Day 3 Bonus! - Cream Puffs

Photo Credit: Myrecipes.com

This is a stunning recipe for Cream Puffs that my work colleague from 13 years ago shared with me. These are little puffs of heavenly delight and are very easy to make. If you melt a slab of chocolate and drizzle it over the puffs you'll have Chocolate Eclairs.

Cream Puffs

Ingredients:
2 Tbs Margarine
150ml Water
3/4 C Flour
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
Pinch of salt

Method:
1. Melt the margarine in a saucepan, add the water, and remove from heat.
2. Add sifted flour and stir the mixture until it forms a sticky ball in the saucepan.
3. Allow it to cool.
4. Add Vanilla essence and salt.
5. Add beaten eggs one at a time ad beat the mixture until i is sticky and glossy.
6. Pour the mixture into a piping bag (or a ziplock bag that you cut the corner off of) and pipe 3cm long strips on to a greased baking ray. (balls also work, as do 6cm long strips.) Use the largest nozzle tip or cut the hole so your pinky fits through.
7. Bake them at 180 degrees C for + 1/2 hour.
8. Allow them to cool, slit them in half, and fill with cream or custard.

Optional: Melt a slab of chocolate over the Puffs to make Chocolate Eclairs. Yum!

Glorious Fudge Ice Cream Sauce (Microwave Recipe)

I received a message from my Aunt Mieke today, thanking me for sharing my recipes on this blog, and I thought back to my childhood days. Many weekends and school holidays were spent babysitting her baby boys and sewing, soap making, baking or Cooking with her. I tribute my love for all things homey to my very creative Mom, Grandmother and Aunt Mieke. Their passions sparked a flame in me! Anyway, taking this trip down memory lane reminded me of her glorious Fudge Ice Cream sauce. It's loaded with calories but is worth every drop! (It make a lot, so is good for a crowd, else halve the recipe)



Glorious Fudge Ice Cream Sauce (Microwave recipe)

Ingredients:
250g Butter / Margarine
1 1/2 C Sugar
1 C Milk
1 C Cream
Pinch of Salt
2 Egg Yolks

Method:
1. Microwave Butter and Sugar for 10 minutes on high in a large glass bowl, stirring often.
2. Stir in Milk, Cream and salt.
3. Beat egg yolks, and add, stirring well.
4. Microwave for 7 minutes on Medium high, also stirring often.
5. Enjoy hot over ice cream!

Makes about a litre

Heavenly Black Forrest Cake

This cake is such a treat, so go ahead and spoil yourself, or a loved one!!!

Heavenly Black Forrest Cake

Ingredients:
2 Round Chocolate cakes
250ml Cream
680g Jar of Morrello Cherries
4 Flake Chocolate bars
200g Dark chocolate, chopped
250g Unsalted butter

Method:
1. Slice each chocolate cake into 2 layers. (4 layers altogether)
2. Place one layer on the cake plate.
3. Beat the cream in a separate mixing bowl until it's thick, but not until it's butter!
4. Spread 1/3 of the cream on the first layer.
5. Drain the cherries and arrange 1/4 of the jar on top of the cream.
6. Crumble the Flake bar over the cherries.
7. Repeat this process with each layer until you put the last layer of chocolate cake onto the cake.
8. Put the chopped chocolate into a microwavable bowl and gently heat until it's melted. Be very carefull not to burn it.
9. Allow the chocolate to cool.
10. Beat the butter in a bowl until light and creamy.
11. When the chocolate is no longer warm to the touch add this to the creamy butter while mixing until it's smooth and well combined.
12. Spread the Chocolate cream on the top and sides of the cake with a smooth knife.
13. Pile the remaining Cherries in the center.
MMMMMmmmmmm!

Makes: 1 Delicious treat!!!

Easy Scones

These scones are absolutely to-die-for! and what's even better is that they are so quick and easy to make. I usually get attacked by a craving for these hot fresh delights at about 8 o'clock on a Sunday evening after church. They are simply divine with a dot of butter and loads of jam! (and if you really want to spoil yourself, some whipped cream!)This recipe comes from a special friend, Johlise Joubert.

Easy Scones

Ingredients:
2C Flour
2 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Salt
5 tsp Sugar
100ml Margarine
1/2C Milk
1 Large egg

Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 200*. Grease a muffin pan or line with paper cups. (I find that Silicon cups work marvelously!)
2. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together in a mixing bowl.
3. Add softened margarine and mix for 2 minutes on medium speed, until it resembles breadcrumbs.
4. In a jug, mix milk and egg together, and add to the flour mixture.
5. Divide the batter into 12 portions and put each lump into a muffin pan.
6. Bake at 200* for 12-15 minutes. (until golden brown on top!)

Variation: Omit the sugar to make savory scones.
Serve these with fried bacon bits, scrambled egg, grated cheese and gravy! (or sweet chilli sauce) The picture says it all. Yum!


Makes: 12 Scones

Creamy Butternut Bake

This must be the most awesome Butternut dish that I have ever come across! My dear friend Olga made it at her "Farewell" braai, so it's a bitter sweet memory.

Creamy Butternut Bake

Ingredients:
500g Butternut, sliced into 1cm rings
250ml Cream
250ml Milk
2 Cloves of garlic
1 Packet of Thick white onion soup powder

Method:
1. Blend all the sauce ingredients in a jug.
2. Arrange the butternut in an oven proof dish.
3. Pour the sauce over the butternut, getting into all the grooves.
4. Cover the dish with tinfoil.
5. Bake in a warm oven of 180* for 30-40 minutes.
6. Remove the foil and bake a further 20-30 minutes.
7. Garnish with chopped chives and serve hot from the oven.
8. Beware, it won't last long, and be sure to serve a nice bread alongside this dish at a braai (or BBQ) to mop up the sauce!

Serves: 8