Strawberry Coconut Cream Pie Bars

Crust Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Filling Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup flaked coconut
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping Ingredients:
1 1/2 - 2 packages strawberries (I had some leftover, but I always buy two packs just in case)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
red food coloring (optional)

Directions:
Make shortbread crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare an 8-inch square baking pan by lining it with parchment paper. Cut the butter into the flour and powdered sugar and press into the baking dish (I used a food processor to cut the fat into the flour — about 6-10 pulses — and then the bottom of a glass to press the mixture into the pan). Bake 18-20 minutes or until light brown. Set on a wire rack to cool.

Make coconut cream filling: Combine the half-and-half, coconut milk, eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium-low heat, whisking constantly until it’s thick and bubbling (this may  take  from 10-20 minutes.) Add coconut and vanilla extracts and the shredded coconut and stir. Pour this filling over your cooled crust, let it cool for a bit on the counter before refrigerating to chill until firm, about 2 to 4 hours.

Assemble and make glaze: Slice most of a pound of strawberries in thin slices lengthwise and layer the slices in pretty alternating diagonal rows on the top of the coconut cream. Put into refrigerator to chill while you make your glaze.

Crush remaining 1/2 cup of strawberries and boil with water in a saucepan over medium-high heat for two minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and discard the pulp. Pour a little of the resulting strawberry juice into the glass with the cornstarch and stir to make a slurry. Put the rest of the juice back into the saucepan over medium-high heat and gradually whisk in sugar and cornstarch slurry. Cook until thickened.(If desired, you can tint this glaze with food coloring to desired hue).  Cool the glaze slightly (you can transfer to a heat-proof measuring cup with a pour spout to cool) and then pour over top of strawberry slices on  pie. Chill bars before serving.

Pina Colada Fruit Salad

• 
  
• 1-1/2 cups green grapes
• 1-1/2 cups seedless red grapes
• 1-1/2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1-1/2 cups halved fresh strawberries
• 1 can (8 ounces) pineapple chunks, drained
• 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 can (10 ounces) frozen non-alcoholic pina colada mix, thawed
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup pineapple-orange juice
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/8 teaspoon coconut extract
• In a serving bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the pina colada mix, sugar, juice and extracts until sugar is dissolved. Pour over fruit; toss to coat. Chill until serving. Yield: 9 servings.

Smoothie

Blend 1/2 c. strawberry yogurt
1/2 banana
2 T. orange juice.
Add 1-2 T. milk if it is too thick.
Also try adding 1 more T. of orange juice for "Orange Julius" taste

Strawberry Cream Pie

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar, divided 
• 3 cups half-and-half
• 6 egg yolks 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (9-oz.) package chocolate wafer cookies
• 1/2 (4-oz.) semisweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter, melted 
• 1 qt. fresh strawberries 
• 1/4 cup red currant jelly
• 1 tablespoon orange liqueur

Preparation

1. 1. Whisk together first 3 ingredients and 2/3 cup sugar in a medium-size heavy saucepan. Whisk together half-and-half and next 2 ingredients in a small bowl; gradually add to cornstarch mixture, whisking constantly.
2. 2. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat, and transfer to a bowl; cover and chill 4 to 24 hours.
3. 3. Preheat oven to 350°. Pulse wafer cookies and chopped chocolate in a food processor 8 to 10 times or until finely crushed. Stir together cookie crumb mixture, melted butter, and remaining 1/3 cup sugar; firmly press mixture on bottom, up sides, and onto lip of a lightly greased 9-inch pie plate.
4. 4. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and cool completely (about 30 minutes).
5. 5. Spoon chilled half-and-half mixture into prepared crust. Cut 8 to 10 strawberries in half, and arrange around outer edge of pie (leaving tops on, if desired); hull and slice remaining strawberries, and arrange in center of pie.
6. 6. Cook jelly in a small saucepan over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until melted. Remove from heat, and stir in liqueur. Brush jelly mixture gently over strawberries. Chill, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Chocolate Skillet Cake

Cake Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
dash salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting Ingredients:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 tablespoons cocoa
3-4 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

ice cream (for serving)
caramel sauce (for serving; this one is delicious!)
whipped cream (for serving)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, sugar, and salt together and set aside.

In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, bring the butter, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, and water to a boil. Remove it from the heat and whisk in the dry ingredients well. Mix in the buttermilk, egg, and vanilla. Bake the skillet cake at 350 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

While the cake starts to cool, make the frosting. In a medium saucepan, bring the butter, cocoa, and milk to a boil. Remove them from heat and add the icing sugar, nuts, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over the warm cake, spread with a spatula, and serve with vanilla bean ice cream, caramel sauce, and whipped cream.

Plum Cake (AKA Prune Cake)

Ingredients

•  FOR THE CAKE:
• 1 cup Prunes
• 1 cup Sugar
• 3 whole Eggs
• 1 cup Canola Oil
• 1-1/2 cup Flour, Sifted
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon Allspice
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
•  _____
•  FOR THE ICING:
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 Tablespoon White Corn Syrup
• 1/4 cup Butter
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Cover prunes with water. Bring to a boil and cook until soft and mashable, about eight minutes. Remove from heat, drain water, and mash on a plate. Set aside.

Mix together oil, sugar, and eggs. In a separate bowl, sift together dry ingredients. Combine wet and dry ingredients, add buttermilk and vanilla and stir gently until just combined. Throw in the mashed prunes and stir gently to combine. DO NOT OVERMIX!

Pour batter into buttered baking dish (9 x 13 or so) and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE!!!

While cake has five minutes remaining, make the icing:
Combine all icing ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a slow boil. Boil without stirring for 5 to 7 minutes, or until icing starts to turn dark. Do NOT allow icing to reach soft ball stage; icing should be caramel in color, but not sticky like caramel. Icing should be easily pourable.

Remove cake from oven and pour on icing immediately.
Allow to rest on the counter. Serve warm.

. . . ala Pioneer Woman

Chocolate Caramel Brownies

INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 cups Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa
1 1/2 Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES™ Bag, 5.32 oz
2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter or margarine, melted
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir eggs with sugar and vanilla. Add melted butter.

Sift ground chocolate with flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into egg mixture.

Spread half the batter into a greased 8" square pan. Place chocolate squares in a single layer on top of batter. Cover the squares layer with the remaining batter. Bake 20 to 30 minutes. Cut into 16 to 20 squares.