Ellen's Favorites
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Courtesy of Bon Appetit, October, 2007
Halloween Spiderweb Cookies
INGREDIENTS 2 batches Decorating Icing
1 batch SUGAR COOKIES (See Recipe Below), cut out using 3 1/3-inch round or octagonal cookie cutter, baked according to directions, and cooled completely
Icing:
Sugar Cookies:
Whisk together flour and salt in a small bowl. Special equipment: 3 pastry bags fitted with couplers, 2 #3-size (medium, round) decorating tips, 1 #1-size (small, round) decorating tip, small offset spatula, toothpicks PREPARATIONS Make thin icing: In large bowl, stir together 1 batch icing and 2 tablespoons water. Fit 1 pastry bag with #3-size tip and fill with thin icing.Color thicker icing: Divide second batch icing between 2 medium bowls. To icing in 1 bowl, gradually mix in black food coloring until icing is black. Fit second pastry bag with second #3-size tip and fill with black icing. Fit third pastry bag with #1-size tip and fill with remaining (thicker) white icing. Pipe border: Using pastry bag with #1 tip and thicker white icing, pipe around outer edge of 1 cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies and let set 2 minutes. "Flood" to fill center: Using pastry bag with #3 tip and thinner white icing, squirt pool of icing into center of 1 cookie, then spread to edge with small offset spatula. Repeat with second cookie, giving first time to set. Pipe circles: Returning to first cookie, using pastry bag with black icing, pipe concentric circles over white icing, beginning in center and ending almost at edge. Repeat with second cookie, giving first time to set. Form spiderweb pattern: Returning to first cookie, position tip of toothpick in center and drag through icing out to edge. Wipe tip and repeat 7 more times to make 8 evenly spaced, radiating lines like spokes of wheel. Next, position tip at edge, halfway between 2 lines, and drag inward to center to create another line. Wipe tip and repeat 7 more times to make 8 more lines between first 8. Repeat process with second iced cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies, working in batches of 2 to allow icing to partially set, but not harden, between steps. Let cookies dry, uncovered, at room temperature 10 hours or overnight. (Once dry, cookies will keep, layered between sheets of wax paper or parchment, in airtight container at room temperature 1 week.)
FETA BURGERS WITH GRILLED RED ONIONS |
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Courtesy of Bon Appetit, June 2002
MIXED-BERRY CHIFFON CAKE WITH ALMOND CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Almond cream filling
Cake 1 cup raspberry preserves
Almond cream cheese frosting
Assorted fresh berries (such as strawberries and blueberries)
For cake: Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes for thinner cake and 30 minutes for larger cake. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Cut around cakes and turn out onto racks; cool completely. Place thinner cake on 9-inch-diameter tart pan bottom. Spread with 1/2 cup preserves, leaving 1/2-inch plain border. Spoon 1 1/2 cups filling in dollops atop preserves; spread evenly. Chill until filling is firm, about 15 minutes. Cut larger cake horizontally in half. Place 1 half, cut side down, atop chilled filling. Spread with 1/2 cup preserves, leaving 1/2-inch plain border. Spoon 1 1/2 cups filling in dollops atop preserves; spread evenly. Top with remaining cake layer, cut side down . Cover cake and remaining filling; chill 3 hours.
For almond cream cheese frosting: Mound berries on top of cake. Brush top of berries with warm jelly to glaze. Serve immediately, or chill up to 6 hours. |
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Ellen is Chairperson of the Keller Williams Cares charities efforts in her office. Here is a local success story she wants to share:
Article published in the Spectrum online version, May 17, 2007
Fundraising efforts turn out sweet
By BRITTANY DUNCAN
bduncan@thespectrum.com
ST. GEORGE - Dixie Downs Elementary students raised $8,000 for a fellow student injured in a car accident earlier this year. Priscilla Taylor, with Keller Williams Realty, approached Ellen Plante, chairman of Keller Williams Cares, to sponsor a fundraiser on behalf of 10-year-old Robby Pendleton.
"(Robby) helped my son ride his bike," Taylor said. Robby's uncle, Courtney Pendleton, said it was an example of paying it forward. Courtney Pendleton said he was surprised by the magnitude of the fundraiser. "All these people stepped up and they don't even know him," Courtney Pendleton said. Courtney and his sister Bonnie Pendleton were on hand at the elementary school to see cookie dough get distributed to the students. Bonnie was brought to tears while talking about her brother, Robby's dad. "He has literally lived in the hospital and he hasn't left his side, not once," Bonnie Pendleton said. She said the money is needed not so much for medical expenses, but for the changes the family has had to make. Robert Pendleton, Robby's dad, hasn't been able to work since the accident on Feb. 4. A wheelchair accessible van will also need to be bought, Bonnie said. Robert's house has already been made wheelchair accessible due to the contributions of local construction companies.
"The biggest hero in all this is Robert, his dad," Courtney Pendleton said. "He's the kind of person we all wish we could be." The Pendleton family said they were all humbled by the support and the willingness of KW Cares to help. KW Cares not only sponsored the fundraiser, but it also offered prizes to the top two sellers and pizza parties to the two classes that sold the most.
The top seller of the fundraiser, Gavin Perkins, and his family also held a garage sale on behalf of Robby. They raised approximately $2,000. "He was my friend," Perkins said. "I used to live two doors down from him."
Joseph Seamons was in the same class as Robby this school year. "I helped [Robby] so much because he was becoming my friend and I helped him a lot when he needed it," Seamons said.
The second-place seller, Jessica Isaacson, sold $550 worth of cookie dough. Isaacson is using her $25 prize to help buy a miniature schnauzer.
Contributions to Robby and his family can still be made through Zions Bank on Sunset Boulevard to the Robby Pendleton Fund.
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