Vanilla Custard Recipe(www.epicurious.com)

Ingredients

• 3 cups whole milk
• 8 large egg yolks
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

Heat milk in a 2 1/2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not boiling.

While milk heats, whisk together yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a heatproof bowl until smooth.

Add 1 cup hot milk to yolk mixture in a stream, whisking, then add remaining milk, whisking constantly. Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and registers 170°F on thermometer, 6 to 10 minutes (do not boil).

Immediately force custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl and stir in butter and vanilla. Chill custard, its surface covered with wax paper, until cold and thickened, at least 3 hours.

Cooks' notes:• Custard can be cooled quickly by setting bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and stirring occasionally.• Custard can be chilled, its surface covered with wax paper and bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap, up to 2 days.       

August 16th is National Bratwurst Day AND National Rum Day!

Golden Rum Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup dark rum
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup dark rum

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over the bottom of the pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix. Mix in the eggs, 1/2 cup water, oil and 1/2 cup rum. Blend well. Pour batter over chopped nuts in the pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let sit for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto serving plate. Brush glaze over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze and repeat until all glaze is used.
4. To make the glaze: in a saucepan, combine butter, 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup rum.

August 10th is National Banana Split Day AND National S'mores Day!

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S'mores(allrecipes.com)

Prep Time: 1 MinuteCook Time: 2 MinReady In: 3 Min

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large marshmallow
• 1 graham cracker
• 1 (1.5 ounce) bar chocolate candy bar

Directions

1. Heat the marshmallow over an open flame until it begins to brown and melt.
2. Break the graham cracker in half. Sandwich the chocolate between the cracker and the hot marshmallow. Allow the marshmallow to cool a moment before eating.               

August 8th is National Zucchini Day AND National Frozen Custard Day

Homemade Frozen Custard
(www.allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a large heavy saucepan, bring milk to a boil. Meanwhile, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt and eggs. Gradually add a small amount of hot milk; return all to the saucepan. Cook and stir until mixture reached at least 160 degrees F and coat the back of a metal spoon. Gradually stir in condensed milk and vanilla. Chill for 3-4 hours.
2. Fill cylinder of ice cream freezer two thirds full; freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Refrigerate remaining mixture until ready to freeze.               

July 14th is National Macaroni Day!

Baked Macaroni and Cheese
(Recipe courtesy Alton Brown)
Ingredients

• 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon powdered mustard
• 3 cups milk
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 large egg
• 12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Fresh black pepper

Topping:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.
Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.
Remember to save leftovers for fried Macaroni and Cheese.

July 13th is National French Fries Day AND National Franks & Beans Day

 

Beans-n-Franks
(www.allrecipes.com)

Prep Time: 10 MinCook Time: 40 MinReady In: 50 Min

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons margarine
• 3 tablespoons chopped onion
• 1 (16 ounce) can baked beans with pork
• 1 (16 ounce) package frankfurters, sliced
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1 teaspoon celery salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onions in butter until tender. Stir in the baked beans and sliced frankfurters. Season with brown sugar, mustard and celery salt. Transfer to a 2 quart casserole dish.
3. Bake for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

July 12th is National Pecan Pie Day!

PECAN PIE RECIPE (www.allrecipes.com and Elaine Helms)

Prep Time: 15 MinCook Time: 40 MinReady In: 1 Hr 5 Min

Ingredients

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy, and stir in melted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar and the flour; mix well. Last add the milk, vanilla and nuts.
3. Pour into an unbaked 9-in pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until done.