Chocolate covered Coconut Easter Eggs with Almond Center

I used 8 medium plastic Easter Eggs and 1 large Egg as a mold. Or you could roll the mixture into 1" balls and place the almond in the middle 

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
1 package flaked coconut 14 oz
1 teaspoon almond extract
12 whole unsalted almonds (depending how large you make the eggs)

Combine sugar, water and corn syrup in large saucepan, cook on medium, stir until sugar dissolves.
Add candy thermometer and bring mixture to 235 degrees (soft ball) do not stir.  When sugar mixture reaches temperature, remove thermometer turn off heat and add coconut and almond extract.  Let cool slightly.

Mashed Garlic & Thyme Potatoes

This Recipe uses Instant Potatoes

(Forgot to buy potatoes and this worked great)

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

2 extra large eggs, beaten

1 1/3 cup plain potato buds

1 1/3 cup milk

1 cup water

2 whole garlic cloves

4 sprigs fresh thyme

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup grated romano cheese

In a small pot simmer milk, garlic & thyme.  Do not let it come to a boil.

In an oven proof bowl, beat egg, add potato buds, salt, cheese and strained  milk mixture and water.  Stir with fork.  Add 4 pats of butter on top.

Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes or until the top is golden.

Roast Chicken with Basil Butter & Smoked Sea Salt

Preheat Oven to 400 F Convection Roast

Ingredients

7-8 Pound Roasting Chicken

1/2 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley

1 teaspoon smoked sea salt (available at Trader Joe's)

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 lemon

sprig of basil

Rinse and pat dry chicken.  Place on baking sheet with 1" sides and line with foil.

In a food processor mix butter, basil, parsley, teaspoon of course sea salt, 1/2 tsp pepper until blended.

Gently run your fingers between the skin and breast meat and the legs of the chicken.  Carefully put about a tablespoon of the butter mixture under the skin of the breast and leg and massage so it spreads evenly. Put an additional tablespoon (or whatever is left) into the carcass of the chicken, adding 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, half of a lemon and a sprig of basil into the carcass.   Spread remaining basil butter from your hands onto the outer skin of the chicken.  Tuck the wings underneath the chicken and tie the legs with kitchen string.  Sprinkle the top of the chicken with olive oil, sea salt & pepper.  Let chicken sit for about an hour so the flavors can be absorbed into the chicken.  I find it is best if the chicken is at room temperature before cooking.  

Roast for 90 minutes or until the juices run clear.  Let chicken sit for about 15-20 minutes before cutting.

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Chocolate Cake with Marshmallow Frosting & Chocolate Shavings

Chocolate Cake* with Marshmallow Frosting & Chocolate Shavings

Preheat oven to 350F Bake 35-40 minutes

Line the bottom of two 8" pans with parchment paper, then butter and flour surfaces

Cake Ingredients 

1 3/4 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup coco powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

12 cup vegetable oil

2 extra large eggs at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup freshly brewed coffee (I used hazelnut)
Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low speed, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula until combined.  In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla.  With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry.  With the mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to , combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.  Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35-40 minutes until cake tester comes out clean.  Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.*This cake recipe has been adapted from Barefoot Contessa
Marshmallow Frosting
Ingredients
8 large egg whites
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Place egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in a small pot, heat on very low heat until sugar dissolves whisking constantly and whites are warm to touch about 3 to 4 minutes.
Transfer mixture to bowl of electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat starting on low speed, gradually increasing to high until stiff, glossy peaks form about 5 to 7 minutes.  Add vanilla, and mix until combined.
Line cake dish with 2x6 pieces of parchment to keep the frosting off the dish while frosting.  Place first layer on parchment, pour 1/3 of frosting in center of first layer and spread out and down sides.  Add second layer and pour remaining frosting and spread from center down the sides. Remove the partchment paper.  Serve & enjoy!

Roasted Pineapple Habanero Souffle with Chocolate Sauce

Preheat oven to 350F

Butter & Sugar 6 small ramekins

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups milk

1/4 cup Roasted Pineapple Habanaro Sauce (purchased)

4 large egg yolks

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

4 large egg whites

1/4 cup sugar

I did some of this in the microwave and it worked perfectly.

Directions

Microwave milk and habanero sauce in heatproof measuring cup 2 minutes.

Whisk  1/4 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch and egg yolks in a large heatproof bowl.  Slowly add the milk mixture to egg mixture while continuing to whisk.

Microwave for one minute, whisk, microwave two more times for one minute whisking between times.  Remove from microwave and whisk until mixture thickens and cools.

Home Made Dog Treats

                                   Home Made Dog Treats

Preheat oven to 350F 

Line baking sheets with silicone pads or spray with cooking oil

Bake for 40 minutes

Makes about 100 treats

Ingredients                                                                                   

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups quick cook oatmeal

2 cups ground flax seed

2 eggs

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup coconut oil (good for skin & fur)

1/2 cup water (more if needed)

1 cup peanut butter

Mix ingredients in bowl of electric mixer until dough forms.  Roll dough onto a floured surface 1/8 inch thick.

Use 1" cookie cutters to cut out treats or roll into 1" balls and flatten.  Bake for 40 minutes, cool and serve