Sour Cream Cucumbers

1-2 whole cucumbers, peeled and sliced
lemon juice
parsley
salted water
1/2 cup (125 ml) finely chopped onion
1 cup (225 ml) sour cream
black pepper
salt

Instructions:Soak the cucumbers in the salted water for about an hour, then drain and rinse.
Place the cucumbers in a bowl and add the sour cream and chopped onion.
Add lemon juice (about half of a whole lemon's worth), salt, pepper, and parsley to taste (The lemon juice helps to make the sour cream taste like buttermilk).
Mix thoroughly--the sauce should be slighly runny but not overly so (Sauce will thicken upon standing).
Refrigerate for several hours to let the mixture thicken.
Serve as a side salad.

My grandmother makes this all the time. It's really good

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Chocolate Boston Cream Pie

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup HERSHEY'S ® Cocoa Powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups light cream
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup HERSHEY'S ® Cocoa Powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon corn syrup
2 tablespoons HERSHEY'S ® Cocoa Powder
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour one 9-inch round baking pan.

2 Stir together flour, sugar, cocoa and baking soda in large bowl. Add butter, milk, egg and vanilla. Beat on low speed of mixer until all ingredients are moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3 Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Prepare Chocolate Filling. Cut cake into two thin layers. Place one layer on serving plate; spread filling over layer. Top with remaining layer.

4 Prepare Satiny Chocolate Glaze. Pour onto top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down sides. Refrigerate until serving time. Cover; refrigerate leftover cake. 8 servings.

5 Chocolate Filling:Stir together sugar, cocoa and cornstarch in medium bowl; gradually stir in light cream. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and begins to boil. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface. Cool completely.

6 Satiny Chocolate Glaze:Heat water, butter and corn syrup in small saucepan to boiling. Remove from heat; immediately stir in cocoa. With whisk, gradually beat in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth; cool slightly.

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Vanilla Toffee Caramel Ice Cream Pie

1 quart vanilla ice cream

1 1/2 cups International Delight Vanilla Toffee Caramel creamer

3 SKOR bars

1 prepared chocolate or grahamn cracker pie shell

whipped cream (optional)

Instructions:1. Let ice cream soften in a large bowl at room temperature.

2. Whisk in International Delight.

3. Mix in 2 1/2 crushed SKOR bars and stir.

4. Top with 1/2 crushed SKOR bar and freeze.

5. Garnish each slice with whipped cream.

Click on International Delight for more coffee related recipes!

Preparation Time: 15 min Serves: 12

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Cream Cheese and Fruit Squares

Serves/Makes:Makes 24 nice sized squares

1/2 lb (.2 kg). butter
2 cups (475 ml) flour
8 oz (224 grm). cream cheese
3/4 tsp (4 ml) salt
Raspberry Jam and Damson Plum Jam (use your favorite jam)

Instructions:Cut the softened butter into small pieces and mix with the flour until well blended.
Add the cream cheese and salt; mix thoroughly.
Refrigrate until dough is firm.
Roll out the dough and cut into 2 inch to 3 inch squares (depending on how big you want them).
Place a tsp or so of the jam or marmalade in the center of each square.
Fold the corners to the center and press together.
Bake at 400 degrees (200 C.) until lightly browned.

Comments
My favorite fillings are Orange Marmalade, three fruit marmalade, or my very favorite of all when I have time to make it or find it in specialty gourmet shops is Peach Almond Perserves.

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Coconut Cream Cake

Cake
1 pkg Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe White Cake Mix 1 pkg
1 pkg coconut cream instant pudding and pie filling mix – (4-serving size) 1 pkg
4 eggs 4
1 cup water 250 mL
1/3 cup vegetable oil 75 mL
1/3 cup flaked coconut 75 mL

Frosting
2 cups whipping cream – chilled 500 mL
1/4 cup Confectioners sugar 50 mL
1/4 cup dairy sour cream 50 mL
2 1/2 cups flaked coconut – divided 625 mL


Instructions:1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and flour two 9 inch (23 cm) round cake pans.

2. For cake, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil in large bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until moistened. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup (75 mL) coconut. Divide into pans.

3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 32 to 37 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool following package directions.

4. For frosting, place whipping cream in large bowl. Beat at high speed until soft peaks form. Add Confectioners sugar and sour cream. Beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) coconut. Fill and frost cake. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup (250 mL) coconut. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 12-16 servings.

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Italian Cream Cake

Cake:
1/2 cup (125 ml) vegetable shortening (I use Crisco)
1 stick butter, unsalted and at room temperature
2 cups (475 ml) sugar
5 eggs, separated, (I use Jumbo)
1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
2 cups (475 ml) flour
1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
1 cup (225 ml) buttermilk
1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
2 cups (475 ml) coconut, shredded
1 cup (225 ml) pecans, chopped (almonds are good also)
Icing:
1 stick of butter, unsalted and at room temperature
8 oz (224 grm). cream cheese
1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp (15 ml) milk (or coffee for awesome flavor)
1 lb (.5 kg). box powdered sugar
1 cup (225 ml) pecans, chopped (if you use almonds in cake, use them here too)

Instructions:Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 C.).
Butter and flour three 9" cake pans.
Cream together shortening, butter, and sugar.
Add 5 egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Add dry ingredients along with buttermilk and vanilla.
Stir in coconut and pecans (or almonds).
Beat the egg whites until they hold peaks.
Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites to the batter.
Pour equal amounts into the three prepared cake pans.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove when baked and let cool on waxed paper on racks.
Icing:
Cream together butter and cream cheese.
Add vanilla and hot milk (or coffee).
Add powdered sugar until desired consistency for spreading.
Add pecans or almonds and blend well.

Comments
This cake can be greatly enchanced and made into something purely stellar in appearance and taste using chocolate granache for the filling and then continue to use this recipe's icing for the outside layer.
This is rich and truly Italian and acutally an easy cake to make. Enjoy it with hot rich coffee.

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Gingerbread Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

1 cup (225 ml) vegetable shortening
1 cup (225 ml) sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup (225 ml) molasses
1 cup (225 ml) sour cream
4 cups (950 ml) whole wheat flour
2 tsp (10 ml) baking soda
1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder
2 tsp (10 ml) ground ginger
1/4 tsp (1 ml) cinnamon
1/4 tsp (1 ml) allspice
1 cup (225 ml) raisins
1 cup (225 ml) chopped pecans, Optional
Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 3oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (125 ml) butter, softened
2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla
4-3/4 cups (1125 ml) powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions:Cream the shortening with the sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the molasses and sour cream.
Combine the remaining ingredients and add to the sour cream mixture.
Stir until just moistened and no flour streaks remain.
Spoon into muffin tins that have been coated with a non-stick spray filling each cup 1/2 full.
Bake at 375 degrees (200 C.) for 12 to 15 minutes or until done.
Serve warm.
Frosting:
Beat together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
Gradually add 2 cups (475 ml) powdered sugar, beating well.
Add another 2 1/2 to 2-3/4 cups (650 ml) of powdered sugar to reach spreading consistency.
This frosts the tops of 24 muffins or top and sides of an 8" or 9" two layer cake.
After frosting, cover and store in refrigerator.

Comments
If muffins are to be frosted, cool first.

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