Fluffy Coffee Icing

If you enjoy French pastries, then this icing is going to become a fast favorite for you.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups vegetable shortening or butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar/caster sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cold coffee
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large eggs

Method

1. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat on high speed until the icing becomes very smooth and fluffy.
2. Use as icing on a cake or decorations.

Makes enough to frost 1 cake... double to use as decorations too.

No Bake Coffee Balls

A great way to have dessert in a blink of an eye... perfect for unexpected company!

Ingredients

• 1 box (7 ounces) vanilla wafers cookies
• 2 cups powdered sugar/icing sugar
• 3/4 cup ground walnuts
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa
• 1/4 cup heavy cream/double cream
• 1/4 cup double strength, cold coffee

Method

1. Crush the vanilla cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor. Add the sugar and mix well. Add in the ground walnuts and cocoa, and pulse slightly to mix.
2. Add the cream and the coffee. Pulse until it starts to hold together.
3. Shape into balls about 3/4 inches in diameter - about the size of a small walnut.
4. Roll half of the balls in powdered sugar and the other half in cocoa powder. Chill.
5. DO NOT BAKE these cookies!

Makes about 4 dozen

Jellied Chicken

Gelatin is a fun way to enhance chicken. Be sure to try this recipe if you like to experiment!

Ingredients

• 3 pound chicken
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons gelatin
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cloves
• 1 teaspoon peppercorns
• dash nutmeg
• 3 hard-cooked eggs
• 1/2 cup sliced olives
• 1/2 cup sliced cooked mushrooms (canned is ok)
• 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1 Tablespoon chopped celery

Method

1. In a very large pot, place the washed chicken in the bottom and cover the chicken half way with boiling water. Add salt, cover and let simmer until tender - approximately 3 hours.
2. Remove chicken from the pot and reserve all the broth. Drain the chicken and let it cool.
3. Remove all the meat from the bones. Cut up into small pieces and set aside.
4. Place skin and bones in a saucepan. Add 1 quart of the broth to the saucepan.
5. Add onion, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt, cloves, peppers and nutmeg. Simmer until reduced to 1 pint.
6. Add gelatin... stir, then drain.
7. Put a layer of chicken meat in a greased mold. Cover with a layer of sliced eggs, mushrooms and olives. Alternate layers until all the ingredients are used, sprinkling each layer with parsley and celery.
8. Pour the stock into the mold. Refrigerate and unmold when it has set up.
9. Slice into 6 even pieces. Serve with mayonnaise. (If there is any broth left over, enjoy the soup by adding rice or pasta noodles for a quick chicken soup.)

Serves 6

Creamy Sweet Potato Salad

...a RAW Recipe

Creamy Sweet Potato Salad is a vinegar and oil based salad with the inclusion of avocado to help with the creaminess of the dressing.

Ingredients

• 1 raw sweet potato, shredded
• 1 cucumber, shredded
• 1 zucchini, shredded
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1 onion, diced small
• 1 green pepper, diced small
• 2 avocados, diced

Method

1. Combine all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix well.
2. Add extra virgin olive oil and vinegar to taste, along with salt and pepper.
3. Mix well so the avocado begins to cream the dressing.
4. This can be eaten without the dressing, or you can add a dressing of your choice.

Serves 8

Caramel Frosting

Caramel Frosting is a great topping for Devil's Food Cake. Of course it can be used on any cake of your choice!

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar/caster sugar
• 1 cup sour cream or milk
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• heavy cream

Method

1. Combine the sugars and the sour cream in a large saucepan. Cook slowly until the sugars are dissolved. Cook until a little of the mixture dropped into cold water forms a soft ball.
2. Remove from the heat and add the butter and the vanilla. Let the saucepan feel warm to the touch before you begin to beat the frosting. Beat until very stiff, then add enough cream, while beating, to make it into a spreading consistency.

Makes enough to frost and fill a 2 layer cake.