Jet Chef

Monday, February 16, 2009

Today is Almond Day!

Today is Almond Day! I traveled with my family to Sacramento last Spring Break, and while we were there, we were able to enjoy a special Agriculture Day at the State Capitol building. And I learned a couple of fascinating facts about almonds:

Did you know that almonds are the top agricultural export for California?

Did you also know that the pollination of California almonds takes about one million hives which is about one half of the hives in the entire US?

I love almonds, and I have been told that a handful of almonds a day is good for my heart...what a fantastic excuse to enjoy almonds!

I also came across this recipe from Epicurious for Almond Cookies that sound amazing! What a great accent for a nice, hot cup of tea!

(image from www.epicurious.com, photo by: Tina Rupp)

Chai-Spiced Almond Cookies
Bon Appétit January 2006

Yield: Makes about 22
Active time: 20 minutes
Total time: 60 minutes

These cookies, a twist on traditional snowballs, are just the thing to enjoy with a spot of tea.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped toasted almonds

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Using electric mixer, beat butter, 1/3 cup sugar, both extracts, spices, and salt in medium bowl. Beat in flour, then stir in almonds.

Using hands, roll dough into tablespoon-size balls. Place on large baking sheet, spacing apart. Bake until pale golden, about 25 minutes. Cool on sheet 5 minutes. Place remaining sugar in large bowl. Working in batches, gently coat hot cookies in sugar. Cool cookies on rack. Roll again in sugar and serve.

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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Today is National Gumdrop Day!

Today is National Gumdrop Day! I love gumdrops, and gumdrops are a favorite cake and cupcake topping as they bring a smile to any face, young or not-so-young!

(image from marzipancandies.com)

Here is a darling Gumdrop Garden Cake from FamilyFun.com. I know I will be making this with my kids, looks like a fantastic way to celebrate spring! April Showers bring May Gumdrop Flowers?!

Gumdrop Garden Cake

Ingredients:
Pound cake or other loaf-shaped cake
Chocolate frosting
Ladyfingers
Chocolate wafer cookies
Sugar
Gumdrops
Green toothpicks

Preparation:

1. Ice the top and sides of the pound cake with chocolate frosting. Then trim the top of each ladyfinger into a point to resemble a fence picket. Gently press the pickets against the frosted sides of the loaf cake.

2. Seal a handful of chocolate wafer cookies in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Sprinkle the crumb "soil" on top of the loaf cake.

3. Plant a row of tulips: Sprinkle sugar onto a waxed-paper-covered surface. Using a rolling pin, flatten gumdrops to a 1/4-inch thickness. With kitchen scissors, cut notches in the tops of the flattened gumdrops to create tulip shapes. Insert a toothpick stem into the base of each blossom.

4. Make a pair of leaves for each tulip by trimming flattened green gumdrops into teardrop shapes. Spear the base of each leaf with the toothpick stem and push it halfway up the stem. Now plant the tulips in the cake.

5. For a fun finishing touch, sprinkle coconut tinted with green food coloring around the garden to resemble grass.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Today is National Creme-Filled Chocolates Day!

Today is National Creme-Filled Chocolates Day! Otherwise known as....Happy Valentine's Day!

Jet-Chef.com hopes that you have a wonderful Valentine's Day and that you enjoy your creme-filled chocolates...along with any other kinds of chocolates that you receive from your loved ones!