Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Recipe Blog

Archive for February, 2008

Ingredients:

• 2 cup chestnuts

• 2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup honey

Soak the chestnuts overnight in water to cover. Drain, shell, and dry.Combine the sugar and honey in a saucepan. Cook over low heat 1 hour, stirring frequently. Add the chestnuts and cook 2 hours, stirring frequently. Separate the chestnuts and let cool.
This gourmet dessert is one of many ways to incorporate these gourmet nuts into a delicious treat.

For more recipes with nuts, try:

• Toasting Olives and Nuts
• Glazed Chestnuts - Kuri Natto
• Rice and Nuts - Yak Pab
• Chestnut Balls

If you're on the hunt for delicious and simple gourmet desserts, this one hits the mark!

Ingredients:

• 5 eggs

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3/4 cup sifted flour
• 3/4 tsp. double acting baking powder
• 2 tbs. confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8 x 8 inch brownie pan or 9 x 12 inch loaf pan and dust lightly with flour. Beat the eggs until light, and then add the sugar and honey. Beat until thick (about 10 minutes). Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture; beat only until smooth. Turn into the pan. Bake 40 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a cake rack for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto the cake rack until completely cool. Turn right side up and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar.

There are many ways to make sponge cake. For more ideas, you might try some of the following recipes:

• Steamed Sponge Cake - Gay Don Go
• Sponge Cake
• Orange Sponge Cake

A flaky crust and rich layers make these bars sinfully delicious!

Crust

• 1 1/2 cups flour

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

• 1/4 cup cocoa

• 1 cup cold butter, cut into chunks

Using a pastry cutter, mix the crust ingredients together until they have a flaky pie type consistency. Pat crust mixture firmly into a 9x13” pan. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

Middle Layer

• 1 – 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

• 1 cup chocolate chips

• 1 tsp. vanilla

In a double boiler or in the microwave, melt together the middle layer ingredients. Mix until all ingredients are melted and well blended. Pour on top of cooled crust.

Top Layer

• 1 cup chocolate chips

• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Sprinkle the chocolate chips and chopped walnuts over the middle layer being careful to distribute them evenly. Press lightly on chips and gourmet nuts so they set into the middle layer. Bake again at 350° for 20 minutes. Cool and cut into cookie bars (not cookies!)

For more chocolate recipes, try:

• Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
• Chocolate Mint Brownie Pops
• Chocolate Lollipop Recipes
• White Chocolate: Cookies, Cakes, And More Desserts
• Chocolate Souffle Recipe

Adjust the amount of chilly to your taste. Wear plastic or rubber gloves while handling the chilies to protect skin from the oil in them. Avoid direct contact with eyes, and wash hands thoroughly after handling.

• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 fresh jalapeno chile, cored, seeded, and diced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Cilantro leaves, chopped
• Salt

1. In a medium bowl, combined all the ingredients, adding the cilantro leaves and salt to taste. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

An easy yet tasty way to enjoy a salad! Don't forget the cookies for dessert now...

More salad recipes:

• Salad Dressing
• Ensalada Murciana - Murcian Salad
• Fruit Cup Salad (Whashai)
• Holiday Fruit Salad
• Raspberry Lemon Gelatin Salad

Applesauce isn't typically something you'd get in a fruit basket, but in the event that you have applesauce laying around - this recipe is one worth trying.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 beaten egg

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 1 1/2 cups applesauce

• 2 cups flour

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1 tsp. cloves

• 2 tsp. soda

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1 cup raisins (optional)

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream together the shortening and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the beaten egg, vanilla and applesauce mixing well. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients stirring together well. Add these dry ingredients to wet mixture stirring until thoroughly mixed. Spread cookie bar mixture evenly in a greased and floured 10x15” pan. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 25 minutes. Cool bars prior to frosting.

Frosting

• 1 - 8 oz. package softened cream cheese

• 5 Tbsp. softened butter

• 2 tsp. vanilla

• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together with an electric mixer. Gradually add the powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time stirring between each addition until you achieve the desired frosting consistency. Frost the cooled applesauce cookie bars, cut into squares, and store in the refrigerator.

If you enjoyed this recipe, you may enjoy this recipe for Applesauce Cranberry Mold.