookery, and to their mother Cherlyn, for sharing their family recipe for our blog post today. Make Whoopie Pies for National Pi (π) Day.

Recipe

(From Kumare Cherlyn B. and Family)

For the pies

  • 1 cup cocoa powder (Hershey’s brand)
  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ¾ cup vegetable shortening (Crisco brand)
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions

In a bowl, combine the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar with the shortening. Add the eggs, milk and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture and blend well. Using a small ice cream scoop, drop the batter on a greased cookie sheet about two inches apart. Use the back of a spoon to flatten each pie a bit with a circular motion. Bake in a preheated oven for 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes.

Whoopie Pies

Remove the pies from the oven. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Sort by size. Turn over half of the batch in preparation for filling them.

Whoopie Pies

For the filling

  • 1 cup marshmallow cream (Marshmallow Fluff brand is highly recommended)
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup milk

Directions

In a large bowl, mix the marshmallow cream, shortening, sugar, vanilla, salt and milk until smooth and well blended. Spread a generous amount of the filling on one side of the pie. Sandwich with another pie. Yield: Approximately 3 dozen.

Whoopie Pies

Notes

  • Each Whoopie Pie may be stored individually in plastic wrap or sandwich bags and frozen. Thaw it at room temperature for an hour before serving.
  • Optional decoration for observing National Pi (π) Day: Write the mathematical symbol for pi (π) on one side of the Whoopie Pie with extra filling. One year, we had decorated the top of a Crack Pie with π by sprinkling powdered sugar on it.
  • Search our blog for other traditional pie recipes.
 

March 10, 2012

Blueberry Popovers

Posted by HI Cookery under 03 March | Tags: , , , , , |
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Blueberry Popovers

Blueberry Popovers

March 10: National Blueberry Popover Day

Let us call Yorkshire pudding


A fortunate blunder;


It’s a sort of popover

That tripped and popped under.

Ogden Nash

American Poet

August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971

Highlander and his family grew up eating Yorkshire pudding (see our blog recipe post). So Islander baked something similar and slightly sweeter for him to try: blueberry popovers. They are like a cross between a blueberry clafoutis and blueberry muffin (both recipes also have been posted previously on our blog). The blueberry popovers are moist, burst with juicy fruit and have a texture of French toast. They are a nice change for breakfast with a little maple syrup or powdered sugar.  Prepare blueberry popovers for National Blueberry Popover Day!

Recipe

(Adapted from Lanier’s Bed and Breakfast)

Ingredients

  • 1 pint fresh blueberries
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 3 eggs

Directions

Wash the blueberries and then place in a bowl. Squeeze the juice of the lemon over them. Toss with brown sugar and set aside.

Blueberry Popovers

Meanwhile, put a thin slice of butter into the six wells of a popover pan (see Notes). Put in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F and melt but do not brown the butter (about five minutes). Remove from the oven and brush the sides with the melted butter. Keep the pan hot until ready to pour the batter into the wells.

Blueberry Popovers

While the popover pan is heating up in the oven, make the batter. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, milk and eggs until slightly smooth. Divide the batter evenly into the hot popover pan (1/3 to ½ full). Scatter the blueberries evenly in each well over the top of the batter.

Blueberry Popovers

Place in the oven and continue to bake for 20 minutes. The popovers will rise in the pan and seem to pop over the top! When browned, remove from the oven and carefully take them out of the pan. Serve hot.

Blueberry Popovers

Notes 

  • We purchased our popover pan for less than $10 at World Market. They are also available at Williams-Sonoma and other specialty cookware stores at higher prices.
  • Use a muffin or cupcake tin if a popover pan is not available. Oven-safe ramekins are suitable as well.
  • Bake a batch of cherry popovers for National Cherry Popover Day on September 1.
  • Search our blog for more blueberry recipes.
 

March 7, 2012

Rice Krispies Treats

Posted by HI Cookery under 03 March | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Rice Krispies Treats

Rice Krispies Treats 

March 7: National Cereal Day

We went on a “food field trip” to Cereal City USA in 2005, a few years before the tourist attraction closed down. Located in Battle Creek, Michigan, the “Breakfast Capital of the World” and headquarters of the Kellogg Company were about a four-and-a-half hour drive from where we used to live in Northern Illinois.

Rice Krispies Treats

At Cereal City USA, we were able to tour part of the production facility and learn how corn became corn flakes, see several interactive and historical exhibits on display, play in the kids’ area, put our picture on a mini-cereal box and eat toaster tarts and, of course, cereal. We even had breakfast with Tony the Tiger (Frosted Flakes cereal) and mingled with other mascots, such as Toucan Sam (Froot Loops cereal) and Snap, Crackle and Pop (Rice Krispies cereal)!

Rice Krispies Treats

Our own mothers used to make marshmallow treats out of toasted rice cereal for us when we were children. Nowadays, these sweets snacks can be found from bake sales and bakeries to coffee shops and convenience stores. They are also pre-packaged as breakfast bars/square treats. But why buy them when they can be made at home in a snap…crackle and pop?!

Below we post the original recipe for Rice Krispies treats and its chocolate variation. Rice cereal marshmallow treats are good to eat for breakfast, at snack time and on National Cereal Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from Rice Krispies)

For the original rice cereal treats

  • ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
  • 1 package (10 ounces) or 5 cups regular marshmallows (or 4 cups miniature marshmallows)
  • 6 cups rice cereal (Rice Krispies— gluten-free also available)

Directions

In a large pan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Mix in the cereal until combined well.

Rice Krispies Treats

Spread the mixture into a greased 13×9-inch pan. Press down evenly using parchment or waxed paper. Allow to cool, then cut into squares and serve.

Rice Krispies Treats

Bonus Recipe

Cocoa Krispies Treats

Cocoa Krispies Treats

For the chocolate rice cereal treats

  • ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
  • 1 package (10 ounces) or 5 cups chocolate-flavored regular marshmallows (or 4 cups miniature marshmallows)
  • 6 cups chocolate-flavored rice cereal (Cocoa Krispies)

Directions

In a large pan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Mix in the cereal until combined well.

Cocoa Krispies Treats

Spread the mixture into a greased 13×9-inch pan. Press down evenly using parchment or waxed paper. Allow to cool, then cut into squares and serve.

Cocoa Krispies Treats

Notes

  • There are other flavored marshmallows in jumbo and mini sizes. And there are other kinds of toasted rice cereal (fruit-flavored, gluten-free, frosted and generic). Check for availability in local grocery stores.
  • Rice cereal marshmallow treats may be formed or cut into shapes, stacked as cakes, dipped in chocolate, frosted and decorated, made into pops, fortified and flavored with fruits and nuts and much more!
  • Click HERE to download a PDF of Kellogg’s press release about the Rice Krispies mascots—Snap, Crackle and Pop.
  • Check out the Cheerios Bars recipe which we also blogged about for National Cereal Day.
 

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