DIY Sweet Stuff

Cannoli Seeing these on television seemed like the perfect bite of happiness, so on my last visit to NYC this was one of the things on the to-do list. My cousin took me to Michael's bakery in Brooklyn so that the craving could be put to rest. However, on returning home the cravings returned. This is not something that local bakeries sell, so just imagine my dilemma. Persistent to not let this deter me from having it again, I quickly searched for a recipe to try at home. This one took a little more effort, okay it was a lot of effort! I had to order the cannoli tubes online for preparing the shells. With patience the mission was soon accomplished. Conveniently the packaging for the tubes contained a recipe for the cannoli shell which I utilized. Hope this can add a variety to your dessert list! Ingredients: 3 tablespoons shortening 2 cups flour 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup any cooking wine (marsala etc)1 egg  (slightly beaten) Vegetable ...

So I was looking for that perfect dessert you would usually envision when you have that sweet tooth craving. Last weekend I stumbled upon this simply heavenly recipe.  Recipe: 6 Servings  Ingredients : 2 Cups heavy whipping cream 1/2 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 Cup powdered sugar 8 oz Cream Cheese 1/4 Cup powdered sugar 1 Tsp vanilla extract 5 Chocolate wafer cookies (chocolate sprinkles) Instructions: In a mixer whip together heavy whipping cream, cocoa powder and 3/4 cup powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Transfer this mixture into a clean bowl and directly to the mixer add your cream cheese. No need to wash to mixer before this step. Beat cream cheese until soft adding 1/4 Cup powdered sugar in interrvals finally add vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Gradually add the cream cheese mixture to the first chocolate cream mixture you had set aside. Gently fold in the cream cheese mixture in until all is folded in. Combine...

Hot Cross Buns This is something that has always been a tradition whether store bought/homemade. In recent years I have found that making my own is more satisfying. The store bought ones were either to dry or just not tasty enough. So two years ago I begun making my own and my family also agreed that homemade is the best! So preparing them myself turned into my own little family tradition and not to mention I have two additional helpers now. 😊  Recipe:16-18 Buns Dough Ingredients: 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter (any butter is fine) 2 Cups Warm Milk 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar 1 Pack Active Dry Yeast 5 Cups Flour (Divided) 1 Teaspoon baking Powder 2 Teaspoon Salt 1/2 Cup Preserved Fruit 3/4 Cup of Raisins  Icing: 1 1/2 Cups Sifted icing Sugar 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice 4 Tablespoons Milk/Water Vanilla Essence  Instructions: Grease two baking pans and set aside. In a large bowl whisk together the warm milk, melted butter and granulated sugar. The mixtu...

For gourmet to everyday items, this post is intended to assist with acquiring everything on your shopping list at the best price and in one stop. Over the years a number of gourmet shops has made its presence to our shores making those hard to get items easily available. For those cooking & baking fanatics out there I am sure you will agree with me that it was like a jackpot knowing that these items are now readily available.  I will provide some stores/groceries along with where items that can be purchased at the most reasonable costs locally.  Sav-A-Lot Food Stores There are two locations in Trinidad one located on the Eastern Maid Rd. San Juan next to American Stores. This grocery I begun shopping at probably for the past 3-4 years, they offer a variety of items you would usually find in the high end local groceries different brands but at a cheaper cost.  For baking I love to visit them as they have a variety of items to choose from (ready made cake m...

I am quite sure many like myself  many of you have tried a number of corn pie recipes that did not do justice to the name "Corn Pie"! I came across this recipe four months ago and I gaurentee this is the only recipe you will stick to for the perfect corn pie. Recipe: Serves 5-6  Ingredients: 1 15 ounce Canned Corn 1 Large egg ½ cup corn meal 4 tablespoons butter Chive (chopped) ½ cup diced onion 1 bell pepper/Pimentos (green or red diced) 1 teaspoon or more salt ½ teaspoon scotch bonnet pepper or cayenne pepper (optional) ½- 1 canned evaporated milk (depending on texture) 2 Tablespoons parsley 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese divided  2-tablespoon sugar (optional) Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease casserole bowl and set aside Strain water from corn and place liquid into a bowl . Measure the liquid into 1 cup , if it does not measure 1 Cup add enough water to fill it. Return the water into the bowl, fo...

Increasing costs of items each time you make a trip to the grocery can be somewhat frustrating especially for those of us who prefer healthier choices. One product for sure that is used often when transforming your diet is yogurt. It used used in countless breakfast recipes which is usually the power meal that kick starts the day. If you noticed the cost of yogurt recently you would definitely want to try this as it will help you save as well as encourage you to continue your healthy lifestyle.  This particular recipe takes some patience and is recommended to be done on  day that you intend to be at home for most of the day. Important tools required for this is a thermometer and a crock pot, if you ever attempted to make homemade fudge, this recipe is somewhat like that in regards to following each step in detail. No substitutions and every step must be done on point with instructions provided.  For adding the yogurt with live cultures it is recommended using pla...