Sunday, January 11, 2009

Pink Popcorn Surprises

Ingredients:

* 7 cups popped corn
* 3 cups miniature marshmallows
* 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* few drops red food color
* 8 lollipops

Directions:

Measure popped corn into large buttered bowl. In top of double boiler over hot water, heat marshmallows, butter and salt, stirring frequently, until marshmallows melt and mixture is smooth. Stir in food color. Pour mixture over corn in bowl. Toss gently to coat. With buttered hands quickly shape mixture around lollipops into 3 inch balls.

Pink Peppermint Valentine Mold

Ingredients:

* 1 package (1/4 ounce size) unflavored gelatine
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 2 eggs, separated
* 1 1/4 cup milk
* 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
* 3 drops red food coloring
* 1 cup whipping cream, whipped

Directions:

In a medium saucepan (off the stove), combine gelatine, 1/4 cup sugar and salt; mix well and reserve.

In a medium bowl, beat together egg yolks and milk; add to gelatine mixture. Cook gelatine and egg mixture in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until the gelatine dissolves and mixture thickens slightly - about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add peppermint extract. Add food coloring and mix. Chill in refrigerator until mixture is slightly thicker than the consistency of unbeaten egg whites.

In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Gradually add remaining sugar and beat until very stiff, then fold into gelatine mixture; fold in whipped cream. Turn into a 5-cup heart-shaped mold; chill until firm.

Pink Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

* 4 potatoes
* 1/2 cup milk (heated in the microwave)
* 4 tablespoons butter
* Salt and pepper
* Red food color

Directions:

Peel potatoes and cut into 10-12 pieces, put in pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and cook for about 20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Turn off the stove, pour the potatoes into a colander and shake to get the water off. Out the potatoes in a bowl; with an electric mixer or hand beater, beat the potatoes, butter and a little salt and pepper, adding the milk while you mix. Add food color carefully until it is a pretty color

Pink Lemon Angel Cake

Ingredients:

* 1 cup cake flour
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 12 egg whites, room temperature
* 1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
* 3/4 cup more sugar
* 4 drops red food color (or enough to make pale pink )

Directions:

Sift flour and sugar well. Combine whites with cream of tarter, salt and lemon extract. Beat until foamy. Beat in food color. Gradually add sugar, 2 Tbsp at a time beating until stiff but not dry peaks.

Fold in sugar and flour mixture carefully. Pour into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan. Bake in a 325F oven 35 to 45 minutes or until done. Invert to cool completely before removing.

Pink Frozen Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1 quart strawberry ice cream, softened
* 1/2 cup miracle whip
* 2 cans (17 oz size) fruit cocktail, drained
* 1/3 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Combine cream cheese, ice cream and salad dressing, mixing until well blended. Fold in fruit and nuts. Pour into 9-inch square pan.

Freeze until firm. Chill until serving.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Pink Cloud Cake for Valentine's Day

Ingredients:

* 3 packages (3 oz. size) Jello
* 2 cups boiling water
* 2 packages (10 oz. size) frozen strawberries, partially thawed
* 1 angel food bar cake, broken into bite-size pieces

Directions:

Dissolve Jello in water; add strawberries. Beat for 4 minutes. Add cake to Jello mixture pour into mold. Chill until set.

Phyllo-Wrapped Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper

Ingredients:

* 1 cup roasted red peppers (fresh or jar from Italian market),
* 12 sheets frozen phyllo pastry, thawed,
* 6 tablespoons melted butter or nonstick spray,
* 6 (5 oz.) skinless salmon fillets, 1 inch thick

Directions:

Puree red peppers.

Layer 2 sheets phyllo on work surface, brushing each with butter or spray with nonstick spray; leave remaining sheets of phyllo covered with plastic. Place 1 fillet crosswise on the pastry, 5 inches from the narrow end. Top with 1 Tbsp. puree. fold the 5 inch section of pastry over the salmon and fold in the sides. Roll the pastry into a rectangular packet to enclose the salmon. Brush with butter on all sides or spray with nonstick spray. Repeat with the remaining pastry and salmon.

Place packets on baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes until the salmon is cooked through and the pastry is light golcen brown. Top with the remaining pepper puree.