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Pizzas will not come out good in a microwave oven. They will not rise well and will not have a crisp crust. It's best to make them in a regular oven and the time required is about 10 minutes anyway. However there are a lot of recipes for good cakes: MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE IN MICROWAVE OVEN 1/4 c. (1/2 stick butter) 1/2 c. sugar 2 eggs 1/2 c. flour 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1 c. chocolate syrup Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and beat until fluffy. Add sifted dry ingredients, vanilla and chocolate syrup. Beat until thoroughly blended. Pour into an 8-inch square or round glass baking dish. Cook, uncovered, 7 minutes in microwave oven. FROSTING: While cake is still warm, spread 1 cup miniature marshmallows over the top. In microwave oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter for 30 seconds in glass mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons evaporated milk; mix thoroughly. Cook uncovered, for 2 minutes. Quickly mix in 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Pour over cake and blend with marshmallows. Microwave cooking times are approximate. Cooking time varies with the model of microwave oven. FEATHERY YELLOW CAKE 1/5 recipe (3 1/3 c.) Basic Cake Mix (recipe above) 3/4 c. milk 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla Grease and lightly flour 2 (8 x 1 1/2 inch) cake pans. Set aside. In mixer bowl combine the Basic Cake Mix and the milk. Beat at low speed of electric mixer until moistened. Beat 1 minute at medium speed. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Spread batter evenly in prepared pans. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool thoroughly on wire rack. Frost as desired. MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS FOR FEATHERY YELLOW CAKE: Prepare Feathery Yellow Cake as directed. Spoon batter into two waxed-paper lined 8-inch round glass dishes. Microwave one cake layer at a time. Microwave, uncovered, on Medium for 7 minutes, rotating dish a quarter turn after 4 to 7 minutes. Microwave, uncovered, on High for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes more or until top is slightly moist but firm. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan, cool. repeat with remaining cake layer. Frost as desired. EASY YELLOW CUPCAKES: Prepare Feathery Yellow Cake as above except spoon batter into paper-bake-cup-lined muffin pans, filling 2/3 full. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on rack. Frost as desired. Makes 8. MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS FOR EASY YELLOW CUPCAKES: Prepare cupcakes as directed. Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into each of 6 paper-bake-up-lined microwave muffin pans. Microwave, uncovered, on Medium for 2 1/2 minutes. Rotate dish a quarter-turn. Microwave, uncovered, on High for 1 to 2 minutes or until tops are slightly moist and spring back when touched, turning dish a quarter turn once. Remove from pans. Cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Frost as desired. Makes 24. CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE: Prepare Feathery Yellow Cake as above except pour 1/4 of the batter into each prepared pan. Sprinkle 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces over batter in each pan. Add remaining batter to both pans, spreading over chips. Sprinkle another 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces over each. Bake as directed. CHOCOLATE FUDGE POUND CAKE 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped 1/2 lb. (2 sticks) butter, room temperature 2 c. sugar 4 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla 3 tbsp. brandy or water 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt, or to taste 1 tsp. baking soda 1 1/4 c. buttermilk CHOCOLATE GLAZE, OPTIONAL: 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, chopped 6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) butter 2 tsp. light corn syrup 1 tsp. water Heavily grease a 12 cup Bundt pan; set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make the cake, place both chocolates in top of a double boiler over simmering water or in a microwave; stir until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Mix in chocolate, vanilla and brandy or water. In a small bowl stir together flour, salt and baking soda. With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour in fourths and buttermilk in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour. Pour into prepared pan. Bake in center of oven for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove to rack and cool 10 minutes. Invert to remove from pan and cool 20 minutes before frosting. Meanwhile make Chocolate Glaze, if desired, by melting chocolate and butter in a small saucepan or microwave. Remove from heat and stir in corn syrup and water. If too thin, let sit until it thickens slightly. Pour warm glaze over top of cake, allowing it to drop down the sides. If the glaze is too thick, reheat slightly. Let cake sit several hours before serving. Note: The cake may be covered and held at room temperature for several days or frozen. Freeze, uncovered, until glaze is solid, then wrap in foil. Defrost, uncovered, at room temperature. |