Crispy Air Fryer Tater Tots

 Air fryer tater tots are quick and easy snacks or the perfect side to any meal. These tater tots come out of the air fryer so crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside.

Crispy Air Fryer Tater Tots - Reviewed

Tater tots are just one of those foods that are loved by kids and adults alike. Our grandson Tyler loves his tater tots made in the air fryer. It is so easy to make tater tots in the air fryer from frozen to the table in about 10 to 15 minutes.

How to make tater tots in the air fryer:

The air fryer is the quickest way to make the crispiest tater tots right from the freezer.

1. First, set your air fryer to air crisp and the temperature to 400 degrees. The high temperature is important for crispy tater tots. Set the timer for 12 minutes.
2. I place the frozen tater tots in a one-gallon plastic storage bag. Add one tablespoon of olive oil and toss them around. You can also use a cooking spray if you like.
3. Place the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket and lightly season with salt. Cook for 6 minutes then open and toss them around in the basket. This is important so they don't stick together. Cook for the remaining 6 minutes. 
4. Place them in a bowl and serve plain or with your favorite dipping sauce.

We like to have some different dipping sauces, such as ketchup, ranch, or barbecue sauce. My favorite is the barbecue sauce but when our granddaughters are visiting, the ranch is their favorite.

More seasoning suggestions for tater tots:

• Smoked Paprika
• Italian Seasoning
• Taco Seasoning
• Montreal Steak Seasoning
• Old Bay Seasoning

These are just some ideas for different seasonings. You can season your tater tots with whatever you like. The amounts depend on your taste but usually, one tablespoon per basket in the air fryer is enough.

We use our Ninja Foodi Grill to air fry. The Ninja is a combination indoor grill and air fryer. We have had our Ninja for several years and just love it. Any air fryer will work just as well.

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What is Chantilly Cake? A Food Review

 Admittedly, I am not much of a cake eater, preferring pies & puddings to any cake-like dessert. With one exception – the whipped cream cakes that a Rochester, New York department store my dad worked for used to feature in their bakery. They also made an eclair filled with real whipped cream that was to die for!  But I digress! 

Chantilly Cake

After dozens of years, I have finally found a cake every bit as good as that department store's whipped cream cake.  It's called a Chantilly Cake and is exclusively found in the Whole Foods Markets throughout the countries of the United States, Canada, and the U.K.

The reason Whole Foods features this Chantilly cake is it was created for Whole Foods by Chaya Conrad when she was working in one of their New Orleans stores in 2005. Chaya now runs the popular Bywater Bakery in New Orleans. 

Chantilly Cake ~ sometimes called Berry Chantilly Cake ~ is composed of white sponge layers with berries and sweetened whipped cream. The cake's name comes from Chantilly cream, which is a French term for sweetened whipped cream flavored with vanilla or liqueur.  For the frosting, a combination of whipped mascarpone and cream cheese is used, with berries such as raspberries, strawberries and blueberries folded in and placed on top. 

Chantilly Cake Recipe to Make Your Own Homemade Delight

There are several recipes online for making Chantilly Cake from scratch. My favorite is on the Preppy Kitchen website (PreppyKitchen.com), a blog filled with kitchen creations by John Kanell. John describes himself as a husband, dad to twin boys and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious. John lives in Los Angeles. 

Personal Reflections of Chantilly Cake

My first introduction to Chantilly Cake from Whole Foods was a year and a half ago at a birthday celebration for one of my grandsons. Since it is my son's favorite cake, it is frequently served at most of the family celebrations, as you can see below. 

Summary

Once you have tasted a Chantilly Cake, you will wish to have it often. There is nothing like a whipped cream cake, especially one filled with fresh berries. The sweetness of the whipped cream/cream cheese/mascarpone frosting, combined with the tartness of the fresh berries, is an unbelievably delicious taste treat. Why not give Chantilly Cake a try for your New Year's Eve celebration?  

Happy New Year!

Happy Eating! 

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*Order Whole Foods Berry Chantilly Cake from Amazon for Pick Up or 2-hour delivery with Prime from your local Whole Foods Store.

*Chantilly Cake Review written by Wednesday Elf

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A Delightful Morning Treat - Homemade Baked French Toast

Every year, on the first weekend in December, our daughter Jamie and the boys come over to help us decorate for Christmas. It's time to rearrange the furniture, get the Christmas tree out of the basement, put it up, and decorate it.

Baked French Toast - Reviewed

Every year, Fran likes to have a nice breakfast for this festive activity. Normally it's just eggs, bacon, sausage, and some fresh muffins. This year Fran added this delightful homemade baked French toast.

In my post today, I will guide you through how Fran created this sweet, mouthwatering comfort dish of baked French toast.

Ingredients: For Homemade Baked French Toast

1 loaf of French bread

7 to 8 large eggs

1 cup of milk

1/2 cup heavy cream or (half and half)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup butter melted

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

Powdered sugar, cinnamon, and brown sugar for the top after baking. 

Directions:

1. Cut the French bread into 1-inch cubes.
2. Melt the butter, and mix with the brown sugar until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Pour the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
4. Add the cut cubes of French bread into the baking dish and spread evenly.
5. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until all is well combined.
6. Pour the mixture over the French bread, cover, and refrigerate for one or two hours.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes until it's golden brown and set in the center.
8. Sprinkle the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and brown sugar over the top while it's hot right out of the oven.

Serve warm with butter, and maple syrup. We had fresh-cut strawberries and whipped cream for some added treats on top of our baked French toast.

You don't have to wait for the holidays to enjoy this delightful baked French toast. Whether you're hosting a brunch or just treating yourself to a wonderful morning breakfast anytime.

Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Cinnamon, Ground, 15 OuncesPyrex Deep 5.2-Qt (9

 

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A Review of Gingerbread Dip

One of the best things about holiday parties is the food and of the food, my favorite is the dips! We always have lots of different kinds of dip at our family party, but after 50+ years we were getting a bit tired of the same variety of dips and dippers.  So one year I decided to find a new and unusual dip to bring to the family party.  I looked through cook books and websites.  I called friends.  I even tried to make some dips from scratch.  It was a failure of epic proportions. 

Then one day I ran across a very old cook book that I got from my Mom when she passed.  It is so old it looks like it was run off a Ditto Master.  Remember those?  The paper had gone yellow with age and the cover was gone.  There was no sign of where it came from or who had put it together.  Mysterious!

I began leafing through the small book and found lots of recipes I had never heard of and among them was exactly what I was looking for.  Something I had never seen before, but sounded delicious!

Gingerbread Dip

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature

1 1/3 cups freshly whipped cream (I used Cool Whip)

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 to 3 Tablespoons of molasses (to taste)

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

Beat and stir the cream cheese until smooth. (I used an electric mixer for about a minute)

Slowly tap in the powdered and brown sugars and stir until completely combined.  (I beat with my mixer for about a minute and a half)

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and molasses.

Add this mixture to the cream cheese and sugars and stir until thoroughly combined.  (used my mixer for about a minute, scraping the sides)

Fold in whipped cream and stir gently till completely mixed.  (I did this by hand, but you could use a mixer)

Now before you chill this dip, it is better to put it in its serving bowl because once chilled it is harder to smooth it into a serving container.

This old recipe did not say what to serve this dip with, but the suggestions really are endless.  A few off the top of my head are small butter cookies, honey graham crackers, vanilla wafers and even pretzels for those that like the sweet/salty taste.

When I made a trial run of this dip, I used honey grahams to dip because it was all I had on hand. However, when I made it for the family party, I used grahams, butter cookies and apple slices. (make sure you don't forget to soak them in lemon water so they don't turn brown) and all were equally well received.  

My old fashioned dip was a hit!  It was pretty much cleaned out by the end of the night and I received many compliments on my new and unusual contribution.  I was elated. In the car, on the way home, I wondered what other gems were hidden in that old, weathered cookbook.  I intended to find out!

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White Beans and White Bean Soup Recipe Review

Making white bean (Great Northern Beans) soup is a holiday tradition in our home.  I don't just make white bean soup during the holidays, but it is a part of the holiday week menu of recipes that I look forward to making and eating.

Every holiday, whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter, I bake a big ham for the family.  I can hardly wait for the ham to be devoured so I can use the bone in a big pot of white bean soup.  The ham, itself, is usually served at least twice over the course of a few days.  I admit, sometimes (like this past Thanksgiving) I don't wait for all of the ham to be gone before I claim the ham bone for soup.

I love the holidays and cooking for the holidays, but after several days of heavy feasting, I am always ready for a lighter fare of soup for a few days.  For some, white beans are exclusively a side dish.  For me, they make a fabulous soup!  And, just so your know, I do make white beans as a side throughout the year.  I make the side dish exactly the same way as I make the soup, but with less water.

 

White Bean Soup Recipe by Sylvestermouse
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Camellia Brand Dried Great Northern Beans, 1 Pound (Pack of 2)…

I use a package of dried white beans.  I do have a preferred brand, but I have been known to use different brands if I can't find the Camellia Great Northern Beans in the store.  I have found that the Camellia brand has less beans that I need to throw away before cooking.

I use the entire package of beans in one pot of soup.  I start by inspecting the beans as I rinse them in small batches in my colander.  I toss any shriveled, dark or broken beans, as well as any bean loose or floating "skin". 

All whole, white beans that pass inspection are placed in a large dutch oven size cooking pot, covered with water, and left sitting out on the kitchen counter to soak for 8 hours, or overnight. 

 

Directions for White Bean Soup

• Rinse the Beans & Soak for 8 hrs. or overnight (water should be 2/3 up the pan since the beans absorb water while soaking)
• After 8 hours, Rinse the Beans again and put them in a dutch oven pot with Ham (Ham Bone Preferred) OR (2 T Bacon Grease if a ham bone is not available)
• Bring to a Boil, then turn the heat down to a low boil  (on my stove top that is 3­½)
  
• Add a generous amount of salt and pepper and stir the seasoning into the beans
• Cook covered (tilted lid or Pampered Chef Boil Over No More cover) on low simmer for 1½ - 2 hours 

*Note: I normally check the cooking beans a few times to add water as needed to keep the water from boiling down too low 

 Pampered Chef Boil-Over No More Pot Cover Splatter Guard

Wisconic 2 Pack Mini Colander Berry Baskets - Plastic, Durable Kitchenware, Dishwasher Safe - Made in the USA - Prussian Blue & Light Teal

Cooks Standard Dutch Oven Casserole with Glass Lid, 6-Quart Classic Stainless Steel Stockpot, Silver

 

 

Bacon Grease

I mentioned bacon grease in the recipe above because I season white beans with bacon grease if a ham bone is not available.  Bacon grease is exactly what it sounds like.  It is the grease that is rendered when cooking bacon.  I cook bacon in the microwave on a bacon tray or rack that allows the grease to settle below the bacon.  I literally pour the bacon grease from the tray into a bacon grease jar to use as needed, whenever needed.  You will find a partly filled jar of bacon grease in my kitchen at all times.

Nordic Ware Microwave Compact Bacon Plastic Rack,10-Inch by 8-Inch

Ceramic Bacon Grease Container Keeper with Strainer, Frying Oil Storage Can, Turquoise

 

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White Beans (Great Northern Beans) and White Bean Soup Recipe Review Written by:

© 2023 Cynthia Sylvestermouse
 

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Banana Bread Mini Loaves Recipe and Mini Loaf Pan Review

After getting the Wilton mini loaf pan that makes 8 mini loaves of bread at one time, I have found that I actually prefer the mini loaves to one large loaf of bread.

My husband likes walnuts in banana bread, but I don't like walnuts in mine.  Therefore, I often end up making two large loaves or one loaf that is not going to please both of us.  Making a pan of mini loaves is the perfect solution!

After I have mixed the batter, I add walnuts to half of the batter.  Therefore, I can make 4 mini loaves of banana bread with walnuts and 4 without walnuts. 

I can also share the mini loaves with friends and family.  These would make lovely gifts of homemade food during the holidays.  For our friends who have differing ingredients preferences like us, I could send several loaves.  

A variety of bread mini loaves will certainly make the food at family gatherings more appealing.  By labeling the mini loaves, everyone will know exactly what they are getting.  No more surprise walnuts in my piece of banana bread!

 

Mini Banana Bread Loaves Recipe by Sylvestermouse
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Heat Oven to 350°

Grease & flour pan 

Ingredients 

• 1/4 Cup Shortening 
• 3/4 Cup Sugar 
• 2 Eggs 
• 2 Cups  Bisquick or Jiffy Baking Mix  
  
• 1 Cup Mashed Banana (usually 2 or 3 very ripe bananas) 
• 1/3 Cup Chopped Nuts, if desired

Instructions 

In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar together with a mixer

Then, add eggs, baking mix, & mashed bananas. Mix until well blended 

Stir in walnuts - If you are dividing the number of loaves that have walnuts, divide batter into two mixing bowls and stir walnuts into only one

Pour into the prepared pan 

Bake mini loaves for 30 minutes - Check if done by sticking a toothpick in the center of a mini loaves.  If the toothpick comes out clean, the bread is done

Let cool for 10 minutes and remove from pan 

Let the mini loaves cool completely before you wrap them in foil or plastic wrap.  

Wilton Perfect Results Non-Stick Mini Loaf Pan, 8-Cavity, 15.2 IN x 9.5 IN x 1.6, Gray

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Mini Banana Bread Loaves Recipe and Loaf Pan Recommendation Review Written by:

© 2023 Cynthia Sylvestermouse
 

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Black Magic Chocolate Cake Made with Coffee Recipe Review

This black magic chocolate cake is made with black coffee and buttermilk (the magic part) which makes it a rich, delicious cake.  It is my son's favorite cake, therefore I make it for his birthday every year.  

If you love chocolate, this is definitely the cake for you!  The combination of real cocoa, buttermilk and coffee make it a chocolate lovers dream cake.  

For the last few years, I have frosted it with Barbara's chocolate icing recipe which is better than the icing recipe I previously used.  Serve it with chocolate ice cream, if you dare, and you have a triple chocolate masterpiece.  

 

My Mixing Note

I set my mixing bowl in my sink to keep ingredients from blowing or splattering when mixing.  It is so much easier to simply rinse the sink when I am finished mixing batter than it is to clean the counters, walls and floor.

I also pre-measure ingredients before I start.  That way, I know I haven't forgotten any of the ingredients should I get interrupted. 

 

Black Magic Chocolate Cake Recipe by Sylvestermouse
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Prep Time	Cook Time	Cool Time	Ready In	Yields
20 min.	30-35 min.	60 min.	2 hrs.	12 - 16 servings

Ingredients 

• 2 cups Swans Down Cake Flour (or 1¾ cups all-purpose flour)
  
• 2 cups sugar 
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (100% cacao)
  
• 2 teaspoons baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 2 eggs 
• 1 cup strong brewed coffee 
• 1 cup buttermilk 
• ½ cup vegetable oil 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Grease & flour two 9" round cake pans or one 9"x13" pan
   
3. In large bowl, combine/whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  (Set mixing bowl in the sink to keep the flour/cocoa from blowing everywhere) 
4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil & vanilla
   
5. Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Batter will be very thin
   
6. Pour into prepared pans
   
7. Bake at for 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean
   
8. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and completely cool
9. Frost as desired
   

See the Items I Use For Pre-measuring in the Following Reviews:

 Cooking & Baking Prep Tools: Shot Glasses Used As Pinch Bowls Set of Stainless Steel Stackable Magnetic Measuring Spoons Reviewed Mini Increment Measuring Spoons for Tad, Dash, Pinch, Smidgen & Drop

 

 

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Black Magic Chocolate Cake Made with Coffee Recipe Review Written by:

© 2023 Cynthia Sylvestermouse
 

 

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Thanksgiving - The Best from Review This Contributors

 Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather, celebrate, and give blessings, and thanks.

Photo from Pixabay - Credit monicoe

Thanksgiving is also a time for a great feast with your family, and friends. Thanksgiving dates as far back as 1621, and became a National Holiday in 1863. Today, we will review some typical Thanksgiving menus.  Everyone has their traditions and favorites. 

Typical Thanksgiving Menu:

• Turkey
• Stuffing
• Cranberry Sauce
• Sweet potatoes
• Mashed Potatoes
• Green Beans
• Pumpkin Pie

This was our table last year, with all of our Thanksgiving favorites. The homemade cranberry sauce is one of my favorites. 

Our daughter makes the best homemade cranberry sauce, get this delicious cranberry sauce recipe here. This cranberry sauce is much better than the cans I remember growing up.

Everybody knows I love to cook, but when it comes to the Thanksgiving turkey it's all Fran. I do get to check the internal temperature and carve the turkey. Fran insists on buying a fresh turkey every year.

 Oh, there is one other thing I get to do, inject melted butter into the turkey breast. This really helps keep it juicy.

After all of that delicious food, you must save room for dessert. There is always a traditional pumpkin pie on our table. Last year these pies were crafted by our granddaughters and grandson.

The Thanksgiving food is wonderful, but for me, it's all about having our family together in one place. That is a blessing in itself and what makes me so thankful.

Take some time to click the link below for many wonderful Thanksgiving ideas from the ReviewThis Contributors. You will find Thanksgiving history, inspiration, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts to help plan your Thanksgiving Holiday.

The Best from ReviewThis Contributors.

Wishing you all a Safe and Healthy Thanksgiving

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