Monday, August 25, 2014

no bake cheesecake bars with fresh blueberry sauce


the goods:

crust:
12 graham cracker sheets
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick unsalted butter, melted

filling:
2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

blueberry sauce:
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla


Make the crust: using a food processor, blend graham cracker sheets until they turn into crumbs. Add sugar and melted butter, and pulse until well combined. Press into the bottom of an 8-by-8-inch pan. 
Make filling: using a mixer with the whisk attachment, combine cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Add heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix on high for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Pour filling over crust. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Make sauce: Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high and simmer for about 5 minutes. The blueberries will break down and become thick. Let cool and refrigerate until you're ready to serve the cheesecake.
To serve: Cut cheesecake into squares and gently remove from the pan. Arrange on a platter and spoon blueberry filling over top of each square.

Monday, August 18, 2014

sugar cookies with sour cream frosting


the goods:

cookies:
1 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 and 1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
5 and 1/2 cups flour

frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sour cream
1 bag (2 pounds) confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
red food or pink food coloring


Cream together butter, oil, sugars, water, and eggs. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and slowly add to the butter mixture. Mix until everything is combined. Dough should be a little crumbly and not sticky at all. Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls and place on cookie sheet. On a small plate combine 1/4 cup sugar and a pinch of salt. Using the bottom of a small glass, press it first into the sugar and then use it to flatten your dough balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and once they are cool, store in the fridge. You want the cookies to be cold.
While the cookies are chilling, make the frosting; Cream together butter, sour cream, and salt. Slowly add powdered sugar until the frosting gets thick, then add a splash of milk. Alternate this process until you reach the desired consistency. Add a drop of red food coloring, or a couple drops of pink and whip on high for 1 minute. Frost cold cookies right before serving.