Tag Archives: cookbooks

Cuisine - Desserts, Cuisine - Italian, Disney World, Foodie Firsts, Recipes

Recipe: Disney’s Twinkie Tiramisu

Lots of TwinkiesEditor’s Note: This blog post is featured on the Disney Blog Carnival No. 42. Check out more posts about all things Disney.

It has been quite a while since I cracked open my copy of “Cooking with Mickey and the Disney Chefs.” My last adventure was this key lime pie. But, let me rewind a bit. The whole story began one morning a few weeks ago when I heard on the news that Hostess, maker of the famed Twinkie, was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

I got to thinking…I have never had a Twinkie in my 31 years. How is that possible, let alone for a so-called food blogger? Of course, I’ve had Ding Dongs and Ho-Hos, but somehow that yellow cake filled with cream had eluded me. How, with a mascot like Twinkie the Kid, could this atrocity be possible? I accessed my brain full of memories as a child, what was in my lunchbox in grade school? Fig Newtons, Oreos, the occasional Nutter Butter or the curly-cued Hostess Cupcake. But, no Twinkie. My dear hubby Brett, in disbelief, quickly went to the store and bought a 10-pack of the treats for me to try once I got home from work that evening.

My First TwinkieWith a smile on my face (and a rerun of “The Big Bang Theory” playing in the background), I scarfed down my first Twinkie with the giddiness of a toddler. Creamy frosting all over my face and hands, and a cheek-to-cheek grin.

And with that Twinkie, now deep inside my happy belly, I recalled a recipe in my Disney cookbook for Twinkie Tiramisu, a dish that’s served at the Pop Century Resort’s food court. As Hostess is fighting for its future, I trekked to the store to bulk up on more boxes of the lunchbox staple (it was buy 1 get 1 free!) and make this twist on the classic Italian dessert.

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Celebrity chefs, Kitchen tools, Recipes

Foodie Tool: Google Recipe

I’m convinced we’re going to wake up one day and Google will have taken over the world – at least the technology world. This week, they announced a new search tool to help foodies find the perfect recipe.

Google Recipe is a search tool that will help you find recipes by specific ingredients or a certain dish.

Google RecipesSimply click “Recipes” in the left-side navigation bar and you can find dishes (such as my chicken pot pie example). Then, you can search even further by finding certain ingredients in that dish, how many calories or how long it takes to prepare.

Many of the recipes guide you to food sites such as AllRecipes.com, Food Network or Epicurious but it still is an easy way to find a dish if you’re in a pinch and don’t have a cookbook handy – especially if you’re using a mobile device. Other features of the search include finding recipes by holiday or occasion or meals created by celebrity chefs. I should also note that recipes are sorted by popularity, not by ease or if it’s an actually good-tasting recipe. Still, the next time you need some help in the kitchen, try out Google Recipe to find that perfect meal!

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Cuisine - Desserts, Recipes

Recipe: Bourbon-Cranberry Bread Pudding

I first made this recipe for Thanksgiving, but it also works for Christmas and other holiday meals or special occasions. The rich bread pudding spiked with a little bit of bourbon and a baked, crispy top is the perfect addition to any holiday table.

This is a recipe I tweaked from America’s Test Kitchen’s “The New Best Recipe” cookbook. (Side note: This cookbook is like a food Bible to me – it has saved me on several occasions from kitchen disasters.) As an extra, I included cranberries and walnuts to give it a little bit more flair and flavor. Top it off with some fresh whipped cream or some vanilla bean ice cream for the perfect ending to your meal, or snack on while unwrapping presents by the roaring fire with some egg nog.

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Cuisine - Desserts, Disney, Recipes

Disney’s Old Key West Resort Key Lime Pie Recipe

Editor’s note: This post is part of the Disney Blog Carnival. Head over there to see more great Disney-related posts and articles.

Key lime pie.

Characterized by its tart, yet sweet, creamy interior, a golden crumbly crust and whipped cream topping, key lime pie evokes a symphony of emotions and flavors. One bite and you’re transported to a swinging hammock off the coast of Florida. The warm, salty air glistening off your cheeks. A frozen drink with a teeny colored umbrella in your hand.

Wanting a trip to the tropics, I pulled out “Cooking with Mickey and the Disney Chefs,” a cookbook that includes recipes from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California and the Disney Cruise Line. The recipe for Key Lime Pie from Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort needs only four ingredients. In about three hours (mostly waiting for the pie to chill), you can be transported to The Keys, and you barely need to know how to cook. Just stir and turn the oven on.

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