Crispy Cake Basic Food

CRISPY MASHED POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• Peel and dice potatoes and add to a large pot. Cover with water and salt the water. Bring to boil over medium heat, and cook until tender. Drain the potatoes and return to hot pot to dry. Transfer potatoes to a bowl. Soften cream cheese in a microwavable bowl and microwave the cream cheese for 20 seconds on high. Add to the potatoes along with sour cream, scallions, zest, egg, salt and pepper, to taste. Mash potatoes to combine mixture.
• Heat the oil and butter in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Drop 2-inch mounds of potatoes into skillet and gently press down to flatten a bit. Crisp potatoes until deeply golden on each side, about 7 to 8 minutes total. Mixture makes 8 golden cakes.

NO-BAKE BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Coat two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Prepare crisp-rice mixture; before pouring into pan, reserve 2 tablespoons for patching cake, and set aside, covered. Divide remaining crisp-rice mixture among prepared cake pans. Press into pans with greased fingers to level. Let cool until set, at least 30 minutes.
• Run a knife around edges of cakes to loosen; unmold onto parchment paper.
• While frosting is still warm, pour onto center of 1 cake layer, and spread evenly to edges. Let stand 10 minutes. Place second cake layer on top; press down gently. Using reserved pieces of crisp-rice mixture, patch edges where frosting is visible.
• Decorate with cereal, arranging pieces around top, middle, and bottom edges. Let cake stand until firm enough to slice, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. After 2 hours, wrap cake in plastic wrap to prevent it from getting too hard to slice.

BASIC CRISPY CAKES

Steps:

• Melt butter over low heat in a large saucepan. Add mini marshmallows; stir until melted, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in crisp rice cereal.
• Cars and bugs are shaped by hand. Work quickly while mixture is soft and sticky: Spoon into greased bowl; cover with plastic wrap so it doesn't harden.
• Butter hands, and make shapes one at a time. Boats, flowers, and hills are cut out after the mixture has hardened.
• Spoon the warm mixture into a greased 9-by-13-inch pan; pat smooth. Let set, uncovered, 30 minutes to an hour, and then cut out.

MARSHMALLOW CRISPY CAKES

Steps:

• Butter a 34 x 24 x 5cm deep baking tray and line with baking parchment. Melt the butter and vanilla in a large saucepan over a low heat, then add the marshmallows and cook gently, stirring occasionally until everything is melted, smooth and glossy.
• Remove from the heat and mix in the rice cereal and 150g of the white chocolate chunks. Stir until the cereal is evenly coated, then tip into the baking tray and press into the corners using slightly wet hands to prevent the mixture from sticking to you. Leave to cool for 1 hr until set.
• Melt the remaining 50g white chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the crispy cakes and sprinkle over the mini marshmallows, if using. Leave to set, then cut into 12 squares. Cut the squares in half diagonally to serve. Will keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

CRISPY CAULIFLOWER CAKES

Steps:

• For the cauliflower cakes: In a large bowl, mix the cauliflower, cornstarch, flour, curry powder, cumin, eggs, green onions, garlic and good pinch of kosher salt and pepper. Scoop 2-tablespoon portions of the mixture, form into patties and put on a plate.
• Heat 1/2 inch of oil to around 350 degrees F in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet. Add the patties in batches and fry until golden and crisp, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per side. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with sea salt.
• For the yogurt sauce: Mix the yogurt, lemon zest and juice and cilantro in a small bowl. Season with kosher salt, pepper and hot sauce.
• Place the cakes on a platter and dress each with a little of the yogurt sauce, then garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.

COOKING WITH KIDS: CHOCOLATE CORNFLAKE CAKES

Steps:

• Children: Weigh out the ingredients. Older children can do this by themselves with supervision and little ones can help to pour or spoon ingredients into the weighing scales. Put 50g butter, 100g milk or dark chocolate, broken into chunks and 3 tbsp golden syrup in a saucepan or microwavable bowl. Put 100g cornflakes in another large bowl.
• Grown ups: Melt the weighed butter, chocolate and golden syrup in the saucepan over a low heat or briefly in the microwave. Allow to cool a little before pouring over the cornflakes.
• Children: Stir the ingredients together gently using a wooden spoon. Spoon the mixture into 12 cupcake cases arranged on a muffin tray (or baking sheet, if you don't have one). Grown ups will need to do this for younger children or simply arrange on a tray and let the mess happen. Put in the fridge to set.