Apricot Custard Pie with Basil

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(inspired by Wild Yeast.)
Roll out a pate brisse and put it in a deep pie pan. Finish the edge as you wish and pucture the bottom.

Soak 1 lb apricots (halfed and depitted) in cool water. Drain, pat dry, and add sugar. Arrange in the pie shell.

In a medium sauce pan, heat:
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolk
1-1/4 cups heavy cream
2 leafs of basil

Let cream cool. Add:
3 teaspoons cornstarch

Pour over the apricots and bake at 350 for 35 minutes, tent with foil, and bake at least 15 more minutes or until set. (Think pumpkin pie consistency.)
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Mini Apple Rhubarb Pies

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Roughly dice
1 small tart apple
1 stalk of rhubarb

In a space sauce pan heat the fruit with
½ cup water
1 pod cardamom
1 sprinkle of nutmeg
1 sprinkle of cinnamon
1 T cane sugar (if desired)

Cook on medium until the fruit is softened.

Use cookie cutters to create rounds of pie crust that will fill mini-muffin tins (ideally, with a little crust peaking out over the tins)

Fill each pie, ¾ ths full with the rhubarb/ apple sauce. Seal each pie with another round of dough

Bake at 350 for ten minutes.
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Crazy Black Bean Cookies

In a food processor blend:
15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
7 prunes
1/2 cup maple sugar
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup olive oil
6 T cocoa
1/2 cup whole wheat
1/3 cup teff
1/3 cup brown sugar
1.5 cups rolled oats
1 t allspice
1 t nutmeg
1/2 t ground pink peppercorns
2 T flaxseed
1/4 cup shortening

Form as a flattened disks and bake at 350. Top with powdered sugar.

These got a seriously mixed reception.
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Buttercream, Vegan Saffron Pistachio

(adapted from the Cookies and Cream Buttercream from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World)
In a stand mixer whip the following
1/2 cup nonhydrogenated shortening
1/2 cup nonhydrogenated margarine
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoons pistachio flavoring
1 T saffron dissolved in 2 T hot water
1/4 cup plain soy milk or soy creamer

Use this to glue the bunny together and then pipe it over the bunny. If you wish your bunny to stand up, I suggest a couple dowels.

Blogged at: http://feedingmaybelle.blogspot.com/2008/03/vegan-bunny-cake.html
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K's Baklava

Defrost one box filo in the fridge overnight.
Melt:
4 sticks unsalted butter on the stovetop

In each filo box there are two packages, open the first package.
In a large pan (11 x 13), working fast, start laying out filo-one sheet at a time, and buttering each layer well.

Once the whole first package is buttered. Top with 1 lb walnuts ground. Spread evenly. Shake to make sure the nuts are spread evenly.

Then repeat laying filo sheet by sheet with the second package.

Freeze for about 15-20 minutes. Then cut into diamonds and bake at 350 for about 1 hour or golden brown.

For the syrup:
in the saucepan that you melted the butter, add:
2 T honey
2 cup water
1 cup sugar

When the baklava is still warm pour the syrup over.

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My Chocolate Chip Cookies

In a stand mixer, add:
2 sticks butter softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1.5 cups light brown sugar

Once blended, add:
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp baking powder

Once blended add:
1 stick butter than has been browned and cooled

Add:
2 cups dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Form into balls with a melon baller or ice cream scoop into 2 inch diameter balls on a silpat lined baking sheets. Freeze formed dough for 30 minutes. Bake at 375 until golden.

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Coconut and Lime Buttercream Icing

Adapted from a recipe from Hostess Blog

Combine in a stand mixer until fluffy
8 Tbsp butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 T coconut milk (super chilled)
2 T lime juice
1 tsp lime zest, sliced into super thin strips

Add 5. 5 cups powdered sugar in ½ cup intervals beating in between

After the frosting comes together:
2 T grated coconut

Top with more lemon zest

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Caramelized Coconut Lime and Ginger Cupcakes (Egg-free)

Makes about 16 mini-cupcakes
This recipe was adapted from the mava cakes recipe from Tartelette which Helen received from her friend Bina.

First prepare, the caramelized coconut that is the basis of the flavor for the cupcakes. In the traditional recipe Helen created, she used milk. I used coconut and condensed milk instead.

In a large sauce pan, cook on simmer the following for 45-50 minutes stirring every 5-10 minutes:
1 cans (14oz each) coconut milk
1/3 cup condensed milk
2 T whole milk

It will splatter. Accept that. Put a lid on it halfway to keep the mess to a minimum. When it is a deep brown thick consistency, remove from heat and cool. (I did this in the morning and let it cool until the afternoon.)

In the bowl of a stand mixer beat until smooth:
1/4 cup (100gr) mava, at room temperature
3 tablespoons (85gr) unsalted butter, at room temperature

Add and then mix again:
Ener-G for 1 egg
3 tablespoons whole milk

Add and mix:
1/2 cup sugar
3 T jaggery, pulverized
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (use any juice too)
1 tsp dried coconut

In a large bowl, sift together:
1/ 2 cup plus 1 T flour
1/4 teaspoon (2gr) baking powder
¼ tsp lime zest (grated finely)
Sprinkle of dried galangal
pinch of salt

Put the dry ingredients into the wet in two batches. Mix thoroughly. The batter will be very thick. Spoon into buttered cupcake tins.

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Chipotle Peach Sponge Cupcake with Jalapeno Mint Cream Frosting

Chipotle Peach Sponge Cupcake
based on the plain cupcake recipe at Cookie Madness
Mix:
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 T brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons melted butter (slightly cooled)
1/2 t ginger powder
1/4 t chipotle powder

Mix:
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Yolk of 1 egg, room temperature
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/4 cup peach puree

Mix the wet into the dry. Set aside.

In a blender, beat 2 egg whites until soft peaks

Fold the egg whites into the batter. Be careful not to deflate the batter.

Fill greased mini-cupcake tins until almost full. (Makes 14 mini-cupcakes)

Bake at 375 for 7 minutes. (in a convection oven)

Jalapeno Mint Cream Frosting
In a blender, puree
4-6 leaves mint
1/4 inch piece jalapeno diced

Add:
6 T cream cheese
2 T sour cream
3 T sugar
1 pinch salt

Top with Candied Jalapeno

Candied Jalapeno
Cut 1 jalapeno into cross-sections
Create a simple syrup from 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Add the jalapenos and boil for a 3 minutes. Remove and cool and repeat with same sugar. It might take 3 dips in the sugar syrup to be candied.

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Currant Cupcakes

(makes 16 mini-cupcakes)

Blend:
7 T shortening
2/3 cup sugar

Add:
1/3 cup soy milk
2 t olive oil
2 T vanilla soy yoghurt
½ t vanilla extract

Sift in:
1 cup + 2 t flour
1 ¼ t baking powder
pinch salt

Either add 1/2 cup chopped fresh currants or place them in each cupcake

Bake at 375 for 8 minutes.

Top with vegan buttercream to which chopped currants and grated vegan white chocolate is added.

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Masala Coffee Custards

(makes 6-8 depending on the glasses)

In a saucepan, combine and simmer for about 2 minutes
1 cup brewed coffee
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
1 cinnamom stick
10 black peppercorns
2 black cardamom pods
2 green cardamom pods

Add:
2 T honey
1/3 cup (or less) jaggery (or brown sugar)

Taste. If it isn’t sickly sweet, add more jaggery

Add:
3 egg yolks (that have been tempered)

Whip with a whisk

Add 1 packet gelatin

Chill for 4 hours

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Masala Coffee Donuts with Espresso Cardamom Cream Filling

(Adapted from Epicurious)
makes more than 24 doughnuts

In the bowl of a stand mixer, allow to sit for ten minutes the following:
2 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast
1/4 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup warm whole milk (105°F to 115°F)
1/2 cup plus 2 T buttermilk at room temperature

Add to stand mixer and beat with the hook attachment:
2 eggs slightly beaten
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, cooled to lukewarm
1 T honey

In a separate bowl combine:
4 cups all purpose flour
1 t ground cardamon
1 t freshly crushed black pepper
1/2 t almond extract
1/2 t salt

Add dry mixture to the stand mixer in small batches until it comes together in a sticky dough.

Let rise for 4 hours.

Pat out the dough into a large rectangle. Cut out rounds using cookie cutters(and then cut the whole in the middle with a smaller cookie cutters.) Let rise for 1 hour on a baking sheet.

Fry at 350 until brown.

When the doughnuts are rising make your filling.

When doughnuts are cooling, make glaze.

Cardamom Espresso Pastry Cream

Soak 1 handfull of crushed espresso beans in 2 cups whole milk for 1/2 hour.

In a sauce pan on medium whisk:
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups coffee steeped whole milk
5 large egg yolks
Pinch of salt

Add:
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
2 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp crushed pepper (optional)

Whisk until thickened. Chill for 4 hrs with tin foil to cover. (They say plastic wrap but it is not easy to recycle or to reuse.)

Coffee, Honey, Blackpepper Glaze

Steep 8 blackpeppercorns and 2 cardamom pods in 1/4 cup coffee for 20 minutes.

Add:
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon salt

Whip until smooth and then simmer.

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Mango Oatmeal Cookies

Cream:
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar

Mix in:
1 egg
2 T light brown sugar
1.5 cups flour
1/2 t salt
1 T baking powder
2 t cardamom powder
1 cup overripe mango, diced
2 t rose water
1/4 cup pistachios, roughly chopped
2 T yogurt (I used Mango Lime flavored but vanilla would be okay)

Fold in
1 1/2 cup rolled oats

Bake at 350 for 8-12 minutes. Makes about 36 cookies.

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Mango Cupcakes

Cream in a blender
4 oz Earth Balance Margarine
3/4 cup sugar

To the blender bowl add
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 cup plain soymilk
1/3 cup very finely chopped mango
¼ cup mango pulp (available in cans from Asian Grocery Stores)
½ cup oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Blend the wet ingredients and then dump in
2 ¼ cups flour
2 ½ tsps baking soda
¼ tsp cream of tartar
½ tsp salt

After all of this is mixed add
3 tsp Egg Replacer dissolved in 4 T Warm Water

Fill (up to about 3/4ths full) greased cupcakes tins. Makes 48 minicupcakes. (To make mini-cakes: fill mini-cupcake tins until only ½ full. Use 3 to make a layered cake with mango puree or mango jam as the filling.)

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Mango Madeleines

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Adapted from Cook and Eat's Persimmon Madeleines
Beat together:
2 eggs
3/8 cup sugar

Add:
3/8 cup mango preserves
1/2 t vanilla

Sift in:
1/2 cup plus 2 T and 2 t flour
1/2 t baking powder

Fold in
3 oz unsalted butter, melted and cooled

After 10 minutes, put into mini-madeleine molds or teaspoons. Less is more--do not over fill. Read more!

Maple Caramel Apples

Basic Maple Caramel Apples
Add the following to a heavy bottomed saucepan:
4 T dark brown sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
(3 T corn syrup) I added it to my first batch and didn’t add it to my second. I preferred the second.

Cook on medium heat until 265 degrees Fahrenheit. It should be thick and coat the back of the spoon. Dip apples, cool, and then redip if necessary. If caramel cools, simmer to warm. Does 6-10 apples depending on the size. (I did medium to small apples because they are easier to dip.)

Maple Caramel Cayenne Apples:
Add 1 tsp of cayenne and 1 whole chili pepper (I used a Hungarian belle) to the heavy cream and warm on the stovetop for 10 minutes. Remove chili pepper and then add the rest of the ingredients.

Spiced Nuts:
In a cast iron skillet warm olive oil, add cayenne, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon to taste. (I just kept shaking the spiced until it smelled good.) Next time I will add paprika for the color. Then add slivered almonds and toast until nuts brown slightly.

Curry-infused White chocolate:
In a skillet warm 2-3 T olive oil. Add curry powder and cayenne. Heat ¼ Cup white chocolate chips on a double boiler. Add olive oil 1 T at a time until white chocolate is viscous enough to drip onto the apples.

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Orange Ginger Caramel Popcorn Balls

Pop 1.5 cups corn as you wish (we used the microwave). When warm, toss with butter and salt. Add thin slivers of orange zest and chunks of candied ginger. Set aside.

In a heavy bottomed sauce pan, warm
3 T butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp orange extract
a splash of freshly squeeze orange juice
1 t ginger powder

When the mixture comes 230 degrees, pour over popcorn. Either wait one minute, take a deep breath and then form into balls. Or, use two spoons to form into balls. It cools quickly so you will need to work fast.

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Vegan Pie Crust

Vegan Pie Crust
Freeze:
3.5 cups flour
1 t granulated sugar
1 t salt
2 T flax seed
3 sticks earth balance margarine
2 T olive oil


In a food processor, agitate dry ingredients. Add olive oil and then butter pats. Add tablespoons of iced water until it comes together. (Up to 1/3 cup iced water.)
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Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Based on a recipe from Karina's Kitchen

1 vegan pie crust
1 14 oz can pumpkin
1 1/3 cups coconut milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 T Maple Syrup
2 tablespoons light olive oil
1 tablespoon Ener-G Egg Replacer
3/4 cup organic sugar
5 heaping T brown sugar
2 T tapioca starch
1 T corn starch
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
½ tsp all spice
½ tsp ground cloves

Mix the ingredients in a food processor. Bake in a shell at 350 for 1 hr.
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Persimmon Mini-cupcakes (Egg-Free)

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Combine in a bowl:
1/4 tsp ground cardamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2-3 T sugar (depending on the sweetness of the persimmon--I did 2 T plus 1 tsp)
2 T olive oil1 tsp vanilla essence 2/3 cup persimmon pulp (ripe persimmon blended and strained)

Sift in:
2/3 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda

Mix in:
1 T cider vinegar

Bake in greased mini muffin tins

Top with something powdered sugar, chocolate "butter"cream, ginger "butter"cream, or greek yogurt (sweetened with powdered sugar, ginger, rose water and chopped pistachios)

makes 9 mini cupcakes, 350 degree for 10-12 minutes Read more!