South Of The Border Chocolate Beet Bars Recipes

THE VERY BEST, MOST DELICIOUS AND MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE YOU'LL EVER TASTE (WITH A SURPRISE INGREDIENT: BEETS)!

Steps:

• Prepare two, 8″ or 9″ baking pans (or one, 9×13″); butter and flour them well.
• Puree the beets in a food processor along with the eggs, vanilla, oil and the sugar.
• In a large bowl, place the dry ingredients, then add the pureed mixture.
• Beat with an electric or stand mixer on low speed until well combined.
• Pour batter into prepared pans and bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until done a a tester (or skewer) comes out clean.
• Remove from pans after a few minutes and allow to cool completely on racks.
• Meanwhile, make the buttercream frosting by beating the butter until soft, then adding the sugar, cocoa, 1/4 cup (2 oz) coffee and salt, and mixing until creamy and smooth. Continue to add more coffee until a soft, spreadable, or pipable consistency is reached.
• Cut the tops off the cake to make them level, you can see photos on this post. Place one layer of the moist chocolate cake on a serving plate and spread some buttercream on top.
• Place the second layer on top and decorate as desired with the frosting and other decorations, if desired (I put some almond crunch pieces on the sides.)

CHOCOLATE BEET CAKE

Steps:

• Cover beets with 2 inches water in a pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until very tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp paring knife, about 30 minutes. Drain. Puree beets in a food processor until smooth.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in eggs, water, oil, vanilla, and 1 1/4 cups beet puree (reserve remaining puree for another use).
• Coat a 9-inch round cake pan (3 inches deep) with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment, and coat with spray. Pour batter into pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Turn out cake from pan, and discard parchment. Let cool completely, right side up.
• Trim top of cake using a serrated knife to create a level surface. Transfer cake, cut side down, to a platter. Pour chocolate glaze over the top, and let set, about 30 minutes. Garnish with beet chips.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER CHOCOLATE BEET BARS

Steps:

• Wash raw beets, peel, cut in chunks and puree in blender.
• Mix eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla and beets in large mixing bowl.
• In small bowl pour anise seeds. Add fat free half and half. Mix. Set aside. Steep.
• In mixing bowl add flour salt, baking soda and baking powder and cocoa. Mix well.
• Add 1/3 mixed dry ingredients to egg mixture, add 1/3 mixed half & half. Mix.
• Repeat two times until all ingredients are blended.
• Preheat oven 350*.
• Spray Pam on two jelly roll sheets or two raised sides cookie sheets.
• Spread evenly in both pans. Bake about 20 to 25 minutes. Press in the middle of the pan to see if batter will spring back up. When it does, it is done. Do not overcook.
• Cool.Cut in bars. Sprinkle powdered sugar and cinnamon is optional.
• Note: If you want chocolate mocha as a flavor: add 1 tblsp instant coffee with the cocoa.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 and grease 1 1/2 qrt casserole dish.
• Brown meat and drain.
• Add onion and jalapeno (if using) and cook with meat until tender.
• Stir in tomato sauce and seasonings.
• Layer one-third of meat mixture, cheese and one half of tortillas in casserole dish; repeat layers, ending with cheese.
• Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.
• Note: Corn tortillas will soften and absorb the sauce.
• These are recommended.
• Flour tortillas will expand and the casserole will be too doughy-therefore flour tortillas are not recommended.