Polenta Apple Cake

Polenta Apple Cake with whipped cream and edible flowers

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups polenta
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of salt 
  • 3 cups brown sugar
  • 10 eggs (separate 5 for whipped egg whites)
  • 1 pound unsalted butter (soft)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pint ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 12 crisp, tart apples
  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
Finished Apple Polenta Cake with whipped cream
Finished Apple Polenta Cake with whipped cream
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Tres Leches Cake with Raspberry Mousse

Colin's Tres Leches cake with raspberry mousse

serves 24

Ingredients for Cake:

  • 15 eggs (separated)
  • 1 1/2 cups AP flour
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • unsalted butter to grease 9″x14″ baking pan
  • 1 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1 1/2 cup. 1/2 & 1/2
  • 1 1/2 cup whole milk

Ingredients for Raspberry Mousse:

  • 16oz heavy cream
  • 1.5 cup powdered sugar
  • 16oz frozen raspberry
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 packet gelatin
  • 1/4 cup water(room temperature)
  • 4oz Mascarpone
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • pinch salt

For Frosting:

  • 16oz heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Whisk to peaks.

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Carmelita with ice cream

Estia's Carmelita with ice cream and dulce de leche

Serves 12

1/2 sheet pan, butter pan, preheat oven to 350°.
Bake in two layers.

Layer #1

  • 3 cups A.P. flour
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 1/2 cups melted butter

Combine in a bowl and spread evenly on 1/2 sheet pan.
Bake 10 minutes.

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Chocolate Pudding for 40 kids

Cooking at the Hayground school with the students

The annual Hayground school visit is a highlight on my winter schedule. This year the class was all boys. We started in the classroom and watched the riverside video demonstration for our main course recipe from Estia’s American Rivers Tour website.

Cooking class at the Hayground school

Both situations were a first in my experience cooking with the students in that school. I think the kids were excited and better informed going into the kitchen after watching a recipe demo in the classroom.

Our menu included corn bread crusted chicken pot pie, cranberry sauce, a salad of spinach, arugula and cabbage in a tangerine, mustard vinaigrette, and for dessert, chocolate pudding.

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Chewy Brownies for the Holidays

Estia's Fudgy Brownie recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 2  1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1  1/4 cup cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1  1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Melt chocolate chips and butter together over low heat in a double boiler. Combine all ingredients in a mixer. Pour into buttered 1/2 sheet pan & place in preheated 375°F oven for 25 minutes.

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Lemon Squares

Lemon Squares

Ingredients for crust:

  • 1 pound butter – cold – cut into pieces
  • 2 cups AP flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 cups gram cracker meal
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup corn starch

Combine flour, gram cracker meal & butter in a food processor, pulse for 30 seconds.

Add the rest and run until it starts to turn into a ball.

Line a ½ sheet pan with parchment. Roll the crust dough out to flat with a rolling pin and line the bottom of the sheet pan with the dough. Place in a 350°F oven for 25 minutes. Read More »

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Big party pound cake with rhubarb & orange

Rhubarb and Orange Pound Cake

Makes 2 cakes – 12 x 5 ½ inch baking pans

Ingredients:

  • 1 ¼ pounds unsalted butter – room temperature
  • 3 cups brown sugar
  • 10 extra large eggs (separate 5 for whites only)
  • 5 cups sifted AP flour
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 cups rhubarb, chopped
  • 1 cup orange, chopped (rind and flesh)
  • 10 slices orange
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

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Apple Oatmeal Bars for the kids at the Hayground School

Apple Oatmeal Bars for the Hayground School

Yield: 90 cookies

Ingredients for oatmeal cookie mix:

  • 3 cups butter (soft)
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 4 cups brown sugar
  • 8 eggs
  • 4 tablespoons vanilla
  • 4 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 8 cups a/p flour
  • 12 cups rolled oats

Cream the butter, eggs and sugars until smooth

Add vanilla, warm water, salt & baking soda

Add flour and mix completely

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