How To Make a Superman Cake

My son wanted a Superman cake for his birthday, so although most of my cakes belong on Cake Wrecks,  I think this is one of my better creations.  First, bake a cake, any size, any shape and print off a Superman symbol for that size of cake.  Then cut out the yellow parts.

Make some buttercream frosting.  I like this recipe.  Frost the cake blue and then put the symbol in the middle.

 Frost the relief parts of the symbol and put in the writing.

 Then pipe red frosting around the edges or put on licorice.

 Take off the paper and then pipe in what is left.

 And Walla.  My son was thrilled.  The frosting was pretty good too for being decorative frosting.

Two of my Favorite Ice Creams Recreated at Home

I have two favorite ice creams Schwann's Rocky Road and a Cookie Dough Ice Cream my Grandparents-in-law took me to in Berkley.  I have been on a mission to recreate both since I can't get either where I live.  The thing I love about Schwann's Rocky Road is the marshmallow are not chewy pieces they are delightful ribbons of marshmallow.  Sooo good!

First, the Cooke Dough/Hot Fudge Ice Cream

Make Alton Brown's Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe found HERE.

At least 2 hours before you are going to mix the ice cream make up this cookie dough recipe:

5 Tbsp. brown sugar
6 Tbsp. sugar
4 Tbsp. butter softened
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. whole milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or chocolate chips chopped up
1 1/4 cups flour

Mix up and roll in waxed paper.  Freeze. 

Also sometime before you make the ice cream make some hot fudge sauce or buy some.  I like this recipe.  Make sure it has time to cool off before you add it to the ice cream.

When your ice cream is almost done chop up your cookie dough into bite sized pieces and add to your ice cream.  If it won't fit that's okay!  Mine wouldn't so I came up with a different plan.

Get the container you are going to put your ice cream in and put a layer of vanilla ice cream and then sprinkle on some cookie dough pieces, then pour on some hot fudge (not hot though).  Then some more ice cream, cookie dough, fudge, repeat until you are out of ice cream.

If your ice cream maker is like mine and its hard to get all the ice cream out.  Never fret.  Sprinkle in some cookie dough and hot fudge into the bowl and let your kids go at it.  They will scrape it clean.  And you can help... or you can sneak off to your room and scrape it clean yourself.

I would never do that of course.... *cough.

Your ice cream should firm up overnight and be amazing in the morning.  Not that you should eat it for breakfast! 

Next up.... Rocky Road Ice Cream

First make Alton Brown's Chocolate Ice Cream found here.    Then either make your own chocolate covered peanuts or buy some.  You will also need Marshmallow Fluff.

When the chocolate ice cream is almost done add the chocolate covered peanuts.

Then layer the ice cream into its container with marshmallow fluff.

Freeze overnight to harden up.

Homemade English Muffins and Egg Sandwiches

I've been wanting to try to make my own English Muffins for a while.  The recipe I used was extremely vague on the times and stuff so I'm going to try to improve it for you.

English Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp. white sugar
3/4 Tbsp. yeast
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup melted shortening
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt

   Warm the milk in a saucepan until it bubbles then remove from heat.  Mix in the sugar.  Stir until dissolved.  Let this cool until its lukewarm in a large bowl you will be doing the mixing in (save yourself a dish!).  Dissolve the yeast in warm water in another bowl for about ten minutes.

  Combine the yeast and milk mixture in that large bowl.  Then add the shortening and 3 cups flour.  Beat until smooth.  Then add salt and the rest of the flour until it makes a soft dough.  I didn't use all of the flour.  Knead.  Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise for an hour and 1/2 until doubled.

   Punch down.  Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick!  This is important!  Half of mine were too thick and 1/2 were too thin.  Cut out with anything you have that is round.  I used a glass.  Sprinkle cornmeal on top of a couple pans, place the muffins on the cornmeal, sprinkle some cornmeal on top of these, cover, and let these muffins rise for another 1/2 hour. 

   Heat a griddle and spray with non-stick spray.  Cook muffins on the griddle for about 10 minutes on each side.  Mine needed a little less time.  Then place in a 270 degree oven to keep warm while you make the rest.

Split and toast.  Spread with your favorite toppings.  Or make up some fried eggs, place some ham on top of that and you have a fantastic egg sandwich.

Enjoy!