Dixie Bourbon Sour
The Love Cake (Red Velvet-White Chocolate Cheesecake)
Original recipe from Southern Living, *custom edited by Terri N. Bergman
This recipe was featured in Heart of Ohio Magazine in 2016 for a Valentine’s Day feature. Terri makes these cakes and shares them with love every year. This is one of her most-requested recipes and she shares it with you today so you can make it for those you love!
CHEESECAKE LAYERS
2 (8”) round, aluminum foil cake pans
1 (2oz) package white chocolate morsels
5 (8oz) packages cream cheese softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
RED VELVET LAYERS
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Pummull Spice* or cinnamon (optional)
1 tsp finely crushed pink peppercorns (optional)
1 tsp instant espresso or coffee granules (optional)
1 (8oz) container sour cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 (1 oz) bottles red liquid food coloring
3 (8”) aluminum foil cake pans
WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING
4 oz white chocolate morsels
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup butter, softened
1 (32oz) pkg powdered sugar
1/2 tsp table salt
GARNISHES
White chocolate hearts and leaves made with piped melted chocolate
Fresh raspberries or cranberries (optional)
GLAZE RED VELVET CAKE TOPS (optional)
1 jar seedless raspberry jam warmed in microwave with 1 Tbsp Chambord liqueur, or water. This is a wonderful addition to seal cake tops when cool and enhance and deepen flavor. Use sparingly: spread 1 Tbsp on each cake top prior to assembly.
PREPARATION:
Cheesecake Layers
1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line pans with aluminum foil, allowing 3 inches to extend over sides. Lightly grease foil or spray with cooking oil.
2) Microwave white chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl according to package directions. Let cool 10 minutes.
3) Beat cream cheese and melted chocolate at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating well. Add 2 eggs, beating just until yellow disappears. Stir in vanilla then pour into prepared pans.
4) Bake at 300 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until almost set. Turn oven off. Let cheesecakes stand in oven, with door closed, for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Cover and chill 8 hours, or freeze for 24 – 48 hours.
Red Velvet Layers
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat 1 cup butter at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups sugar. (Optional) Add sugar with Pummel Spice, finely crushed pink peppercorns and espresso granules. Add 6 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
2) Stir together flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and baking soda. Add to butter mixture alternately with sour cream. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in 2 tsp vanilla. Carefully stir in red food coloring. Evenly pour batter into the 3 greased and floured same 8” foil pans as above.
3) Bake at 350 degrees for 22 to 26 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove cake from pans and move to wire racks to cool completely (about 1 hour). These cakes can be prepared and frozen with cheesecake or cooled in refrigerator.
Frosting
1) Whisk together chocolate and . cup boiling water until chocolate melts. Let cool 20 minutes, then chill 30 minutes, stirring to keep the mixture smooth and liquid.
2) Beat 1 cup butter and chilled chocolate at low speed until blended. Beat at medium speed 1 minute. Increase speed to high, beat 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and salt, beating at low speed until blended. Increase speed to high and beat 1-2 minutes or until smooth and fluffy.
Assemble
1) Place 1 layer red velvet on a serving platter. Top with 1 layer cheesecake. Repeat with remaining layers of red velvet and cheesecake, alternating and ending with red velvet on top. Spread top and sides of cake with white chocolate frosting. I like to lightly frost, chill or place in the freezer, and then generously frost again. This seals in red cake crumbs so the finished product is snowy white!
2) Garnish as desired. Remember you can pipe your own leaves and hearts, or garnish with melted white chocolate, that has been piped. If you don’t have a piping kit, refrigerate some frosting in a Ziploc plastic bag and then snip the corner to create a piping tool.
3) Admire your creation, then call in your best family and friends, slice and enjoy!
Chili… The Amazing KB Kind!
Grilled Canteloupe with Lime & Spice
Half Moon Squash with Baby Greens, Spicy Shrimp, Blueberries and Nuts
From the Kitchen of Terri Bergman
Half Moon Squash with Baby Greens, Spicy Shrimp, Blueberries and Nuts – Served with “out of this world” Maple Vinaigrette!
CATEGORY: Main Event or Side Salad/Luncheon
SERVES: 4 Dinner Salads or 6 Luncheon Salads
LEVEL: Presto, easy!
INGREDIENTS:
1 Medium Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded and sliced in full round, half rounds
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp The Amazing Rub
20 Large Shrimp, Cooked and Shelled
2 Tbsp Corn Starch
1 Tbsp Amazing Heat
1 Cup Blueberries
1 Cup Toasted and Salted Whole Pecans
8 Cups Spring Fresh Salad Greens
*Optional 1 cup chopped fresh mint/or basil
INSTRUCTIONS:
Take the butternut squash slices and toss with small amount olive oil, and place on a parchment lined baking sheet, sprinkle generously with the Amazing Rub Seasonings (or your house spices)
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, turning carefully and bake for addition 5-10 minutes until tender and golden. Remove from oven and set aside.
Next, place cooked shrimp in a bowl and dust with cornstarch and Amazing Heat. Heat a non stick skillet with oil and quickly cook the shrimp( do not over crowd) to slightly golden and seasoned, flip and remove from pan. Place on paper towel until assembling salads.
Take 4 large salad plates and put 2 cups of greens on each. Assemble squash and shrimps in rows on greens, then toss over the blueberries and pecans. Dress with House Maple Vinaigrette, Salt and Pepper to taste.
MAPLE VINAIGRETTE:
1/8 C Maple Syrup
1/8 C Rice Wine Vinegar
¼ Light Vegetable Oil (could use Olive Oil also)
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tsp Amazing Heat (or house seasonings)
¼ Pummull Seasoning (or Cinn)
Stir or shake together and add salt and pepper directly to salads
Tequila Sunrise
For those that asked, and are feeling a little 70’s…here it is! Time to bring this fabulous cocktail back!
Asian Chicken Thighs and Pineapple Slaw
From the Kitchen of Terri Bergman
Asian Seared Chicken Thighs with Pineapple Slaw…served with Peanut Sauce
CATEGORY: Main Event
SERVES: 4
LEVEL: Presto, easy!
INGREDIENTS:
4 Chicken thighs
2 Tbsp The Amazing Rub (or Brown Sugar w/Ginger)
1 Tbsp vegetable Oil
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp Hot Sauce
1 Tbsp Lemon/or Lime Juice
2 Cups Fresh Pineapple bite size chop
SLAW INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbsp The Amazing Rub (or Brown Sugar)
4 C Coleslaw mix (your favorite) or fine Shred Cabbage and Carrots
½ C Dried Fruit/Nut Trail Mix (no choc!)
1 Tbsp Lime Juice
2 Tbsp Oil (light here)
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
½ Tbsp hot sauce
1 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil to finish
Fresh Herbs as in Cilantro, Mint or Basil – fine chopped or 2 Tbsp dried Basil or Amazing Herbes
PEANUT SAUCE INGREDIENTS:
½ C Peanut Butter smooth
¼ tsp Pummull Spice (or Cinn blend)
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup or Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tsp Rice Vinegar (or white)
½ tsp red pepper flakes
¼ C hot water (start with 1/8 C and add to desired consistency)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare Chicken thighs by skinning, deboning and cutting into small strips. In a large bowl add chicken, Amazing Rub, oil, soy sauce, hot sauce and citrus juice (lemon or lime). Toss to coat the strips of chicken and set aside for 15-30 minutes or cover and refrigerator overnight.
Drain Chicken from marinade before searing. Get a skillet hot with oil, and place chicken pieces in skillet, do not over crowd, looking to sear these and create a nice golden brown surface on all side. Remove chicken that is cooked thru (no pink in centers) and continue to cook all chicken, set aside on warm plate. In same pan as cooked chicken, add a little more oil and cook the chopped, drained pineapple looking to toss coat and brown (add a little sprinkle of Amazing Rub to season and brown)
Assemble the Slaw with Cabbage/Carrot mix, ½ C Trail Mix, and toss dress with lime juice, oil, soy sauce, hot sauce- when all coated, finish with a drizzle of Toasted Sesame Oil if desired.
Place a cup of dressed Slaw in center of each serving dish, top with seared pineapple and lastly with chicken strips. Can be garnished with a little more trail mix, or chopped basil or Herbs as noted.
The Peanut Sauce recipe above is delicious as a side dressing to use in the entire plated salad or for a dressing for the chicken. This is so very packed with flavor, and you’ll be shouting “encore”. I have found that a prepared plated salad with all ingredients is also delicious to refrigerate (cover with wrap) and do a quick 1 minute warm in micro. Enjoy!!!
Duchess Potatoes
From the Kitchen of Terri Bergman
Smooth, creamy and the perfect accompaniment to Beef Bourguignon
CATEGORY: Frame it
SERVES: 8
LEVEL: Presto, easy!
INGREDIENTS:
4 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 large eggs
4 T melted butter
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Fresh ground nutmeg to taste (or just a pinch of Pummull Spice)
1/2 C milk/cream
1/2 C melted butter
1-2 dashes paprika (optional)
2-4 T goat cheese or sharp cheddar cheese
2 tsp finely chopped chives
DIRECTIONS:
Cook the potatoes in boiling water until fork-tender (about 25 minutes) drain and place in a large mixing bowl. Cool the potatoes for about 20 minutes at room temperature. Add in eggs and 4 Tbsp. melted butter, pinch salt, pepper and cheese if desired; add in 4-5 Tbsp. cream adding in more to achieve desired consistency. Season with more salt and pepper if needed to taste, add chives at this stage. You may spoon the potato mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip or simply mound on plate to create a little bowl for a rich Beef Bourguignon mixture. (If piping, pipe the mixture in 12 mounds onto a large greased baking sheet/s. Melt the 1/3-1/2 cup butter and drizzle over the potatoes. Sprinkle a very small amount of paprika or Amazing Heat over each mound.)
Set oven to 400 degrees F. Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Bourbon Cranberry Sour
From the Kitchen of Terri Bergman
On creating a cocktail that hit all the notes for my Valentine, I wanted to include Bourbon, Cranberries (because it’s his favorite), lemon and orange to make a sweet sour…and Ginger to make spicy. This cocktail hits all those notes! Enjoy!
CATEGORY: Cocktails & Mocktails
SERVES: One
LEVEL: Presto, easy!
INGREDIENTS:
2 Oz Bourbon
2 Oz Cranberry Juice
1 Oz Lemon Juice
splash /orange squeeze
slight dash Pummull Spice (optional or Cinnamon)
4 oz Ginger-ale or Ginger Beer
Garnish Orange Slice, Fresh Cranberries
Ice cubes small or preference a large globe of ice
Add Bourbon, Cranberry Juice, Lemon Juice and pinch Pummull Spice in glass and stir. Add ice, stir then pour over your choice of Ginger. Squeeze of OJ on top, add Orange slice, fresh Cranberries and ENJOY!
