Nigerian Recipe for Traditional Egusi Soup

Staple foods in the Nigerian diet include: peanuts or ground-nuts, yams, cassava, fish, rice, okra, bananas, guinea corn and millet, and palm nuts.

They are usually starchy and Nigerians love to cook with a lot of pepper and spices especially those from the southwest and southeast. This recipe uses all local ingredients to create a tasty and nourishing meal.

\"Cake Recipes\"

Ground Egusi seeds give this soup a unique color and flavor. If you can't find Egusi seeds in your store, you can substitute pumpkin seeds or Pepitas which you can find in Latin American grocery stores. This soup is thickened with flour ground from seeds of gourds, melons, pumpkins, and squashes, many of which are native to Africa.

Egusi Soup

200 g Water Leaves

50 g Egusi seeds

1 teaspoon Dry Ground Red Pepper

1 medium Onion

100ml Palm Oil

10g Dry Ground Crayfish

120g Fresh Tomatoes

100ml Water

Salt & Pepper to taste

Wash the water leaves well in clean, fresh water.
Liquidise or pulverise the onions, tomatoes and egusi seeds until smooth.
Add the dry ground pepper and fry in palm oil for five minutes.
Add the water, put the lid on and cook for five minutes.
Now add the water leaves, replace lid and cook for a further five minutes.
Finally, add the crayfish and seasoning, warming through well.

Serve with pounded yam or cooked rice and a meat stew, to provide protein.
Alternatively, serve with eba, fufu or any suitable carbohydrate.

With thanks to the people of Nigeria who made us welcome and instilled in us a love of traditional Nigerian food.

Nigerian Recipe for Traditional Egusi Soup

For further tips and ideas for cooking great and traditional food from around the world, visit Nigerian Recipes & Food [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com/nigerian-recipes.html]. This article was submitted by Jen Carter, owner of the World Food & Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com] website.

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Birthday Cake

It's nice that people remember the day you were born. After all, it is a very special day. For most of us, there is always someone ready to throw a birthday party. Whether it be Mom and Dad, or darling husband or wife, or anyone else, one of the best treats on anyone's birthday is a birthday cake with candles. Because what would a birthday be without a cake and candles for making a birthday wish?

Birthday cakes come in all shapes and sizes - round, square, layered, tiered, upside-down, and many, many more. They also come in some very unique shapes like trucks, babies, guitars, shoes, and so on. Birthday cakes can be just fun and simple or quite elegant and complex. They can be chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mocha, a mix of all of the above, or other flavors.

Cake

Theme cakes are very popular for children's birthdays. Harry Potter's, Hogwarts Castle, Barbie's, Pegasus, and Sponge Bob and Patrick are in high demand at most parties these days. Chocolate cake seems to be the favorite, followed by the classic chiffon cake. Of course, any good host will top off the birthday cake with a heaping spoon of ice cream and sprinkles and lots of love and best wishes.

Even with all the streamers, the balloons, the presents, and so on, birthday cakes remain the centerpiece. More than anything else, the birthday cake with delightfully burning candles all round it and your name in icing on the top, remains the most enduring symbol of a birthday celebration.

Birthday Cake

l">Cake provides detailed information on Baby Shower Cake, Birthday Cake, Cake, Cake Decorating and more. Cake is affiliated with Birthday Cards.

Recipe Revisions - Banana Bread

If you're tired of the same old standard banana bread recipe, try one or all of these variations for a new and delicious twist.

Moms are always looking for nutritious snacks and desserts that kids like, but won't necessarily know are healthy for them. Banana bread is one such treat. There are hundreds of banana bread recipes to be found online and it's hard to find a cookbook that doesn't have one such recipe. Here are a few tricks to modify the old standby so that it's even more tasty, moist and freezes well when prepared as a do-ahead. These changes to an ordinary banana bread recipe allows you to freeze for up to three months, with no loss in moistness. These recipe revisions even allows the flavor to improve with time and are all kid friendly.

\"cake Recipe\"

When you're going to make several loaves, buy a large bunch of ripe bananas. If you have a bunch that are getting too soft, use them. Peel all the bananas, slicing each into a large bowl and then mash thoroughly. You can use a food processor if you prefer. You'll need about one cup of mashed banana per loaf.

Substitute one cup of applesauce for one cup of liquid called for by your banana bread recipe. Just as with cake recipes, the applesauce adds a delicious flavor and bakes up nice and moist and a bit more fluffy than without.

Mix your dry ingredients in a separate bowl. If your banana bread recipe calls for eggs, water or milk, reduce the water or milk by one cup and add the applesauce. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry, stirring to mix well.

You can bake as directed at this point. If you want even more flavor, try one of these variations. A teaspoon of cinnamon, added for each loaf makes a sweet and spicy banana bread. You can also add 1/4 cup of raisins. A teaspoon of orange or lemon zest per loaf adds a nice citrusy note. Although all of these are sweet additions, they're not fattening and kids absolutely love all of these banana bread recipe variations. You will too.

A slice of this quick bread is perfect with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. It's also makes a good lunchbox dessert. A dollop of non-dairy whipped topping off this versatile bread fools the kids into thinking it's practically like cake. You'll have them asking for seconds.

One last thought: if you've got some bananas getting overripe on the countertop and don't have the time to bake today, don't let them go to waste. Peel and mash the bananas, add a few drops of lemon juice for each banana and freeze in one-cup containers. When you're ready to bake, just defrost and prepare your banana bread recipe as desired.

Recipe Revisions - Banana Bread

adeniran oladipo

The History of Cupcakes

While no one is quite certain where cupcakes came from, it is known that they made an appearance in the United States sometime in the 19th Century. Called Fairy Cakes in the United Kingdom, cupcakes revolutionized how cake was made and mothers across the land lauded the blessing.

Prior to the introduction of the cupcake to the kitchens of America, cakes were made by weighing the ingredients. Cupcakes were made by measuring the ingredients for the first time. It has been suggested that this is perhaps where the term "cup cake" originated, since everything was measured in cups. Other origins of the name have also been offered, such as the fact they are baked in a cup but at one time, cupcakes were also called "number cakes". This name originated from the recipe, whereby it required "...once cup butter, two cups sugar, three cups flour, four eggs..." At one time, recipes called for cupcakes to be "...baked into little tins."

Bakeries

Until the turn of the 20th century, cupcake pans were virtually unheard of forcing bakers to use more formidable cups for baking, unless they wanted to bake their small cakes into loaf form. Using hearth ovens, which needed longer cooking times for larger cakes, caused bakers to seek other ways to bake their cake and still have time to eat it. With the advent of the cupcake, not only were bakers able to achieve shorter cooking times, they were also able to change the way they prepared them once the baking part was finished. No longer did bakers need to create larger, heavier cakes. With the production of the cupcake, people could slake their desire for something small and sweet.

Though cupcakes only recently developed an upsurge in popularity, causing a number of bakeries to specialize in just cupcakes, it was in 1919 when Hostess developed the precursor to the Hostess Chocolate Cupcake. The rich, creamy filling and chocolate icing was popular with consumers and a love affair was begun. Conveniently baked into a single serving, cupcakes provided a quick snack and permitted people to nibble on them whenever they wished. In addition, they were sinfully delicious to but their small size allowed them to feel good about not over eating.

Cupcakes are now common in grocery store, pre-made and pre-iced. The baking aisle is filled with a large variety of cupcake papers, beginning with paper thin and progressing to a firm, rounded edge made of cardboard. So popular is the cupcake small artisan bakeries, creating nothing but cupcakes, have begun to spring up across the country. Selling for an average of to a dozen, they are dear, but if you want cupcakes that are head-turning, sometimes paying someone to decorate them in a unique or unusual way is the best way to go. A more recent trend, gaining in popularity, is cupcake towers in lieu of a more traditional wedding cake.

Eating a cupcake can make you feel young again and with the variety of flavors and frostings that have progressed over the decades, there isn't an appetite or yen that can't be solved with a tasty cupcake.

The History of Cupcakes

Lisa is an avid home cook who loves to share her favorite recipes with the rest of us. Find all her cupcake recipes at http://www.Cupcake-Creations.com And be sure to try the chocolate chip cupcake recipe.

Cake Recipes From Scratch - The Four Most Popular Recipes

Cake is a baked, rich dessert including flour, sugar, eggs and oil. It originated from Europe and now can be found in every corner of the world. It is crucial in every important event of a person like baby shower, graduation party, birthday party, etc. Nowadays, there are huge amount of different sorts of cakes. However, here are the four most popular cake recipes from the scratch.

Ranked at the top of the most preferred cake recipes from scratch is fruit cakes. Fruit is undoubtedly good for our health thanks for its vitamins, fibers and minerals. Fruit cake is easy to make, not time consuming and of course yummy. Strawberry, banana, pineapple, carrot are commonly chosen to make this kind of cakes.

\"Cake Recipes\"

Then comes Funky cakes. Wanna surprise your loved child on his sixth birthday by a cake with a cartoon character? Wanna give a big heart shaped cake to your half on your tenth anniversary? Funky cakes do help. In fact, the ideas and recipes for this sort of cake is countless.

Among the most selected cake recipes from scratch, sugar free recipes are the most hunted. For those who has diabetes or keen to reduce their sugar intake for other reasons, this sort of recipes will help them create a delicious, healthy and sugar free cake.

Finally, what could be better than a chocolate cake for dessert? Chocolate is considered as the king of cake. It is traditional yet delicious and elegant. With no shadow of doubt, it attracts millions of people all over the world by its instinct odor, delicious taste and shining brown.

The four most popular cake recipes from the scratch in details together with another thousands of cake recipes now available at My Recipe Secrets

Just a click and start having fun in your cooking adventures!

Cake Recipes From Scratch - The Four Most Popular Recipes

Discover My Recipe Secrets [http://myrecipesecrets.info] to see how I cook - and you can cook too.

Christmas Cake Boxes - Creative Gift Ideas

Different Christmas cake boxes can be used creatively to add variety to many of the festive holiday events. This requires a bit of creative thinking and a willingness to try something different. These bakery boxes, which include Christmas cupcake boxes, are considered popular accessories for many of the events surrounding the holiday period.

With Christmas boxes, it is simple to display a selection of cakes, cupcakes or pastries beautifully, for a very small financial outlay. Cake presentation boxes, cupcake boxes and other bakery boxes are an inexpensive way to present cakes by enhancing the visual effect and overall presentation thereby adding a higher perceived value that the actual cost of the box. This makes cakes, beautifully presented in Christmas cake boxes a very personal gift for someone special.

Bakery

They make a lovely gift for a special aunt or friend. Grandparents will be especially thrilled with a cupcake in a Christmas themed box that has been lovingly decorated by their grandchild. Another good idea is to provide Christmas party guests with specially packaged cupcakes in beautifully crafted Christmas cupcake boxes.

For people who pride themselves on their ability to bake exquisite and aesthetically appealing cakes, transparent cake boxes are a great option, gaily decorated with Christmas themed ribbons. These boxes show off the beauty of the cakes during formal presentations. Another party option to make the invited guests feel special is using these boxes to house other items. The guests can be pleasantly surprised when their host presents them with party favors in the form of little boxes that contain a selection of candy or other small gifts.

A handmade Christmas cake box kit is also a fun gift in itself. A creative spin on traditional gift ideas, it makes people feel special and children love craft kits.

You can get cake box making kits that come with the cardboard, stencils and decorations for making your own Christmas cake boxes. They are inexpensive and are a great item to purchase in advance. That way you have them on hand for some of those cold wet days leading up to Christmas. They will keep the children occupied for hours as they turn them into a handmade gift for one of their friends.

In summary Christmas cake boxes can be used in many, varied ways at Christmas. Use your creativity to think of some more. They can be bought at department stores, bakery stores or online. They stand out as special gifts that are not only fun to make, but also fun to receive.

Christmas Cake Boxes - Creative Gift Ideas

Lyn is a passionate snow skier and loves cooking. In her spare time she likes writing on a wide variety of subjects. Visit her latest website all about cupcake boxes at http://www.cupcakeboxessuppliers.com/cake-boxes/

Simple Cupcake Recipes for Kids

Cupcakes have become a favorite to kids all over the world and not just adults, and what's more than eating cupcakes for kids but to make them? There are a number of simple cupcake recipes for kids to enjoy and to help you with. No matter what the season, cupcakes are an ideal snack and you can decorate them all sorts of ways.

You can begin with a box cake mix, but this is not much fun. Here are some great ideas of cupcake recipes for kids to help you with. These are great ones that you and the kids can do from scratch. This can be a great idea to do to create memories.

Cake Recipes

Lemon Cupcakes

  • 3 ½ oz butter softened
  • 2 tsp lemon rind
  • 2/3 cup fine sugar
  • 3 ½ oz. cream cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 c. flour
  • ½ c. all purpose flour

Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees, and place cupcake liners in a muffin pan. Bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until a fork or toothpick is inserted and comes out completely clean. Let your cupcakes cool down completely before you start to frost them. When it is time to decorate, don't hold back. Let you children go crazy and put decorations from sprinkles to little candies on them.

Vanilla Cupcakes

  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 6 oz of flour that self rises
  • 5 oz. sugar
  • 5 oz of butter that has been softened
  • 3 eggs

Once you have your oven pre-heated to 350 degrees, place cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. Place eggs in a cup and beat them with a fork. Place the remaining ingredients in the bowl and continue mixing for about two minutes, or until the batter light and creamy. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners and bake for about 20 minutes. Before frosting them, allow them to cool down completely.

These are just a few of the many delicious recipes for cupcakes to bake with your children. There are more to find and you can begin on the Internet. There are many sites that are designed to give kid friendly recipes that are easy and fun to make as well.

When it comes to decorating your cupcakes, you can go nuts with this. Add food coloring to the frosting to make it fun colors and even add candies of all sorts. Let your children pick out something that they want and make them feel more involved in the whole process. This can be something fun to do with your children and can create memories to last.

Simple Cupcake Recipes for Kids

Sonya Kissi is a registered pharmacist practicing in Ohio. She's also the founder and managing partner of KissiCakes-n-Sweets, LLC, a privately owned Bakery in Dublin, OH that specializes in gourmet cupcakes, home made cookies, pies, cheese cakes, sweets and treats for every occasion. Find out more about her delicious cupcakes at http://www.kissicakesnsweets.com

Homemade Cake Recipes and Wedding Cake Recipes From Scratch

Making wedding cake recipes from scratch is not that difficult. Take it from me. I have been doing this for over 25 years now. The very first of my homemade wedding cakes was a carrot cake recipe and it was from scratch. Homemade wedding cakes are the best. The only time I EVER used a mix was in a high volume situation. It was exclusively the white wedding cake recipe that was slightly time consuming, and the chefs insisted upon my using their mix. If you have ever worked in a professional kitchen then you know how those head chefs can be at times, it is more about saving money and time, but for me it is so much more about quality. I did manage to sneak in all of my homemade fillings though.

Whether you are a professional pastry chef or an amateur baker making homemade wedding cakes for friends and family, these tips may help.

Cake Recipes

Tips

  • Try to stick with a simple homemade recipe such as one that does not require a lot of fancy steps. A dump cake recipe is a good choice.
  • I know it does not sound so delicious but dump recipes basically have one requirement and that is that all ingredients get dumped into the bowl at once and mixed. And that is it. What could be easier than that? One of my best and most frequently requested cake is chocolate buttermilk dump recipe.
  • Have all of your ingredients measured out and at room temperature before you start the process of putting it all together.
  • Making a wedding cake if taken in steps is just a matter of multiplying your favorite homemade recipe and baking them off in larger pans.
  • Fill the cake pans 1/2 to 1/3 full. You can fill a pan a little more if using a lighter batter a little less when using a heavier batter. This is the part that you will need to judge as you gain experience.
  • Always grease, flour and put parchment or wax paper along the bottom of the pans.
  • Always let the cakes cool completely before covering and storing. You will need cardboard circles to put under each cake for support when lifting and moving the cakes.
  • You need to decide how many layers your cakes will be before baking, you can bake each layer separate or cut your cakes in half to make two layers. (It depends on how deep your pans are and how much you fill them as to how many layers you get out of each cake.) For wedding cakes I prefer using a two layer cake with one layer of filling because it keeps the cake a little more stable. But you will need to figure out your preferences.

Homemade Cake Recipes and Wedding Cake Recipes From Scratch

About this Author

If you have cake baking decorating questions or questions about baking wedding cakes from scratch please go to my website and ask away. I welcome it. I have recipes at my website for you such as chocolate stout cake, a white wedding cake recipe and a homemade red velvet cake recipe and a whole lot more.

Lorelie Carvey invites cake decorators and pastry chefs to ask questions http://www.wedding-cakes-for-you.com and to to browse through her unique cake collection to spark new ideas, watch video tutorials, find recipes and more. Subscribe to Lorelie's blog at http://www.wedding-cakes-for-you.com/wedding-cakes-blog.html to stay updated on all the latest additions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lorelie_Carvey

The World's Best Chocolate Cake Recipe, Bake This and They Will Love You Forever

Ingredients

(This is to make a large birthday cake, you can scale down for an ordinary cake)

Cake Recipes

200 grams of stork or other baking margarine

200 grams of caster sugar

4 medium / large eggs

3 tbs of cocoa powder

Approx 75 grams of cornflour

100 grams of self raising flour

1 tbs baking powder

Vanilla essence

For the Icing

75 grams of margarine

Icing sugar to make a stiff mix

Water

Vanilla essence

Step 1

Using a mixer or food processor, cream together the sugar and margarine until it is light and fluffy. Add 1 tsp of vanilla essence and mix thoroughly.

Step 2

Add the 4 eggs, 1 at a time, mixing thoroughly until each egg is fully blended in. Leave mixer on for around 5 minutes.

Step 3

Into a weighing scale, put 3 heaped tablespoons of cocoa powder. Add cornflour to make up to 100 grams, then add 100grams of self raising flour. Finally add 1 tablespoon of baking powder.

Step 4

Sieve the flour mix into your mix. Fold in, then mix with mixer until fully incorporated.

Step 5

Split mix between 2 lightly greased non stick 8 inch baking tins. Bake in over at 175 degrees centigrade for around 20 minutes. Test by lightly shaking the tin to see if it wobbles like a jelly. (if it does give it 5 more minutes.) If its firm, slide in a skewer to check the mix is cooked. It should not have any cake mix on, but will have steam from the mix. As long as there is no mix on the skewer, remove from oven to cool.

Step 6

While the cake is cooling, mix the margarine for the icing with 1 tsp of vanilla essence and enough icing sugar to make a stiff mix. Add 1 tsp of water at a time and mix in, the mix will let down and become creamy and smooth. Set aside until the cake is cold. DO NOT attempt to ice the cake when warm, the icing will go runny.

Tip - when icing, do not spread the icing, as this cake is so light it will break under the pressure. Just add spoonfuls of icing around the bottom layer, then put the top on and rotate slightly to spread the filling.

Step 7

Decorate the top of the cake with sieved icing sugar or cocoa powder. Get a cup of coffee, then eat a huge slice!

To make a celebration cake you can ice the outside of the cake and decorate it with chocolate curls, or ice and fill with whipped cream, or make a chocolate fudge icing mix, or use cream and cherries for a black forest gateaux. What ever floats your boat really.

Variations

You can also make this recipe into a victoria sponge, just take out the cocoa and substitute with more cornflour. Then ice with vanilla icing and jam. Or, use lemon essence and lemon icing for a tangy variation.

The World's Best Chocolate Cake Recipe, Bake This and They Will Love You Forever

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'Nian Gao', Chinese New Year Cake Recipe

For those of you who do not know, Malaysia is a multi-cultural country that made up from the Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other races. Every year, the Chinese would celebrate Chinese New Year.

During Chinese New Year, there's a very popular and a must-have food to celebrate with. It is said to bring luck to everybody in terms of finance, career and family. This is a cake that has been traditionally passed down from many generations thousands of years ago, it is call 'Nian Gao' or some people call it Chinese New Year cake.

Cake Recipes

'Nian Gao' was told a story that Chinese has been using this cake to store as food for winter. This cake can be kept for long time without spoil and it provides energy to our body during winter.

Last year, I've visited a factory that produces this cake and had met with its owner. I was very curious on how they actually make this cake and I was asking for the cake's recipe. The owner didn't let me down from my sincere request, and so he gave the recipe to me. Below is the recipe that I would love to share with you.

Ingredients to prepare:

- 1 1/2 (325ml) cups water

- 2 1/2 (625ml) cups dark brown sugar

- 4 1/2 cups sweet glutinous rice flour

- 1/2 cup (125ml) vegetable oil

Instruction to make Nian Gao:

1. Pour the brown sugar and water into a small saucepan, bring it to slow boil. When it starts to boil, lower the heat and simmer for about 5 to 6 minutes until all the sugar has dissolved. Then allow it to cool to slightly warm temperature.

2. Add vegetable oil and mix (1) together thoroughly. Keep a 1/4 cup of the mixture in a separate container.

3. Combine the glutinous rice flour with the oil, water and mixture (2) in a large bowl. Work through the batter well. It will turn very sticky and thick. Spend as much time as possible to knead and work the mixture to a uniform consistency.

4. Use a 250 mm round tin cake or a round soufflé bowl of similar diameter. Oil the sides of the cake tin or bowl with some vegetable oil. Pour the batter into the cake tin or bowl. With wet fingers press the batter into the cake tin or bowl and dislodge any air pockets. Pour the reserved oil, sugar and water mixture on top.

5. Steam the cake over high heat for 4-5 hours. Make sure the water does not dry up or overtop the cake tin or bowl.

6. When the cake is done, remove from the steamer and allow cooling to room temperature.

7. For faster process, you can also cover it with foil and keep in the refrigerator to allow the cake to harden.

To serve, simply slice into wedges and serve in a plate. For those who prefer a soft texture, microwave for 20 seconds or steam on boiling water for 5 minutes until softened to the desired consistency.

Happy Chinese New Year and 'Nian Nian Gao Sheng'(increasing prosperity every year)!

'Nian Gao', Chinese New Year Cake Recipe

About this Author

Copyright (c) Edwin Lim

About the author:
Edwin Lim is a freelance copywriter living in Malaysia. For more article writing and marketing insights, visit his Website at http://whisperblogz.blogspot.com.

This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edwin_Lim

Italian Dessert Cannoli Recipe

Cannolis are a great Italian dessert and they were said to have been developed by Sicilians in Palermo, Italy. These fried wafers are filled with a mixture of ricotta, candied fruit, chocolate, and other ingredients, and they are very, very tasty! Sicilians are supposed to have created this great dessert recipe, and I think that they are just delicious. I hope that this recipe is fairly easy to follow. You will need some type of dowel or metal tube that you will use to form out your cannoli shells. If you have a 3 ½ inch in diameter ring or even a 3 inch ring, you will need this to form the shape of your shells, also. You will also need a deep fryer, or a pan that is deep enough for these shells to float in oil.

Ingredients for Cannoli Shells:

Cake Recipes

3 Cups of unsifted flour

1/4 Teaspoon of cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon of salt

3 Tablespoon of granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 Tablespoon of firm butter cut into small cubes

1/4 Cup of a good Marsala wine

1-2 egg whites, whisked slightly

First thing is to sift the flour with salt, cinnamon, and granulated sugar. You will make a well in the center of your sifted flour mixture. In the middle of the well you have made you will add the egg and butter and start mixing with a fork. You will work the egg mixture with the fork from the center out, to incorporate the moist egg with the flour mixture. You will then add your Marsala wine slowly until dough begins to come together like a playdough mixture. You will then start working the dough with your hands to form the dough into a dough ball. You will then cover and let the dough rise for about 10-15 minutes.

If you have a stainless area to work on great, if not you will need a wooden cutting board. You will need to slightly dust the area you plan to work on with a small amount of flour. You will then roll out the dough into 1/4 inch thickness. You will then use your 3 ½ rings and cut the cannoli shell circles. You will then use a rolling pin to roll the circles into oblongs or ovals. You will then take your dowels or tubes and wrap the dough around cannoli forms. You will then whisk your egg white, and seal your dough edges by using a brush or very clean hands if you have no brush. You will then roll up ever so slightly the ends so they will have a very faint lip or ring on the edge of the cooked product.

At some point when you are ready to get your shells into the oil to start cooking them you will heat your oil to around 350 degrees. Once it is at the proper temperature you will begin to fry two, or three at a time in deep hot fat for about 1 minute, or until lightly golden. Remove with tongs to paper towels to drain, you will then let cool for about 30 seconds to one minute and then slip out cannoli form, holding shell carefully so you will not break it. Cool shells before filling. Let them hang out while you will start to make your filling.

Ingredients for the Cannoli filling:

3 lb. ricotta cheese, that has had moisture removed

2 1/2 Cup of confectioners' sugar

1/4 Cup of semi-sweet chocolate pieces or grated sweet chocolate

1/4 Cup candied cherries, finely chopped

1/2 Teaspoon of cinnamon

1/2 Cup of chopped pistachio nuts

Confectioners' sugar to dust each of the finished Cannoli's maybe about 1/2 Cup

First thing you will want to do is take your ricotta and place into cheesecloth and wrap it into a ball and then you will tie a knot in the top part of the ball you have made. You will want to hold over night if possible to drain the water from the ricotta. If you have some way to hang the cheese ball in your refrigerator that would be best. You will need to have a bowl under the cheese to catch all of the moisture that will drain off of the ricotta. The shells that you have made will hole for a couple of days if you want to make these in stages. They are worth the wait, and the time taken to make these little delicacies.

First you will take the drained ricotta and get it into the bowl and work it for a minute or two to get it more pliable. You will gently start to combine the cheese, and the sugar into a mixing bowl, and fold in with a spatula until you obtain a light, airy blend of ingredients. You will start to fold in the minced candied fruit and the chocolate very gently. You will then start to spoon the cheese filling into a pastry bag, or a large Ziploc if you do not have a pastry bag. You will then twist the top into a knot to keep the filling from emerging, and fill each of the Cannoli shells, squirting the filling in from either end.

Once you have all of the shells filled you will dip the ends of the cannoli in the pistachios. You will then arrange all of the Cannolis on a platter, and sprinkle with a little powdered sugar, and they're ready. If you would like to garnish you can save some of the candied cherries and place them on the center of each Cannoli after the powdered sugar has been applied. Then serve, and enjoy.

Italian Dessert Cannoli Recipe

Chef Shelley Pogue, a Cum Laude, Le Cordon Blue graduate and Executive Research and Development Chef, for Vertical Sales and Marketing, San Ramon, CA. Shelley is also the desserts editor for http://www.BellaOnline.com

Japanese Dessert Recipe - Dorayaki Cake

Dorayaki cake is a traditional Japanese dessert recipe that is a sweet cake with an anko filling. Anko filling consists of sweet azuki bean paste. It is a delicious addition to any traditional Japanese meal and you will love the texture, taste and flavor.

Ingredients for Japanese dessert recipe - Dorayaki Cake:
o 3 eggs
o 2/3 cup of white sugar
o ½ teaspoon of baking soda
o 3 tablespoons of water
o 1 cup of white flour - sifted
o ¾ pound of anko - sweet azuki beans
o Oil for frying

Cake Recipes

Directions to make Japanese dessert recipe - Dorayaki Cake:
o Put the eggs and the sugar into a bowl and whisk together well
o Dissolve the baking soda into the water
o Add the water into the egg mixture
o Add the sifted flour into the egg mixture gradually
o Heat a skillet or a hot plate and put a little bit of oil into it
o Pour a scoop of the batter into the skillet and form a small pancake
o Turn the pancake over in the pan when bubbles begin to form and appear of the surface of the cake
o Repeat this process to make 8 to 10 pancakes
o Cool the pancakes
o Put a scoop of the anko sweet beans between the pancakes
o This recipe makes about 4 to 5 dorayaki cakes

This Japanese dessert recipe for Dorayaki cake is easy to make and delicious. It is a rich in the Japanese culture. All sweets in Japanese are called wa-gashi and common ingredients that are used in Japanese dessert recipes are rice flour, red beans and sugar. There are very few recipes that actually call for the use of milk or butter. This kind of cooking tends to be much lower in fat that other forms of western dessert cooking.

Anko or the sweet red beans are a typical ingredient that is used in wa-gashi. They are also used as fillers fro manju and taiyaki. Japanese cakes are used and made on a variety of occasions and some are used for formal dinners and meetings while others are used as a common dessert after a meal.

It is best to serve your Dorayaki cake with green tea or other kinds of Japanese tea to get the true authentic flavor and feel of making a Japanese dessert. Japanese Christmas cakes are a favorite among the Japanese culture and are light and fluffy. Most of the cakes and desserts made from Japanese recipes are lower in fat and more healthy than other kinds of dessert recipes. They also require few ingredients and are relatively easy to make and prepare.

Japanese Dessert Recipe - Dorayaki Cake

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Simple Banana Cake Recipe

Here is a simple banana cake recipe using a cake mix that is easy and delicious. It can be baked either in a 9×13-inch pan or in a bundt pan (my preference).

My husband is having a slice with ice cream and just declared it "one of the best" banana cakes ever; hearty praise from a true cake lover!

Cake Recipes

The purist in me wishes cakes made from scratch with whole wheat flour and other more wholesome ingredients were met with such excitement, but sadly they're not. The savvy realist within me admits that cake mix recipes often turn out better than from scratch cakes. They are more consistent, with better texture, especially when you know how to "doctor them up." And in the final analysis, life is too short to eat anything less than delicious cake.

Have I mentioned that I am a huge fan of Anne Byrn, The Cake Mix Doctor? Everything I've ever made from her cookbooks has turned out great, but I've been reluctant to admit it, until I learned that Jamie Lee Curtis recently declared The Cake Mix Doctor her favorite cookbook on the Rachel Ray Show!

This recipe is from The Cake Mix Doctor Returns. I made a few changes to the original recipe. I omitted the additional 1/4 cup of sugar, replaced the 1/2 cup sour cream with plain yogurt, and skipped the 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans to keep it friendly for those who have nut allergies. I also added 2 tablespoons of flour which is a trick my mother learned from her Home Ec teacher decades ago to help cake mix cakes be less crumbly.

Simple Banana Cake Recipe

Serves 16 to 20 or 12 to 16 as a bundt cake

Vegetable oil spray for coating the pan

Flour for dusting the pan

1 cup mashed bananas (from 2 or 3 very ripe bananas)

1 package (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup sugar (optional)

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla

1 cup (6 ounces) miniature chocolate chips

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)

2 teaspoon confectioners' sugar, for dusting on top

Position an a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly mist a 13×9 inch metal cake pan (or bunt pan) with vegetable oil spray. Dust with flour, shake out the excess flour and set the pan aside.

In a large mixing bowl, place the mashed bananas, cake mix,flour, sugar (if using), oil, sour cream, eggs and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, about 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat on medium speed until the mixture lightens and is smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes longer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again, if necessary. Stir in the chocolate chips.( If you are intending to bake the cake in a bundt pan, stir in the pecans too, if you are using them.)

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Smooth out the top with a rubber spatula. If you are baking the cake in a 9×13-inch pan, scatter the pecans (if using) evenly over the top and place the pan in the oven.

Bake the cake until is deeply golden brown on top and the top springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, 43 to 48 minutes (50 to 55 minutes for a bundt cake). Remove the cake from the oven and immediately sift the confectioners sugar over the top so that it melts to form a glaze. Let the cake cook for 20 minutes, then slice and serve while still a little warm. (If you are using a bundt pan, allow it to cool for about 10 minutes, then turn it out of the pan and sprinkle with the sugar.)

Storage: Store this cake, covered, at room temperature for up to three days or for up to one week in the refrigerator.

Simple Banana Cake Recipe

Martha McKinnon is a health coach and yoga instructor who believes that eating great & losing weight can be simple & delicious when you focus on nourishing the whole you - body, mind, & soul. Her website is http://www.simple-nourished-living.com. Stop by for a free copy of her E-cookbooklet full delicious granola bar recipes.

The Best Carrot Cake Recipe on Earth

Growing up, friends and family always raved about my mom's delicious carrot cake. As a child, the idea of eating a cake made from carrots seemed a little odd, but once I got past the initial apprehension, I too found her carrot cake to be one of my favorite desserts.

Below is the exact recipe. I hope you enjoy it!

Cake Recipes

Mom's Delicious Carrot Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

(Cake)

2.0 Cups of Sugar

1.5 Cups of Vegetable Oil

2.5 Cups of Self-Rising Flour

3.0 Cups of Grated Carrots

4 Eggs

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon

(Icing)

8 Ounces of Original Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1 Stick of Margarine

1 Box of Powdered Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

1 Cup of Chopped Peacans

Instructions:

Mix the sugar and vegetable oil in a large bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla, along with self-rising flour and cinnamon. Using a Kitched Aid or other mixing device, add the baking soda and carrots and mix until the batter is uniform. Pour batter into 3 round cake pans (makes 3 layers). Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Once done, put on racks to cool.

To create the icing, combine the cream cheese, margarine, powdered sugar, and vanilla, and mix until consistent. Add the chopped peacans and stir. Apply the icing in between layers and on the top and sides of the cake once the layers have cooled.

Finally, enjoy one of the finest tasting desserts ever created!

The Best Carrot Cake Recipe on Earth

About the Author

Britt Gillette is the author of 'The Dittohead's Guide to Adult Beverages' (Regnery 2005). He also educates people on the many benefits of Himalayan Goji Juice.

Diabetic Dessert Recipes - Delicious Sugar Free Desserts That Anyone Can Eat

We've all heard it before, avoiding exercise and eating lots of fats and sugar as well as being overweight can cause type 2 diabetes. The good news however is that if you act now you can prevent this form of diabetes from occurring, or reduce and even cure the condition if you've been recently diagnosed.

As type 2 diabetes is usually in direct relation to your lifestyle it's important to make changes to the way you live your life to see improvements. Now this isn't as bad as it sounds and in most cases you can continue eating the foods you like; you just need to be more selective.

Cake Recipes

One of the ways to follow a diabetic diet is to consume foods from all of the four food groups, as well as limiting your intake of alcohol, fat, and sugars. You can incorporate a wide variety of nutritious foods into a diabetic diet plan and combined with regular exercise will help you control your condition.

Now don't think that desserts and snacks are out of the question. In most cases they're not. If you've got a sweet tooth then check out these delicious diabetic desserts.

DIABETIC PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1/3 c. plain flour

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

Pinch of salt

2 tbsp. shortening

2 tbsp. peanut butter

1 tsp. Sweet 'n Low

1 egg, beaten

Mix and stir all ingredients in order (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, shortening, peanut butter and Sweet 'n Low). Add beaten egg and mix well. Drop by large teaspoon on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

DIABETIC FUDGE

1 14 1/2 oz. evaporated milk

3 tbsp. cocoa

1/4 c. oleo

Liquid Sweetner to equal 1/2 c. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs

1/4 c. nuts

Combine milk and cocoa in saucepan. Beat well. Add oleo, sweetner, salt. Bring to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients except 1/4 cup graham crackers. Cool about 15 minutes. Divide mixture into 32 balls. Roll in remaining cracker crumbs and chill.

These recipes look delicious don't they? Believe me, they taste even better too. So by combining sensible eating with regular exercise you can control and even beat your type 2 diabetes for good. It just goes to show that with a little research you can still eat the delicious types of foods and snacks that you did before.

Diabetic Dessert Recipes - Delicious Sugar Free Desserts That Anyone Can Eat

For free information on the symptoms of diabetes including more delicious diabetic dessert recipes make sure you visit http://www.symptomsofdiabetes.org.uk today.

Ice Cream Cake Recipe - Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe

If you're in the mood for an ice cream cake, but don't want to spend a lot of prep time in the kitchen, this recipe really takes the cake! You can substitute sherbet or sorbet for the ice cream for an nice variation.

1 (10-inch) angel food cake

Cake Recipes

1/2 gallon any flavor ice cream

Directions

Let ice cream sit on the counter awhile until it softens enough where you can spread it easily (do not let it melt).

Pull angel food cake into 2-inch chunks. Layer the cake chunks on the bottom of a 9-inch or 10-inch tube pan. With a large knife, spread a layer of the softened ice cream over the cake chunks. Add another layer of cake on top of the ice cream. Keep repeating the layers until you've used up all the cake and ice cream.

Put the cake into the freezer and freeze for 2 to three hours. Before serving, carefully remove the cake from the pan and place on a serving dish. Top with your favorite sundae sauce.

=> Ice Cream Cake Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Recipe

A delicious and really easy to make ice cream sandwich dessert recipe. For a little variety, try caramel ice cream topping instead of, or in addition to, the chocolate topping. Additional garnishes - nuts, candy sprinkles and maraschino cherries

16 - 24 ice cream sandwiches

1 (16 oz.) container frozen whipped topping

1 (12 oz.) jar chocolate hot fudge topping

1 (1.5 oz.) chocolate candy bar, grated

Directions

In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, place half of the ice cream bars on the bottom of the dish, side by side. Spread half of the chocolate fudge on top of the ice cream bars. Spread half of the whipped topping on top of the fudge.

Place the remaining ice cream bars on top of the first layer and repeat with layers of chocolate fudge sauce and whipped topping. Sprinkle the grated chocolate on top.

Cover and freeze the cake for 1 hour. Keep the unused portion covered and frozen.

=> Fried Ice Cream Recipe: Mexican Fried Ice Cream Recipe

You'll find this tantalizing dessert served in many Mexican restaurants. Try substituting caramel or butterscotch topping for the honey. Also you can try using 2 parts cornflakes crumbs mixed with 1 part crushed vanilla wafers.

1 quart vanilla ice cream

3 cups crushed cornflakes cereal or cornflake crumbs

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 egg whites

2 quarts oil for deep frying

Whipped Cream

Honey

Maraschino Cherries

Directions

Scoop out 8 balls of ice cream and place on a baking sheet, return ice cream balls to freezer and freeze for 1 hour, or until firm.

In a shallow bowl or dish, combine the cornflakes and the cinnamon. Roll each frozen ice cream ball in half of the cornflake mixture, return to freezer for 15 minutes.

In a separate dish, beat the egg whites until foamy. Dip each frozen ice cream ball in the egg whites, then roll them in the remaining cornflake crumbs. Make sure the ice cream is covered up completely. For thicker coating, repeat the process. Freeze ice cream balls for 3 hours or until very firm.

When you are ready to serve the ice cream, heat up the cooking oil in a deep fat fryer or heavy saucepan to 375 degrees.

Place each ice cream ball into a wire frying basket or slotted spoon. Fry one or two of the balls at a time for 10 to 15 seconds, until the coating is a golden brown color. Drain on paper towels.

Serve immediately. Garnish with whipped topping, drizzled honey and maraschino a cherry on top.

=> Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

This is an extremely light and simple ice cream recipe to make that is homemade and tastes really good considering there's only 3 ingredients. You can spice it up by adding crushed chocolate sandwich cookies or any kind of fruit.

8 cups milk

2 cups white sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a freezer canister or ice cream maker, combine the milk, sugar and vanilla. Freeze according to manufacturers directions.

Note: For a richer tasting ice cream, add 1 can of evaporated milk and use 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract.

=> Homemade Ice Cream Recipe: French Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

French vanilla ice cream is richer tasting than regular vanilla ice cream. This recipe will have you craving more of that smooth, creamy vanilla flavor.

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

3 egg yolks, beaten

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups whipping cream, chilled

Directions

In a saucepan or double boiler, mix the sugar, salt, milk and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, continuously stirring until bubbles appear around the edge of the pan.

Ice Cream Cake Recipe - Easy Ice Cream Cake Recipe

Easy to make – fun to drink

[http://www.1st-milkshake-n-smoothie-recipes.com]

Making Raisin Cake

Raisin cake is best served at tea time. The ingredients used in this cake recipe are similar to those of any other plain cake like fruit cake, marble cake etc. The key points in making a soft raisin cake is to use the right quantity of ingredients and follow the exact steps as shown in this recipe. The preparation time is not much as it usually takes a maximum of 60 minutes from beating to baking. This raisin cake can be served to a maximum of 6 people. When making for more people just increase the quantity of ingredients maintaining the exact ratio.

Ingredients Required:
4 eggs
8 oz butter (softened)
8 oz sugar
8 oz plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 drops of vanilla essence
Pinch of salt
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup milk

Cake Recipes

Cooking Instructions:
The first step in making a plain cake batter is to beat butter so that it becomes smooth. It is best to use softened butter as it requires less time and effort to make it smooth. While beating, gradually increase the speed of beater in this process. Keep beating butter with sugar until it gets a creamy texture. Now gradually add egg yolks and beat well to mix evenly. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites on high speed for 2-3 minutes to form a foamy texture . Always beat egg whites just before adding in the batter otherwise it separates itself into liquid and foam and your cake might become hard. Mix egg whites into the mixture and make fine smooth batter. Add few drops of vanilla essence as it will remove any unpleasant smell of egg. Mix separately, all the dry ingredients i.e flour, baking powder, salt and sift them together so that all the air escapes from the mixture and they mix evenly. Using spatula, add and mix dry mixture to the batter. You can also use a beater for this purpose but you will have to keep its speed very low because we just want the ingredients to be mixed together. Now add half cup of milk, raisins and mix using any flat spatula. In a suitable size baking pan, pour the batter and bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes at 180 degree centigrade. It is not necessary that the baking time remains same as mentioned above. It may be more or less because depending upon the working of your oven. The best way to check the cake is when you start sensing its smell. At this point, insert a knife from top till deep down the bottom of your cake. If it comes out clear and dry then your raisin came is ready.

Making Raisin Cake

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The author of this article runs a cooking blog where he and many other food lovers post various easy to cook food recipes including cake recipes, snacks, chicken, bbq & grill, desserts, drinks, salads etc. The aim of his blog is to deliver the best easy to make cooking recipes to all foodies

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Dessert Recipe Ideas: How To Make A Huckleberry Cheesecake

When you consider the different types of dessert recipe ideas you can find to make today, you might be delighted to find out how to make a huckleberry cheesecake recipe. Huckleberries are an old fashioned type of fruit that even the ancient American Indians as well as others since that time have enjoyed eating.

Whether you are eating them raw in the wild or you are incorporating huckleberries in your recipes, you will find that they provide you with an interesting flavor that no other type of fruit or berry can. Huckleberries have a distinctive taste that is somewhat like that of eating blueberries. However, the taste is not exactly the same.

Cake Recipes

Actually, there are even more than one type of huckleberries, but they are not the type of fruits that you will commonly find at the local superstore. The berries will range in their color from bright reds to dark purples and deep blue. Their appearance is easy to confuse with that of blueberries.

Trying to describe the flavor of huckleberries is not such an easy task. However, they are flavorful as a sweet yet tart berry. Historically, many a loving couple may have courted while picking huckleberries while in group settings. This makes choosing to make and serve a huckleberry cheesecake around Valentine's Day or any other day.

Recipe for Huckleberry Cheesecake

What You Need

  • 1/3 cup butter or margarine
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 ¾ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 package softened cream cheese
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
  • 1 can condensed milk 15 ounce
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 4 cups huckleberries
  • 1 ¾ cups sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • ½ envelope unflavored gelatin mix
  • 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine

How to Make It

Allow the cream cheese to soften to room temperature by placing it on the counter about 20 minutes before you are ready to prepare the dessert.

Melt the butter or margarine in a saucepan or in the microwave and then add the sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Mix thoroughly to combine while moistening the crumbs. Press this mixture into the bottom and along the sides of a 9 inch pie pan. Place in the refrigerator to chill.

Using a medium size mixing bowl and an electric mixer, you will add the softened cream cheese, vanilla flavoring, condensed milk, and lemon juice and then beat to blend thoroughly. Spread this cream cheese filling over the bottom of the crust and then return to the refrigerator to chill until needed.

To prepare the huckleberry topping you will add the huckleberries, sugar, cornstarch, unflavored gelatin mix and the remaining butter or margarine to a large saucepan over a medium heat. Stir to blend while cooking the huckleberries until the mixture is thick and clear in appearance. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool for about 10 minutes. Pour this mixture over the cream cheese layer and then return to the refrigerator. Chill overnight or for at least 3 to 5 hours before cutting and serving.

Dessert Recipe Ideas: How To Make A Huckleberry Cheesecake

You might like to make some layer jello recipes if you enjoyed this dessert recipe. Adding jello puddings and gelatins to your recipes can create some interesting dishes. Learn more about how to make even more desserts. Visit our website today.

JelloRecipes.net - We Don't Make the Products We Just Make Great Desserts with Them!