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Recipes


Fourth of July Pinwheel Cookies
Makes five dozen cookies. Ingredients 3 Cups Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature 4 Cups Powdered Sugar 2 Large Eggs, at room temperature 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract 6-1/2 Cups Flour 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder ½ Teaspoon salt .6 Fluid Ozs. Red Gel Food Coloring, adding enough to produce desired color .6 Fluid Ozs. Blue Gel Food Coloring, enough to produce the desired color Directions * Preheat oven to 350 degrees. * Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. * In a lar

Chuck Swenson


Classic Lemon Bars
Makes 20 2-inch squares. Ingredients for the Crust ½ Pound Unsalted Butter, at room temperature ½ Cup Granulated Sugar 2 Cups Flour 1/8 Teaspoon Salt Ingredients for the Filling 6 Extra-Large Eggs, at room temperature 3 Cups Granulated Sugar 2 Tablespoons Grated Lemon Zest (4 to 6 lemons) 1 Cup Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice 1 Cup Flour ½ Cup Powdered Sugar, for dusting Directions * Preheat oven to 350 degrees. * For the crust, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer

Chuck Swenson


Classic Seven-Layer Bars
Makes 20 2-inch squares. Ingredients ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, melted 1-1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs (gluten-free or regular) 14-oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk 1-1/3 Cups Unsweetened Coconut Flakes 1 Cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Baking Chips 1 Cup Butterscotch-flavored Baking Chips 1 Cup Pecans Optional: 2 Teaspoons Flaky Sea Salt, for sprinkling Directions * Line a 13×9″ baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray. * Mix melted butter and graham cracker crumbs together unti

Chuck Swenson


Tres Leches Cake With Jim Stake
Makes a 9” two-layer cake Ingredients: 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour 1-1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder ¼ Teaspoon Salt 5 Whole Eggs 1-1/4 Cup Sugar 1 Teaspoon Vanilla 1 Can Evaporated Milk 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk 1/3 Cup Whole Milk 1 Pint Heavy Whipping Cream Strawberries and Mandarin Oranges (or whatever fruit you prefer to decorate top of cake) Directions: · Preheat oven to 350 degrees. · Liberally grease two 9” cake pans. · Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl –

Chuck Swenson


Lucille Ball’s Apple John Cobbler
Makes a 12-quart casserole, about 8 servings. Ingredients Apple Mixture: 2-3/4 lbs. Cooking Apples (8 cups thinly sliced, pared) ½ Cup Granulated Sugar ½ Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg ¼ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 1 Tablespoon Grated Lemon Peel 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice ¼ Cup Water Biscuit Topping: 2 Cups Bisquick Baking Mix 2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar 3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted ½ Cup Whole Milk Directions · Heat oven to 375 degrees. · Grease a 2-quart Casse

Chuck Swenson


Southern Peach Cobbler
Makes a 9”x13” pan. Ingredients Peach Mixture: 5 lbs. Ripe yet Firm Peeled Peaches, about 14 medium peaches, cut into ¼” wedges ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar ¼ Cup Light Brown Sugar 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cubed small 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch (increase to 4 TBS if peaches are soft 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice 2 Teaspoons Lemon Zest 1-1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon ¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg 1/8 Teaspoon Salt Biscuit Topping: 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour ¾ Cup Granula

Chuck Swenson


Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
Makes a 12” diameter round cake. Ingredients: 1 lb. Strawberries, thinly sliced into rounds ¼ Cup Brown Sugar 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch 1-3/4d Cup All-Purpose Flour 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder Pinch of Salt ¾ Cup Granulated Sugar 2 Large Eggs ½ Cup Sour Cream ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, melted 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract 2 Cups Whipping Cream ½ Cup Granulated Sugar 1 Teaspoon Almond Extract ½ Cup Prepared Chocolate Syrup Directions: * Preheat oven to 350 degrees. * Grease a 12” s

Chuck Swenson


Easter Chick Carrot Cupcakes
Makes 24 cupcakes. Ingredients: 2 Cups Granulated Sugar 1-1/3 Cups Vegetable Oil 3 Extra-large eggs, room temperature 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract 1-1/2 Cups Plus 1 Tablespoon All-purpose Flour, divided 2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda’1-1/2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt 1 Cup Raisins 1 Cup Walnuts, Chopped 1 Pound Carrots, Grated ½ Cup Carrots, Grated ½ Cup Fresh Pineapple, Diced 48 Small Candied Easter Malt Balls, assorted colors 24 Yellow Chick Peeps 24 White

Chuck Swenson


Easter Bunny Carrot Cake
Makes two 8” cakes or one 9x13” For the Cake: Ingredients: 2 Cups Granulated Sugar 1-1/3 Cups Vegetable Oil 3 Extra-large eggs, room temperature 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract 1-1/2 Cups Plus 1 Tablespoon All-purpose Flour, divided 2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda’1-1/2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt 1 Cup Raisins 1 Cup Walnuts, Chopped 1 Pound Carrots, Grated ½ Cup Carrots, Grated ½ Cup Fresh Pineapple, Diced Directions: * Preheat oven to 350 degrees. * Butter 2 8-

Chuck Swenson


The Ultimate Lemon Meringue
Makes one 9” pie. IngredientsCrust:1-1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour½ Teaspoon Table Salt1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cold, cut into ¼” slices1/4 Cup Vegetable Shortening, cold, cut into two pieces2 Tablespoons Vodka, cold2 Tablespoons Water, cold Lemon Curd Filling:1 Cup Granulated Sugar¼ Cup Cornstarch¼ Teaspoon Table Salt1-1/2 Cups Water, cold6 Large Egg Yolks1 Tablespoon Lemon Zest from 1 Lemon½ Cup Lemon Juice from 2 to 3 Lemons2 Tablespoons Uns

Chuck Swenson


The Perfect Pie Crust
Makes one crust for 9” pie. IngredientsCrust:1-1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour½ Teaspoon Table Salt1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cold, cut into ¼” slices1/4 Cup Vegetable Shortening, cold, cut into two pieces2 Tablespoons Vodka, cold2 Tablespoons Water, coldDirections Crust: * In food processor, process ¾ cup flour, salt and sugar until combined, about two 1-second pulses. * Add butter and shortening and process until dough just starts to collect in u

Chuck Swenson


Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze
Makes 44 cookies. IngredientsCookies:1-1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour1 Teaspoon Baking Powder1 Teaspoon Salt1 Stick (8 Tablespoons) Butter, softened2 Cups Granulated Sugar2 Eggs1 15-oz. Container Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese3 Tablespoons Lemon JuiceLemon Zest from 1 LemonLemon Glaze:1-1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar3 Tablespoons Lemon JuiceLemon Zest from 1 LemonDirections Cookies: * Preheat oven to 375 degrees * In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. * In

Chuck Swenson


Ensaymada
Makes approximately 30 1” diameter ensaymadas. Bread Ingredients1 ½ Tablespoons Active Dry Yeast 1 Tablespoon White Sugar 1 Cup Warm Water, divided 8 Egg Yolks 3 Cups All-purpose Flour, or more as needed 1 Cup White Sugar 1 Cup Melted Butter, divided ½ Cup Milk 1 Teaspoon Salt Topping Ingredients: ½ Cup Butter 8 oz. Cream Cheese 2 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar 2 Tablespoons Whole Milk ¼ Teaspoon Salt ½ Teaspoon Vanilla ½ Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese, or as needed Directions: Disso

Chuck Swenson


Biko (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake)
Makes one 9” x 13” pan. Ingredients4 Cups Glutinous Rice 3 14-oz. Cans Coconut Milk 1-1/2 Cups Water 1-1/2 Cups Dark Brown Sugar, packed ¼ Teaspoon Kosher Salt Directions: Place rice in a large bowl. Cover with cool water and soak overnight. Drain and rinse rice twice and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter an oven-safe 9”x13” casserole pan. Reserve ¾ cup of coconut milk. Pour remaining coconut milk and 1-1/2 cups water in a large stock pot. Set over med

Chuck Swenson


Ruta Lee’s “Desperate Sweeties”
Makes six portions Ingredients 6 Slices White Bread 12 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter 6 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar 6 Teaspoons Cinnamon Directions Turn on the broiler in the oven and place the oven rack in the top position. On a baking sheet, lay out six slices of white bread. Next, spread two tablespoons of unsalted butter on each slice. Then sprinkle one tablespoon of light brown sugar over the butter on each slice. Next, sprinkle one teaspoon of cinnamon over the light bro

Chuck Swenson


Tommi Rose’s Buttermilk chocolate cake
Makes one 9’x13” cake. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Batter Ingredients 2 Cups Sugar 2 Cups Flour 1 Cup Butter, salted or unsalted (2 sticks) 1 Cup Water 4 Tablespoons Cocoa ½ Cup Buttermilk 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Batter Directions Mix sugar and flour in a medium-size bowl and set aside. Mix in a saucepan over low to medium heat: butter, water and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and then add to dry ingredients. Do not wash or rinse out the saucepan – it will be used

Chuck Swenson


Almond Pear Galette
Makes one 9” or six 4” galettes Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pastry Ingredients1-1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour 1/2 Teaspoon Salt 1 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar 6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, chilled and cut into ¼ pieces 4 Tablespoons Vegetable Shortening, chilled 3 to 4 Tablespoons of Ice Water Pastry Directions Pulse flour, salt and sugar in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add butter and pulse to mix in five 1-second bursts. Add shortening and continue pulsing unti

Chuck Swenson


Spinach and Cheese Egg Souffle
Makes approximately four 4” souffles Ingredients 1 Tube Pillsbury Butter Flake Crescent Rolls (8 ounces) 6 Large Eggs (keep one aside for brushing the tops of the crescent rolls) 2 Tablespoons Milk 2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream ¼ Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese ¼ Cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese 1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese 3 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Fresh Spinach 4 Slices Bacon, Cooked and Crumbled ¼ Teaspoon Salt ¼ Cup Shredded Asiago Cheese Directions Heat oven to 375 de

Chuck Swenson


Champagne Cupcakes
Makes 24 cupcakes. Ingredients for the Cupcakes 1 15.25 oz. Box Vanilla or White Cake Mix 1 Coup Sparkling Wine, such as Champagne, Prosecco or Cava 3 Eggs ½ Cup Vegetable Oil Directions for the Cupcakes Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whish together the cake mix,, sparkling wine, eggs and oil. Place 24 paper muffin liners in muffin pans. Fill each paper liner with three to four tablespoons of batter. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool for five minutes in

Chuck Swenson


Holiday Biscotti
Ingredients 2 Cups All-purpose Flour 1-1/2 Teaspoons Baking Power ¾ Cup Sugar ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature 1 Teaspoon Grated Lemon Zest ¼ Teaspoon Salt 2 Large Eggs ¾ Cup Pistachios, coarsely chopped 2/3 Cup Dried Cranberries 12 Ounces White Chocolate, Chopped Red and Green Sugar Crystals Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl to lend. Using an electric

Chuck Swenson
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