FNCCC assignment #15 Ellie Krieger

This week our featured chef is Ellie Krieger, who has hundreds of recipes posted on Food Network's web site. I have never seen her show but from her bio I get that it would fit into my style of cooking.

"A New York Times best-selling author, Ellie Krieger is a renowned registered dietitian specializing in nutrition and health communications. As the host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite, Ellie demonstrates that cooking healthy food can be quick, easy and delicious even when life becomes busy and stressful. She also shares unique strategies for eating well in challenging situations such as the office, restaurants, and vacation while explaining the confusing nutritional and diet information currently on the market."

We will be posting recipes from Ellie on Wednesday, December 16. I bet you can even find a Christmas cookie recipe if you are getting overwhelmed with everything on your plate during the holiday season. I can't wait to see what you are cooking!

FNCCC Week #14 Duff Goldman

This week's featured chef is Duff Goldman, star of the show The Ace of Cakes. He owns Charm City Cakes which produces the most amazing cakes. They have a very talented staff! An Ace of Cakes books just hit the stores as well (which I browsed through during a Fancy Nancy party at Borders).

I started cake decorating a few years ago while making cakes for my daughters. I never thought I'd make them for others but now make cakes for friends and family. I haven't taken classes but learn everything about cake decorating from YouTube. With each cake I learn something new. I even started a cake decorating blog, Sarah Bakes. I am a big fan of marshmallow fondant and make my figures out of it (sometimes with added gum paste if I want them to harden). Yesterday I posted my favorite crusting buttercream recipe. What a fun hobby it is becoming!

Here is the race car cake and cupcakes I made for a party this weekend:

So what have you been decorating?? Link your post to MckLinky below. Next week's chef is Ellie Krieger.

Tempt My Tummy - Crusting Buttercream

I haven't been decorating cakes long but learned quickly that regular buttercream does not hold up well in Florida's heat and humidity (it's December and it's in the 80's). The crusting buttercream is important if you are decorating the cake and want it to look smooth, something you can really do with ooey-gooey frosting. I have tried numerous recipes but this one holds up well but more importantly, tastes good. I can't stand the frosting that leaves a greasy film on the roof of your mouth. This doesn't. And yes, I know, it's anything but healthy but it's CAKE. It's a treat. Everything in moderation and you'll be fine :)

Best Crusting Buttercream

1 1/3 cups Cricso

1/3 to 1/2 cup milk, depending on consistency needed

3 Tbsp powdered Dream Whip (one package)

3 Tbsp clear vanilla (if you need WHITE frosting) or other flavors

2 lbs powdered sugar

Directions
Mix all but the powdered sugar for a minute or two, then gradually add the sugar. The longer the mixer runs, the smoother it gets. Mine usually goes for about 8 minutes. A stand mixer with the paddle attachment is your best bet for this.

Enjoy! Go find more Tempt My Tummy recipes at Blessed With Grace!

Kid Friendly Friday is Taking a Break

Hello Everyone! By the end of the week it seems I have no time to blog. My Kid Friendly Friday post always gets left until the last minute and I'm scrabbling to do it. I am going to take a little break from it.

It has been wonderful using all of your ideas with my kids. I will miss that but will just have to visit your blog to see what you have been up to. Hopefully you have been getting as many good ideas as I have.

If anyone else wants to host it, let me know! Thanks for understanding :) Have a wonderful weekend~

FNCCC Assignment #14 - Duff Goldman

So who hasn't heard of The Ace of Cakes, Duff Goldman? If you raised your hand you are missing out on the most amazing cakes! Duff has an extensive chef's background but came into cake decorating on accident. He is the star of Food Network's show Ace of Cakes and owns Charm City Cakes (seriously, if you haven't heard of him before, click on the Charm City Cakes link and prepare to be amazed). Surprisingly, Duff has a handful of non-cake recipes (a very small handful) which you can certainly choose. OR bake a cake (or cupcakes) and decorate like you have never decorated before :) Tis the season. Will you take the challenge?

Post your decorated cake on Wednesday, December 9. Of course you may post a cake that you have done in the past. Or post two. Can't wait to see what you have been decorating!

FNCCC - Week 13 - Dave Lieberman

This week's featured chef is Dave Lieberman. I changed my mind about which recipe I was making about 18,000 times. There were so many to choose from. I started out making the Cranberry, Apple, Ginger Chutney which morphed into something entirely different. Same thing with the Hearty Chicken Stew. I think the only thing I used were the main ingredients and the recipe's title. So we did a "kids in the kitchen" with his Creamy Banana Pops....and only changed it a little bit.

Peeling the mushy bananas. Not a job for the squeamish.

Creamy Banana Pops
Recipe courtesy Dave Lieberman

Ingredients
2 medium bananas, very ripe (we used 3)
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups whole milk (used a little bit more cream and 2% milk, and some leftover whole milk plain yogurt)
1/3 cup superfine sugar (regular granulated sugar)
Special equipment: 5-ounce paper cups
Wooden ice cream sticks

Directions
In a large bowl, mash the bananas very well with a potato masher or a sturdy whisk until almost lump free. You should have about 1 cup mashed. Whisk in remaining ingredients until fully incorporated. (I put everything in the blender and blended until the sugar was dissolved - 4 minutes, just to be sure)

Protecting the blender. Can you spot the button pushing villain?

Pour mixture evenly into paper cups, and freeze 1 hour so the pop is firm but not frozen through. Remove from freezer and insert a wooden stick in the center of each pop. Return pops to freezer and freeze until solid, about 2 to 3 hours. To serve, peel paper cups away and eat immediately. (In stead of all of this we put the mixture in the ice cream machine and had a very tasty banana soft serve. Everybody loved it. I like it after it's been in the freezer awhile and it's harder.)

Bad picture. Good Eats.

If this is any indication if we will make it again.....everyone wanted seconds :)

So what have you been cooking?? Link your posts to MckLinky below.

FNCCC Assignment #13 - Dave Lieberman

Sorry, I forgot to post our new assignment last week. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. "Dave Lieberman's love affair with food began as a child while watching his father cook for family in center city Philadelphia, Pa." I love how most of these chefs got a love for cooking from their parents. His show is called Good Deal with Dave Lieberman and he has hundreds of recipes at the Food Network site. There is a ton to choose from with lots of variety. I hope you join us! We'll post on Wednesday, December 2.

Can't wait to see what you are cooking!