Pecan Pie

“Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love.”

- Craig Claiborne

from Southern Living magazine

1 (2.1-oz.) package fully cooked bacon slices

1 (16-oz.) container sour cream

2 cups (8 oz.) freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/3 cup sliced fresh chives

2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Microwave bacon according to package directions until crisp; drain on paper towels. Cool 10 minutes; crumble.

2. Stir together bacon and next 4 ingredients. Cover and chill 1 to 24 hours before serving.

3. Garnish, if desired. Serve with crispy, warm waffle fries. Store leftovers in refrigerator up to 7 days.

Garnishes: cooked, crumbled bacon; sliced fresh chives; freshly cracked pepper

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

- Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

Black Bean Salsa

1 (10 oz) can Rotel, original flavor, drained

1 (15 oz) can Black Beans, drained & rinsed

1 (11 oz) can white shoepeg corn, drained

1 small onion, diced

Fresh cilantro, diced, to taste

Stir to mix.

Mix the following and heat just until the sugar is melted.  Pour over bean & corn mixture:

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup sugar

Best after setting overnight and will keep several days.

Serve with tortilla chips or use as a side dish.

{Print via LilyandVal}

"Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first."

- Ernestine Ulmer

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Recipe from the blog Dishing the Divine

Cake

1 cup (6 ounces) chopped semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips

1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter

3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 to 2 teaspoons espresso powder, optional

3 large eggs

1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder

Glaze

1 cup (6 ounces) chopped semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips

1/2 cup (4 ounces) heavy cream

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8″ round cake pan; cut a piece of parchment or waxed paper to fit, grease it, and lay it in the bottom of the pan.

2. Put the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat till the butter is melted and the chips are soft. Stir until the chips melt, reheating briefly if necessary. You can also do this over a burner set at very low heat. Transfer the melted chocolate/butter to a mixing bowl.

3. Add the sugar, salt, and espresso powder. Espresso enhances chocolate’s flavor much as vanilla does; using 1 teaspoon will simply enhance the flavor, while 2 teaspoons will lend a hint of mocha to the cake.

4. Add the eggs, beating briefly until smooth. Add the cocoa powder, and mix just to combine.

5. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.

6. Bake the cake for 25 minutes; the top will have formed a thin crust. Remove it from the oven, and cool it in the pan for 5 minutes. Loosen the edges of the pan with a table knife or nylon spreader, and turn it out onto a serving plate. The top will now be on the bottom; that’s fine. Also, the edges will crumble a bit, which is also fine. Allow the cake to cool completely before glazing.

7. To prepare the glaze: Combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat till the cream is very hot, but not simmering. Remove from the microwave, and stir till the chocolate melts and the mixture is completely smooth.  Spoon the glaze over the cake, spreading it to drip over the sides a bit. Allow the glaze to set for several hours before serving the cake. 

Pink Lemonade Pound Cake

15 oz. package Gluten Free yellow cake mix

1/4 c. lemon instant pudding mix

1 c. milk

1/2 c. vegetable oil

3 large eggs

2 tsp. lemon extract

1/4 c. + 2 Tbsp. thawed pink lemonade concentrate, divided

1 c. confectioner's sugar

red food coloring (opt.)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 12 cup-Bundt pan with cooking spray.  Dust the pan with gluten free all-purpose flour or rice flour.  Shake out the excess and set aside.

2. Place the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs, lemon extract, and 1/4 c. pink lemonade concentrate in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electronic mixer on low speed until the ingredients are just combined.  Increase the mixer speed and beat on medium until the batter is smooth, about 2 minutes.  Add about 5-6 drops of red food coloring, one drop at a time until the desired color is reached.  Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan, smoothing the top.  Bake for 35-40 minutes.  

3. Place the cake on a wire rack to cool completely.  Meanwhile, mix 2 Tbsp. pink lemonade concentrate and confectioner's sugar.  Drizzle the glaze over the cooled pound cake.  Serve.   

{Photo via theKitchn}

{Picture via familyfreshcooking.com}