Lemon Blossoms Paula Deen Food

LEMON BLOSSOMS (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Spray miniature muffin tins with vegetable oil cooking spray. Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend well with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. (The batter will be thick). Pour a small amount of batter, filling each muffin tin half way. (I found a small cookie scoop the perfect thing for making them a uniform size).
• Bake for 12 minutes. (I baked 4 dozen at one time, so it took a little longer--be sure to reverse places in oven for even baking if you cook this many. Also, they come out of the tin better if you cook a little past the golden brown stage so the cake is more firm). Turn out onto a tea towel.
• Make the glaze while the cakes are baking. Sift the sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, zest, oil, and 3 tablespoons water. Mix with a spoon until smooth.
• With fingers, dip the cupcakes into the glaze while they're still warm, covering as much of the cake as possible, or spoon the glaze over the warm cupcakes, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with waxed paper underneath to catch any drips.
• Let the glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour, before storing in containers with tight-fitting lids.

PESTO CHEESE BLOSSOM (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Line a medium bowl with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to cover the top.
• Reserving 3 slices of provolone, line the bottom and sides of the bowl with remaining provolone, overlapping slices.
• For the cream cheese layer, process the cream cheese, pistachios, and 1 garlic clove in a food processor until blended; scrape the mixture into a bowl and set aside.
• For the pesto layer, process the basil, parsley, pine nuts and the remaining garlic clove in the food processor until blended.
• Dissolve the salt and pepper in the olive oil and mix well.
• With the machine running, add the oil in a fine stream.
• Scrape this mixture into a second bowl and set aside.
• For the tomato layer, drain the tomatoes, reserving the oil.
• Puree the tomatoes with a small amount of the reserved oil in a food processor.
• Spread some of the cream cheese mixture over the cheese slices lining the bowl.
• Layer the pesto mixture, half of the remaining cream cheese mixture, the sun-dried tomato mixture and then remaining cream cheese mixture in the bowl.
• Cover with remaining provolone.
• Bring edges of the plastic wrap together over the top and secure with a twist tie.
• *Freeze until firm to the touch.
• Remove the plastic wrap and invert the mold onto a serving platter.
• To serve, slice thinly and serve with party crackers.
• This will keep in the refrigerator for up to three months.
• *Note:Original recipe says to freeze until firm, but I wasn't sure how that would work out.
• I just froze for about an hour until it was firm enough to unmold.
• Can be store easily in the refrigerator.

ORANGE BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray miniature muffin tins with cooking spray.
• Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend with a stand mixer for about 2 minutes or until smooth.
• Pour about a tablespoon of batter into each spot in the muffin tin. I used a mini ice cream scoop about the size of a melon baller.
• Bake for about 12 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and set aside to cool slightly.
• Sift the confectioner's sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the water, oil and vanilla and mix until smooth.
• Dip the warm cupcakes into the glaze and place them on a wire rack with waxed paper underneath to cool and for the glaze to set. This could take a while especially if it's humid.
• When the glaze has set completely the cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container until it's time to serve them.

SWEET LEMON TEA(PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 6 cups water to a boil.
• Add the tea bags, remove from the heat, and let steep for 20 minutes. Discard the tea bags.
• In a pitcher or serving bowl, combine the tea, lemonade concentrate, sugar, almond extract, and enough water to make 1 gallon. Stir.
• Garnish with sliced lemons, if desired. Enjoy!

LEMON BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350*
• 2. Spray miniature muffins tins with vegetable oil cooking spray.
• 3. Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend well with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• 4. Pour a small amount of batter, filling each muffin tin half way. Bake for 12 minutes. Turn out onto a tea towel.
• 5. To make the Glaze: sift the sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, zest, oil, and 3 tablespoons water. Mix with a spoon until smooth.
• 6. With fingers. dip the cupcakes into the glaze while they're still warm, covering as much of the cake as possible, or spoon the glaze over the warm cupcakes, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with waxed paper underneath to catch any drips. Let the glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour, before storing in containers with tight-fitting lids.