EMERALDCITYJEWEL Recipe Reviews (Pg. 1) - Allrecipes.com (1261815)

Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes

Reviewed: Nov. 24, 2011

Not my favorite a bit too sweet for me so if you make maybe consider cutting back on the sugar esp. if you use canned sweet potatoes it calls for - also the topping makes this seem much more like a dessert, kind of more like a crumble, which isn't necessarily bad but not quite my thing for a side dish. I'd rather go with the sweet potato casserole II recipe on this site but that is personal preference.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake in a Gingersnap Crust

Reviewed: Nov. 23, 2011

I just love this cheesecake. Surprsingly easy to put together. Used the cheesecake tips found on this site. Really does make a difference to have ingredients at room temperature, use a water bath, and don't overbeat. Just delish! Make sure your spices are fresh and buy high quality ingredients. They don't cost that much more and makes a real difference in the finished product. Don't even think about using imitation vanilla!

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Cherry Cobbler II

Reviewed: Aug. 14, 2011

Definitely use less butter. 1/4 cup would be fine. Less sugar is wise too - otherwise it is too sweet and I like sweet. And adding some vanilla and a bit (not much it is strong) almond would add some good flavor. Best to use a good quality brand of pie filling - otherwise it will taste kinda fast "foody." Sounds counter intuitive with all that butter but I would use pam with flour for the pan next time. Not my favorite cobbler but easy to put together.

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Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie

Reviewed: May 1, 2011

sooooo easy and good. I skipped the honey since it is sweet enough for me as is but good with it too.

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Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins

Reviewed: Feb. 15, 2011

Good idea in theory but if you try to make them healthier they will be drier than they are according to the recipe. Made as is and they didn't rise much. I think the problem being the baking soda doesn't have any acid to react with maybe? Could use some buttermilk to solve that or yogurt or sour cream and would be a bit moister too. A dash of vanilla and maybe some cinnamon for flavor or use cinnamon applesauce. But made as is this is just ok - chocolate in anything makes up for wrong ratios and lack of missing ingredients to make it a more successful recipe.

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Chess Cake

Reviewed: Feb. 12, 2011

Made as is this is a two star recipe. No not pretty but tasted OK - it is sweet and a bit eggy. I think I might like recipes that call for just one or two eggs a bit better. I think an addition of a splash of vanilla wouldn't hurt for the topping. Good advice to spray your hands with vegetable spray or your spatula to get the base in easily. I can see how you could add things to the base like nuts or coconut and play around with the topping - think lemon zest with a lemon cake base. I also think the bake time is a bit long - I should have pulled mine after about 45 minutes and I know my oven temp is right since I moniter it with an oven thermometer. Got a bit brown esp. around the edges.

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5 users found this review helpful

Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

Reviewed: Dec. 24, 2010

Very good. And easy. Use a quality barbeque sauce. I like mine on the spicy side but live with someone that likes bbq sauce sweeter so. He wins. Could use some salt and pepper IMO.

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9 users found this review helpful

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Reviewed: Dec. 23, 2010

I didn't add the raspberries and just made the cheesecake and instead of oreos (not a huge fan of that cookie or its crust) used golden oreos instead. Bought smuckers strawberry topping for the side if people wanted it and made a combo of sour cream/brown sugar as an optional topping too. Plain or with a fruit topping or sour cream topping very good and for me pretty easy to put together. Follow the cheesecake tips on this site and you won't be sorry such as making sure your cream cheese at room temp, eggs at room temp add those one at a time, and a water bath etc. really help with the end result esp. texture. And don't over beat! Also not a bad idea to cover the bottom and a bit up the sides of the ban with foil just in case of spring form pan leakage.

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Gooey Butter Cookies

Reviewed: Dec. 13, 2010

Good and easy. Use a quality cake mix though. I also thought the 350 degree was a bit high. 325 more like it. I used silpat liners and mine still browned on the bottom and I know my oven temp is spot on. Because they hold their shape if you drop them from a cookie scoop you could flatten a bit with a spatula for example and they may cook quicker and then 350 might be ok. I didn't roll in powdered sugar but frosted and dipped in sprikles and color sugar for festive Christmas cookies. The dough is sticky though so best to chill for at least two hours. They hold their shape and don't spread. Must use full fat cream cheese and real butter!

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Gingerbread Boy Cookies

Reviewed: Dec. 2, 2010

Update: These get better the next day btw. These turned out well. I don't think you need to add additional flour other than what you add for the rolling. Anymore and I would think they would get tough. Dust both sides well and it will roll fine. Just be sure too chill well - at least two hours more is better. You can play around with the spices to suit your taste I would say. If I were to change anything I would maybe reduce the ginger and add nutmeg and smidge cloves. I'd also see how brown sugar worked to increase moisture.

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3 users found this review helpful

Chocolate Sheet Cake II

Reviewed: Sep. 10, 2010

Needs salt I think. The butter/oil combo is a good idea though - don't be tempted to substitute as both give different textures/flavor. As for flavor I think this could use a dash of instant coffee or sub the water for coffee to enhance the flavor otherwise it isn't that chocolately.

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5 users found this review helpful

Donut Muffins

Reviewed: Jun. 7, 2010

Just ok - think it might need something like an egg for some substance. Maybe a dash of salt and vanilla wouldn't hurt either.

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2 users found this review helpful

White Almond Wedding Cake

Reviewed: Jun. 1, 2010

Made as is and it really is great! I don't think I would use any lowfast ingredients. You need the fat for this cake for taste and structure. Update: I made this again and frosted with the Baker's white chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe. Cream one 8 oz cream cheese with 1/4 cup butter or margarine add 1 tsp. vanilla and melted and slightly cooled 6 oz. of white chocolate and beat in 2 cups powdered sugar. Delish!

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The Best Chocolate Cake You Ever Ate

Reviewed: May 16, 2010

Delish and made as is except didn't put nuts in for the sake of my toddler. But I imagine the nuts would cut the sweetness of the frosting a bit. I wouldn't cut the oil out - it matters to use both fats for the flavor and the texture each one contributes. This is a lot like a cake called Texas sheet cake. The cinnamon makes it something special though as does the oil.

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Curried Chicken Tea Sandwiches

Reviewed: Apr. 28, 2010

Made as is and it is great. You could probably add a bit more curry powder depending on taste and maybe some salt and pepper to taste but as written it works and is easy too and fairly inexpensive to make.

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Poppy Seed Bread I

Reviewed: Apr. 21, 2010

Pretty average - the poppy seed III recipe or poppy seed with glaze is better. This could have used some richness from using part butter for flavor and almond flavoring wouldn't have hurt. So just OK.

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Irresistible Irish Soda Bread

Reviewed: Mar. 17, 2010

Five stars. Didn't change anything and bake time was spot on. I did have to sour my own milk with lemon juice and did add golden raisins. But would be good without raisins if you dislike. I did like one reviewer's tip of leaving the raw dough out for 30 minutes to let the baking soda/powder react for a lighter loaf. Worked well.

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Rich Chocolate Brownies

Reviewed: Jan. 26, 2010

Pretty standard nothing special.

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White Texas Sheet Cake

Reviewed: Jan. 3, 2010

Very tasty but the frosting puts it over the top sweet for me and I like sweet. The walnuts do help to cut the sweetness but not enough so would suggest a lower sugar option for frosting such as not too sweet whipped cream or a cream cheese frosting or just a simple glaze. I didn't have the right size pan so just used a 13 X 9 at 350 for about half an hour. Worked fine but next time I make I will do a different frosting.

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Soft Sugar Cookies IV

Reviewed: Oct. 26, 2009

Just what I was looking for. The cookies aren't too sweet so can handle a bit of frosting or sugar. Easy to think of add ins like lemon or orange zest or extracts like almond lemon or rum. Don't leave out the shortening part of why it's soft. I used a cookie scoop to drop on pans easier than rolling into balls. They are done when edges are slightly brown. Be sure to cream butter and sugar well and use fresh baking powder!

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