[recipes]
Luscious Layers of Love
Surprise your sweetheart with lovely, layered desserts BY AMY HIGGINS RECIPES@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG
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Delight your one and only with a toothsome treat, made with a lot of love and a little labor. The predictability of a heart-shaped box of candy can come off as a commonplace offering on Valentine’s Day. These recipes take time, on the other hand, and the payoff is downright delectable. This year, try making one of these recipes and show your dearest your sweet side with layers of seductive flavors.
TIPS S’mores Pie
Nix a Meringue Mishap A handheld torch can add a pretty touch to a meringue, but be careful not to scald it. Keep the torch about 8 inches from the dessert and continuously move your hand in a circular motion until you get the browned highlights you desire.
Give it a Trim Cakes don’t come out of the oven with a flat top, but the bottoms do. To give cake an even appearance, the bottoms of the two cakes should be at the top and bottom of your layered cake. To make the center more uniform, wait until the cake cools completely and carefully slice off the domed top.
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FEBRUARY 2017
8 ounces milk chocolate, coarsely chopped, divided 2 1/4 teaspoons canola oil 30 chocolate wafer cookies salt 5 graham cracker sheets, broken into bite-size pieces 6 cups vanilla ice cream, softened 4 large egg whites 1/2 cup sugar Lightly spray 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch high sides with cooking spray. In small bowl over at pot of simmering water, stir 3 ounces chocolate and oil until melted and blended. In food processor, grind chocolate wafer cookies into fine crumbs (about 1 1/3 cups). Add chocolate mixture and pinch of salt and pulse until moistened. Press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of pan. Freeze for about 10 minutes, or until crust hardens. In a large chilled bowl, fold graham cracker pieces and remaining chocolate into ice cream. Pour mixture into frozen crust and smooth the top. Freeze for about 8 hours, or until ice cream hardens. Remove pie from pan and transfer to platter. Return pie to freezer. In a large bowl, using electric hand mixer on mediumhigh speed, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat for about 5 minutes or until firm glossy peaks form. Using a large spoon, dollop meringue onto pie and spread decoratively, making sure no ice cream is exposed. Using kitchen blowtorch, toast meringue until browned all over. Freeze pie for about 30 minutes, or until meringue stiffens. Slice and serve. courtesy of Breyers
Chocolate Mandarin Orange Cake 2 cans (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, divided 1 box (2 layer) devil’s food cake mix 3 eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil grated peel from 1 orange (optional) 1 package (4-serving size) vanilla flavor instant pudding 2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 cup semisweet chocolate Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray. Drain mandarin oranges, keeping fruit and syrup reserved separately. In large bowl, combine cake mix, juice from one can of mandarin oranges, eggs, oil and orange peel; beat 2 minutes. Pour cake mix into prepared pans. Layer mandarin oranges from one can over each cake and gently submerge them into cake batter. Bake 2530 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan onto wire rack; cool completely. Pour 1/2 cup reserved juice from second can of oranges in bowl with pudding mix; whisk 2 minutes or until pudding mix is completely dissolved. Remove 12 orange slices from second can and dry with paper towel; set aside. Fold whipped topping and remaining mandarin oranges into pudding mixture. Spread mandarin frosting on top of first layer of cake and out to edges. Place second layer on top of first layer. In small saucepan, heat cream until just beginning to steam, but do not boil. Remove from stove and stir in chocolate. Stir until well-blended. Pour chocolate mixture over cake and garnish with reserved mandarin oranges. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving. courtesy of Dole
For more sweetheart desserts, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Recipes. coloradocountrylife.coop