A Simple Microwave Lemon Curd

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...While I am not completely dependent on them, there are times I use shortcuts to make work in the kitchen easier. I love lemon curd and usually prepare it the traditional way, but I had just made scones today and wanted to serve them with lemon curd. This recipe, which I found on the King Arthur website, is one that I've used in the past when I need the curd quickly. Curd made in this manner is an acceptable substitute for the real thing. It is quite tart, not as sweet as other homemade or commercial varieties, and while it is thinner in consistency, it is tasty nonetheless. I'm using a variation of the photo that is shown on the King Arthur site because I ran into with a strange problem with the batch I made this morning. I've been using organic eggs that have intensely orange yolks of late, and it was a mistake to use them here because my curd was off color and decidedly not lemon colored. The flavor was fine, but the color was off-putting and in a range that was neither orange nor yellow. I lightened my batch with a bit of cream to make it presentable, but it lost that come-hither translucence that makes curd so appealing, and because this is so tasty I wanted you to see it at its best. This is a real time saver and I hope curiosity will tempt you to give the recipe a try. It's great on scones or muffins, and it takes gingerbread to a whole nother level. Here is how this quick and simple curd is made.

Home Alone Three - Microwave Mocha Mug Brownie

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It won't rock your world or change your life, but if you're home alone and facing an attack of the chocolate munchies, this simple dessert, made just for one, can quickly right your world, and do it in a no fuss, no bother kind of way way. You'll need a large cup, a fork, some measuring spoons and a microwave oven to pull this one off. The ingredients are mixed in the same cup in which the brownie bakes, so there is no mess involved and clean-up is minimal. If you want the chocolate in your mug to have a brownie-like texture, nuke it on high power for 75 seconds. If you prefer something more like a molten lava cake, aim for the 60 second mark. This will never make your list of favorite chocolate desserts, but it is a quick way to stop those chocolate cravings. Here's the recipe.

Microwave Mocha Mug Brownie...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Food.com

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon espresso powder
1 dash salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Directions:
1) In a 12 oz coffee mug, add water, butter, vanilla, espresso powder and a dash of salt. Whisk well.
2) Add cocoa powder, whisk well. Add sugar, whisk well. Add flour, whisk well.
3) Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds. Center should be slightly molten. Careful not to overcook.
4) Enjoy with a scoop of ice cream. Eat with a spoon. Careful brownie will be hot. Yield:1 serving







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Peanut Butter Fudge

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is a wonderful recipe to have on hand when you've promised to contribute something to a bake sale and are running short of time. The recipe was developed by Alton Brown and it's a winner on several level, the most important being taste. The fudge is delicious. It is also extremely easy to make and can be prepared with peanut butter or Nutella. When things are this simple, there is one thing you should keep in mind. If you love to experiment, this is not the recipe for you. Measurements, especially the one for confectioners' sugar, needs be exact and you'll have a tragedy on your hands if you venture too far from the weights and measures listed in the ingredients list. It really is necessary to weigh the sugar or buy a pre-measured 1-pound box. In either case, the sugar should be sifted to eliminate lumps. The recipe is misleading in some respects. It uses words like pour, when scrape and pat are more appropriate and it neglects to tell you the paper used to line the pan must be buttered. The mixture is very hard to work with a spoon. I found there is a point at which it becomes easier to mix with immaculately clean, ringless hands and keep that your little secret. I certainly promise not to tell. This has proved to be an extremely popular recipe at the Food Network. Hundreds of people have made the fudge and you can read their comments here. Some of the responders have used soft margarine to achieve a candy with a softer fudge texture. The basic recipe produces 1-inch squares of fudge-like candy. I've found that the candy has enough body to be formed into balls which can then be rolled in chopped salted peanuts. The batch I made today was heading to a bake sale, so I stuck with the classic cube shape. I obviously prefer the peanut butter fudge balls. I hope you'll check the comments regarding this treat over at the Food Network. Here's the recipe.

Peanut Butter Fudge...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of Alton Brown

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, plus more for greasing pan
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound powdered sugar

Directions:
Microwave butter and peanut butter for 2 minutes on high. Stir and microwave on high for 2 more minutes. Add vanilla and powdered sugar to peanut butter mixture and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Pour into a buttered 8 by 8-inch pan lined with waxed paper. Place a second piece of waxed paper on the surface of the fudge and refrigerate until cool. Cut into 1-inch pieces and store in an airtight container for up to a week. Yield: 64 1-inch pieces.

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Chocolate Nut Butter No Bake Fudge - Lisa's Kitchen
Rocky Road Fudge Candy - Baking and Boys
Sweet Dreams Chocolate Fudge Candy - Deep South Dish
Peanut Butter Fudge - Brown Eyed Baker
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge - A Bitchin' Kitchen
Easy Cocoa Peanut Butter Fudge - At Home in Alaska
Butter Pecan Fudge - Sweetnicks
White Sweetheart Fudge - Get Cooking
Espresso Fudge - Our Kitchen
Dad's Favorite Fudge - Simply Recipes
Eggnog Fudge - The Recipe Girl
Fine Cooking Fudge - Cookie Madness