Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Dessert First

FIRST: Could you please head over to this website (http://www.pomwonderful.com/cupcakecontest/) and vote for my Pink Velvet POM Cupcake & I would love if you’d spread the word via your blog, Facebook, etc!

 

I wish I could send you all cupcakes at this point! I so appreciated and enjoyed reading through all of your thoughtful comments and I am equally excited that all of you will be following along! :-) And speaking of cupcakes, here are two new flavor additions to the menu.

Another cupcake to be added to the Candy Bar line…

Reeses Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Chocolicious Peanut Butter Swirl Cake
Topped with 1 Layer of Whipped Chocolate Frosting
& 1 Layer of Whipped Peanut Butter Frosting
Garnished with a Mini Peanut Butter Cup

------------------------------------

And another addition to the Girl Scout Cookie  line…

Samoas Cupcake
Coconut Graham Cracker Bottom below our Chocolicious Cake
Topped with a Whipped Coconut Frosting
Garnished with a drizzle of both Caramel and Chocolate and finished with half a Samoa Cookie

So hopefully today you brought your sweet tooth, because it’s a recap on my cooking class (if you missed recaps of my other classes, see them here and here) that I taught this past Friday called Dessert First. The description in the community catalog stated:

“Dessert first might not always be appropriate, but in this class it's required. Learn to make semi-homemade desserts that look like they've taken hours to prepare.  Cheesecake, trifles, and more.  This class is guaranteed to be sweet!”

I look forward to my classes more and more each month because each time the attendance gets bigger and bigger. I am already starting to plan next fall’s class line-up!

So like the description stated, this class was all about the sweet stuff. I tried my best to pick out recipes that I thought would be new to people and please a variety of taste palates. After all my researching, it was a success—no one had tried the recipes before, and everyone loved them once they did! So take a few minutes and attend my “virtual” Dessert First class!

--Class Intros--

--Giving away prizes; a free 1/2 dozen of my Cupcakes

--Explaining the first recipe, Peanut Butter Cup Trifle--

--Assembling in progress--

--The finished dessert--

Peanut Butter Cup Trifle

Ingredients:

·         9x13 pan of brownies, cut into 1 inch pieces

·         5.1 oz instant vanilla pudding

·         3 cups milk

·         ½ cup creamy peanut butter

·         2 tsp vanilla

·         8 oz container thawed whipped topping, divided

·         14 peanut butter cups, crumbled (Not the minis)

·         10 mini peanut butter cups to garnish (cut in half)

Directions:

·         Combine pudding and milk. Beat for 2 minutes.

·         Add peanut butter and vanilla, beat until smooth. Gently fold in 2 cups whipped topping.

·         In a trifle dish, layer ½ the brownies, ½ the crumbled peanut butter cups, ½ the pudding mixture. Repeat.

·          Top with cool whip and peanut butter cups.

·         Chill until serving.

                                           Serves: 12-15 (Varies)

--Explaining the versatility of  phyllo tarts--

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Warm Mini Apple Pies

Ingredients:

·         1 peeled, cored and finely chopped Granny Smith apple

·         1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

·         2 tablespoons raisins

·         1/4 cup brown sugar

·         3 tablespoons butter

·         1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

·         15 Mini Phyllo Shells (1 box)

·         1/4 cup thawed whipped topping, for garnish

 

Directions:

·         In a medium skillet, sauté apples, walnuts, raisins, brown sugar and butter over low heat until apples are tender, stirring frequently.

·         Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon.

·         Cool slightly and spoon 1 tablespoon of apple mixture into each phyllo Shell. Garnish with whipped topping. Serve immediately.

 

--Prepping the next dessert--

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--Cherry Cheesecake Cookie Cups--

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Cherry Cheesecake Cookie Cups

Ingredients:

·         1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

·         2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, room temperature

·         1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

·         2 large eggs

·         2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·         1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling

Directions:

·         Preheat oven to 325° F. Paper-line 24 muffin cups. Place one piece of cookie dough in each muffin cup.

·         Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookie has spread to edge of cup.

·         Beat cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and vanilla extract in medium bowl until smooth. Pour about 3 tablespoons cream cheese mixture over each cookie in cup.

·         Bake for additional 15 to 18 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Top each with level tablespoon of pie filling. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

--Saving the best dessert for last!--

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--Mini Molten Chocolate Cakes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream--

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Mini Molten Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

·         4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

·         1/2 cup  butter

·         1 cup powdered sugar

·         2 whole  eggs

·         2 egg yolks

·         6 Tbsp.  flour

·         Ice cream for serving, if desired

 

Directions:

·         Heat oven to 425°F.

·         Butter 4 small custard cups; place on baking sheet.

·         Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until butter is melted; whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar.

·          Add whole eggs and egg yolks; mix well. Stir in flour. Spoon into prepared cups.

·         Bake 13 to 14 min. or until sides of desserts are firm but centers are still soft. Let stand 1 min. then carefully run small spatula or knife around cakes to loosen; invert into dessert plates. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.

What dessert would you want to try first?

23 comments:

Lisa said...

That peanut butter cup trifle is definitely my first choice. I voted for you. Hope you win.

Christina said...

I'm so jealous of your job!! And I'd try the peanut butter one! Yummmmy!

Meri said...

I agree- what a fun job! And good for you that you're getting more and more attendees!
Maybe I'll whip up a new creation with my golden oreos that I have, with you as my inspiration :)
Meri
merigoesround.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

This is so awesome that you teach cooking classes. How did you get in to that?? Also...one of these days we should have a MN blogger get together! Thoughts??

megan @ whatmegansmaking said...

I voted! :)

Also, I didn't realize you taught cooking classes! How cool is that?? I would love to get into that one of these days. I'm just not convinced I know enough to teach anybody! :)

Unknown said...

Hello! I voted for your cupcake and wanted to know if I could feature it on our blog http://foodiesonthefly.wordpress.com/

Let me know! It looks delicious and I am sure our readers would love to try it!

Sue said...

Your peanut butter trifle is calling my name!

Sue said...

P.S. I voted:) Good Luck! Your class looks so fun!

Krista said...

Wish I lived near you so I could take one of your classes!!! I'd be diving into that truffles ASAP!

PS..Thank you SO MUCH for sending me the Women's Day article!!! I really appreciate it, Cassie!!! (((HUGS)))

laurie said...

Your class looks like fun!I love all the recipes you chose..yum.

I went and voted for your cupcake...hope you win!

Molly said...

I voted for you :) and I always mean to tell you...I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog. and I miss the hell out of Nothern Minnesota. Yeah, call me crazy.
It will always have my heart

xo-Molly

Kylie @ A Hungry Spoon said...

Oh, holy delicious-ness there is too much goodness going on here! I have such a sweet tooth, so this post definitely brought a smile to my face :) I'd definitely try the mini apple pies first...or those samoa cupcakes!

Have a great weekend :)

Kerstin said...

What a fun class! And I'll take a samoa cupcake please - awesome idea! Off to vote!

Erica said...

You KNOW I will go vote for you! Your cupcakes are GORGEOUS! I wish you were in SC- I'd purchase your cupcakes for my baby shower :) And your class sounds like fun. The Peanut Butter Cup Trifle reminds of the peanut butter cup sundaes at Friendlys! I used to LOVE those as a kid. Happy weekend!

Mary Bergfeld said...

I voted over at the Pom site. Good luck! Everything here looks wonderful, but were I forced to pick I'd go for the peanut butter cup trifle. It really looks delicious. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

Natalie said...

LOVE your outfit in those pictures!

and those cupcakes! drool!!

love jenny xoxo said...

Yumm!! they all look so good! I love cooking classes!!

have fun at the MOA this weekend!

XOXO

Nells said...

you have the worlds best job!i and i wish i could jump through the screen and eat it all!damn i am on a diet trying to get rid of cellulite!!
you recipes are really
super!!
your blog is great!
following!
visit my page if you like !would be happy to see you on it!
www.ffffashionmixxxx.com

Tropical Eats said...

so so SO impressed! looks like such a fun class.. i want to take it!!! :)

i want to try them ALL right now hehe

Elizabeth said...

Yum. Your blog always makes me want to go splurge! I voted for your cupcake. It looked really good. I hope you win!

love jenny xoxo said...

I just voted for your cupcake again!!

XOXO

http://lovejennyxoxo.blogspot.com/

brandi said...

I so wish I lived closer - I'd love to come to one of your classes! :) It looks like so much fun!

sophia said...

I think I like the looks of that PB trifle...but it's hard to choose just one!!

Hee, are you the youngest person there?