Suggestions for cookies/desserts to bring to a family reunion?!
Suggestions for cookies/desserts to bring to a family reunion?
I am going to my fanily reunion in about a month and have been asked to bring cookies/desserts. Here's the catch; I will have to drive 6 or 7 hours to get there, so it can't be somthing too delicate. There will be people of all ages there; the youngest is 1 and the oldest is 66.
Answers:
Brownies hold up well, and everyone loves brownies......
try angel food cake!
Almond macaroons....very easy to bake and long lasting. They're a hit with old and young alike.
4 egg whites at room temp.
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
3 cups sweetened grated coconut
1 cup finely chopped almonds
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Beat 4 egg whites until foamy and blend in 1/2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Now beat the eggs until stiff. Fold in 3 cups coconut and 1 cup finely chopped almonds.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared sheets 1 inch apart. Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy. Cool on sheets 1 minute. slide them off onto a wire rack and cool 5 minutes. Store the cookies loosely covered. Makes 4 dozen.
Banana Pudding is always a great dessert.
Also could some no-bake cookies such as tagalongs or haystacks.
BANANA PUDDING
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (16 ounce) package vanilla wafers
14 bananas, sliced
DIRECTIONS
In a large mixing bowl, beat pudding mix and milk 2 minutes. Blend in condensed milk until smooth. Stir in vanilla and fold in whipped topping. Layer wafers, bananas and pudding mixture in a glass serving bowl. Chill until serving.
HAYSTACKS
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups butterscotch chips
12 ounces peanuts
5 (5 ounce) cans chow mein noodles
DIRECTIONS
Melt the chips in a saucepan on low heat. Stir in the nuts and the noodles.
Then drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Cool and then store covered.
TAGALONGS
Ritz crackers
Peanut butter
Chocolate bark (the candy coating chocolate)
DIRECTIONS
Slowly melt the chocolate bark on the stovetop. While it's melting, begin forming peanut butter sandwiches between pairs of ritz crackers. Let chocolate cool for ten minutes once melted. Then, using a fork place one peanut butter sandwich at a time into the chocolate and thouroughly coat it. Finally, place the coated cookie onto wax paper and let stand for 30 minutes. Repeat. Can be kept out at room temp. for 5-7 days.
I'm not very inventive when it comes to deserts - I seldom eat them, but for summertime and long travel maybe sugar cookies or melon balls. You might even look into ordering something near your destination and picking it up once you get there.
Chocolate Mousse:
Equipment: measuring cups, small saucepan and small heatproof bowl, wooden spoon, large mixing bowl, electric mixer, rubber spatula, plastic wrap.
Ingredients:1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips, or 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped. Also, cups heavy cream, chilled.
How to make it: Fill the small saucepan haalf full with water. Choose a small, deep heatproof bowl that fits snugly on the saucepan. Be sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Add the chocolate to the small bowl and set the whole thing over medium heat. Heat the chocolate,stirring often with the wooden spoon, until it is melted, about five minutes. During the time, the water should simmer, not boil. Adjust the heat up or down if nessessary. Turn off the heat. Remove the bowl from the saucepan of water. Set the bowl aside for cooling slightly. Pour the cream into the large mixing bowl. Using the electric mixer set on medium speed, beat the cream until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds. Add the warm chocolate to the cream. Continue beating on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula, until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. To test, turn off the mixer and lift the beaters. If the cream makes soft little peaks that flop over slightly, it is ready. Spoon the mousse into serving cups or glasses. Cover with plastic wrap and refridgerate for at least two hours before serving.
Quick and easy but delicious hot or cold so it can be made in advance.
Sopapilla Cheesecake
2 cans crescent roll dough
2 packages cream cheese
1.5 cups sugar
1 stick of butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
spray a 9x13 pan with non stick spray, spread out 1 package crescent roll dough and pinch to close any wholes. Cream together 1 c sugar, vanilla and cream cheese. Spread on top of crescents. Spread the second can of crescent on top of the cream cheese, doing the same with the wholes. Melt the one stick of butter and take off heat, add the 1/2 cup sugar that remains, and the cinnamon. Stir, then pour on top of the crescents, move the pan around so that the butter mixture evenly coats the dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Delicious
why not stop off at a pie shop when you reach your destination? Or order one or two ahead of time (depending on how many you plan to serve). Maybe ask them to pre-cut the pie into small slices. Like a Bakers Square pie would be nice. Buy a pie and a spray bottle of whipped cream. Pumpkin, strawberry, lemon, key-lime are all ok for a picnic. Stay away from the melting chocolate though or cream.
Try these Cocoa Krispie Brownies. They travel well and even in the heat they are good. There is a picture on this link and it is exactly what it sounds like. Cocoa Krispies on top and a brownie bottom.
There are many recipes on kraftfoods.com They got cookies,pies,cakes,and other types of foods. They are easy and will transport well.
Good Luck.
apple pie