I was a pretty picky child when I was younger, but there were few things I wouldn't eat if they were dipped in chocolate. I even distinctly remember even being coaxed into chomping a confection dipped cricket while on vacation once. But the cordial cherry was my nemesis. And every year, beginning in the Winter and rolling straight through Valentine's Day, boxes upon boxes would appear in our pantry cabinet. When Momma caught on to my disgust for the candy she began integrating them forcefully into boxes of ordinary chocolates simply to dissuade my appetite for sneaking one. While she could clearly tell the difference I wasn't about to risk biting into shell that very well might begin leaking a syrupy liquid.
As I matured, so did my tastebuds, and I learned that I truly did like the flavors of a cordial cherry but that I simply couldn't get past the texture. Cordial, within the food world most often references a type of liqueur or a fruit 'suspended in a liquid and enrobed in chocolate.' This time of the year you'll find cordial cherry flavored confections from Hershey's Kisses and M&M's to chocolate meltaways for baking. While all of these can be incorporated into just about any recipe for a dash of flavor, I truly wanted to rethink the cordial cherry in texture and spirit, while still staying true to it's origins.
Cake balls are amazing- They are incredibly versatile and time saving when it comes to developing new twists on beloved classics. The only thing I, personally find a pain, is the traditional 'stick' they are presented on within their Cake Pop form. If you've ever tried to make cake pops, even with a mold/pan, you know the plight of dipping cake balls on a stick. It's simply no fun. That's why this Cordial Cherry Cake Ball recipe relies on the classic method of cake + frosting = cake balls for the majority of the work. This is truly a recipe so simple even beginning bakers can do it.
Start with one box of classic white (egg white recipe) cake mix, baked in a 9 x 13" pan. Once the cake has cooled flip it onto a clean surface and trim the majority of the browned surfaces off with a knife or cake leveler. I like to reserve the browned cake for my own reserve of cake balls- these taste the same but will not appear as 'white' when bit into. Combine the white cake with 1/2 tub of white frosting and 3 drops of Rum extract (optional.) Next, use a cookie scoop to drop rounded TBS sized balls of dough onto parchment paper. Gently take your index finger and hollow out a pit in the center of each dough ball. Most important in this process, you will need to pat dry your cherries with stems to ensure they don't seem moisture into the cake ball and cause separation.
Gently push your cherries into the center of the cake balls, rolling the cake mixture into a ball around them. While you can chill your cake balls while you wait to dip them I do not recommend freezing them as this can cause your confection to crack or spot after dipping. Melt your chocolate in a double broiler or Wilton's Melting Pot and dip each ball, by the stem, into the chocolate, gently rolling to coat all sides. Place your Cordial Cherry Cake Balls on a clean piece of parchment paper and refrigerate 2-3 hours, or until chocolate is firm. If you notice your chocolate is not smooth enough to dip, ad 1 TSP shortening at a time until it reaches an even texture (to slowly roll off a spoon.)
I've got to say these are super fun to look at, with the stems standing up, and very fun finger treats at any gathering. I thought about adding some festive heart sprinkles to really dress them up for Valentine's Day but I kind of like their 'polished' presentation- almost like an over-sized dipped cherry. These will definitely be appearing next to the dipped oranges and apples on our spread this February 14th! The cake batter inside is especially moist and spongy when the rum extract is added, and the flavor is spot on indulgent, without any real liqueur.
My days of lavish romantic dates and dinnertime traffic on the way to that 4 course reservation may be gone, but I can still indulge in a little decadence and romance- and no more crumpled Cordial Cherry face! When it comes to a box of chocolates, what's your favorite confection? I always tend to go for dark chocolate covered nuts, or coconut squares, but a good caramel is quite indulgent to! Stay tuned for more Valentine's Day recipes over the next few weeks!
What Daughter Says: When in doubt, turn it into a cake ball.
Baking is something I have enjoyed since I was a young girl. The satisfaction of beginning with several mundane ingredients and finishing with a work of art that is not only tantalizing but wholly indulgent just speaks to my soul. I take pride in doing things 'by hand' and from scratch, whether it's sifting my flour or giving batter 200 stirs. Even in Momma's kitchen, making boxed brownies (the kind that was favored for a 'just ad water' recipe which enabled gratuitous spoon licking,) I would patiently mix the lumps and bubbles out of our batter until it was perfectly smooth. And, as I shoved an always crumbly, misshapen, square of brownie in my father face, as he arrived home, I would beam with pride, declaring, "I made these!"
But the end result is not the only satisfaction I find in baking. There are numerous techniques and methods that prove much harder to master than they sound. The trials and tribulations of substitutes, measurements, and appliances with finicky temperatures all provide a challenge I happily embrace. Then there's the rhythm of the kitchen how the measuring and prep to end result has a comforting ebb and flow; an exact science that must be done just right. In fact, baking IS a science. And one of my favorite recipes, Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars, clearly resembles this with mad scientist like preparation.
The Red Velvet portion of this particular recipe is more of a brownie in end result- and requires a thick batter that presents a very fun preparation. Because all the wet ingredients for the batter are combined, yet different densities, the level of microscopic separation in 'mixing' makes for an almost surreal and very romantic show. I like to play around, adding each wet ingredient into a different corner of the vegetable oil, watching the playful bubbles absorb the red food coloring with different intensities. Adding the milk last introduces tiny bubbles of white for added depth to your kitchen creation.
When the wet ingredients are introduced to the dry ingredients of your batter the Red Velvet mixture becomes quite elastic. It will hold shapes and forms for several seconds before sinking back to it's original form, and appears alarmingly thick and dough like, yet free flowing and malleable. I had fun mixing this batter with gloves (to prevent staining from the food coloring) and now any child would be equally transfixed by it's unique properties.
Next, a portion of the red velvet batter gets gently spread into the bottom of a spring form pan, reserving a 3/4 cup for the final preparation step. Blending the cheesecake mixture is best done in a stand mixer, where it can be left unattended for several minutes to whip and fill with air. Refrain from licking the blade, though, there are eggs in this cheesecake batter! Next, I poured the cheesecake over the Red Velvet base and added the last of my milk to my reserve Red Velvet batter. This helps thin out the dough like mixture to allow easier dolloping. Evenly drop the remaining Red Velvet batter in rows of dots along the top of the Cheesecake layer.
Next you are allowed more artistic creativity as you drag a butter knife through the red and white batters to create a romantic marble pattern that will sit atop your bars. Bake your pan for about 30 minutes at 350F, or until the outer edges begin to separate and brown. If the center of your cheesecake bars begins to crack or ripple you have cooked it a little too long and should remove the pan from the oven immediately. Allow cheesecake bars to cool entirely before cutting; use a stainless steel cookie cutter to cut shapes if desired.
This dessert not only turns out satisfying to behold, but is equally indulgent in taste with a rich later of cheesecake atop; a small wedge is more than enough!
What Daughter Says: I enjoy baking more than eating that which I bake!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
#TreatThePups #CollectiveBias
Momma Told Me: Love is a four-legged word.
The month of love is almost upon us.
I can think of few relationships in my life as selfless and unconditionally loving as those between my pets and I. Even growing up, Momma taught me that love between a human and pet should know no boundaries. Our family frequently took in pets from shelters which would have otherwise been put down due to serious medical needs. In several cases our family was there to provide a stray or mistreated animal with exclusive love and comfort in their final weeks. Compassion for animals, and respect for their gift of returned love was a very important lesson in my childhood.
It's no secret that, as an adult, I feel my pets today are akin to children; and enrich my life on an immeasurable scale daily. Truffles, the cat, has been in our family longest and was adopted as the runt of her litter from a local chicken farm. Nora, our Maltese-Yorkie mix has always been more of a daddy's girl, having instantly picked up on the bond between myself and the cat. But, at her core, she is a lover- just one of the happiest, most enthusiastic, people pleasing dogs I have ever met. Every time I run into Walmart to pick up a prescription or grocery item I am always sure to stop by the pet aisle and grab a treat for both of my fur kids. This month I decided to stock up on some of Nora's favorite Big Heart Brand Pet Treats, Pup-peroni, Milk-Bone, and Milo's Kitchen for an extra special Valentine's Day Treat.
We will soon be gaining some extra space in our home when a tenant moves out and have decided to stop renting and simply enjoy all the extra space. Knowing this, I wanted to ensure the dog had her own defined area where she could retreat to when the cat was prowling the perimeter or the adults were merely having a lazy day. Because a big part of loving animals means giving back, we not only dropped some extra packages of Big Heart Brand Pet Treats to the local shelter, for donation, but I specifically shopped at a second hand store that also benefited the cause of homeless and needy local animals. It was there that I found the wooden entertainment cabinet that would prove perfect for Nora's Valentine's Day surprise, at just $25!
Like most dogs, Nora has a personality all her own. Forgive the saying, but she's a bit of a stereotypical blonde- very bubbly and not always quite the sharpest. She's the sort of dog, if she could speak, she'd interrupt a very intelligent conversation with "Squirrel" and immediately get distracted by something crinkly or sparkly. And she's very girly, with an almost 80's flare. All her accessories are neon or pink and her favorite toys are Star Wars, Sock Monkeys, or Lamb Chop- a retro dog all the way. Even her favorite dog treat is slightly vintage- Milk-Bones, which have been beloved by pooches worldwide wince 1908 especially get her tail wagging!
Turning a $25 Thrift Store Find into the perfect Dog Cabinet and lounge area for our small breed dog was quite simple. When we purchased the second hand furniture the hinged doors on the front were already missing. Knowing I wanted a safe place for Nora to be elevated off the ground, yet with a bed that was easily accessible, I made the design decision to move the center drawer down and remove the bar that had originally been supporting it. While I used spray paint to help give an aged and textured finish to the detailed and stained wood- applying 2 coats of interior paint by brush would have proved quicker. At the local hobby store we also found some vintage style knobs to hang her harness and leash, and on our recent trip stocking up on Valentine's Day dog treats at Walmart, some ribbon, jars, and additional accents to decorate with.
Nora took to her new bed with ownership, the sometimes hesitant and timid (territory wise) dog knew this was just for her. Perhaps it was the overwhelming aroma of a cabinet stocked with the best dog treats- her little nose was going quite wild! In the shelf directly above her bed I'd arranged a virtual 'candy shop' of treats in jars from Pup-peroni Bacon and Egg Mix-Stix to all natural Made-In-The-USA Milo's Kitchen Chicken Jerky treats. I'd even discovered new Milk-Bone Brushing Chews to help clean gums and support dental health on a daily basis! Though I can imagine the only thing that truly mattered to Nora was which one she'd get to enjoy first!
With the presence of potentially harmful to dogs chocolate everywhere in the month of February, it is important that you #TreatThePups with a well defined range of treats especially approved for them. Whether you have an adorable dog cabinet or not, creating a space that is clearly identifiable by your dog as their own can help minimize the roaming of noses where they don't belong. Keep all human hart day treats in cupboards and well out of the reach of pets, and an inviting supply of quality Big Heart Pet brand treats on hand to reward the four-legged lovers in your life.
February is a month of indulgence for humans. We present one-another with elaborate boxes filled with a variety of chocolates. Keep this in mind when shopping for your pet and craft a gift pack of treats as diverse as your favorite confections. Hard, dry, treats, such as several Milk-Bone varieties will naturally promote dental health with cleaner gums, while longer lasting chews like Pup-peroni will engage your dog a little longer and provide an aromatic eating experience. Last but not least, be sure to include a human grade treat, such as artificial free Milo's Kitchen brand pet treats, to help you connect with your pet through treats that resemble everyday human foods. You don't want to eat the same dessert every day, so why should your pet know only the flavors of one treat?
Wet kisses, tail wags, fetching the morning paper, patrolling the home for security, that embarrassing hot dog costume from Halloween there are plenty of reasons to #TreatThePups this Valentine's Day and plenty of inspiration on the Walmart Big Heart Pet brand micro-site. Starting January 15th you'll be able to view the best Doggy Valentines, gift baskets, pet treat recipes, and more on the Treat The Pups landing page. If you think our doggy cabinet is a home run just wait until you see all the creative treats and gift ideas my fellow bloggers and pet parents have whipped up for the Valentine's Day season! While you're there, don't forget to print out a special pet-themed Valentine to attach to your dog's favorite pet treats!
Tell me a little about the non-human lovers in your life!
What Daughter Says: I may not know 'I love you' in 50 breeds of 'Woof' but I do know the fastest way to a dog's heart is through their stomach!
