Chocolate Raspberry Torte

God made chocolate in heaven and the devil threw the calories in!

Chocolate Raspberry Torte
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Ingredients
Cake
  1. 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 500 mL
  2. 2 tsp. baking soda 10 mL
  3. 1/2 tsp. salt 2 mL
  4. 1/2 tsp. baking powder 2 mL
  5. 3 squares (1 oz. / 30 g size) unsweetened chocolate 75 g
  6. 1/2 cup butter 125 mL
  7. 2 cups light brown sugar,packed 500 mL
  8. 3 eggs
  9. 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  10. 3/4 cup sour cream 175 mL
  11. 1/2 cup strong coffee 125 mL
  12. 1/2 cup coffee flavoured liqueur 125 mL
Filling
  1. 1 cup whipping cream 250 mL
  2. 2 Tbsp. icing sugar 30 mL
  3. 1-12 oz. jar raspberry or strawberry jam 340 mL
Chocolate Sour Cream Icing
  1. 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips 375 mL
  2. 3/4 cup sour cream 175 mL
  3. dash of salt
  4. fresh raspberries or strawberries
Garnish
  1. 1 good quality dark chocolate bar (at room temperature).
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. (180 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch (1.5 L) layer cake pans. Sift dry ingredients. Melt chocolate and let cool. In a large bowl beat butter, brown sugar, and eggs at a high speed until mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in melted chocolate and vanilla. At low speed, beat in flour mixture (in fourths), alternating with sour cream (in thirds). Add coffee and liqueur, blending until smooth. Pour batter into pans and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until surface springs back. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool on wire racks.
  2. Filling:Beat cream with icing sugar until stiff. Refrigerate. Slice cake layers in half horizontally to make four layers. (Hint: Cake layers slice more easily if frozen first.) Place one layer, cut side up, on cake plate. Spread with 1/2 cup (125 mL) raspberry jam and 1/2 cup (125 mL) whipped cream mixture. Repeat with remaining layers, ending with top layer, cut side down.
  3. Icing:Melt chocolate chips in top of double boiler. Add sour cream and salt and beat until icing is creamy and smooth. Ice top and sides of cake. Garnish: Using a vegetable peeler, shave along long side of chocolate bar to create small curls. Make lots! – and “spill” some onto the cake plate.
Notes
  1. Book Reference – The Best of the Best – Vol. 1 (Page: 308), Winners (Page: 177)
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Keep reminding your husband that your allowance isn’t as big as your alimony payment would be.
 

Apple Pecan Phyllo Crisps

Yes! – a yummy skinny dessert!

Apple Pecan Phyllo Crisps
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Ingredients
  1. Shells
  2. 2 sheets phyllo pastry
  3. 2 tsp. butter, melted
  4. Filling
  5. 1/3 cup brown sugar
  6. 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
  7. 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  8. 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  9. 3 cups peeled, sliced apples
  10. 2 Tbsp. chopped toasted pecans
  11. icing sugar to spinkle
Instructions
  1. To prepare shells: Preheat oven to 400 F. Lay phyllo sheet on work surface and brush with half the butter. Using scissors, cut into three 5″ wide strips. Fold ends in to make a rectangle of 3 layers; gently mold into muffin cups. Repeat with remaining phyllo and butter – makes 6 shells. Bake 5 minutes, or until golden. These can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  2. To prepare filling: In a heavy skillet, heat sugar, lemon rind and juice and cinnamon until bubbly. Add apples and cook, stirring frequently for 5 minutes or until tender. Let cool slightly. Spoon into prepared shells. Sprinkle with toasted pecans, then icing sugar. Serves 6.
  3. Book Reference – That’s Trump (Page: 190)
  4. In order to get a loan, you must first prove you don’t need it.
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In order to get a loan, you must first prove you don’t need it.

Stacked Pizza

You must try this appetizer – it’s always a big hit – and it’s not difficult to make.

Stacked Pizza
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Ingredients
  1. 7 sheets phyllo pastry
  2. 1/2 cup butter, melted 125 mL
  3. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan 125 mL
  4. cheese
  5. 1 1/2 cups grated Mozzarella 375 mL
  6. cheese
  7. 1 onion, thinly sliced
  8. 5-6 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
  9. 1 tsp. oregano 5 mL
  10. salt & pepper to taste
  11. fresh herb sprigs – thyme, oregano, rosemary
  12. Preheat oven to 375 deg.F (190 deg.C). To thaw and prepare phyllo, follow package instructions. Place first sheet of phyllo on baking sheet, brush with butter and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp.(15 mL) Parmesan cheese. Repeat until all sheets are used. Press firmly so layers will stick together. Sprinkle top sheet with Mozzarella and onions. Arrange tomato slices on top. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until edges are golden. Decorate with herbs and cut into squares. Note: Olives, anchovies, peppers can also be used – but don’t overload as this is a delicate crust!
  13. To exercise is human – not to is divine!
  14. Book Reference – Aces (Page: 43)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 deg.F (190 deg.C). To thaw and prepare phyllo, follow package instructions. Place first sheet of phyllo on baking sheet, brush with butter and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp.(15 mL) Parmesan cheese. Repeat until all sheets are used. Press firmly so layers will stick together. Sprinkle top sheet with Mozzarella and onions. Arrange tomato slices on top. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until edges are golden. Decorate with herbs and cut into squares. Note: Olives, anchovies, peppers can also be used – but don’t overload as this is a delicate crust!
Notes
  1. Book Reference – Aces (Page: 43)
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Brandied Peaches

Brandied Peaches
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Ingredients
  1. 1 – 28 oz. can peach halves
  2. 2 Tbsp. syrup from peaches
  3. 1/4 cup butter
  4. 1/2 cup brown sugar
  5. 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  6. 1/4 cup brandy
  7. vanilla ice cream
  8. or
  9. sour cream
  10. nutmeg to sprinkle
Instructions
  1. Drain peaches, reserving 2 Tbsp. of syrup. Place in shallow baking dish. Combine all ingredients and spoon over peaches. Bake at 350 F. for 20 – 25 minutes, basting occasionally. Serve over vanilla ice cream or with a heaping teaspoon of sour cream in the center of each peach half. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
Notes
  1. Book Reference – The Best of Bridge (Page: 183)
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Where to bad little girls go? Bad little girls go just about anywhere they want to.

Pasta with Peppers

After five and still alive!

Pasta with Peppers
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Ingredients
  1. 4 peppers (use mixture of red, green and yellow)
  2. 1/3 cup olive oil
  3. 3 garlic cloves, minced
  4. 1/2 lb. spaghettini
  5. 2 cups grated Asiago or freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Cut peppers into strips. Saute in oil with garlic. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Pour pepper-oil mixture over hot pasta and toss with grated cheese. Serves 4 as a side dish.
Notes
  1. Book Reference – The Best of the Best – Vol. 1 (Page: 139), Aces (Page: 149)
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French Lemon Pie

French Lemon Pie
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Ingredients
  1. 4 eggs
  2. 1 cup light corn syrup
  3. 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
  4. 1/3 cup FRESH lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
  5. 2 Tbsp. melted butter
  6. 1/2 cup sugar
  7. 2 Tbsp. flour
  8. 1 unbaked 9″ pie shell
  9. 1/2 cup whipping cream
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, beat eggs well. Add corn syrup, lemon zest, lemon juice and melted butter. Combine sugar and flour, then stir into egg mixture. Pour into unbaked pastry shell and bake at 350 F. for 50 minutes. Chill. To serve, whip cream and mound onto pie.
Notes
  1. Book Reference – The Rest of the Best – Vol. 2 (Page: 289), Grand Slam (Page: 201)
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A man claims his wife lost her credit cards, but he hasn’t reported it because whoever stole them spends less than she did!

Curried Chicken Triangles

Curried Chicken Triangles
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Ingredients
  1. 2 tsp. butter 10 mL
  2. 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
  3. 1/2 cup finely chopped celery 125 mL
  4. 1 Tbsp. flour 15 mL
  5. 1 1/2 tsp. curry powder 7 mL
  6. 1/4 tsp. salt 1 mL
  7. 1/2 cup chicken broth 125 mL
  8. 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken 375 mL
  9. 1/4 cup fat-free sour cream 60 mL
  10. 1/4 cup skim-milk plain yogurt 60 mL
  11. phyllo pastry, thawed (about 1/3 of kg.)
  12. 1/4 cup melted butter 60 mL
Instructions
  1. Melt butter in saucepan. Add onion and celery; cook until soft. Add flour, curry powder and salt. Stir for 1 minute. Add chicken broth; simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; add chicken, sour cream and yogurt.
  2. To make triangles: unroll phyllo and lay flat. Cut a 2″ (5 cm) wide strip. Cover remaining phyllo with a damp cloth. Brush the strip with butter. Place 1 tsp. (5 mL) of filling in bottom corner of strip and fold corner to corner (flag fashion) using entire strip. Filling should be sealed in. Continue until all filling is used. Brush triangles with melted butter; bake at 350 deg.F (180 deg.C) for 20-25 minutes. Makes about 50.
  3. To freeze: before baking, freeze on baking sheet then place frozen triangles in zip lock freezer bags. No need to thaw before cooking.
  4. Book Reference – The Best of the Best – Vol. 1 (Page: 65), That’s Trump (Page: 30)
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Patio Ribs

A great summer favourite.

Patio Ribs
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Ingredients
  1. 4 lb. (3 – 4 racks) pork babyback ribs
  2. 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
  3. 1/2 cup oyster sauce
  4. 3 Tbsp. hot chili sauce
  5. 2 Tbsp. liquid honey
Instructions
  1. Remove skin fom underside of ribs. (Place ribs meaty side down on a flat surface. Using point of a knife or your fingers, loosen skin and pull back along end of last rib. Grasp membrane with a paper towel or pliers and peel away. Discard.)
  2. To tenderize ribs, slice each rack in half and add to large pot of boiling water. Boil gently until ribs are fork tender (45 minutes). Drain.
  3. Stir hoisin, oyster, hot chili sauce and honey together.
  4. Generously coat ribs with sauce on each side. When ready to barbecue, spray grill and cook over medium heat, basting with sauce and turning often until well glazed, about 15 minutes.
  5. Where there’s a will, I want to be in it!
Notes
  1. Book Reference – A Year of the Best (Page: 26)
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