Local Shopping Tour - Stop 2 - Kauffman's

Kauffman's Coffee, Tea and Spice in Lemoyne is a wonderful little shop that offers just what it says - coffee, tea and spice.  We spent significant time here, as well, which actually made things a little cramped as it is in the front room of a former house.  However, it is well worth the trip.  Not only did I purchase several teas, including their new cranberry orange tea, I have recently purchased Spanish saffron.  I am very excited to have a local shop at which to purchase whole nutmeg.  They don't have a website, so stop by.  You'll like it.

717) 763-0829
222 S 3rd St, Lemoyne, PA

Mom's Kraut Cake

I have another recipe out here for a cake made with sauerkraut.  I made that one before I went through my mother's recipes - then I found this one.  This cake is quite dense, and you still don't notice the sauerkraut.  If you choose to make the layer cake, double the frosting recipe.

  2/3 Cup Butter                                                               -And Finely Chopped

  1 1/3 Cup Sugar                                                             3 Large Eggs

  2 1/4 Cup Flour                                                              1 Tsp Vanilla

  1 Tsp Baking Powder                                               Cream Cheese Frosting

  1 Tsp Baking Soda                                                         3 Ounce Cream Cheese

  1/2 Cup Cocoa                                                               1/3 Cup Butter

  1 Cup Water                                                                  2 Cup Confectioners Sugar

  2/3 Cup Sauerkraut, Rinsed-Drained                               1 Tsp Vanilla

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Beat in eggs one at a time.  Add vanilla.  Sift dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture alternately with water.  Stir in kraut and turn into greased and floured 9 inch square or round pans  OR 1 9 x 13 pan.   Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (40 - 45 for oblong pan).  Cool completely.  Mix frosting ingredients and put on cake.

Beef and Bean Stew

This easy soup makes a quick, nice meal on a cold winter night.  Don't want beef?  No problem, add black beans instead.

  1 1/2 Lb Stew Beef, Diced                              45 Ounce Diced Tomatoes

  1.25 Ounce Taco Seasoning                           30 Ounce Pinto Beans, rinsed and drained

  1 Ounce Ranch Dressing Mix                         4 ounce diced green chiles

  2 Cups Corn                                                                            

  15 Ounce Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained                            

Brown beef and drain well,  Add all other ingredients and simmer until hot.

Coconut Creme Brulee

12 egg yolks?  No problem - I made coconut creme brulee.  I found the following recipe on About.com and used all 12 egg yolks instead of just 10.  No issues at all - turned out beautifully.  Please note - do not mix too fast or you will get foam.  That is bad.

  1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk                                        1 Tsp Coconut Rum

  1 1/4 Cup Heavy Cream                                                       1 Tsp Vanilla

  10 Large Egg Yolks                                                              1/2 Tsp Salt

  1 Cup Sugar                                                                         1/4 Cup Coconut

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Slowly heat cream and coconut milk in a medium pot until it just begins to bubble.

Whisk together the yolks and sugar until eggs turn a light yellow and the mixture thickens. Whisk in the vanilla, rum, and salt.  Slowly add the hot cream mixture while continuously whisking. Stir in the sweetened coconut.

Pour mixture evenly into 6 6-ounce ramekins (custard dishes). Place ramekins in a baking dish and add enough hot water to come about half way up the sides of the ramekins.

Bake for approximately 35 to 40 minutes until custard is almost set. The custard will be mostly firm but still jiggle slightly in the center when tapped.

Remove from water bath and let cool slightly. Place in refrigerator and chill overnight.

Just before serving sprinkle 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar over each custard. Caramelize the sugar with a handheld propane or butane torch.

Chocolate Cinnamon Angel Food Cake

This make a wonderfully - and surprisingly - light Christmas Eve dessert.  Daring?  Use chili powder instead of Cinnamon.  Add a little nutmeg, too. 

 12 Large Egg Whites                                                    1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

  1 Cup Cake Flour                                                        1 1/2 Tsp Cream Of Tartar

  1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar                                         1 Tsp Vanilla

  3 Tbl Special Dark Cocoa Powder                                1 Cup Sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Put egg whites in a bowl and set aside.

Sift together flour, cocoa, powdered sugar and cinnamon, set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla until soft peaks form.  Gradually add the sugar beating until stiff peaks form.  Add about 1/4 of the flour mixture and fold in gently.  Repeat with remaining flour.  Pour into an ungreased tube pan.  Bake for 40 - 45 minutes until cake springs back when touched.

Immediately invert cake, keeping in pan until cool.

Happy New Year - 1/1 to 1/5 - 25.02

Starting the year in Helena, MT moving on to Olympia, WA.  Helena, Montana is surrounded by Helena National Forest.  From their website:

Located in west-central Montana, the Helena National Forest surrounds Montana’s Capital City and offers close to one million acres of distinctive landscapes. The Forest is administered by District headquarters in Lincoln, Helena, and Townsend, with the Supervisor’s Office also located in Helena.

Straddling the Continental Divide, the Helena National Forest is rich with natural and cultural resources. Its diverse topography and geology provides wonderful scenery and many recreational opportunities. The Forest's mountain ranges contain a wide diversity of plant and animal life. Native cutthroat trout and other fish species populate clear mountain lakes and streams. Evidence of past human use, ranging from ancient Indian cliff paintings to historic mining ruins, is everywhere.

Local Shopping Tour - Lemoyne/Camp Hill

Today I spend several wonderful hours shopping with my sister-in-law and nieces.  The focus started as  local tea shops around Lemoyne and Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, but it quickly expanded as we wandered.  Today went so well that we are going to do this at least quarterly.  Over the next few Saturday's, expect information about the wonderful stops we made.  Today:  One Good Woman.

One Good Woman is a nice little shop tucked away on the ground level of a building in Camp Hill.  This shop has an amazing selection of teas, coffees and everything you can imagine to make them.  In addition, there is a fine selection of gourmet foods and kitchen items.  The staff is very friendly and welcome to help.  If you have trouble making up your mind when faced with multiple selections, they also have a very helpful website that includes lists of the items available.  Some of the teas they sell are from a local supplier - Compass Tea's in Lemoyne. 

Come to Central Pennsylvania, shop our local shops.  They are well worth the time.