Peanut Butter Rudolph Reindeer

Source: http://www.lhj.com/recipe/cookies/peanut-butter-rudolph-reindeer/

Yield: 48 cookies

Prep   40 minsBake  375°F   8 mins  to  10 minsStart to Finish  1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup peanut butter

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 48 large red M&M candies

• 96 mini semisweet chocolate chips

• Pretzels, broken into 96 1-inch pieces

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F and place rack in center. Grease two baking sheets. In a large mixer bowl beat together butter, peanut butter and sugars on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes. Add egg and extract; beat until combined. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until a dough forms. Roll into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.

2. Bake, one sheet at a time, until just set and bottoms are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. For each cookie, immediately place 1 M&M in center for nose, 2 chocolate chips for eyes and 2 pretzel pieces on top for antlers. Transfer cookies on sheets to a wire rack and let cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, in single layers separated by waxed paper, up to 2 days.)

Nutrition Facts

• cal.(kcal)80,
 
• Fat, total(g)5,
 
• chol.(mg)10,
 
• sat. fat(g)2,
 
• carb.(g)9,
 
• pro.(g)1,
• sodium(mg)101,
 
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Tarta de Maracuya

Hola lindas!!!!!!

Aca estoy. Les cuento. El sábado pasado una amiga mia festejo su cumple. Es una diosa preparando su casa para acontecimientos y la mejor anfitriona que conozco. En fin, Pía (asi se llama mi amiga) invito a todas sus amigas mujeres, de mas esta decir lo que nos divertimos sin nuestros niños alrededor y un rato sin maridos, recordando viejos tiempos. El "azar" nos dividio en dos grandes grupos (eramos como 30): Las "viejas y SIN MEMORIA (JA)" y "las nuevas" amigas...

Como siempre nos deslumbro con su puesta: una gran mesa en el jardín con ensaladas y tartas de todo tipo, flores y una manteleria exquisita!!!! Los vinos: un manjar y los POSTREEEESSSS!!!!! Lo que mas me gusto fue la torta/tarta de Maracuya, pedi la receta y la hice este fin de semana (ansiosa yo??????????) y me quedo super rica!!!!!

Ahora si, recorri miles de supermercados buscando algo de maracuya: o los frutos, o jugo o sobrecitos tipo tang (se venden en Brasil, un poco lejos....) o extracto.... Finalmente en DISCO (para las de Argentina, Bs As, Zona Norte: lo encontre en el TORTUGAS MALL) encontre un extracto (o salsa) de maracuya y mango (UNA DELICIA) y use medio frasco en la torta.... Aca va la receta:

Masa para tartera mediana:
2 paquetes de galletitas LINCOLN (las de nuestra niñez)
1 pan de manteca de 200 grs

Cobertura
1 lata de leche condensada (ó 2 si quieren que salga mas alta)
1 sobrecito de 70 grs de gelatina sin sabor (ó 1 1/2 si usan 2 leches condensadas)
Extracto, jugo o lo que sea de Maracuya que hayan conseguido (tiene  que ir probando la cobertura hasta que les guste el sabor en cuanto a intensidad)
1/4 de taza de agua hirviendo para disolver bien la gelatina

1. Enmantecan y enharinan una tartera mediana
2. En una procesadora deshacen bien (trituran) las galletitas.
3. Cuando son migas le agregan la manteca derretida
4. Procesan bien todo
5. Luego lo juntan con la mano
6. Lo van colocando en la tartera apretando un poquito
7. Lo llevan a horno bajo (o hornito electrico, bajo: 150) durante 15 minutos.
8. La sacan y reservan
9. Mientras en un gran bol ponen la leche condensada
10. En una taza con 1/4 de agua hirviendo, derriten bien la gelatina sin sabor
11. Tiran la gelatina sin sabor, muy lentamente en la leche condensada mientras mezclan bien
12. Le van agregando el extracto de maracuya y probando hasta que quede el sabor que les gusta (yo use medio tarrito de salsa "tau Delta" de Maracuya y mango. El tarro tiene 480 grs.
13. Le ponen esa mezcla arriba de la masa en la tartera y A LA HELADERA a enfriar! como si fuese gelatina, hay que dejar que se haga....

Para servir le pueden poner semillitas de mango o maracuya arriba o dulce apenas (como decoracion en el centro), por supuesto de maracuya, o unas ramitas de menta.... QUEDA RIQUISIMO Y SE HACE EN 20 minutos!!!!!!

SECRETITO: ojo cuando le ponen la gelatina, mezclar bien porque si les quedan grumos quedara horrible!


BESOS Y ENJOY!!!!!

Scones caseros

* colocar en un bol grande el 1/2 kilo de harina,junto con la azúcar y la sal,mezclar.
* en otro bol batir los huevos y la leche.Esta preparacion se le agrega a la anterior ayudandonos con una cuchara de madera.
* hechar la masa sobre la mesa expolvoreada de harina común unir bien la masa luego aplanarla con las manos hasta que quede unos 2 cm de espesor.
* Cortar con un molde de unos 2 1/2cm de diametro.
* Colocarlo en bandejas enmantecada y llevar a horno hasta que queden apenas doradas.
***Ricos,rapidos y economicos***

Ingredientes

• 1/2 k harina leudante
• 1 tasa de azúcar
• 1 cuchara de sal fina
• 200 g de margarina

• 3 huevos
• 1/2 tasa de leche
• harina común necesaria para ayudar en el amasado

Blondies

Makes 36.   Published July 1, 2005.  
Cooks Illustrated

Be very careful not to overbake the blondies; they dry out easily and will turn hard. Start checking the oven a couple of minutes before they will be done. If you can't find our recommended brand of white chocolate chips, coarsely chop a good-quality white chocolate bar.

Ingredients

1	cup pecans or walnuts (4 ounces)
1 1/2	cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7 1/2 ounces)
1	teaspoon baking powder
1/2	teaspoon table salt
12	tablespoons unsalted butter ( 1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled
1 1/2	cups packed light brown sugar (10 1/2 ounces)
2	large eggs , lightly beaten
4	teaspoons vanilla extract
6	ounces white chocolate chips (1 cup) or chopped bar, or 3 ounces each white chocolate and semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread nuts on large rimmed baking sheet and bake until deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer nuts to cutting board to cool; chop coarsely and set aside.
2. 2. While nuts toast, cut 18-inch length foil and fold lengthwise to 8-inch width. Fit foil into length of 13 by 9-inch baking pan, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; allow excess to overhang pan edges. Cut 14-inch length foil and fit into width of baking pan in same manner, perpendicular to first sheet (if using extra-wide foil, fold second sheet lengthwise to 12-inch width). Spray foil-lined pan with nonstick cooking spray.
3. 3. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl; set aside.
4. 4. Whisk melted butter and brown sugar together in medium bowl until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Using rubber spatula, fold dry ingredients into egg mixture until just combined; do not overmix. Fold in chocolate and nuts and turn batter into prepared pan, smoothing top with rubber spatula.
5. 5. Bake until top is shiny, cracked, and light golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes; do not overbake. Cool on wire rack to room temperature. Remove bars from pan by lifting foil overhang and transfer to cutting board. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.

Blondies Secrets

Published July 1, 2005.

Cooks Illustrated

Had a chewy, full-flavored blondie lately? No? Well, neither had we.

The Problem

Blondies are often greasy, cakey, cloyingly sweet, and bland--an inferior cousin to the brownie.

The Goal

We wanted our blondies to be chewy but not dense, sweet but not cloying, and loaded with nuts and chocolate.

The Solution

Trial and error produced the best texture. We started by testing several traditional recipes, keeping equal parts of light brown sugar and flour but reducing the usual amounts of butter and eggs. We also added baking powder for extra lift. We boosted flavor by adding several stiff shots of vanilla, oven-toasting the nuts, and using a mixture of white chocolate and semisweet chocolate chips. We found the baking time was crucial and learned to disregard the usual signifiers of an adequately baked bar cookie (the cooked dough pulls away from the sides of the pan, a toothpick comes out clean), using color and textural indicators instead: Our blondies were done when they had a light golden brown top that appeared shiny and cracked.

Congo Bars

Makes 36 bars.   Published July 1, 2005.  

Cooks Illustrated

Despite their name, Congo bars have nothing at all to do with Africa. In fact, they are little more than blondies enriched with coconut -- an ingredient that was exotic in years past perhaps but is far from it these days. We tried adding both sweetened, flaked coconut and unsweetened, shredded coconut to our blondies, and tasters unanimously preferred the unsweetened. Sweetened coconut did little but make the bars overly sweet and unpleasantly chewy. We were able to extract a bit more flavor from the unsweetened coconut by toasting it golden brown before adding it to the blondie dough. If you have trouble locating unsweetened shredded coconut, try a natural food store or an Asian market. Keep a close eye on the coconut when toasting as it can burn quickly.

Ingredients

1	cup pecans (or walnuts), toasted and chopped coarse
1 1/2	cups unsweetened shredded coconut
1 1/2	cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7 1/2 ounces)
1	teaspoon baking powder
1/2	teaspoon table salt
12	tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled
1 1/2	cups packed light brown sugar (10 1/2 ounces)
2	large eggs , lightly beaten
4	teaspoons vanilla extract
6	ounces white chocolate chips (1 cup) or chopped bar, or 3 ounces each white chocolate and semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. 1. Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread nuts on larged rimmed baking sheet and bake until deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer nuts to cutting board to cool; chop coarsely and set aside. Toast coconut on same rimmed baking sheet, stirring 2 to 3 times, until light golden, about 5 to 7 minutes.
2. 2. While nuts and coconut toast, cut 18-inch length foil and fold lengthwise to 8-inch width. Fit foil into length of 13 by 9-inch baking pan, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; allow excess to overhang pan edges. Cut 14-inch length foil and fit into width of baking pan in same manner, perpendicular to first sheet (if using extra-wide foil, fold second sheet lengthwise to 12-inch width). Spray foil-lined pan with nonstick cooking spray.
3. 3. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
4. 4. Whisk melted butter and brown sugar together in medium bowl until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Using rubber spatula, fold dry ingredients into egg mixture until just combined; do not overmix. Fold in chocolate, coconut, and nuts and turn batter into prepared pan, smoothing top with rubber spatula.
5. 5. Bake until top is shiny, cracked, and light golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes; do not overbake. Cool on wire rack to room temperature. Remove bars from pan by lifting foil overhang and transfer to cutting board. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.

Dough TIPS: Foolproof Pie Dough

Published September 1, 2010.
Cooks Illustrated

We wanted a recipe that is tender, flavorful, and—most important—consistent.

The Problem

Pie dough can go wrong so easily: dry dough that is too crumbly to roll out; a flaky but leathery crust; or a tender crust without flakes. And it's hard to get the same results every time.

The Goal

We wanted a pie dough recipe that bakes up tender and flaky every single time and also rolls out easily.

The Solution

The first step was to determine the right fat. A combination of butter and shortening provided the best balance of flavor and tenderness. The best method to cut the fat into the flour proved to be the food processor; it was the fastest and most consistent. But we couldn't figure out how to ensure same-sized pieces of butter time after time. The answer was to eliminate the pieces entirely. Rather than starting with all the flour in the processor, we put aside 1 cup of flour and processed the remaining 1 1/2 cups with all of the fat until it formed a unified paste. We added the reserved flour back to the bowl and pulsed it until it was just evenly distributed. Finally, we tackled the tenderness issue, which is partially determined by the amount of water added. The conundrum? In order to roll easily, dough needs more water, but more water makes crusts tough. We found the answer in the liquor cabinet: vodka. While gluten (the protein that makes crust tough) forms readily in water, it doesn't form in ethanol, and vodka is 60 percent water and 40 percent ethanol. So adding 8 tablespoons of vodka produces a moist, easy-to-roll dough that stays tender (because it contains only 6 1/2 tablespoons of water). The alcohol vaporizes in the oven.

Foolproof Pie Dough

For one 9-inch Double-Crust Pie.   Published September 1, 2010.   From Cook's Illustrated.

Vodka is essential to the texture of the crust and imparts no flavor—do not substitute. This dough will be moister and more supple than most standard pie doughs and will require more flour to roll out (up to 1/4 cup).

2 1/2	cups unbleached all-purpose flour (12 1/2 ounces)
1	teaspoon table salt
2	tablespoons sugar
12	tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2	cup chilled solid vegetable shortening , cut into 4 pieces
1/4	cup vodka , cold
1/4	cup cold water

Instructions

1. 1. Process 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and sugar in food processor until combined, about 2 one-second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until homogenous dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds (dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour). Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor blade. Add remaining cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty mixture into medium bowl.
2. 2. Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until dough is slightly tacky and sticks together. Divide dough into two even balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.

Step-by-Step

Key Steps to Foolproof Pie Dough

1. MAKE A FAT AND FLOUR PASTE: Completely blending part of the flour with all of the butter ensures a consistent amount of fat-coated flour in the final dough.

2. ADD MORE FLOUR: Pulsing in the final cup of flour ensures a consistent amount of uncoated flour in the final dough.

3. ADD WATER AND VODKA: Sprinkling with water and vodka ensures even distribution. No need to skimp—unlike water, vodka won't make the dough tough.

Rogel rápido

Estirar los discos de empanadas hasta lograr el tamaño de un plato mediano, pincharlos con un tenedor, acomodarlos en una asadera seca y cocinarlos en horno unos 10 minutos aproximadamente. Una vez fríos, rellenar con dulce de leche en varias capas. Batir las claras con el azúcar hasta obtener un merengue consistente y cubrir el alfajor.

Ingredientes

• 1 paquete de tapas de empanadas
• 1 kg. de dulce de leche

• 4 claras de huevo batidas a punto de nieve
• 100 grs. de azúca

Scones caseros

* colocar en un bol grande el 1/2 kilo de harina,junto con la azúcar y la sal,mezclar.
* en otro bol batir los huevos y la leche.Esta preparacion se le agrega a la anterior ayudandonos con una cuchara de madera.
* hechar la masa sobre la mesa expolvoreada de harina común unir bien la masa luego aplanarla con las manos hasta que quede unos 2 cm de espesor.
* Cortar con un molde de unos 2 1/2cm de diametro.
* Colocarlo en bandejas enmantecada y llevar a horno hasta que queden apenas doradas.
***Ricos,rapidos y economicos***

Ingredientes

• 1/2 k harina leudante
• 1 tasa de azúcar
• 1 cuchara de sal fina
• 200 g de margarina

• 3 huevos
• 1/2 tasa de leche
• harina común necesaria para ayudar en el amasado

Meringues TIPS and Secrets

Shaping Meringues

Use 2 soupspoons to drop 2 tablespoon dollops onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Place 3 rows of 5 cookies on each sheet.

Beating Egg Whites for Meringue

Properly whipped meringue is glossy and smooth, with the consistency of shaving cream.

Chocolate Chip Meringues

30 cookies.   Published December 8, 2006.  
Cook´s Illustrated

Avoid making meringues on humid days, as they will never crisp. If your whites happen to have a little yolk or cracked shell in them, use a clean half eggshell to fish it out. Contrary to the old wive’s tale, we found that a speck or two of yolk won’t prevent the whites from whipping. If you have no cream of tartar, you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar.

Ingredients

4	large egg whites , room temperature
1/4	teaspoon cream of tartar
1	cup sugar (7 ounces)
3/4	teaspoon vanilla extract
1	cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

1. 1. Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 200 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. 2. With electric mixer, beat egg whites at medium-low speed until opaque and frothy, about 30 seconds. Add cream of tartar, increase speed to medium-high, and, watching carefully, beat egg whites until white, thick, voluminous, and consistency of shaving cream (see photo below), about 90 seconds. Slowly sprinkle in half of sugar and continue to beat until incorporated, about 60 seconds. Add vanilla. Reduce speed to lowest possible setting, sprinkle in remaining sugar, and mix just until incorporated.
3. 3. Fold chocolate chips into the meringue.
4. 4. Following illustration below, use 2 soupspoons to place dollops of meringue, 2 tablespoons each (about size of walnut), 1 inch apart, fitting 3 rows of 5 cookies on each sheet. Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until cookies have smooth, dry, and firm exteriors. Turn oven off and allow cookies to cool in oven for several hours. Once cool, store cookies in an airtight container, where they will keep for up to 2 weeks.

Individual Brownies

Published November 1, 2003. - Cook´s Illustrated

When baking brownies, Michelle Miceli of Cranston, R.I., pours the batter into greased muffin tins rather than a baking pan for easy no-cut brownies. The treats are perfect for tossing into a lunchbox or for portable snacking. Fill regular muffin tins with brownie batter to a depth of 1 inch, or two-thirds full. We found that our recipe for Chewy, Fudgy Triple Chocolate Brownies (see the May/June 2000 issue) cooked up in just 15 minutes, less than half of the normal baking time. See Illustrated Technique

Brownies TIPS: Knowing When Cookies and Brownies are Done

Published September 1, 2005. From Cook's Illustrated.

Here are our tips to determining when cookies and brownies are done.

Cookies

Brownies

Overbaked brownies are dry and chalky and the chocolate flavor is diminished. Use the skewer test to determine doneness, but look for moist sticky crumbs.

 

A toothpick inserted into brownies should emerge with moist crumbs.

 

We think most cookies are best when they are chewy. This means taking them out of the oven when they are slightly underdone—in fact, the cookies are often so soft they will droop over the end of a spatula. Bake cookies on parchment and cool on baking sheet for a few minutes; after they have set up slightly, slide the parchment onto a cooling rack. if the cookies have crevices, the crevices should appear moist. When baking smooth cookies, look at the edges, which should be lightly browned; the center should be set but not fully dry.

TIPS:

Don't be alarmed if cookies droop over the edges of a spatula. When set, your cookies will be perfectly chewy.