Easy Baked Alaska

We lived in Alaska for over 12 years and never had a baked Alaska. A baked Alaska was a mysterious dessert served somewhere in the "lower 48." It seemed strange that you could bake a cake with ice cream in the center.

4. Bake for three minutes or until the meringue starts to brown. Slice and serve immediately or return to the freezer to serve later.The ice cream and the cake can be any flavors of your choosing. You can tint the egg whites with food coloring but our favorite is chocolate cake with strawberry ice cream covered with a layer of pure white, vanilla ice cream.Baker's notes: You will need to get your sheet cake out of the pan without it breaking. Lining the pan with parchment paper and then lifting the cake from the pan by grasping the edges of the parchment paper is the easiest way to do so. If you need to trim the top of the cake to create an even, flat layer, you can do so with a serrated knife held horizontally.The Days before Thanksgiving:1 4 x 6-inch layer of cake about 1 1/2 inches thick 1 brick of ice cream approx. 3" x 5" x 4"- Start with rock hard ice cream. Your cake base will get soggy if you don't.By far the best way to keep broccoli fresh longer is to use a product called eggstrafreshTM which can be found at http://www.eggstrafresh.com. It is a revolutionary breakthrough in food preservation that has been scientifically proven to dramatically reduce oxidation and retain moisture. Oxidation and moisture loss are the 2 main factors that lead to rapid food spoilage, bacteria, mold and nasty odors. eggstrafreshTM will also improve the flavor, taste, natural color and texture of all of your favorite vegetables. To keep your broccoli fresh, green and at its best try this wonderful product, it will keep all of your food fresh longer.On Thanksgiving morning, make sure you have your thawed turkey stuffed (if necessary) and ready to place in the oven. Side dishes should be ready to cook or place in your oven and it would be a good idea to have desserts prepared the night before to save time and frustration on Thanksgiving Day. Any items you have frozen should be taken out of the freezer the night before so they can be heated easily.Eating more fresh vegetables, especially those rich in beta-carotene, potassium, vitamins A + C, calcium and fiber provides many, many benefits to ones health. Vitamin A helps to maintain good vision and also helps to keep your immune system healthy, calcium helps to prevent bone loss, iron helps to prevent anemia, folate helps to prevents birth defects, fiber aids in digestion and gives a full feeling when eating, potassium helps to keep up muscle function, and vitamin C not only helps the body to absorb iron, it also helps to boost the body�s immune system. You can help to keep this tasty and healthy vegetable at its peak by following these simple rules:several drops food coloring (optional)If you have children, involve them in the planning. They can help organize games for the younger guests, assist with decorations, and can even help out in the kitchen if you desire.Make sure you have everything on your shopping list in your kitchen at least 2-3 days before Thanksgiving morning.10 Days before Thanksgiving:Broccoli should be refrigerated within 30 minutes of its purchase if at all possible, and should be stored unwashed (dry it if it is wet from the store) in a sealed plastic bag with holes poked with a fork to allow the air to circulate. Some people wrap it in newspaper before they refrigerate it but this does not seem to be a very effective method.To keep broccoli at its freshest, store it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Broccoli can also be frozen, first peel the leaves off the stalk and then blanch the broccoli in steam for approximately 5 minutes. Allow it to cool, and then place it in a sealed plastic bag. Broccoli can be stored in the freezer for up to 10 months. Broccoli doesn�t store very well after it�s cooked, it will probably break apart when it is reheated. If you do want to store cooked broccoli anyway, steam it until tender and store in a plastic bag.3/4 cup granulated sugarThings like cranberry sauce or relish can be stored in your refrigerator for a few days. You may want to cut up onions, celery, and any like items and store them in plastic ware to save time on Thanksgiving morning.Easy Baked Alaska Recipe1. To make the meringue, place the egg whites in a stainless steel or glass bowl. Add the cream of tartar and the vanilla. Beat the mixture until soft peaks form. Drizzle in the sugar while continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.2. Lay the cake on an oven-proof platter. Cut the ice cream into blocks and stack them on the cake.

Baker's notes: You will need to get your sheet cake out of the pan without it breaking. Lining the pan with parchment paper and then lifting the cake from the pan by grasping the edges of the parchment paper is the easiest way to do so. If you need to trim the top of the cake to create an even, flat layer, you can do so with a serrated knife held horizontally.

Author: Dennis Weaver