Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so I thought it was appropriate to bring you a recipe for a heart-shaped dessert to share with your sweetheart. Don’t you just love the play on words for the name – get it, chocolate lovers, for those who love chocolate and lovers cake, for people in love. I know, clever right? 🙂 [Read more…]
Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Ball
Thanksgiving is probably the only holiday I can think of where appetizers are never really needed.
I mean, think about it. If you’re part of the Feast Cooking Team, you’re “tasting” all day, to the point where you can barely eat a full plate come dinner time. And, if you’re on the Football & Beer Crew, you’re most likely sneaking in the kitchen during refills and swiping any bites you can, leaving no need for a table of nibbles to keep you satisfied until dinner is ready.
In the case of this Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Ball, though…you may want to just have it in the kitchen to curb your turkey- or yam-snacking. I promise, you’ll still be hungry for stuffing later!
Hummingbird Cake
I finally got around to baking a Hummingbird Cake! Yay me! Now, some of you are probably saying, what in the world is a Hummingbird Cake? Well, I would have said the same thing a few years ago but, since then, I have had a piece in almost every restaurant that advertises it in the Florida Keys. I kept telling myself I was going to make one day, and it would be even better than any I had tasted, and that day finally came. And I couldn’t be happier with the results (although my waistline might complain a little because it’s so hard to resist!).
The cake turned out rich, spicy, a little nutty and full of the fruity goodness of bananas and pineapple. It’s a tropical treat not to be missed!
Easy Strawberry Tartlets
I’m yearning for spring after a winter storm reached its icy fingers down south and left a 3° windchill in it’s path. Brr.
I decided to give spring a nudge by whipping up my easy strawberry tartlets. Cream cheese, a touch of honey, brown sugar and strawberries come together to form an elegant dessert that sits inside a crisp wonton cup. It’s the perfect bite! And it’s the ideal dessert for spring.
When I’m planning a party, I always try to include foods that are individually portion sized, easy to eat and doesn’t require a lot of fuss. The wonton cups can be made in advance and filled right before your guests arrive. The filling can also be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge.