Penelope Carlevato's microwave lemon curd

After reading Jane's great story about lemon curd, contributor Penelope Carlevato emailed me this simplified microwave version! Wow!

Microwave Lemon Curd

4 ounces lemon juice

4 eggs beaten

1 stick (4 ounces) butter

1 pound sugar

Mix juice and sugar in a glass mixing bowl and stir well. Add in

the stick of butter. Place in microwave oven and cook on high for 2

minutes. Stir well. Repeat until butter is melted.

Take out of the microwave and slowly add in beaten eggs. Use a

wire whisk to beat in the eggs.

Place mixture back into the microwave. Set timer for 1 minute at

medium power. After each minute, beat the mixture with the

whisk. Continue cooking for one minute intervals, stir, etc.,

until the mixture is like thickened pudding. It doesn't need to

be really thick, as it cools, it will continue to thicken.  At this point,

the curd can just be put into clean jars and refrigerated.  This is so good

on English muffins, used in place of jam on Scones, or mixed with equal

parts whipping cream for tarts.  It doesn’t last too long, so make it when you

know you will be using it, at least within a week or less.

April 17: Nana's Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

2 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups peanut butter, chunky or smooth
6 Tbs. melted butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 6 oz. package chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
1/3 bar of parowax

Mix the first four ingredients together and form into one inch balls. This is a messy job, but licking your fingers when it's all done can be fun! Let refrigerate overnight.

Melt the chocolate chips and paraffin in a double boiler. Stir often. Dip the cold peanut butter balls into the chocolate mixture and place on wax paper to harden. Be prepared to be eaten out of house and home if these are in your pantry.....an excellent gift.

Conversation starter: Ask the person on your right a funny question.

March 30: Flavored Caramel Corn

Chocolate: Light (like Crunch & Munch)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3/4 cup white sugar
6 Tbs. butter 1/2 c. butter
1/4 cup baking cocoa powder 1/4 tsp. salt
4 Tbs. light corn syrup 3 1/2 Tbs. light corn syrup

For both recipes: 12 cups of popcorn, old maids
removed. 1/4 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. vanilla.
1/2 cup peanuts.

Place popcorn and peanuts in a large rectangular cake pan. In a small pot, combine sugar, butter, (cocoa), and corn syrup. Stir constantly on medium heat until butter is melted and mixture comes to boil. Cook, without stirring, for five minutes more. Remove from heat and and add baking soda and vanilla. Stir through. Pour over popcorn and stir until well coated. Place in 300 degree oven and cook 15 minutes. Stir once and then cook 5 minutes longer. Remove from pan and soak pan in water. Let cool. Break popcorn apart and place in air tight containers.

Conversation starter: What's your favorite: sunrise or sunset? Why?

March 23: Fruit Pizza

CRUST:

2/3 cup butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour

Beat together butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add flour and combine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into 12 inch greased pizza pan and bake at 300 degrees for 25-30 minutes until crust starts to brown. Let cool.

FROSTING:

8 ounces softened neufchatel (light cream cheese) cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Beat above ingredients until smooth. Spread "frosting" evenly on crust and top with slices of fresh fruit. I like to use strawberries, red grapes, and kiwi fruit.....but be imaginative!

Conversation starter: If you could be amazing at any sport, what would it be and why?

March 17: Fudge Truffles

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tbs salted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbs. vanilla extract
bakers cocoa powder



Place all ingredients in a microwave proof bowl. Place bowl in microwave on high for thirty seconds. Take it out and stir thorougly. Place it back in for thirty additional seconds. Stir.

Do this until mixture is completely melted through. Cool mixture in refrigerator until it it relatively hard. With a teaspoon, scoop out a ball. Roll it in your hands until it is perfectly round. When you have rolled all the balls (about thirty), roll them in bakers cocoa powder (non-sweetened). Keep refrigerated. Serve in little paper or foil cups with hot coffee and ice cream.

Conversation starter: If you were going on a trip and had to pack so light that you could only take three personal items, what would they be?

March 11: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup cream cheese
1/4 c. shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips

Sift together dry ingredients in one bowl. Cream together cheese, shortening, peanut butter, sugars, egg and vanilla. Fold into dry mixture. Add chocolate chips. Drop cookies onto sheet, pressing a crisscross pattern into each with the tines of a fork.. Bake at 350 degrees for nine minutes. Makes 3 dozen.

Conversation starter: Which would you rather have: braces or glasses? Why?

January 27: My fave dessert (so easy!)

Since this involves a pre-made pound cake, it's very easy. I keep a few in the freezer for a quick dessert. You can use frozen berries too.

Pound cake layered with raspberries

1 large pound cake (found in frozen food section of grocery store)

1 ½ package Neufchatel cream cheese

¾ cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla           

3 Tbs. Butter, softened

½ cup Nutella

2 cups fresh raspberries

Using a serrated knife, cut the pound cake horizontally into four slices (3 cuts). Combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and butter in a stand mixer and mix until well combined. On each layer (except top) spread ½ of the Nutella, followed 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture and top with 1/3 of the berries. Do this for the two middle layers. On the top, spread the remaining 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture and top with remaining 1/3 raspberries. To serve, cut the cake vertically and place on dessert plate so the layers show. Top with whipped cream, if desired. Makes 6-8 servings. 

Conversation starter: Complete the sentence. "I wish I had three ______."

January 14: An easy, amazing dessert using overripe pears

This recipe was born from overripe pears I couldn't bear to throw away. My kids love this dessert!

Pears a la Mary

5 pears, halved, cored and peeled

3 Tbs. butter

5 Tbs. raspberry jam

3/4 cup chocolate chips

3 Tbs. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbs. butter

1/4 cup heavy cream

slivered almonds for garnish

Saute pears in butter in non-stick pan until they are browned. In the meantime, spread a dollop of raspberry jam in a 5 inch circle on a dessert plate. Place chocolate, powdered sugar, vanilla, butter and cream in microwavable container. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave 30 more seconds. Stir. Repeat until melted through. Place two pear halves on top of jammed plates. Drizzle chocolate over. Top with nuts.

Conversation starter: What's your favorite pair of shoes right now? What was your favorite pair three years ago? Why?