Itsy Bitsy Kitchen Food

DANUBE WAVES CAKE (DONAUWELLEN KUCHEN)

Steps:

• Stir 1/4 cup of the sugar together with the cornstarch in a small mixing bowl and set aside.
• Crack the eggs into a medium heat-proof bowl. Whisk the eggs together and and set the bowl next to the stove.
• Combine the milk and remaining 1/4 cup of sugar in a small saucepan set over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
• Once the milk has come to a simmer, whisk the sugar-cornstarch mixture into the eggs until smooth.
• Whisking the eggs constantly, add a scant 1/4 cup of the hot milk to the eggs. Still whisking constantly, pour the remaining milk into the eggs in a slow stream.
• Return the mixture to the saucepan and set pan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until the mixture thickens a bit-it will start to get lumpy.
• Turn the heat to low and switch to stirring with a whisk. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is very thick and smooth-if you don't get your pudding completely smooth, you'll have lumps in your frosting.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Scrape the pudding into a shallow mixing bowl and press plastic wrap directly on the top of the pudding. Chill in the fridge for 90 minutes to 2 hours (or until thoroughly chilled). You'll finish the frosting later. While the pudding is chilling, make the cake.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13- by 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a small mixing bowl and set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer set to medium until very smooth. Beat in the sugar and vanilla until well combined (mixture will be crumbly). Add the egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• With mixer on low, beat in half of the flour mixture followed by half of the buttermilk and beat to combine. Add the remaining flour mixture, then the remaining buttermilk and beat until just incorporated.
• Spread three-quarters of the batter into the prepared pan. Sift the cocoa powder over the remaining batter and add the milk; stir until fully combined.
• Dollop the chocolate batter over the vanilla batter and carefully spread into an even layer with an offset spatula (don't swirl them together, just spread the chocolate batter over the vanilla). Sprinkle the drained cherries over the cake batter.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Remove cake from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before adding the frosting.
• Once the pudding and the cake are both cooled, finish the buttercream. Remove the chilled pudding from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature.
• Transfer the room temp pudding to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium for several minutes, until it's very light and creamy.
• With mixer still on medium speed, add the butter half a tablespoon at a time, stopping mixer to scrape with a rubber spatula every so often.
• Once the butter is fully incorporated, add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, and beat until smooth. Spread over the fully cooled cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour to set the buttercream before adding the chocolate topping.
• Place the chocolate in a small heat-proof bowl. Heat the cream in a medium saucepan set over medium heat until it just begins to steam. Pour over the chocolate and allow to sit for 3 minutes.
• Add the corn syrup, then whisk the chocolate and heavy cream together until the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Remove cake from the fridge and spread the chocolate into an even layer over the buttercream. Refrigerate to set the ganache, then serve.

HALLOWEEN CRISPY RICE TREATS

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil to overhang by an inch or two. Spray with cooking spray.
• Remove half the marshmallows from one bag and set aside. Divide the remaining 1 1/2 bags of marshmallows evenly between 2 large microwave-safe bowls. Divide the butter between the two bowls.
• Microwave one bowl until the marshmallows begin to melt, about 45 seconds. Stir well and microwave again until completely melted, about 30 seconds more. Add green gel food coloring and stir to turn the marshmallow mixture an even, vibrant green (see Cook's Note). Add half the rice cereal (4 1/2 cups), stirring well to coat the cereal completely and evenly. Repeat the melting process with the second bowl of marshmallows and butter, tint with purple gel food coloring and mix in the remaining 4 1/2 cups rice cereal.
• Grease your hands with cooking spray (or use disposable gloves). Using one hand for each color, dollop blobs of the cereal mixture in the prepared pan, randomly distributing it to make several mottled layers. Once you have used all of the cereal, press the mixture into the pan to even it out and smooth the top. Let cool and set completely, at least 1 hour.
• Use the foil overhang to lift the treats from the pan. Peel back the edges, flattening the foil to create a work surface for decorating. Trim the treat edges with a serrated knife to neaten if desired and cut into 9 rectangles. Separate the treats on the foil so there is a little space between each.
• Put the remaining half bag of marshmallows in a large microwave-safe large bowl. Microwave until the marshmallows begin to melt, about 45 seconds. Stir and microwave again until completely melted, about 30 seconds more. Stir until smooth. Set aside until the marshmallows are just cool enough to touch.
• Wearing disposable gloves, pull out a handful of the marshmallows and rub between your hands until you can pull long web-like strings when you separate them. Pull the strings and let them drape over the treats, scooping up more marshmallows as needed. Pull from different directions over the treats to create a web-like pattern.
• Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave at 50-percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring well with a rubber spatula between each, until completely melted and smooth. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small, plain tip. Pipe 8 spider legs together on a treat and place a chocolate-covered peanut or jellybean, cut side down, on top of the legs to create a spider body. Make a spider on each treat.