your favs of 2014

a lot of old, a few new, these are the 12 most viewed posts in 2014:
1. meyer lemon iced raspberry cake [march 2014]
2. creamy tomato pasta [september 2010]
3. creamy mints [may 2011]
4. brown sugar poundcakes with brown butter icing [april 2010]
5. holiday shortbread cookies [december 2010]
6. baked's aunt sassy cake [pistachio cake with vanilla honey buttercream] [january 2011]
7. white layer cake with blackberry buttercream [august 2010]
8. dr pepper cake [march 2010]
9. chicken with 33 cloves of garlic [february 2012]
10. coconut lovers cake [january 2014]
11. risotto with peas & chicken [march 2012]
12. creamy barley with tomatoes, chicken, and spinach [march 2011]

past year's favorites: 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010.

my favs of 2014

coconut lover's cake. this year's birthday cake was a coconut dream. definitely one of my favorite layer cakes ever.

polenta with roasted mushrooms. this recreation of our meal at scarpetta more than three years ago was perfect. 

peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal scones. make these as soon as you can. is there really anything else to say?!

pot roast with mushroom gravy. eight basic ingredients + 3 hours in the oven make a heavenly winter dinner. and the leftovers are to die for!

mini peanut butter caramel & ganache tarts. yes, peanut butter caramel. it's as obnoxiously good and rich as it sounds. these were perfect for valentine's day this year & i'm looking forward to finding another excuse to make them.

pork tenderloin with mustard maple sauce. a simple, flavorful, and quick weeknight dinner. 

secret recipe club: mini cinnamon roll cakes. i turned a kitchen - more precisely, an oven - disaster into these delicious mini cakes.

sweet & sour pork stir fry. this one still makes it on to our table at least once a month. 

bacon cheddar waffles with apples. bacon & cheddar for jason, apples & maple syrup for me. and toddler approved!

my favorites, previously: 2013, 2012, and 2011.

Mini Sugar Cookies & Milk | Homemade

Ingredients:

• Sprinkles
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of water
• Milk

Supplies:

• Milk Glasses
• Straws
• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cup
• Whisk
• Baking Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Saran Wrap

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350 F & line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2:

Microwave butter until soft but not melted entirely. 

Step 3:

In large mixing bowl, combine flour, butter, baking powder, sugar, egg, & vanilla. Knead mixture with your hands while gradually adding in 1/4 cup of water as needed to help combine mixture.

Step 4:

Cover bowl with saran wrap & put in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. 

Step 5:

Remove bowl.

Step 6:

Form round balls of about 1 inch diameter & dip in extra 1/4 cup of water when needed to make mixture smoother. 

Step 7:

Line cookie dough balls on parchment paper about 1 inch apart. Press down gently on each with the palm of your hand to slightly flatten out the dough.

Step 8:

Top with sprinkles & bake for 10-15 minutes.

Step 9:

Serve warm or let cookies cool for 30 minutes if placing on straws. 

Step 10:

If placing on straws, while cookie is lying flat, place the straw through the center of the cookie & rest on side of milk glass.

Step 11:

Enjoy!

Merry Krispmas from PLSR

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Secret Recipe Bakwan Corn

Bakwan is one of the snacks that are often made. bakwan could be one dish before eating or also can be used as a side dish (I often make it if there is no money). bakwan made from wheat flour plus vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, leeks. You can vary the bakwan with other materials such as adding corn and fish meat, chicken, or beef. how to make easy, if you follow the recipe that I provide, guaranteed you can make it. The following recipe:

Corn Bakwan materials:

•      5 pieces of sweet corn
•      1 egg
•      4 tablespoons of wheat flour
•      1 sheet of celery, chopped (optional)
•      1 leek (sliced)
•      100 grams of shrimp, cleaned, peeled

ground spices

•      salt to taste
•      4 cloves of garlic
•      1 red onion
•      1 whole hazelnut
•      1/4 teaspoon coriander
•      3 fresh red chilies, and mashed a bit rough

How to Make Corn Bakwan:

1. First of all corn in thin slices (some coarsely ground, partly left round seeds)
2. Subsequently mix the corn, ground spices, eggs, celery, leeks, wheat flour, shrimp into one entity.
3. Last Heat the cooking oil. then take the dough 1 tablespoon, continue cooking until done and until golden brown
4. Bakwan Corn ready to be served

TERIMA KASIH

sub : food, secret recipe, drink, cake, culinary, traditional,  modern, aceh, instant food, terima kasih

Krispmas Sweater | Celebritized x PLSR | Chicago, IL

We all know the saying, "you are what you eat". But now you can "eat what you wear". Confused? Let me explain: I've teamed up with Shanna of Celebritized in Chicago to bring you guys this awesome new series where I create what Shanna wears in food form. Make sure to check out Celebritized in Chicago & order your custom Krispie cakes today! Merry Krispmas!

Shop Shanna's Look: Sweater | Purse | Shoes | Leggings

Shop Rice Krispies: publiclivessecretrecipes@gmail.com

Bizcochitos

Bizcochitos are the official state cookie of New Mexico and have been around in different versions for hundreds of years.  They're traditionally made with lard, always seem to have anise and some type of alcohol (like brandy or wine) or juice in the dough, and are sprinkled with or rolled in cinnamon sugar.  I've been wanting to make them for years and finally did it!  No regrets, these cookies are delicious.  They have a crunchy, shortbread texture to them and the anise is delightful.  It's definitely there, but is not too strong at all.  Even my husband liked these quite a bit.
 
This time around I used shortening and orange juice, but in the future I would like to experiment with butter, solid coconut oil, and MAYBE even lard for the fat, and brandy and wine for the liquid.  We liked these so much that I plan to make these every Christmas, so I will have many opportunities to experiment!
  
I got this recipe from a blog called The Nickel and Dime Ranch.  The blog owner, Bridget, says the recipe came from a New Mexican cookbook called License to Cook.  After I made the recipe, I found basically the same recipe on AllRecipes!  I wonder if the recipe submitter got it from the same cookbook as Bridget.

Tip:  After you've pressed the cookie cutter down into the rolled out dough, wiggle it around a bit so the cut out will be sufficiently separated from the surrounding dough.  This will make it easier to remove the excess cookie dough.
 

Bizcochitos
 
1 C vegetable shortening
3/4 C sugar
1 tsp anise seeds, lightly crushed with a mortar and pestle
1 egg
1/4 C orange juice
3 C flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

topping:
1/4 C sugar
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon

With an electric mixer, cream together shortening, sugar, and anise.  Beat in egg, then orange juice.  Scrape down sides of bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add to shortening mixture and stir just until the dough comes together.  Do not over work the dough.  The dough should be fairly soft and not sticky.  Gently form the dough into a ball.

Lightly flour a clean, flat surface.  Place the dough ball on the middle of the rolling surface and pat it down a bit with your hands so it's flat.  Dust lightly with flour and brush the flour around with your hand.  Roll the dough out carefully with a rolling pin, so it's about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick- whichever you prefer.  I did both and they were all great!  Add a little more flour if the dough starts to stick to the rolling pin.
 
Cut the dough out with cookie cutters and carefully move the cut outs to the prepared baking sheets with a very thin pancake turner.  The shapes won't really spread in the oven, so you can space them 1 inch apart. Repeat rolling out the dough until it's all used up.
 
When the cookie sheet is full, stir together the 1/4 C sugar and 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon and sprinkle it generously over each cookie.  Bake until cookies are light golden around the edges, about 10 to 15 minutes depending on how thinly you rolled the dough and how big your cookie cutters are.

Optional:  You can gently roll the cookies through the cinnamon sugar again when they come out of the oven (before they cool) if you want.  I didn't do this because we liked the cookies just fine as they were, but I'm sure it would be good this way!

In either case, let the cookies cool until you can handle them without them breaking, then remove them to wire cooling racks.  When they've cooled completely, you can store them in a tin or an airtight cookie jar.

Yield: 25-50 cookies, depending on how thin you roll the dough and the size of your cookie cutters.

White Chocolate & Peppermint Pretzel Crisps | Ice Cream Cake | Homemade

Ingredients:

• 1 pint of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream
• 1 bag Pretzel Crisps White Chocolate & Peppermint pretzels
• 1 box brownie mix
• heavy whipping cream (to taste)
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup all purpose flour

Supplies:

• large bowl
• mixing spoon
• non-stick circle baking pan
• medium saucepan
• springform pan

For the brownie batter whipped cream:

Step 1:

In large bowl pour in dry brownie mix. 

Step 2:

Pour in heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup at a time until at whipped cream consistency. 

For brownies:

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Step 2:

In medium saucepan, combine chocolate & butter. Stir constantly over low heat until melted.

Step 3:

Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, baking powder, & flour in a large bowl. 

Step 4:

Add in chocolate mixture & stir until combined.

Step 5:

Pour batter into baking pan & bake for 20-25 minutes. Test with toothpick & bake until toothpick comes out clean.

Assembeling:

Step 1:

While brownies are still warm, form into springform pan to cover the bottom. 

Step 2:

Spread pint of ice cream on top of brownie layer.

Step 3:

Pour half the bag of pretzel crisps over the ice cream & gently spread to cover surface.

Step 4:

Layer brownie batter whipped cream on top & top with decorative layer of Pretzel Crisps. 

Step 5:

Freeze for 6-8 hours before serving & enjoy!

Public Lives: Ariel Pêche | Secret Recipes: Homemade Chili

Chicago—the city of foodies. New York—the city of street style & fashion. Wait, is that not how these two cities are demographically defined? Well when looking at Ariel Pêche that is instantly the vibe you get. Self proclaimed bohemian skater, Ariel’s east coast raddness mixed with Midwest cooking skills results in the ultimate combination. 

Ingredients:

• 1 red onion
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 large can vegetarian baked beans
• 1 lb. low fat ground turkey
• chili powder (to taste)
• pepper (to taste)
• salt (to taste)
• cayenne pepper (to taste)
• sour cream
• shredded cheese

Supplies:

• cutting board
• knife
• large pot
• strainer
• mixing spoon
• bowls 

Step 1:

Dice the onion.

Step 2:

Pour about ¼ cup olive oil & onions into a large pot. Continue stirring over low-medium heat until onions are clear.

Step 3:

Add in turkey & stir until it is chopped.

Step 4:

Add in salt, cayenne pepper, & pepper. Continue stirring ingredients until turkey is white.  

Step 5:

Pour in crushed tomatoes & continue stirring.

Step 6:

Without draining, pour in entire can of baked beans.

Step 7:

Rinse off kidney & black beans. Add beans & chili powder to pot & stir.

Step 8:

Bring chili to boil for five minutes uncovered while continuing to stir.

Step 9:

Cover pot for one hour over low heat stirring every 15 minutes.

Step 10:

Garnish with sour cream & cheese. Enjoy!

Ariel Pêche

The Mainline, PA --> Chicago, IL

The George Washington University

What is the origin of this recipe: My parents always kept a very healthy kitchen & my mom makes this chili almost every Sunday while my dad watches football. It’s hearty for the winter & really healthy.

How did you begin your blog, "Ariel Pêche": I initially just bought the domain name. When  I moved to Chicago & before I began working I used it to buy time & as a creative outlet.

Where can we find you on a Sunday afternoon: Usually at Soho House. I’m there a lot, just hanging out with friends on the couch.

Personal style icon: Sienna Miller.

Have you read “What’s In A Name—Fashion Girl Names” on Chi City Fashion? Because Ariel Pêche is the epitome of a cool fashion girl name.: Pêche is a nickname from growing up. I’ve always been obsessed with Paris & speaking French and the name kind of just stuck.

Where do you see yourself in five years: Hopefully with my own clothing line. That’s my end goal. My blog is a creative outlet for now that I hope will lead to my own line, it’s really a means to an end.

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