Saturday, March 3, 2012

A GREAT NEW "IKEA" FIND!!

The Boss cannot understand why I Love IKEA.....
I tried to explain to him that it's a women thing as I don't know of one women
who has gone to IKEA and not fallen in love by the time
they reach the Meatballs...
My real reason is that I love useful "For Cheap" things....
LIKE THIS BAKING PAN......
No Kitchen should be without this Pan....

I picked it up a few months ago for about $10.00.........
It looks like a regular cupcake tin but look a little
Closer....

Not Close enough.....

That's Better.....
Can you see how narrow and high it is....
It resembles a PopOver Pan....
and it happens to be one size that I actually didn't have....
You see I'm a baker....I've been baking since High School and I love
Any type of baking pan....
Plus it's an excuse to make Cake!

So while I was at IKEA the other day I saw these little paper cups......

Hundreds of them on an end cap.....
And a steal at 99 cents for 65 papers.....

Look How Cute these are!!
Let the Baking Begin!

We were having the neighbors over last Saturday Night for dessert after going out to dinner
and I used the pan to make these cupcakes....

Assorted flavors and icing.....
My favorite was the Devils Food with Cream Cheese frosting...

They came too cute....
And they were a big hit...
Just a few bites....A perfect size and unusual shape for a traditional cupcake....

Here was my take on the "Almond Joy"
Coconut Cake.....Chocolate Frosting and a Whole Almond....
But the Best Use of This Pan came the next day....
When I had extra Cream Puff Dough that I didn't know what to do with....

I had also made my pistachio Cream Puffs and a Toasted Coconut Cake the night before
and I had 1/2 a batch of cream puff dough left....... since I hate to waste things
I tried something new...

Ham....Asiago.... And Parmesan Popovers....
I served them as a side with Baked Ziti and a Salad and they were a
HIT....
I admit that I ate Seven myself.....

Here's the Recipe....
You can also just spoon these onto a cookie sheet but they came really perfect in this pan....

1 CUP OF HOT WATER
1 STICK OF BUTTER
1 CUP OF FLOUR
4 EGGS
1/2 TEASPOON OF KOSHER SALT
1/4 POUND OF DICED HAM (I USED REGULAR BOILED DELI HAM)
1/4 POUND OF ASIAGO CHEESE DICED
1/4 CUP OF GOOD PARMESAN CHEESE

BRING THE WATER AND THE BUTTER TO A BOIL UNTIL THE BUTTER MELTS
DUMP IN ALL AT ONCE THE FLOUR AND USING A WOODEN SPOON
STIR IT INTO A BALL AND REMOVE FROM HEAT
I NOW PUT THE DOUGH INTO MY KITCHEN AID WITH THE PADDLE
ATTACHMENT BUT YOU CAN DO THIS STEP BY HAND USING A WOODEN SPOON

ADD THE EGGS ONE AT A TIME TO THE DOUGH AND BEAT UNTIL EACH EGG IS
WELL INCORPORATED INTO THE DOUGH
DON'T TRY TO ADD THE EGGS ALL AT ONCE....

ONCE THE DOUGH IS MIXED WELL STIR IN THE HAM AND CHEESES....
SPRAY THE PAN WITH COOKING SPRAY OR IF YOUR USING A COOKIE SHEET
USE PARCHMENT PAPER....
SPOON A GENEROUS AMOUNT OF DOUGH INTO EACH CUP AND
BAKE AT 400 DEGREES FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES OR UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN....
SERVE WARM OR ROOM TEMPERATURE....

BON APPETIT!!!

13 comments:

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Sue: Those cupcakes look terrific as do the popovers. I love to bake too but nothing that fancy. Next time I'm in Ikea will try to find that pan and put it to use..Thanks for the recipe...Judy

Pondside said...

I love IKEA but don't get there often as it is on the mainland, and quite a trip. When I'm over there for business I always try to get to IKEA for napkins, candles and all the little goodies that they do so well. I love your pan and those cupcake holders - I'll have to look for them next time.

Jojo said...

Yum! Whenever I've made popovers I've never added anything to them but those sound scrumptious. I've only been to Ikea twice. I can't shop in there...I get lost!!!

Debbie said...

I LOVE Ikea! It's a good thing it takes four hours to get there from here.
Thank you for the recipe, and ideas to use with the pan, Sue.
Looks like I'll be picking the pan up on my next trip to Ikea.
xxoo

NanaDiana said...

OMGOSH! What a wonderful pan! Would you believe I have NEVER been to Ikea? The closest one to me is about 4 hours. I hope to go when I visit my daughter one of these days. She is only about 1-1/2 hours from there.

Your cupcakes look beautiful...almost too pretty to eat. I'll bet the neighbors just about swooned when they saw them.

Great recipe for popovers here! xo Diana

Sue said...

Have never seen a pan like this before, Sue! How fun. I am fascinated with gadgets- both for cooking and as tools, so this would be right up my alley. Need to traipse down the road to IKEA soon for my fix. Your pop-overs sound amazing, toots! ~ Sue

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hi Sue! When I first saw your new pan it made me think of cow udders! Yes...crazy associations.

But, what tall, elegant cupcakes you produced with it. Gorgeous indeed, and I think you could open a bakery if you were so inclined. People would be flocking to your door.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

That does look like a fun pan! I love those cupcake papers also!!

Salmagundi said...

I so want to come eat at your house!!! But, only if you let me in -- remember, I'm NOT an IKEA fan. Sally

Chatty Crone said...

I can be a witness to how great your cupcakes are and how gorgeous they are - so I am sure this are great too. You know I have never been to IKEA - but I want to go!

sandie

Marie said...

I LOVE Ikea! How I wish we could all go shopping there together! These cupcakes look so yummy!

Peg said...

I heard a rumor that Ikea is coming to Nashville... how I would love that. I have never been but I know I would love that store. The baked goods look fabulous!

Curtains in My Tree said...

I just gained a pound looking at those cupcakes LOl
I am on a no bread no sweets cut back to get rid of my belly fat LOL