Wordless Wednesday-snow



Scandinavian Kringler ~ Tasty Tuesday

This pastry is wonderful...almost beyond words. I do love my Italian roots, but this makes me *almost* want to be Scandinavian!

Scandinavian Kringler ~ a most delightful pastry 



Crust:

1 c. flour

½ c. butter chilled

2-3 Tbs. cold water

Topping:

1 c. water

½ c. butter

1 c. flour

3 eggs

½ tsp. almond extract

Frosting:

1c. powdered sugar

1 Tbs. butter softened

½ tsp. almond extract

2-3 Tbs. milk or cream

¼ c. sliced almonds or chopped nuts

Place 1 cup flour in small bowl. Using pastry blender, cut in ½ c. butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle with ice water 1Tbs. at a time. Stir with fork until soft dough forms. form dough into ball. Divide dough in half. Form each half into 12 inch rope. On ungreased cookie sheet, flatten each rope into 12x3 inch strip.

Heat oven to 350. In medium saucepan, bring 1 c. water and ½ c. butter to a boil. Remove from heat. Immediately stir in 1c. four until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating util smooth after each addition. Stir in ½ tsp. almond ext. Spoon half of batter over each crust. spreading to within ¼ inch of edges. Bake at 350for 50-60 minutes. or until golden brown. and puffy. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; cool. Sprinkle with Almonds.

Tasty Thursday? ~ Java Chip Frappucinno's

Well, this was supposed to be this weeks tasty tuesday recipe and was scheduled as so, but it disappeared into computer no where land. Thus....tasty thursday

Java Chip Frappucinno's ~ cheaper by the dozen style

I will put the main way we make them at our house now, plus a couple of variations.

2 shots of espresso ( or 1/4 cup strong coffee)

1 cup milk

2 to 2 1/2 cups ice

1/4- 1/3 cup hershey's syrup

2- 3 heaping tbsp hot cocoa mix

a handful of mini chocolate chips (regular size just isn't as good)

big, fat straws (for the chocolate chips to go through ☺

Blend all in the blender until ice is well blended.  Makes 2 good size cups.

Variation #1 (I made the java chips this way before I got my espresso maker)

1/4 cup french vanilla cafe or cafe mocha (from General Foods International Coffee or the wal-mart version or cappuccino mix)

1 cup milk

2 to 2 1/2 cups ice

handful of mini chocolate chips

a few swirls of hersheys syrup

Blend all until well blended in blender.

Variation #2

this is how I make it to be 'healthy'-avoiding corn syrup and trans fats

1 cup milk

2 shots of espresso

2 to 2 1/2 cups ice

3- 4 tbsp of ghiradelli chocolate powder (presweetened)

handful of mini chocolate chips

Blend as above.

Enjoy!