Mint Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
• FROSTING:
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 3 drops green food coloring
• TOPPING:
• 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions

1. Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
2. In a bowl, combine the frosting ingredients until smooth. Spread over cooled cake.
3. For topping, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and butter; stir in extract. Spread over frosting. Refrigerate until set.

St. Patrck's Day Dinner 2012

Corned Beef, Homemade Irish Soda Bread, Potatoes O'Brian, Dressing (per eldest son's request) and Cranberry Sauce (per younger son's request).

For the Corned Beef I followed the directions on the kit, rubbed the spice mixture on the meat and placed it in the dutch oven filling it with water. Cooked about 2 1/2 hours and it was about 3 pounds. Dressing was boxed dressing with celery and onions, sauteed and then baked for 30 minutes.

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.

Amish Bread Starter

Amish Friendship Bread

Use wooden or plastic bowls/jars/utensils. The Starter should be left uncovered or covered loosely with cheese cloth or such during the 10 day process.

Day 1 - Make Starter/Receive your Starter
Combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture (1 package active dry yeast & 1/4 cup warm water)

Days 2 thru 4 - stir starter with a spoon.

Day 5 - stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.

Days 6 thru 9 - stir only.

Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
Remove 1 cup to make your first bread.

Give 2 cups to friends along with your favorite Amish Bread recipe (In a Ziploc baggie)
With the remaining 1 cup starter begin the 10 day process over again with today as Day 1.

Amish Bread Recipe

Its been a while since I made these but decided to post them for fun. I made the basic recipe with a lemon glaze, cinnamon raisin with brown sugar crumble and chocolate with a chocolate frosting. I might get around to adding the glazes later. I will also post the Amish Start separately. Enjoy and spread the joy :)

Basic Bread:
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

Chocolate:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Apple:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
3 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 apples - peeled, cored and finely chopped

Banana Nut:
1/4 cup shortening
2 large ripe bananas
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter (see footnote for recipe link)
1-1/2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour

Cinnamon Raisin:
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 (3 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup peeled, cored and chopped apple
1 cup raisins

Baking Instructions:
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes in 2 - 9x5 inch loaf pans.
You can modify any recipe by adding different flavored pudding, fruits, nuts, etc. Some ideas are: Lemon Pudding, Dates, Cherry Gelatin, or use your imagination!

Cherry Cheesecake Tarts

Cherry cheesecake tarts

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 vanilla wafers
1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling or other pie filling
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake pan with baking cups.
2. In the bowl of a standing mixer or with a handheld mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla and beat well. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Place a vanilla wafer, flat side down, in each cupcake cup. Scoop cream cheese mixture over wafers.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, until set. The cheesecake will puff up considerably in the oven. Don’t worry; they’ll fall as they cool, leaving room for that cherry filling.
5. After tarts have cooled, spoon cherry filling over the top of each one.