Grandma Irvines Four Layer Torte Food

FOUR-LAYER LEMON TORTE WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter springform pans with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Cool cakes completely in pans on racks.
• Using small knife, cut around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Remove pan sides. Using serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on platter. Spread with 1/4 cup preserves, then 3/4 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer, cut side up. Spread with 1/4 cup preserves, then 3/4 cup frosting. Repeat with third cake layer. Top with fourth cake layer, cut side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Press almonds onto sides of cake. Chill until frosting sets, about 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled.)

WINNER'S CIRCLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the Lasagna:
• Heat olive oil in a small pan and saute onions and garlic until onions become translucent, being careful not to burn garlic. Stir in tomato paste and 2 cups water and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and cook over low heat for approximately 15 minutes, or long enough to allow flavors to integrate into a sauce.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lay 1/4 (about 15) of the wontons over the bottom of a lasagna dish, followed by a layer each of yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, fresh tomato, about 1/2 cup tomato sauce, and 1/2 cup of the ricotta. Repeat for a total of 4 layers, finishing on the top layer with the mozzarella. Bake for about 30 minutes covered with foil, and about 10 minutes more uncovered. Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes. While the lasagna is in the oven, begin the red pepper coulis.
• Whisk the cornstarch into the chicken broth. Melt the butter over medium heat in a saute pan, and then add the chicken broth mixture, red peppers and garlic. Simmer 30 minutes. Pour hot mixture into blender and blend until smooth to make red pepper sauce.
• Spoon some red pepper coulis onto serving plate and place a square of lasagna on top. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs.

GRANDMA IRVINE'S FOUR LAYER TORTE

Steps:

• 1. Layer 1: Mix together flour, margarine, and 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Press into a 9x13" pan. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. Let cool.
• 2. Layer 2: Whip cream cheese and powdered sugar together. Fold in 1 carton of Cool Whip. Spread over cooled crust and refridgerate.
• 3. Layer 3: Mix pudding as directed on package. Let cool and pour over layer 2.
• 4. Layer 4: Spread Cool Whip over layer 3. May sprinkle with additional chopped nuts. Chill until firm.

GRANDMA'S 4 LAYER DESSERT

Steps:

• 1. Combine flour and walnuts in a bowl. Cut in the butter until mixture is the consistency of fine crumbs. Press into a 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Bake crust at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.
• 2. Combine sugar, cream cheese, and half of the carton of whipped topping in a bowl, beating until smooth. Spread over crust.
• 3. In 2 separate bowls, combine each pudding mix with 1.5 cups of milk and mix until the pudding is at a soft serve consistency. Spread chocolate pudding over cream cheese mixture, then vanilla pudding over chocolate pudding layer.
• 4. Spread remaining whipped topping over vanilla pudding layer and chill until ready to serve. May be garnished with chocolate curls, chopped nuts, or both.

GRANDMA'S HEAVENLY TORTE

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl combine the cream cheese and 1 cup of the powdered sugar, mixing until well blended. Stir in pumpkin, spices and grated orange rind. In another bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; gradually add remaining powdered sugar, beating stiff. Fold into pumpkin mixture. Split pound cake horizontally into 3 layers. Spread each layer with some of the pumpkin mixture, then stack. Frost sides with pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle orange slivers on top and refrigerate at least one hour before slicing to serve.

DECADENT CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F (350°F for dark or nonstick pans). Line bottoms only of two 13x9-inch pans with foil or waxed paper; spray with baking spray with flour.
• In large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Add cake mix, water and oil; beat on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Place half the batter (about 2 1/2 cups) in each pan. Spread batter slightly higher in corners than at the center.
• Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center. Run knife around edges of pans to loosen cakes if necessary. Turn each cake upside down onto clean kitchen towel each sprinkled with 1 tablespoon powdered sugar; carefully remove foil. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat 3/4 cup of the whipping cream on high speed until stiff peaks form; set aside. In another medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 3 tablespoons powdered sugar on medium speed until smooth; set aside.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips and 2 tablespoons whipping cream on High 30 seconds; stir. Microwave 15 to 30 seconds longer; stir until chips are melted. Stir melted chips into cream cheese mixture. Add whipped cream and toffee candy to mixture; stir until well blended. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Trim edges of cakes to make even. Cut each cake in half lengthwise. If necessary, trim top of layers to make flat surface. Place 1 cake piece on serving platter; spread with one-third of the filling (about 3/4 cup). Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake piece. Gently press in sides to straighten; if necessary, trim sides until even. Cover; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• In medium microwavable bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth. On low speed, beat in remaining glaze ingredients until well blended. Reserve 3/4 cup of the glaze for garnish; cover and let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes or until thick enough to pipe. Meanwhile, microwave remaining glaze on High about 10 seconds or until slightly warm and spreading consistency. Spread over top of torte, letting some drip down sides. Refrigerate torte about 30 minutes or until glaze is set.
• Spoon reserved 3/4 cup glaze into decorating bag fitted with small star tip. Pipe decorative border around top edges of torte. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Torte can be made 2 days ahead; wrap sides tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.) Let cake stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

FANCY FUSS-FREE TORTE

Steps:

• Using a long serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into three layers. Place bottom cake layer on a serving plate; top with half of the pie filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with whipped topping. Sprinkle with pecans.

UKRAINIAN GREAT GRANDMA'S PRUNE TORTE

Steps:

• Use vegetable spray to butter 5 round layer cake pans (8-inch pans) and dust with flour, remove excess.
• Cream the butter with the sugar until light. Add the egg and beat well. Stir in the extract, salt, and almonds. Add the flour and mix thoroughly. Divide the dough into 5 equal parts. Put in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Roll each of them between 2 sheets of waxed or parchment paper to fit the pan, or pat the dough evenly into the pans gently. Bake in a moderate oven 325 to 350°F for 20 minutes, or until delicately browned. Reduce temperature if it starts to get too brown. Remove from the pans while still hot. Cool. Prepare the filling.
• FOR THE FILLING: Cook the prunes in water just to cover until they plump up. Take prunes out of the liquid, pit them and grind them.
• Bring to the boiling point the ground prunes with the 1 cup sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and prune liquid. Put the layers together with the warm filling. Let the torte stand for about a day (24 hours) before cutting it. Serve in slices.