Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake

Yields: 12 servings
I found this recipe on a free iPad app called RecipeGrazer. Great app! Made this for work. It was delicious. I LOVE the flavor of amaretto. Similar to Rum Cake but in my opinion.. better. This recipe is definitely a keeper!


Ingredients
1¼ cups butter, softened
1 (3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
2½ cups sugar
3 tablespoons almond liqueur
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2½ cups all-purpose flour
6 large eggs
⅓ cup sliced almonds
Amaretto Glaze

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325°. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add liqueur and vanilla, beating just until blended. Gradually add flour to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.
2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition. Sprinkle almonds over bottom of a greased and floured 12-cup Bundt pan; pour batter into pan.
3. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
4. During last 10 minutes of baking, prepare Amaretto Glaze. Remove cake from oven, and gradually spoon hot Amaretto Glaze over cake in pan. (Continue to spoon glaze over cake until all of glaze is used, allowing it to soak into cake after each addition.) Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 1 hour and 30 minutes).

Amaretto Glaze (Makes 1¼ cups)
¾ cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter
¼ cup almond liqueur
2 tablespoons water
Bring sugar, butter, almond liqueur, and water to a boil in a small 1-qt. saucepan over medium heat, stirring often; reduce heat to medium-low, and boil, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and use immediately.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Avocado Feta Salsa

Mom's Recipe
Yield: 12 servings
Prep time: 20 min.




Ingredients
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 ripe avocado - peeled, pitted and chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon red or white wine vinegar
4 ounces crumbled feta cheese

 Directions
In a bowl, gently stir together tomatoes, avocados, onion, and garlic. Mix in parsley and oregano. Gently stir in olive oil and vinegar. Then stir in feta. Cover, and chill for 2 to 6 hours.