Birthday Cake Donuts

A few weeks ago it was our friend Clare’s birthday; it had been far too long since I’d busted out the donut pan – so birthday cake donuts it was!

Birthday Cake Donuts

adapted from Cookies and Cups

Ingredients:

For the Donuts…

• One box Funfetti or Confetti Cake Mix
• 3/4 c buttermilk (I used 3/4 c almond milk & 1 T lemon juice)
• 2 eggs
• 2 T melted coconut spread (butter substitute made by Earth Balance)

For the glaze…

• 1/4 c almond milk
• 2 c powdered sugar
• 1 t pure vanilla extract

For the frosting…

• 1 c powdered sugar
• 1 T almond milk (plus more if needed – add by T)
• sprinkles (definitely not optional)

Pre-heat oven to 425. Add 1 T lemon juice to 3/4 c almond milk if you are subbing for buttermilk. Mix all ingredients together (use a mixer if you are rich) and put into ziploc bag or piping bag. Cut off corner. Pip into your donut pan. Don’t over fill! A little over 1/2 full is perfect… otherwise you will end up with duffins (donut-muffins) like I did. Bake 7-9 minutes, just until browned. Place on cooling rack. Make 2nd batch… recipe should make 12 donuts or so.

For the glaze, combine ingredients in a medium sauce pan over low heat. Coat your donuts in glaze while the pan is still on low heat… place glazed donuts back on cooling rack. (Optional: perform taste test on semi-cooled glazed donuts)

For the frosting, mix together sugar and almond milk until smooth. Spread 1 t of frosting on cooled glazed-donuts, top with sprinkles. (Not optional: eat at least 2 more and complain of stomach pains for the rest of the night)

*For more technical instructions and tutorial, please see linked post. I know you don’t expect such from me.

My batch yielded more than a dozen but I don’t want to make you any promises. This was a win-win situation because I was still able to bring a dozen to the party, eat a few for quality control purposes, and have one the day after the party to perform freshness measures (I do it for you, blog friends).

Online Bake sale and Macaroons!

Before I tell you about these super simple, yet ridiculously addicting macaroons, please please check out Bloggers Bake for Hope! I am excited to be a part of this online bakesale, all proceeds to go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affiliates.

There are already SO many amazing items listed! Online bidding will take place between May 4-6, 2011. I encourage you to take a look and next week, bid on delicious treats created by talented bloggers and bakers!

My White Chocolate Lime Cookies are up for grabs, they are deeee-licious!

Obviously, I encourage you to vote for whatever strikes your fancy though! And please spread the word! It’s a win-win, you get treats delivered to your door and the cause gets the $!

Now, onto the macaroons…

Did I mention these were addicting?

Yes, I did mention that. But did I mention that they have only 40 calories apiece?

Well, now I did. Not kidding.

Did I mention I ate two for second breakfast this morning?

It’s the truth.

{Easy, Delicious, Addicting Macaroons}

Ingredients:

• 3 large egg whites
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 2 1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 1/2 t. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Beat egg whites until peaks form… or your arm feels like it’s going to fall off (in my case). Add sugar a bit at a time, keep whisking with egg whites. Whisk in vanilla and then stir in coconut until well-mixed.

Spoon into level tablespoons and drop onto parchment paper. Bake for 13-15 minutes. Remove when they have turned a golden brown.

*Makes 32 cookies

Peanut Noodles with Sriracha-Lime Tofu

I have been looking forward to sharing this dish with you because I can’t stop thinking about it. It was absolutely delicious, spicy and flavorful. The balance between the delicate rice noodles and the rich, creamy sauce was perfect. The vegetables had the perfect amount of crispness to contrast the noodles and the tofu took on such great flavor from the sriracha and lime it was cooked in. I loved it so much I ate it for dinner three times this week and wish there was still more. And that’s coming from a girl who doesn’t really love leftovers.

{Peanut Noodles with Sriracha-Lime Tofu}

Ingredients:

• 1 c. vegetable broth
• 5 T. all-natural peanut butter (I used crunchy)
• 2 T. honey
• 1 T. Sriracha
• 2 T. Liquid Aminos (or Soy Sauce)
• 1 T. grated ginger
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 block extra-firm Tofu, pressed to remove liquid
• 2-3 T. lime juice
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed with garlic press
• 1 T. grated ginger
• 2-3 t. canola oil (or sesame)
• 8 ounces of rice noodles
• 1 c. chopped green onion
• 1.5 c. carrot shreds
• 1.5 c. broccoli slaw
• chopped peanuts (for garnish)

For the sauce, combine first 6 ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat until sauce becomes smooth and well-blended. Stir occasionally. Set-aside when done, should take 5-10 minutes.

Boil water for the rice noodles and cook according to package directions. Drain.

Cube pressed tofu in 1/2 inch cubes. Toss with lime juice, crushed garlic, grated ginger and salt & pepper (if desired).

Heat a large skilled. Add oil and tofu. Sauté until tofu starts to brown. When done, remove from heat and set aside.

Add green onions, carrot shred and broccoli slaw to skillet. Saute until tender but still crisp. You may wish to add a bit of vegetable broth to aid in this.

Toss noodles with peanut sauce. When well mixed, plate peanut noodles atop a vegetables. Top with tofu and chopped peanuts. Enjoy!

*Serves 4-6

No need for takeout

I love scallion pancakes. I love their flaky texture and the spicy yet mild flavor. If I see them on a menu, I MUST order them. It has always occurred to me that they can’t be that difficult to make. The concept is simple… dough and scallions, flattened into a pancake and pan-fried. I finally picked up a bottle of sesame oil and headed into the kitchen to whip some up for dinner. There are only a few ingredients:

Flour, water, sesame oil (not pictured) and of course… scallions.

Scallion Pancakes (Serves 4 @1 pancake per serving)

1 cup boiling water

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped scallions

Sesame oil for pan-frying

Instructions: Heat water to boiling then pour into flour. Mix with wooden spoon until it forms a dough. Break off about 1/4 of dough ball. Roll out flat on floured surface. Dump 1/4 cup of scallions on pancake, spread around. Roll pancake so it’s long and “snake-like”. Then roll again, starting from one end, so it looks like a snail or cinnamon bun. Roll out flat again. *This step distributes the scallions throughout the pancake. Using spatula, carefully drop pancake into heated sesame oil. Pan-fry on each side until it’s lightly browned and crispy.

Serve with soy sauce or dipping sauce of your choice.