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[personal profile] switch842
At work today, we had this "Fakers & Bakers" contest. The idea was, people brought in baked goods. Some were made completely some scratch. Some were cheaters who used boxed mixes. Then there were judges who sampled and we had 3 winners - 2 in each category (cakes/cupcakes/pies and brownies/bars/cookies) and then one overall winner. Well, I won my category!! I made this chocolate mint bar thing that uses an entire can of Hershey's syrup. Very yummy. Anyway, I got $50 to Williams-Sonoma. Can't wait to use it. Just need to figure out what I want! :-)


CAKE LAYER
INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups (16 oz can) Hershey’s syrup

Heat oven to 350. Grease rectangular 13x9x2 pan. In large mixer bowl beat all ingredients until smooth. Pour into prepared pan; bake 25-30 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. (Top may still appear wet.) Cool completely.

MINT CREAM LAYER
INGREDIENTS
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 T water
1/2 tsp mint extract
3 drops green food color
(For Christmas, I like to change this up and use peppermint extract with red food color)

Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth. Spread over top of cooled cake. Chill.

CHOCOLATE TOPPING
INGREDIENTS
6 T butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In small microwave safe bowl, melt ingredients on HIGH for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Poor on top of chilled mint layer. Cover and store in refrigerator.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-10-02 01:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ms-3m.livejournal.com
If I may suggest if you don't already have one or two...from this page, I like the rotary grater or the micro-plane graters: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/srch/index.cfm?words=micro-plane

Or the Salter scale from this page or the Lifestyle brand looks very sexy:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/srch/index.cfm?searchtype=keyword&searchform=1&words=food+scale

I luvvvvv kitchen gadgets. :)





(no subject)

Date: 2007-10-02 01:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] switch842.livejournal.com
Ooo! Gadgets! I could use a new meat thermometer. Perhaps a new cutting board! All I have is a crappy plastic one.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-10-02 01:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ms-3m.livejournal.com
I forgot to add, that a digital scale is my next acquisition.

Wood cuttingboards are really the best. They are the easiest on your knives.

I just looked at their thermometers I didn't see the one that I like. The closet one in style to what I have is the one priced for $29.95, The Voice Alert version. You can put the probe in and then shut the door leaving it in the meat. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku7080419/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C15%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cmeat%20themometer&cm%5Fsrc=SCH

One more alternative....I have a knife similar to this blade style that I just love. No one can use except for me. :D Mine happens to be Henckels brand but most of the lines now have this shape blade: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/cu094/index.cfm?pkey=ccutwtwb.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-10-02 01:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] switch842.livejournal.com
Those are both very nice....

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