Rainbow Clown Cake

Made this in my Wilton 1 class. We combined two classes (Rainbow Cake and Clown Cake) into one.

Sweet Potato Casserole

From Food Network.

I've made this numerous times. I've changed it slightly by using light brown sugar, and sometimes I omit the nuts and put marshmallows on top the last few minutes until light brown. I also put the spices in to taste, as I often have made multiple batches. I usually poke and microwave cook the sweet potatoes, which cuts the cooking time on the potatoes in half. Excellent recipe!

• 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 3 large), scrubbed
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the preparing the pan
• 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and pierce each one 2 or 3 times with a fork. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool.

Turn the oven down to 350 degrees F. Scoop the sweet potato out of their skins and into a medium bowl. Discard the skins. Mash the potatoes until smooth. Add the eggs, butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and the pepper to taste. Whisk the mixture until smooth.

Butter an 8-by-8-inch casserole. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pan and sprinkle the top with the pecans. Bake until puffed, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

General Productivity Boosters

1. Salmon: Not just a fish dish delicacy, a single serving of salmon is also full of healthy benefits. Low in calories but high in important omega 3 fatty acids and protein, salmon will keep your appetite at bay while you concentrate on your busy day. Salmon is known for keeping high-blood pressure in check – a benefit for the demanding currency trading lifestyle. Salmon also lowers your chances of sunburn, dry eyes, stroke, prostate cancer, and even minimizes feelings of hostility in young adults. Without the distractions of moody adolescents, you’ll be able to get twice as much done! Click here for delicious recipes.
2. Shrimp: Low in calories but high in Vitamin D and protein, shrimp is an excellent choice for a snack or even a whole meal. Good for the heart and the brain, shrimp will help you age gracefully while it decreases your chances of Alzheimer’s.
3. Water: Water is probably the most underestimated health drink on the planet. Water speeds up your metabolism, keeps you hydrated, helps skin stay acne-free, and kills appetite. You’ll also be flushing out your digestive system and colon. Visit betterhealth.com for even more benefits!
4. Turkey: This lean meat isn’t just for Thanksgiving. Turkey is a huge source of protein and energy. It helps your body fight cancer. Just don’t eat a turkey sandwich for lunch if you’ve got a busy afternoon ahead of you because turkey is full of tryptophan that make you sleepy.
5. Mustard Greens: Mustard greens prevent the chances of your body developing asthma and helps relax your muscles if you already have it, allowing you to breathe more easily and regularly.
6. Dill: Dill is a popular seasoning not just for its zippy flavor but also for its ability to control bacteria growth. It contains calcium, iron, and magnesium, helping your bones stay strong while you rush around.
7. Plums: Not only do plums have a lot of iron, they improve your body’s chances of absorbing enough iron.
8. Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes, also known as yams, are surprisingly good for you. Despite their sweet taste, they have been recently labeled as the “antidiabetic food.” As it turns out, sweet potatoes maintain a balance of your blood sugar levels. They also contain an impressive number of antioxidants and proteins.
9. Papaya: The benefits to eating papaya are endless. The colorful fruit helps protect you against the potential damages of secondhand smoke, rheumatoid arthritis, and even the common cold.
10. Pear: If you’re allergic to many of the fruits on this list, try a pear. Pears are hypo-allergenic, so they provide you with all the healthy benefits of any other fruit, without the nasty side effects.
11. Cauliflower: Like most other vegetables included on this list, cauliflower has an immense amount of Vitamin C and impressive detoxifying capabilities. Just don’t pour on the ranch dressing, or you’ll also be getting a lot of fat and calories. Visit cauliflowers.com for new twists on the vegetable.

Avoiding Colds and Other Common Illnesses

Being productive is as much about minimizing downtime as it is about having more energy. These foods will help boost your immune system and ensure that your out of commission for fewer days each year.

1. Orange juice: Unless you like getting colds, you’d better drink your OJ everyday. As a prime source of vitamin C, orange juice will keep you energized and healthy…not to mention out of bed and sneeze-free.
2. Bell peppers: Want to maintain your busy lifestyle? Better include bell peppers in your daily diet. It doesn’t matter what color, red, green, or yellow, each variety of bell peppers is full of Vitamin A and C, as well as other nutrients which will keep away joint pain and nasty colds.
3. Green tea: You may not believe it, but green tea is as healthy as it is trendy. Full of beneficial antioxidants, green tea also strengthens your immune system, saving you a trip to the doctor. Visit the official green tea Web site to find out which flavor makes your taste buds tingle.
4. Pumpkin seeds Pumpkin seeds are a tasty, salty snack that reduce symptoms of arthritis and keep you on the move. They strengthen your immune system, so instead of chowing down on sticky candy this Halloween save those pumpkin seeds and snack away.
5. Summer squash: Summer squash, or zucchini, is a tasty vegetable that fights diseases big and small. Packed with Vitamin C, folates, and fiber, squash fights against colds and arthritis, metabolic disorders, and even cancer.
6. Ground cinnamon: Next time you feel a cough or the chills coming on drink some tea spiked with ground cinnamon. The spice’s warming powers will ease your discomfort and may help ward off the cold altogether.
7. Garlic: As long as you pack some mints, it’s more than okay to indulge in a little garlic. Garlic is a natural anti-inflammatory, meaning that it is an excellent way to help your body fight infections from the common cold to HIV.
8. Apricots: Eating apricots regularly will reduce your chances of getting sick. This fruit is also good for your heart and keeps your eyes sharp.
9. Cayenne pepper: Sprinkle a little cayenne pepper on your meal, and clear up a stuffy nose, wake up a lazy mind, or speed up your metabolism. Cayenne pepper also acts as a natural pain reliever, so simple aches and pains won’t be able to stand in your way.
10. Cranberries: If you’ve got a urinary tract infection, you won’t be able to concentrate on anything. Drink some cranberry juice (cranberry juice concentrate won’t do the trick) and down a handful or two of the fresh fruit itself. You won’t have to wait too long before the natural healing effects take over.
11. Cloves: Add cloves to homemade soup or when baking a spice cake, and you’ll not only protect yourself from dangerous environmental toxins, you’ll also ease any annoying joint pain.
12. Clementines: Clementines are a delicious, portable fruit, so feel free to take 2 or even 3 along with you as you head out the door. Clementines may be small, but they’re loaded with potassium, antioxidants, and of course Vitamin C. Dip in chocolate for an extra special treat.

Scones and Honey Butter

From Saveur Magazine

Scones

Makes 1 Dozen

The Old Cottage Tea Shop serves plain scones like these as well as a savory variety flavored with bacon and cheese.

6 3/4 cups self-rising flour
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 lb. cold butter, cut into pieces

1. Preheat oven to 4oo degrees. Whisk flour and sugar together in a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter, 2 table knives, or your fingers, work butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal.
2. Whisk egg and milk together in a small bowl or a liquid measuring cup (mixture will yield 1 1/4 cups.) Add 1 cup of the milk mixture to the flour-butter mixture and gently mix togheter with your hand just euntil a soft (not takcy) dough forms, adding 1-2 tbsp. more milk mixture, 1 tbsp. at a time, if dough is too dry. Reserve remaining milk mixture.
3. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Pat dough out to a 1" thickness. Using a 3" round cookie cutter, cut out scones, gently rounding off edges with your hands.Gather dough scraps togheter and repeat process, making 12 scones in all. Put scones ona lightly floured baking sheet about 1/2" apart. Brush tops with the remaining milk mixture.
4. Bake scones until golden brown, 20-25 minutes (tent baking sheet with foil if tops brown too quickly.) Transfer scones wto a wire rack to let cool briefly. Serve scones warm or at room temperature.

Honey Butter

Makes 2 Cups

Stephen Buchmann, in Letters from the Hive, suggests using your favorite honey for this recipe (he likes orange blossom.)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup honey
1/2 tsp salt

Gently beat the ingredients together in a mixiing bowl until smooth, then chill and enjoy.

Variations: For lemon honey butter, just add 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice; you may also add 1-2 tsp of grated lemon zest.

We Want to Hear from You!

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Send it to:

Heidi_Rawson@RawsonFourFoodReview@Blogger.com

101 Cookbooks, One Recipe at a Time

I stumbled upon this website, and it's pretty nice. The author, Heidi Swanson is a San Fransisco based photographer and cookbook author. She takes beautiful photographs of the recipes, and does a great job writing and detailing each recipe, in a personal way.

http://www.101cookbooks.com/index.html

Energy and Brain Foods

Most of us can be productive in the mornings, but if you find that you’re unable to concentrate or simply lose the energy to keep going many afternoons, these energy and brainpower boosting foods are what you need.

1. Eggplant: As long as you don’t forget to eat the skin, it doesn’t matter how you ingest your eggplant. Eggplant skin contains the nutrient naunin, which keeps your brain sharp by increasing communication between your brain cells and messenger molecules. You won’t be able to help staying focused after eating eggplant.
2. Raisins: If you need a boost of energy, steer clear of the carbs and grab a pack of raisins. These high-energy fruits are low in fat and calories and rich in antioxidants which help restore your body’s most important cells. Visit the Sun Maid Web site for recipes and product info.
3. Lima beans: Now that you’re over the age of eight, we hope you can finally appreciate why your mother made you eat your lima beans. Lima beans give you tons of energy from iron and dietary fiber while preventing your body from absorbing too much sugar. Iron helps you get a good night’s sleep, as it prevents anemia, a leading cause in sleepless nights for women.
4. Corn: Eating corn can help combat stress, so eat up. The important nutrient pantothenic acid is prevalent in corn, which helps metabolism and alleviates stress.
5. Figs: Figs have the best kind of dietary fiber that maintains high energy levels while keeping your appetite far away. Whether you find fresh figs or a pack of the dried fruit, enjoy its natural sweetness.
6. Tuna: While doctors continue to debate over the good and bad effects of tuna, especially when consumed by pregnant women, there’s no way to ignore the fact that tuna is the original brain food. Not only does tuna help you focus, it also fends off depression. Tuna is good for your heart and helps prevent childhood asthma. Visit the U.S. Tuna Foundation for more information on recipes and mercury levels.
7. Spinach: Make like Popeye and inhale that spinach. Full of practically every nutrient you could think of, spinach is the easiest way to take in all your vitamins at once. In addition to fighting cancer and building strong bones and muscles, spinach reduces stress and help keeps your brain young and focused.
8. Chicken: Chicken is a lean alternative to beef. It is filled with protein and important B vitamins that give you loads of energy and speed up your metabolism. Eat chicken several times a week and you’ll never be too tired to exercise again.
9. Turnip greens: Turnip greens usually don’t get as much credit as they should. A not-so-popular vegetable among children, turnip greens help keep your mind sharp as you creep into old age.
10. Green beans: Top off your salad with fresh green beans and feel your energy bounce back. Green beans are packed with iron and zinc, as well as immune-strengthening vitamins A and C.
11. Cod: Cod, like the other fish that appear on this list, is an optimal way to get your protein without indulging in a lot of calories. It also helps your brain stay focused and ward off depression.
12. Hummus: This all-natural food is an easy way to get some energy-boosting protein fast. Spread hummus on whole grain bread or rye bread for a tasty and quick snack.
13. Pita bread: Pick a hearty wheat or whole grain version of this ancient food to reap its health benefits. Pita bread generally has a few more calories than regular sliced bread, but it will help you stay full and focused longer.
14. Peanut butter: Get back in the game after just a swallow of this childhood favorite. In moderation, peanut butter makes a great snack. Indulge in a spoonful to curb your appetite and cravings for sugar. Click on peanutbutterlovers.com for a fun look at peanut butter’s history, recipes, and its own special month.
15. Kidney beans: These large beans are vital for maintaining high energy levels for long periods of time. Add to chili for a satisfying meal.
16. Honey: Drizzle a little honey on your morning toast, and you’ll not only get rid of your sugar cravings, you’ll also decrease your chances of catching a virus or other nasty disease.
17. Walnuts: The omega 3 fatty acids found in walnuts help you think more clearly and keep you focused your day. Also excellent sources of protein, walnuts are a delicious alternative to potato chips.
18. Sunflower seeds: Sunflower seeds are another popular, but uncommon, way to beat fatigue. They require a lot of work to eat, so your mouth will get a lot of exercise, forcing your body to work for its food.
19. Lemons: A squeeze of lemon in your tea or even sucking a sliced lemon for a few seconds will wake up your mouth and give you that extra pep you need to finish the day.
20. Sage: Banish forgetfulness with an extra dash of sage. Sage has been proven to improve memory, so you can start untying those strings from around your finger.

By Laura Milligan/Bootstrapper

Kitchen Tips

1. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

2. Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time.

3. To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

4. To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

5. To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature & roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

6. To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop-skillet will be much easier to clean.

7. When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead-no white mess on the outside of the cake.

8. If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato-it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up."

9. Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

10. Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.

11. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. (ah, an old 1940’s Fannie Farmer trick!)

12. To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh-if it rises to the surface, throw it away.

13. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

14. Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

15. If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

16. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

17. To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area, instant relief.

18. Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march-see for yourself.

19. When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

20. NOW Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer:

* Clean a toilet-drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
* Clean a vase-to remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
* Polish jewelry-drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
* Clean a thermos bottle-fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
* Unclog a drain-clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

Pasta Fisherman

In June, I travelled to San Francisco for my graduation from the Graduate School, USDA Executive Leadership Program. One of the places I was able to have dinner with my ELP friends was Scoma's Restaurant, located in Fisherman's Wharf overlooking the San Francisco Bay with Alcatraz in sight. Owner Al Scoma died just weeks before we arrived, but he and his brother have run this family business since 1965 using their mother's recipes. I had the Calamari Fritti (excellent!) but there are many other delicious dishes. If you are in San Francisco, I would highly recommend going to Scoma's. It's not easy to find, and it's moderate to high priced, but it's worth it! Below is a very easy recipe from their website.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz dry linguini or 1 lb fresh pasta, Cooked when sauce is ready
• 4 to 5 oz fresh bay shrimpmeat
• 6 oz fresh dungeness crabmeat
• 1 to 2 cloves fresh garlic-minced
• 6 medium fresh mushrooms – washed & sliced
• 1⁄2 small yellow onion – finely chopped
• 1⁄2 cup dry white wine
• 3 cups of your favorite marinara sauce
• 1⁄2 tablespoon fresh italian parsley – finely chopped
• 1⁄2 tablespoon fresh basil – finely chopped
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil1-tablespoon butter

PROCEEDURE

1. Heat olive oil and cook garlic in a non-reactive saucepot.
2. Sauté garlic and onion until almost golden color.
3. Add mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat.
4. Turn heat to medium high.
5. Add the wine-reduce for about 5 minutes.
6. Add marinara sauce and fresh herbs.
7. Reduce heat to medium low cook for 7 to 10 minutes.
8. Add the fresh seafood and butter, cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
9. Season with salt & pepper to your taste and toss with cooked pasta.

Under The Sea Cake

I made this cake for Jim's birthday in May. We were lucky enough they were here on his birthday, and they'd just come back from Hawaii, so we tried to make it a tropical theme. The idea came from FamilyFun.com. You use your favorite yellow cake recipe (although you could use any flavor) and ice as directed. Mine didn't come out quite like theirs, but the variance is what makes it fun!

Click on their cake for the blow by blow recipe.

Oven Roasted Asparagus

Fresh asparagus
Olive oil cooking spray, like Pam, or regular Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper

Preheat oven to 400-425 degrees F. Trim ends off of asparagus.
Line baking sheet with aluminum foil (optional) and spray with oil. Place asparagus in single layer on baking sheet and spray asparagus with oil to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to individual preference.

Place in oven and roast asparagus for 20-30 minutes, until tender-crisp, being careful not to let tips burn.

Ultimate Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pancakes

I've made these many, many times, and they come out much better than regular recipe Bisquick pancakes. -- Heidi

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs

1. Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat or electric griddle to 375°F; grease with cooking spray, vegetable oil or shortening. (Surface is ready when a few drops of water sprinkled on it dance and disappear.)
2. Stir all ingredients until blended. Pour by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls onto hot griddle.
3. Cook until edges are dry. Turn; cook until golden. To keep warm, place in single layer on cookie sheet. Cover with aluminum foil, and place in 200°F oven up to 10 minutes.
(Total time will vary; cook or bake time is per batch.)

* From Betty Crocker.com

Turkey Meatloaf

1 lb frozen ground turkey
1 lb frozen ground turkey sausage
1 pkg. (6 oz.) favorite Stuffing Mix
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup water
1/2 cup Favorite BBQ Sauce
Optional: Add some chopped up green peppers and onions

Thaw ground turkey.

PREHEAT oven to 375°F.

Mix all ingredients except 1/4 cup of the BBQ sauce.

Form mixture loaf in loaf pan (or favorite meatloaf pan) and top with remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce.

Bake about 1 hour or until cooked through.