Twd-Tribute to Katherine Hepburn Brownies

Better late than never, huh? Can we pretend that it is Tuesday? Ok then! These brownies are fantastic! Gooey in the middle with a paper thin crust on the top. Love them!!!! You can find the recipe on pages 96-97 in BFMHTY.

TWD- Parisian Apple Tartlet

This weeks TWD recipe was chose by Jessica of My Baking Heart. This little tart was very simple, but honestly, I thought it was a little bland. I think that if I added a little cinnamon to it I would have liked it better. Will I make these little treats again, probably, I will just make a few little changes.

Next week is ice cream! I am super excited!!

TWD-Chipster Topped Brownies

This weeks TWD recipe was chosen by Beth of Supplicious. I have made these before and they were a hit with the family, and this week was no different. I mean, how can you go wrong with brownies and chocolate chip cookies in one? I don't think that you can! Thanks for a fantastic recipe this week!

TWD- Fresh Mango Bread

This week was chosen by Kelly of Baking with the Boys. It was a great choice. I had never heard of mango bread, and really didn't know what to expect. I have to say that I really couldn't taste the mango. Only if I ate a piece of mango, could I taste it. And even then, it was really mild. Did you know that cooked mango gets kind of stringy? I didn't. Now, I know..for whatever reason I may need to know that. Anyways.....

This bread was very moist, and flavorful of the spices. It would be great with a spread of cream cheese on it! Next up with TWD, Chipster topped Brownies!

TWD- Tartest Lemon Tart

Yes, you read that right. I am back on again with the chics of Tuesdays with Dorie. I had started back in the day with Laurie and Michelle, and then it kept on growing, and growing to what it is now. Last Summer, life just happened, and there wasn't enough time to keep up with baking once a week, so I had to step out for a while. Now, I am back on and so excited to get back to baking. Not sure that my thighs are thanking me for this, though!

This week's recipe was chosen by Babette Feasts. I am really excited about it, because it is lemon. I had never made a tart like this though, you used the whole lemon. Just scrub and dry the lemon, cut it in half and remove the seeds and throw it into a blender or food processor. Then you add the rest of the ingredients. A one bowl recipe, gotta love it!

There was some talk about this tart being very tart and bitter, which brought up the question about using the pith of the lemon. Some people used it and others didn't. I chose to use it to see how it would turn out. My tart was not bitter at all, but was very tart. Now, if I am going to make a lemon dessert, I want it to be tart, so this tart made me happy! I also didn't make the nut crust, well, because, I didn't have any and I didn't want to go back to the store. But, I can see where this crust would be a fantastic base for this tart.

You can find the recipe of this tart on page 336 in BFMHTY, or you should be able to find it over at Babette's.

Next week, Fresh Mango Bread. I love mangoes, but really can't imagine it in bread. We'll see how it turns out.

TWD-Mixed Berry Cobbler

This week's TWD recipe was chosen by Beth at Our Sweet Life. I am really glad that it was a fairly quick and simple one to throw together. These past 3 weeks have been crazy at my house and I am ready for some baking time. I really miss being in my kitchen! Now, on to the cobbler...

This cobbler recipe is not my usual recipe. This one makes a biscuit like topping, where my normal recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of milk, and 1 cup of self rising flour. Mix them together, pour them on top of your berries and bake. My normal fruit mixture is 1 cup of sugar for every 2 cups of fruit. Cook them in a pot until bubbly, and the sugar is dissolved, pour into the baking dish, top with the topping and bake it. With that said, I was curious to see how this recipe differed from my normal. So, here goes!

With the price of fresh berries here lately, I decided to go with frozen, which is completely fine, because Dorie had said it is completely fine to use frozen, and no need to thaw them! Even better! I also chose to only use blackberries. They are great on their own, and don't need any other berry added, in my opinion. Add just a few ingredients to the berries and throw them into your baking dish. Mix the biscuit dough, AP flour, baking powder, a little sugar, some cold butter and heavy cream. I think my favorite part of mixing this together was adding the butter and mixing it together with my hands. There is just something about breaking up the butter that makes me happy! Crazy, I know. I can admit that! There had been some talk on the TWD site that the biscuit dough was rather bland, so I added a little more sugar and some vanilla, and sprinkled some extra sugar on the dough before baking.

Next, you roll out the biscuit dough, put it on top of the berries, cut a few venting slits and cut a hole in the middle. Bake for about an hour and there you have it, and nice and bubbly cobbler. This recipe was quick and simple and tasty. Although, I will probably not make it again, only because I like my normal go to cobbler better. I really like my dough mixed in the fruit instead of just a topping.

Make sure that you go and check out the other TWD chicks, as we are over 200 now! If you want this recipe you can find it here. Next week has been chosen by Karina at The Floured Apron, Apple Cheddar Scones.

TWD-Peppermint Cream Puff Ring....

....or something like that. Ok...so I haven't even started this one. It has been a crazy life at the Love household for the last 2 weeks, so hopefully this is a start of it slowing down. My TWD will become a Wednesday with Dorie for this week. Go ahead and start checking out the other TWD chicks, and all of those great looking eclairs and cream puffs and cream puff rings...they all are looking delish!

TWD-La Palette's Strawberry Tart

I am sorry to say that I have no Strawberry Tart to show for this week. It was a great choice chosen by Marie at A year in Oak Cottage. Light and simple and even better made with fresh berries. Go ahead and check out the rest of the TWD chicks, I am sure that there are some delicious looking tarts!

Next week is Peppermint Cream Puff Ring chosen by Caroline at A Consuming Passion.

**Go and check out the Taste Like Home event hosted by myself and Megan of Megan's Cookin**

TWD-French Chocolate Brownies

A few weeks ago Blake Makes had a giveaway for Amano Chocolate, I was one of the lucky recipients of this sweet treat. I had never heard of them before, so I was excited to get to try it. The lucky ones received 3 bars of 3 different kinds, 2 oz each. (Sorry, I didn't get a picture of them) If you haven't checked out Blake yet, make sure you do! He has an awesome site, lots of giveaways and makes some wonderful PBDDL, also known as Peanut Butter Dulce De Leche. You won't be disappointed!



Now, what does this have to do with this weeks TWD recipe? These brownies needed 6 oz of chocolate...just the right recipe to use my Amano chocolate for! Di, from Di's Kitchen Notebook, was the lucky one to choose the recipe for this week. The original recipe called for rum infused raisins, but, I couldn't make myself put raisins in these brownies. Some other TWD chicks went on and added raisins and compared it to raisinettes in brownie form, others used other dried fruits and had great results. I still like my brownies just plain. I loved this brownie recipe. A few ingredients, quick to put together, and a short bake and you have fudgy brownies, with a thin crust on the top. I only had one problem, and that was when you completed mixing, the batter had the consistency of chocolate mousse! I almost ate all of the batter before I could get to the baking part!



Don't forget to check out the other TWD chicks and their take on this recipe. Next weeks recipe comes from Marie at A Year at Oak Cottage and we are using strawberries!



French Chocolate Brownies
- makes 16 brownies -Adapted from Baking From My Home to Yours.


Ingredients
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1/3 cup raisins, dark or golden

1 1/2 tablespoons water

1 1/2 tablespoons dark rum

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons; 6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into 12 pieces

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup sugar


Getting ready: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 300°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, butter the foil, place the pan on a baking sheet, and set aside.
Whisk together the flour, salt and cinnamon, if you're using it.


Put the raisins in a small saucepan with the water, bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the water almost evaporates. Add the rum, let it warm for about 30 seconds, turn off the heat, stand back and ignite the rum. Allow the flames to die down, and set the raisins aside until needed.


Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Slowly and gently melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and add the butter, stirring so that it melts. It's important that the chocolate and butter not get very hot. However, if the butter is not melting, you can put the bowl back over the still-hot water for a minute. If you've got a couple of little bits of unmelted butter, leave them—it's better to have a few bits than to overheat the whole. Set the chocolate aside for the moment.


Working with a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until they are thick and pale, about 2 minutes. Lower the mixer speed and pour in the chocolate-butter, mixing only until it is incorporated—you'll have a thick, creamy batter. Add the dry ingredients and mix at low speed for about 30 seconds—the dry ingredients won't be completely incorporated and that's fine. Finish folding in the dry ingredients by hand with a rubber spatula, then fold in the raisins along with any liquid remaining in the pan.
Scrape the batter into the pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes, or until the top is dry and crackled and a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and allow the brownies to cool to warm or room temperature.


Carefully lift the brownies out of the pan, using the foil edges as handles, and transfer to a cutting board. With a long-bladed knife, cut the brownies into 16 squares, each roughly 2 inches on a side, taking care not to cut through the foil.


Serving: The brownies are good just warm or at room temperature; they're even fine cold. I like these with a little something on top or alongside—good go-along are whipped crème fraiche or whipped cream, ice cream or chocolate sauce or even all three!


Storing: Wrapped well, these can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

TWD-Pecan Honey Sticky Buns

This weeks TWD recipe was chosen by Madam Chow of Madam Chow's Kitchen. I was really nervous when this was chosen, because I have never made brioche dough before. Honestly, I have never eaten brioche bread before, so this was a first for me all the way around. Back in March Peabody had chose Brioche Raisin Snails as her recipe for the week, and I wasn't able to participate that week, so I was excited and nervous at the same time, about this week. Let me just say that I am no longer afraid of brioche! I can't wait to make it again and again. It is not hard at all to mix together...other than the fact that you really have to watch your KA mixer, or it might just jump off of the counter! A few "slaps" to deflate the dough and watch it rise again, and again, this made me smile and giggle every time I went to deflate it and it had risen again. A chill overnight and there you go. Now, I waited 2 nights, and the brioche was really stiff when I took it out of the fridge to roll it out, but a few minutes out on the counter and it was ready to be rolled out. Once rolled out, spread on the filling, roll, cut and put in the baking dish to rise a final time for about 1 1/2 hours and bake for 30 minutes. The rolls came out light and fluffy, and sweet! Very sweet and sticky, of course.

Pecan Honey Sticky Buns
Makes 15 buns
For the Glaze:
1 cup (packed) light brown sugar

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces

1/4 cup honey

1-1/2 cups pecans (whole or pieces)

For the Filling:
1/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons (packed) light brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

For the Buns:
1/2 recipe dough for Golden Brioche loaves (see below), chilled and ready to shape (make the full recipe and cut the dough in half after refrigerating it overnight)

Generously butter a 9-x-13-inch baking pan (a Pyrex pan is perfect for this).

To make the glaze: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the brown sugar, butter, and honey to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar. Pour the glaze into the buttered pan, evening it out as best you can by tilting the pan or spreading the glaze with a heatproof spatula. Sprinkle over the pecans.

To make the filling: Mix the sugars and cinnamon together in a bowl. If necessary, in another bowl, work the butter with a spatula until it is soft, smooth and spreadable.

To shape the buns: On a flour-dusted work surface, roll the chilled dough into a 16-inch square. Using your fingers or a pastry brush, spread the softened butter over the dough. Sprinkle the dough with the cinnamon sugar, leaving a 1-inch strip bare on the side farthest from you. Starting with the side nearest you, roll the dough into a cylinder, keeping the roll as tight as you can. (At this point, you can wrap the dough airtight and freeze it for up to 2 months . . . . Or, if you want to make just part of the recipe now, you can use as much of the dough as you'd like and freeze the remainder. Reduce the glaze recipe accordingly).
With a chef's knife, using a gentle sawing motion, trim just a tiny bit from the ends of the roll if they're very ragged or not well filled, then cut the log into 1-inch thick buns. (Because you trim the ragged ends of the dough, and you may have lost a little length in the rolling, you will get 15 buns, not 16.) Fit the buns into the pan cut side down, leaving some space between them.
Lightly cover the pan with a piece of wax paper and set the pan in a warm place until the buns have doubled in volume, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The buns are properly risen when they are puffy, soft, doubled and, in all likelihood, touching one another.
Getting ready to bake: When the buns have almost fully risen , center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Remove the sheet of wax paper and put the pan on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat. Bake the sticky buns for about 30 minutes, or until they are puffed and gorgeously golden; the glaze will be bubbling away merrily. Pull the pan from the oven.
The sticky buns must be unmolded minutes after they come out of the oven. If you do not have a rimmed platter large enough to hold them, use a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or buttered foil. Be careful - the glaze is super-hot and super-sticky.

What You'll Need for the Golden Brioche Dough (this recipe makes enough for two brioche loaves. If you divide the dough in half, you would use half for the sticky buns, and you can freeze the other half for a later date, or make a brioche loaf out of it!):

2 packets active dry yeast (each packet of yeast contains approx. 2 1/4 teaspoons)

1/3 cup just-warm-to-the-touch water

1/3 cup just-warm-to-the-touch whole milk

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

3 sticks (12 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature but still slightly firm

What You'll Need for the Glaze (you would brush this on brioche loaves, but not on the sticky buns):
1 large egg

1 tablespoon water

To Make The Brioche: Put the yeast, water and milk in the bowl of a stand mixer and, using a wooden spoon, stir until the yeast is dissolved. Add the flour and salt, and fit into the mixer with the dough hook, if you have one. Toss a kitchen towel over the mixer, covering the bowl as completely as you can-- this will help keep you, the counter and your kitchen floor from being showered in flour. Turn the mixer on and off a few short pulses, just to dampen the flour (yes, you can peek to see how you're doing), then remove the towel, increase the mixer speed to medium-low and mix for a minute or two, just until the flour is moistened. At this point, you'll have a fairly dry, shaggy mess.

Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula, set the mixer to low and add the eggs, followed by the sugar. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for about 3 minutes, until the dough forms a ball. Reduce the speed to low and add the butter in 2-tablespoon-size chunks, beating until each piece is almost incorporated before adding the next. You'll have a dough that is very soft, almost like batter. Increase the speed to medium-high and continue to beat until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 10 minutes.
Transfer the dough to a clean bowl (or wash out the mixer bowl and use it), cover with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature until nearly doubled in size, 40 to 60 minutes, depending upon the warmth of your room.

Deflate the dough by lifting it up around the edges and letting it fall with a slap to the bowl. Cover the bowl with the plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator. Slap the dough down in the bowl every 30 minutes until it stops rising, about 2 hours, then leave the uncovered dough in the refrigerator to chill overnight. (After this, you can proceed with the recipe to make the brioche loaves, or make the sticky buns instead, or freeze all or part of the dough for later use.)
The next day, butter and flour two 8 1/2-x-4 1/2-inch pans.

Pull the dough from the fridge and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Cut each piece of the dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece into a log about 3 1/2 inches long. Arrange 4 logs crosswise in the bottom of each pan. Put the pans on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat, cover the pans lightly with wax paper and leave the loaves at room temperature until the dough almost fills the pans, 1 to 2 hours. (Again, rising time with depend on how warm the room is.)
Getting Ready To Bake: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
To Make the Glaze: Beat the egg with the water. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the tops of the loaves with the glaze.

Bake the loaves until they are well risen and deeply golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer the pans to racks to cool for 15 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the pans and turn the loaves out onto the racks. Invert again and cool for at least 1 hour.

TWD-Traditional Madeleines

This weeks recipe was chosen by Tara of Smells like Home. I love it when Monday rolls around each week and the weekly Dorie recipe has been chosen. It is like a weekly surprise! I had never made madeleines before this week, although, I had always wanted too. I just hadn't taken the time. I had the pan, one to make minis, but it has just been sitting in my cabinet all by itself, never been used. But now, it will definitely be put to use often!

With just a few ingredients, a chill time of at least 3 hours, bake for a few minutes, and you have a wonderful cake like cookie with a hint of lemon. Yum!

Just like all other weeks, go and check out the TWD chicks as we still continue to grow each week! Next week's recipe is from Madam Chow's Kitchen and she has chosen Pecan Honey Sticky Buns! I can't wait to try them out!

Traditional Madeleines

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup sugar
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 stick (6 Tbsp) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Confectioner's sugar, for dusting

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Working in a mixer bowl, or in a large bowl, rub the sugar and lemon zest together with your fingertips until the sugar is moist and fragrant. Add the eggs to the bowl. Working with the whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar together on medium-high speed until pale, thick, and light, 2-3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. With a rubber spatula, very gently fold in the dry ingredients, followed by the melted butter. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the batter and refrigerate it for at least 3 hours, or for up to 2 days. This long chill period will help the better form the hump that is characteristic of madeleines.

(For convenience, you can spoon the batter into the Madeleine molds, cover and refrigerate, then bake the cookies directly from the fridge; see below for instructions on prepping the pan.)

Getting ready to bake: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter 12 full-size madeleine molds, or up to 36 mini madeleine molds, dust the insides with flour and tap out the excess. Or, if you have a nonstick pan, give it a light coating of vegetable cooking spray. If you have a silicone pan, no prep is needed. Place the pan(s) on a baking sheet.

Spoon the batter into the molds, filling each one almost to the top. Don't worry about spreading the batter evenly, the oven's heat will take care of that. Bake large Madeleines for 11-13 minutes, and minis for 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden and the tops spring back when touched. Remove the pan(s) from the oven and release the madeleines from the mods by rapping the edge of the pan against the counter. Gently pry any recalcitrant madeleines from the pan using your fingers or a butter knife. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool to just warm or to room temperature.

If you are making minis and have more batter, bake the next batch(Es), making certain that you cool, then properly prepare the pans before baking.

Just before serving, dust the madeleines with confectioner's sugar.

TWD-Florida Pie

This weeks recipe was chosen by Dianne of Dianne's Dishes. If you are looking for a quick and easy treat, this would be the one to choose! You have a graham cracker crust, with a layer of coconut cream and then topped with your key lime curd. I chose not to top with the meringue, I am not a huge meringue girl.

Next week we are doing madelines chosen by Tara of Smells Like Home. Check out the TWD chicks to see their creations of Florida Pie!

9-inch graham cracker crust (page 235), fully baked and cooled, or a store-bought crust

1 1/3 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut

4 large eggs, separated

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup fresh Key (or regular) lime juice (from about 5 regular limes)

1/4 cup of sugar

Getting Ready:Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the pie plate on a baking sheet lined with parchment of a silicone mat.

Put the cream and 1 cup of the coconut in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring almost constantly. Continue to cook and stir until the cream is reduced by half and the mixture is slightly thickened. Scrape the coconut cream into a bowl and set it aside while you prepare the lime filling.

Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl beat the egg yolks at high speed until thick and pale. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the condensed milk. Still on low, add half of the lime juice. When it is incorporated, add the reaming juice, again mixing until it is blended. Spread the coconut cream in the bottom of the graham cracker crust, and pour over the lime filling.Bake the pie for 12 minutes. Transfer the pie to a cooling rack and cool for 15 minutes, then freeze the pie for at least 1 hour.

To Finish the Pie with Meringue:Put the 4 egg whites and the sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat over medium-low heat, whisking all the while, until the whites are hot to the touch. Transfer the whites to a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, or use a hand mixer in a large bowl, and beat the whites at high speed until they reach room temperature and hold firm peaks. Using a rubber spatula, fold the remaining 1/2 cup coconut into the meringue.Spread the meringue over the top of the pie, and run the pie under the broiler until the top of the meringue is golden brown. (Or, if you've got a blowtorch, you can use it to brown the meringue.) Return the pie to the freezer for another 30 minutes or for up to 3 hours before serving.

TWD-Peanut Butter Torte

Updated below:I have made this, but it is still sitting in my fridge. The ganache has not been made yet...but will made when I get home from work in a couple of hours. Until then........

:)


This week, Elizabeth with Ugg Smell Food chose the recipe for the week. This was one of the many recipes that I wanted to put to the top of the list to make out of "the book." The crust was simple to put together, as well as the peanut butter mousse filling.

I have to say that I wasn't crazy about it. But, when I really think about it, I had cut myself a big, huge piece and it is really rich....I probably would love it as a mini.

Next weeks recipe comes from Di at Dianne's dishes, and she has chosen Florida pie! I haven't even looked at the recipe yet, but I am guessing that it involves key limes? We shall see!! Don't forget the TWD chicks!


Peanut Butter Torte

1 ¼ c. finely chopped salted peanuts (for the filling, crunch and topping)
2 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon instant espresso powder (or finely ground instant coffee)
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
½ c. mini chocolate chips (or finely chopped semi sweet chocolate)
24 Oreo cookies, finely crumbed or ground in a food processor or blender
½ stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Small pinch of salt
2 ½ c. heavy cream
1 ¼ c confectioners’ sugar, sifted
12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 ½ c salted peanut butter – crunchy or smooth (not natural; I use Skippy)
2 tablespoons whole milk
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate finely chopped

Getting ready: center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch Spring form pan and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat.
Toss ½ cup of the chopped peanuts, the sugar, espresso powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate chops together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Put the Oreo crumbs, melted butter and salt in another small bowl and stir with a fork just until crumbs are moistened. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the spring form pan (they should go up about 2 inches on the sides). Freeze the crust for 10 minutes.
Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a rack and let it cool completely before filling.
Working with a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, whip 2 cups of the cream until it holds medium peaks. Beat in ¼ cup of the confectioners’ sugar and whip until the cream holds medium-firm peaks. Crape the cream into a bowl and refrigerate until needed.

Wipe out (do not wash) the bowl, fit the stand mixer with the paddle attachment if you have one, or continue with the hand mixer, and beat the cream cheese with the remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar on medium speed until the cream cheese is satiny smooth. Beat in the peanut butter, ¼ cup of the chopped peanuts and the milk.

Using a large rubber spatula, gently stir in about one quarter of the whipped cream, just to lighten the mousse. Still working with the spatula, stir in the crunchy peanut mixture, then gingerly fold in the remaining whipped cream.
Scrape the mouse into the crust, mounding and smoothing the top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight; cover with plastic wrap as soon as the mousse firms.

To Finish The Torte: put the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Leave the bowl over the water just until the chocolate softens and starts to melt, about 3 minutes; remove the bowl from the saucepan.

Bring the remaining ½ cup cream to a full boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and , working with a a rubber spatula, very gently stir together until the ganache is completely blended and glossy.

Pour the ganache over the torte, smoothing it with a metal icing spatula. Scatter the remaining ½ cup peanuts over the top and chill to set the topping, about 20 minutes.

When the ganache is firm, remove the sides of the Spring form pan; it’s easiest to warm the pan with a hairdryer, and then remove the sides, but you can also wrap a kitchen towel damped with hot water around the pan and leave it there for 10 seconds. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

TWD-Fluted Polenta and Ricotta Cake

This weeks TWD recipe was chosen by Caitlin of Engineer Baker. To be honest, I did not want to make this cake. First, you can't find polenta in the regular grocery store here, and using yellow cornmeal did not appeal to me. It made me think of sweet cornbread, and I am not a fan of it either. Secondly, I am not a big fan of fig newtons. So, not really knowing what I was getting into was a little scary.

The recipe was easy to follow and easy to mix together, baked in the time that the recipe called for and viola...I have a fig/cornmeal/ricotta cake. My first bite...tasted like sweet cornbread. The next bite, tasted a little better. So on, and so on. I did decide that I did like the crunch of the fig seeds, and I really thought that I wouldn't. That is probably the only thing that I can say that I liked about this cake. That is part of being a part of the TWD chicks, baking new things, out of my comfort zone, knowing that I am not going to like everything that is chosen. This recipe was one of those, but I am glad that I did make it.

Thanks Caitlin for choosing this week and don't forget to check out the other TWD chicks, and still continue to grow! If you want the recipe you can find it on Caitlin's blog.

Next weeks recipe comes from Elizabeth at Ugg Smell Food the Peanut Butter Torte!

TWD-Carrot Cake

Sorry, but there is no carrot cake at my house this week. Time was not on my side this week.

Make sure to go and check out the other TWD chicks, and their cakes!

TWD-Marshmallows

This week was chosen by Judy of Judy's Gross Eats. I have made marshmallows before, but had never flavored them. This recipe was alot like the marshmallows that I have made before, but a little different. I chose to make the pumpkin spice, and I am so glad that I did. I had been wanting to make this flavor for a while, but just hadn't. This is just like eating pumpkin pie filling. YUM! The only problem that I had was a thin layer of gelatin settled on the bottom, but, it didn't effect the taste, only the look. I think that I like by previous marshmallow better, but I will definitely make different flavors, especially the pumpkin!

(Here you can see the thin layer that settled on the bottom)

Make sure to go and check out the other TWD chicks and see what flavors they came up with!


Next week's recipe is from Amanda over at Slow like Honey and she has chosen Bill's Big Carrot Cake.


Makes about 1 pound marshmallows

About 1 cup potato starch (found in the kosher foods section of supermarkets) or cornstarch
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 1/4-ounce packets unflavored gelatin
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
3/4 cup cold water
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar


GETTING READY: Line a rimmed baking sheet -- choose one with a rim that is 1 inch high -- with parchment paper and dust the paper generously with potato starch or cornstarch.


Have a candy thermometer at hand.

Put 1/3 cup of the water, 1 1/4 cups of the sugar and the corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar is dissolved, continue to cook the syrup -- without stirring -- until it reaches 265 degrees F on the candy thermometer, about 10 minutes.While the syrup is cooking, work on the gelatin and egg whites.


In a microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the remaining cold water (a scant 7 tablespoons) and let it sit for about 5 minutes, until it is spongy, then heat the gelatin in a microwave oven for 20 to 30 seconds to liquefy it. (Alternatively, you can dissolve the gelatin in a saucepan over low heat.)


Working in the clean, dry bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in another large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until firm but still glossy -- don't over beat them and have them go dull.As soon as the syrup reaches 265 degrees F, remove the pan from the heat and, with the mixer on medium speed, add the syrup, pouring it between the spinning beater(s) and the sides of the bowl. Add the gelatin and continue to beat for another 3 minutes, so that the syrup and the gelatin are fully incorporated. Beat in the vanilla.Using a large rubber spatula, scrape the meringue mixture onto the baking sheet, laying it down close to a short end of the sheet. Then spread it into the corners and continue to spread it out, taking care to keep the height of the batter at 1 inch; you won't fill the pan. Lift the excess parchment paper up to meet the edge of the batter, then rest something against the paper so that it stays in place (I use custard cups).



Dust the top of the marshmallows with potato starch or cornstarch and let the marshmallows set in a cool, dry place. They'll need about 3 hours, but they can rest for 12 hours or more.Once they are cool and set, cut the marshmallows with a pair of scissors or a long thin knife. Whatever you use, you'll have to rinse and dry it frequently. Have a big bowl with the remaining potato starch or cornstarch at hand and cut the marshmallows as you'd like -- into squares, rectangles or even strips (as they're cut in France). As each piece is cut, drop it into the bowl. When you've got 4 or 5 marshmallows in the bowl, reach in with your fingers and turn the marshmallows to coat them with starch, then, one by one, toss the marshmallows from one hand to the other to shake off the excess starch; transfer them to a serving bowl. Cut and coat the rest of the batch.


SERVING: Put the marshmallows out and let everyone nibble as they wish. Sometimes I fill a tall glass vase with the marshmallows and put it in the center of the table -- it never fails to make friends smile. You can also top hot chocolate or cold sundaes with the marshmallows.


STORING: Keep the marshmallows in a cool, dry place; don't cover them closely. Stored in this way, they will keep for about 1 week -- they might develop a little crust on the outside or they might get a little firmer on the inside, but they'll still be very good.



Playing Around


RASPBERRY MARSHMALLOWS: Fruit purees are excellent for flavoring these candies.For raspberry marshmallows, you'll need a generous 1/3 cup of puree; reduce the vanilla extract to 1/4 teaspoon. After the batter is mixed, gently fold in the puree with a rubber spatula. You can use the same measurements and technique for other purees, such as strawberry, mango and passion fruit.


CAPPUCCINO MARSHMALLOWS: Sift 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon together into a small bowl. Stir in 1/3 cup boiling water and mix until smooth. Reduce the vanilla extract to 1/2 teaspoon, and add it to the espresso mix. After you add the sugar syrup and gelatin to the meringue, beat in the espresso mixture and continue.


LIGHT CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOWS: Melt 3 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate and stir in 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder. Reduce the vanilla extract to 1/4 teaspoon, and after the marshmallow batter is mixed, fold in the chocolate mixture with a large rubber spatula.


PUMPKIN SPICE MARSHMALLOWS: Whisk together 1/2 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg and a pinch of ground allspice. After the marshmallow batter is mixed, fold in the spiced pumpkin with a large rubber spatula.

TWD-The Most Extraordinary French Lemon Tart!

Try saying that title 3 times fast! :) This weeks recipe was chosen by Mary from Starting from Scratch. We had the choice of either lemon, or orange cream. My friend Chelle, who is anti-lemon, chose the orange version, and she compared it to a creamsicle. I am going to try that version too. I have to say that I absolutely LOVED this choice! This has become my "go to" lemon tart recipe. Easy to throw it together, and was probably devoured in less than the time it took to make it. The only problem that I ran into was cooking the lemon curd to 180 degrees. I never got to that temp, I could only get to 165-170, but, the lemon cream came out perfect. Not runny at all!! Very firm, and creamy, and lemony!

Our chick list over at TWD continues to grow, go and check them out!

If you are looking for a great lemon dessert, this would be the one to make!

Next week has been chosen by Judy at Judy's Gross Eats....Marshmallows!! This will be the time that I play with flavors!

Tart

1 cup sugar

Grated zest of 3 lemons

4 large eggs

¾ c fresh lemon juice (from 4-5 lemons)

2 sticks plus 5 T butter (10 ½ ounces) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon size pieces, at room temperature.

1 9-inch tart shell made with sweet tart dough (see below).

Getting ready:

Have a instant-read thermometer, a strainer and a blender (1st choice) or food processor at hand. Bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a saucepan.

Put the sugar and zest in a large heatproof bowl that can be set over the pan of simmering water. Off the heat, rub the sugar and zest together between your fingers until the sugar is moist, grainy, and very aromatic. Whisk in the eggs, followed by the lemon juice.

Set the bowl over the pan and start stirring with the whisk as soon as the mixture fees tepid to the touch. Cook the lemon cream until it reaches 180 degrees F. As you whisk- you whisk constantly to keep the eggs from scrambling- you’ll see that the cream will start out light and foamy, then the bubbles will get bigger, and then, as it gets closer to 180F, it will start to thicken and the whisk will leave tracks. Heads up at this point- the tracks mean the cream is almost ready. Don’t stop whisking or checking the temperature, and have patience- depending on how much heat you’re giving the cream, getting to temp may take as long as 10 minutes.

(I never got to this temp, and it took 30-45 minutes to get to the temp 165-170, but turned out perfect!)

As soon as it reaches 180F, remove the cream from the heat and strain it into the container of the lender (or food processor); discard the zest. Let the cream stand, stirring occasionally, until it cools to 140 degrees F, about 10 minutes.

Turn the blender to high (or turn on the processor) and, with the machine going, add the butter about 5 pieces at a time. Scrape down the sides of the container as needed as you incorporate the butter. Once the butter is in, keep the machine going- to get the perfect light, airy texture of lemon-cream dreams, you must continue to blend the cream for another 3 minutes. If your machine protests, and gets a bit too hot, work in 1-minute intervals, giving the machine a little rest between beats.

Pour the cream into a container, press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface to create an airtight seal and refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight. (the cream will keep in the fridge for 4 days or, tightly sealed, in the freezer for up to 2 months; thaw it overnight in the refrigerator)
When you are ready to assemble the tart, just whisk the cream to loosen it and spoon it into the tart shell. Serve the tart, or refrigerate until needed.

Sweet Tart Dough

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

¼ tsp salt1 stick plus 1 tablespoon (9 T) very cold (or frozen) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1 large egg yolk

Put the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and pulse a couple of times to combine. Scatter the pieces of butter over the dry ingredients and pulse until the butter is coarsely cut in- you should have some pieces the size of oatmeal fakes and others the size of peas. Stir the yolk, just to break it up, and add it a little at a time, pulsing after each addition. When the egg is in, process in long pulses- about 10 seconds each- until the dough, which will look granular soon after the egg is added, forms clumps and curds. Just before you reach this stage, the sound of the machine working the dough will change- heads up. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and, very lightly and sparingly, knead the dough just to incorporate and dry ingredients that might have escaped mixing.

To press the dough into the pan: butter a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan, using all but one little piece of dough, which you should save in the refrigerator to patch any cracks after the crust is baked. Don’t be too heavy handed- press the crust in so that the edges of the pieces cling to one another, but not so hard that the crust loses its crumbly texture. Freeze the crust for at least 30 minutes, preferable longer, before baking.

To partially or fully bake the crust: center a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.

Butter the shiny side of aluminum foil and fit the foil, buttered side down, against the crust. (since you froze it, you can bake it without weights). Put the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake the crust for 25 minutes. Carefully remove the foil. If the crust has puffed, carefully press it down with the back of a spoon. For partially baked crust, patch the crust if necessary, then transfer the crust to a cooling rack. To fully bake the crust, bake for another 8 minutes or so, or until it is firm and golden brown. Transfer pan to a rack and cool the crust to room temperature before filling.

TWD-Gooey Chocolate Cakes

This weeks TWD recipe was chosen by the Lemon Tartlet herself, Leigh. I am so glad this was a chocolate week! This one did hit the spot! The only problem I had, and this was completely my fault, I didn't get to eat one right out of the oven, it was at room temperature when I could get to it. The middle didn't flow like the lava cakes, but it was really moist. I can imagine it being gooey if it was hot.

This "little one" was very easy to put together, and came together quickly as well. However, Dorie recommended bittersweet chocolate, I used semi-sweet instead. This will be marked as a make again.

The TWD chicks have nested, if I have counted correctly, 113 little chicklets!!! Go and check them out too! Next weeks recipe comes from Mary at Starting from Scratch.

Gooey Chocolate Cake
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate,
~4 ounces coarsely chopped,
~1 ounce very finely chopped
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
6 tablespoons of sugar

Getting ready: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. butter (or spray – it’s easier) 6 cups of a regular-size muffin pan, preferably a disposable aluminum foil pan, dust the insides with flour and tap out the excess. Put the muffin pan on a baking sheet.
Sift the flour, cocoa and salt together.

Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water, put the coarsely chopped chocolate and the butter in the bowl and stir occasionally over the simmering water just until they are melted – you don’t want them to get so hot that the butter separates. Remove the bowl from the pan of water.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and yolk until homogenous. Add the sugar and whisk until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and, still using the whisk, stir (don’t beat) them into the eggs. Little by little, and using a light hand, stir in the melted chocolate and butter. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups and sprinkle the finely chopped chocolate over the batter.

Bake the cakes for 13 minutes. Transfer them, still on the baking sheet, to a rack to cool for 3 minutes. (There is no way to test that these cakes are properly baked, because the inside remains liquid.)

Line a cutting board with a silicone baking mat or parchment or wax paper, and, after the 3-minute rest, unmold the cakes onto the board. Use a wide metal spatula to lift the cakes onto dessert plates.

TWD- Caramel Flan

I have updated this at the bottom...

This weeks recipe was chosen by Steph at A Whisk and a Spoon. I have to admit that I have never made or even tasted Caramel Flan before, so I really didn't know what to expect. I like custard desserts, but I am not sure if I like this one or not. I didn't let it sit in the fridge for the full 4 hours, so I will try it again when it is completely cold.

Next weeks TWD recipe is chosen by the Lemon Tartlette herself, Leigh.

For the Caramel

1/3 cup sugar

3 tbsp water

squirt of fresh lemon juice

For the Flan

1-1/2 cups heavy cream

1-1/4 cups whole milk

3 large eggs

2 large egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Getting Ready: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a roasting pan or a 9-x-13-inch baking pan with a double thickness of paper towels. Fill a teakettle with water and put it on to boil; when the water boils, turn off the heat.

Put a metal 8-x-2-inch round cake pan-not a nonstick one-in the oven to heat while you prepare the caramel.

To Make the Caramel: Stir the sugar, water and lemon juice together in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. Put the pan over medium-high heat and cook until the sugar becomes an amber-colored caramel, about 5 minutes-remove the pan from the heat at the first whiff of smoke.Remove the cake pan from the oven and, working with oven mitts, pour the caramel into the pan and immediately tilt the pan to spread the caramel evenly over the bottom; set the pan aside.

To Make the Flan: Bring the cream and milk just to a boil.Meanwhile, in a 2-quart glass measuring cup or in a bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks and sugar. Whisk vigorously for a minute or two, and then stir in the vanilla. Still whisking, drizzle in about one quarter of the hot liquid-this will temper, or warm, the eggs so they won't curdle. Whisking all the while, slowly pour in the remainder of the hot cream and milk. Using a large spoon, skim off the bubbles and foam that you worked up.Put the caramel-lined cake pan in the roasting pan. Pour the custard into the cake pan and slide the setup into the oven. Very carefully pour enough hot water from the kettle into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. (Don't worry if this sets the cake pan afloat.) Bake the flan for about 35 minutes, or until the top puffs a bit and is golden here and there. A knife inserted into the center of the flan should come out clean.Remove the roasting pan from the oven, transfer the cake pan to a cooking rack and run a knife between the flan and the sides of the pan to loosen it.

Let the flan cool to room temperature on the rack, then loosely cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.When ready to serve, once more, run a knife between the flan and the pan. Choose a rimmed serving platter, place the platter over the cake pan, quickly flip the platter and pan over and remove the cake pan-the flan will shimmy out and the caramel sauce will coat the custard.

Yield: 6 to 8 Servings

I have tried this again this afternoon, after it has been in the fridge all night and all day today...I still don't think that I like it. I will probably not make this again. But, I am glad that I had the chance to try it. Or, I would have never known.

TWD-Snickery Squares

So, today is Tuesday, and if you have been visiting me for the last few weeks, you know that I am posting about this weeks edition of Tuesdays with Dorie. This weeks recipe was chosen by Erin of Dinner and Dessert. I am so glad that she chose this recipe, because it had been calling my name for the last few weeks.


This bar is really sinful! You have a shortbread crust, layered with dulce de leche (store bought or homemade) mixed with candied peanuts. And then layered with a chocolate glaze. Dulce de leche is not something that you can find just anywhere here, so I opted to make my own. I have made it before when I made millionaire shortbread tartletts. It is easy, it just takes a while to for it to cook.


I have to confess, that I skipped the part of the recipe where it said to make this in n 8x8 square pan, because, I just naturally reached for my 9x13 pan. With that said, and as you can see in the picture, mine are flat...not tall. But really, that is fine with me, because you can only eat a small bite of this dessert.


As always, go and check out the TWD chicks, we now have over 50 members and grow bigger each week!

Snickery Squares

For the Crust:
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
2 TBSP powdered sugar
¼ tsp salt
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and chilled
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten

For the Filling:
½ cup sugar
3 TBSP water
1 ½ cups salted peanuts
About 1 ½ cups store-bought dulce de leche

For the Topping:
7 ounces bittersweet, coarsely chopped
½ stick unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces, at room temperature

Getting Ready:
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a 8 inch square pan and put it on a baking sheet.

To Make the Crust:
Toss the flour, sugar, powdered sugar and salt into a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Toss in the pieces of cold butter and pulse about 12 times, until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Pour the yolk over the ingredients and pulse until the dough forms clumps and curds-stop before the dough comes together in a ball.Turn the dough into the buttered pan and gently press it evenly across the bottom of the pan. Prick the dough with a fork and slide the sheet into the oven.Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes, or until it takes on just a little color around the edges. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool to room temperature before filling.

To Make the Filling:
Have a parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet at the ready, as well as a long-handled wooden spoon and a medium heavy bottomed saucepan.Put the sugar and water in the saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Keeping the heat fairly high, continue to cook the sugar, without stirring, until it just starts to color. Toss the peanuts and immediately start stirring. Keep stirring, to coat the peanuts with sugar. Within a few minutes, they will be covered with sugar and turn white—keep stirring until the sugar turns back into caramel. When the peanuts are coated with a nice deep amber caramel, remove the pan from the heat and turn the nuts out onto the baking sheet., using the wooden spoon to spread them out as best you can. Cool the nuts to room temperature.When they are cool enough to handle, separate the nuts or break them into small pieces. Divide the nuts in half. Keep half of the nuts whole or in biggish pieces for the filling, and finely chop the other half for the topping.Spread the dulce de leche over the shortbread base and sprinkle over the whole candied nuts.

To Make the Topping:
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Remove chocolate from the heat and gently stir in the butter, stirring until it is fully blended into the chocolate.Pour the chocolate over the dulce de leche, smoothing it with a long metal icing spatula, then sprinkle over the rest of the peanuts. Slide the pan into the fridge to set the topping, about 20 minutes; if you’d like to serve the squares cold, keep them refrigerated for at least 3 hours before cutting.
Cut into 16 bars.