Snowball Crème Brûlée
Have you ever watched a cooking reality show and wished you could participate, but without the crying, alcoholism, or life-shortening stress? Well, I certainly know I have, and I decided to do something about it! Welcome to my inaugural Top Chef Just Desserts Elimination Challenge …. Challenge! The purpose of this challenge is to re-create the weekly Top Chef Just Desserts elimination challenges at home, and anyone can...
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Is there anything better than a well made pound cake? Pound cakes are highly satisfying and wonderfully versatile. I’ve served pound cake for dessert with whipped cream, I’ve served them with fresh berries for breakfast to great acclaim, and nothing beats pound cake for an after work/school snack. Pound cake can also be the base for other desserts, like my favorite holiday treat, trifle! So, with fall supposedly on its...
Breakfast Bread Pudding
What happens when you combine breakfast and dessert? Answer: Magic! I had actually been contemplating the breakfast/dessert idea for a while. What spurred me into action was the email from the folks at FoodBuzz to let us know that Nature’s Pride would be holding their Bread Ambassador program again. Nature’s Pride will select a few lucky bloggers to get a free trip to the FoodBuzz Festival this year and to present their...
Salted Honey Lavender Shortbread
Lavender, as an ingredient, is a little controversial. Most people I know either love it or hate it. There is little room in between. With its clean floral aroma, and a flavor that reminds me of rosemary with out the vociferous pine aftertaste, lavender can be delightful if used properly. As with anything, too much can ruin a dish. Do it right and you end up with something subtle, fragrant, and beautiful. My favorite flavor to...
Orange Chocolate Stout Cake
I love beer. I know, not exactly shocking if you know me. So many of my recipes are born of the odd craving, and this one is no different. One afternoon, during a particularly stressful day at the office, I found myself craving a nice, stout beer. I was also thinking how nice a slice of chocolate cake would be, because nothing takes the edge off a bad day like cake. Of course, this led me to think about stout cakes. I love them,...
Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
I’m something of a brownie junkie. That said, I am very specific about what I want in a good brownie, and I’m sad to admit I am not satisfied with most coffee shop or bakery brownies. Give me deep, dark, intense, and fudgy brownies and I am a happy woman. These needs do not change when the brownies in question are topped with a creamy cheesecake layer. In fact, I find I get even more picky when cheesecake is added. I...
