Red White and Blue Mousse Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9inch spring form pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick spray. Here’s where it gets just a little bit tricky… You are going to need to extend the depth of your pan so cut a strip of parchment paper that is about an inch or 2 taller than you pan and place it inside the pan. Now you are ready to start your first layer.

Sugar cookie layer

1 roll of refrigerator sugar cookie dough

Smash the dough onto the bottom of your already prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Once baked remove from oven and let cool completely. Once cooled completely you are ready to start your “red” strawberry layer.

Strawberry Mousse

1-1/2 cup fresh strawberries

9 ounces white chocolate chips

1-1/2 cups heavy whipped cream, divided

2 tsp unflavored gelatin powder

2 Tbsp cold water

a few drops of red food coloring

Place 1/2 cup fresh strawberries in either a blender or food processor and make a quick puree. you should have a 1/4 cup of puree when finished, Place 1/4 cup strawberry puree in a microwave safe bowl and add white chocolate chips and 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring every 30 seconds until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Let cool to room temperature.

In a small bowl add gelatin to 2 Tbsp of water and let the gelatin absorb the water. Once your chocolate has cooled. Heat gelatin in microwave for 15 seconds. Add gelatin to chocolate mixture and stir together. Add a couple drops of red food coloring to chocolate mixture to get desired color.

Whip remaining 1 cup of whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold half of your whipping cream into chocolate mixture until combined, Fold in the rest of the whipping cream until all is combined. Slice the remaining 1 cup of strawberries and gently stir them into your chocolate mixture. Pour your strawberry mousse over your already prepared and cooled sugar cookie and place in fridge. Let set for 30 minutes. Then it is time to prepare your “white” vanilla mousse layer.

Vanilla Mousse Layer

9 ounces white chocolate chips

1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided

1/4 cup honey

2 tsp vanilla

2 tsp gelatin powder

2 Tbsp cold water

In a microwave safe bowl place white chocolate, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and honey. Heat in 30 second increments stirring every 30 seconds until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Let cool to room temperature. In a small bowl add gelatin to 2 Tbsp water and let the gelatin absorb the water. Once your chocolate mixture has cooled microwave gelatin mixture for 15 seconds. Add gelatin mixture to chocolate mixture and whisk together. Add vanilla to chocolate mixture and stir till combined. Whip remaining 1 cup heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Add half of your whipped cream and fold together until combined. Once combined fold in remaining whipped cream until combined. Pour over your strawberry layer and place back in fridge. Let sit in fridge for 30 minutes. Once set for 30 minutes you are ready to begin your “blue” blueberry mousse layer.

Don’t worry this is your last layer…LOL!!

Blueberry Mousse Layer

For your blueberry layer you are going to want to prepare it just as you have your strawberry layer but exchange

1-1/2 cups blueberries for strawberries

and

a few drops of blue food coloring for the red food coloring

Once you have finished making the blueberry mousse pour over your vanilla mousse layer and place back in the fridge and let set at least 4 hours but overnight is best.

Once your mousse is set remove collar of spring form pan and carefully lift mousse cake off the base of the pan and set on serving dish or cake board. Now you are ready to dig in or top.

I topped mine with left over fresh strawberries and blueberries and some whipped cream.

ENJOY and have a safe and fun 4th of July!!

 

 

Chocolate Silk Cream Pie

Chocolate Silk Filling:

2/3 cups sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 tsp salt

4 egg yolks

3 cups whole milk

5 ounces bittersweet chocolate,chopped

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

2 Tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla

In a heavy bottom sauce pot place sugar, cornstarch and salt stir till combined. In a bowl add egg yolks and milk, whisk together. In a slow stream while whisking add egg yolks and milk to your pot with sugar mixture. Over Medium heat whisking constantly until your mixture begins to bubble and thicken(6-8 minutes), simmer for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate, butter and vanilla until chocolate is melted and combined. Place your mixture into a bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap on top pushing the plastic wrap down on top of mixture till it touches. Place in fridge and let cool completely about 1-2 hours.

For The Crust:

preheat oven to 375 degrees

2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs

1/4 sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

Start by placing your graham crackers in a food processor or a ziplock bag and making them into crumbs. Once you have crumbs, stir in sugar and then add melted butter. Place your crumbs into a pie plate and with the back of a spoon press the crumbs up the sides and into the bottom of your pie plate. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes and then let cool completely.

Once your chocolate silk and crust have cooled place your chocolate silk into your cookie crust and let sit in fridge for at least 4 hours to set.

Whipping cream:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 Tbsp powdered sugar

Whisk heavy cream and sugar together until stiff peaks form

Top your pie with whipping cream and decorate with chocolate shavings and mini chocolate chips.

ENJOY:)

Shredded Beef Sliders

Roast:

3 pounds pot roast

1 bottle of dark beer

1 cup beef broth

garlic salt with parsley to taste

Sprinkle both sides of roast with garlic salt. Heat one large pan and brown each side of your roast. Place roast in slow cooker and add beer and broth. Set temperature on low and timer on 8 hours, walk away and forget about it until later. 🙂

When your roast is finished cooking remove and place in large bowl, shred with two forks and add a little bit of your cooking juices, set aside

Mushrooms and Onions

1 container sliced portabella mushrooms

1 white onion sliced thin into rings

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp diced garlic

1/8 cup white wine

1/2 cup beef broth

In a medium pot add olive oil and butter over medium heat melt butter and heat oil. Add onions and mushrooms toss to coat in butter and oil. Add sugar and salt and toss. Let cook down until onions are caramelized and all the water has cooked out of the mushrooms. Add garlic and let cook a minute or 2. Add wine and broth turn heat down to low and let simmer and all the flavors come together while you get your bread toasted and cheese melted

8 dutch crunch rolls

spray butter

8 slices of swiss cheese

horseradish mustard

Turn your oven to broil, Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place sliced rolls on prepared baking pan and lightly spray your rolls tops and bottoms with spray butter. Place one slice of cheese on each roll and place in oven. Broil until buns are crunchy toasted and cheese is melted. It is now time to assemble your sandwiches.

Assembly:

Dip the one side of your toasty bun into the yummy mushroom and onion juice, and then spread a little horseradish mustard on top. Place shredded beef on top and then add the caramelized onions and mushrooms on top. Top with a little tomato and lettuce if you like and then place your top toasty bun on and enjoy!! 🙂

 

Star Spangled Cannoli

 

Once again it is time for our group post. 🙂 With the 4th of July quickly approaching we thought we would give you some yummy Red, White and Blue Recipes. Any of these recipes would be wonderful at your celebration and is sure to be a big BANG!! 😉 I am sharing my STAR SPANGLED CANNOLI!! Make sure you click the links atn the end of the post to see what kind of FIREWORKS the other ladies have been making in their kitchens.

 

The Day before you are ready to make your cannoli’s you are going to want to start to make your cannoli cream so that your ricotta can drain.

Cannoli Cream

3/4 cup whole milk Ricotta Cheese, drained overnight

3/4 cup mascarpone cheese

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp Grand Marnier or Vanilla

Whip Ricotta and Mascarpone together. Add powdered sugar and grand marnier, mix until everything is incorporated well and smooth. Place in fridge for at least 2 hours.

Cannoli Shells

2 cups flour

1 Tbsp dark brown sugar

1/8 tsp salt

3 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened

2 egg yolks

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

3 ounces sweet marsala wine

In a bowl mix everything EXCEPT the marsala wine with a pastry cutter until crumbly. Add the Marsala wine 1 ounce at a time, until you can mix your cannoli dough with your hands. Form into a ball and let sit in bowl uncovered for 30 minutes to rest.

Roll out your dough on a lightly floured surface until about 1/4 of an inch thick. Cut your dough into 6 inch circles.Your should have enough dough to make 12 cannoli shells. Drape the dough over cannoli forms and lightly wet one end with water and overlap the ends and press to stick together.

Preheat your oil in a deep fryer to 360 degrees. If you don’t have a deep fryer you can heat oil in a deep thick sided pan. Once your oil is heated drop your cannoli form into deep fryer until golden brown, takes about 3 minutes. Remove from oil and gently place on a paper towel lined baking pan. Let cool at least 2 minutes before removing shell from cannoli form.

Or….. If you like you can purchase premade cannoli shells from a specialty store or Italian market.

Once you have either purchased or made your shells (if you have made them make sure they are cooled completely before moving on) It is time to  move on to dipping the ends of your shells in some white chocolate and sprinkles.

White Chocolate and Sprinkles

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place your shells.

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 tsp shortening

2 ounces sprinkles (I used red, white and blue stars)

In a microwave safe bowl place white chocolate chips and shortening (I used a 1 cup pyrex measuring cup) and melt you chocolate chips in 20 second intervals stirring after each 20 seconds until your chips are melted and thin enough to dip your shells in.

Dip the end of each shell in white chocolate and then directly into sprinkles and set on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Once you have all your shells dipped and sprinkled place baking sheet in fridge until chocolate and sprinkles are set.

Next you are ready to fill…..

Fill pastry bag with cannoli filling and fill each shell with cream.

Chop up..

1/2 cup strawberries

1/2 cup blueberries

and toss in a small bowl, carefully place your fruit on the ends of you cannoli’s and place in fridge until ready to serve.ENJOY!! 🙂

Red White Chocolate and Blueberry Cheesecake from Tampa Cake Girl http://tampacakegirlwordpress.com/2015/06/Red-White-Chocolate-And-Blueberry-Cheesecake/

Patriotic Fruit Pops from The Rowdy Baker http://www.therowdybaker.com/?p=3787

Easy Butter Cake With Berries from Moore or Less Cooking Blog http://mooreorlesscooking.com/2015/06/29/easy-butter-cake-with-berries/

Patriotic Pie from Cooking from a SAHM http://cookingfromasahm.blogspot.com/2015/06/patriotic-pie.html