S'mores Desserts

Since there is a looming snow storm today in NYC, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about comforting desserts. I may have mentioned this before when I covered hot chocolate desserts but when I think of warmth, I think of sitting in front of a roaring fire. These S’mores desserts will go perfectly with hot chocolate in front of a fire!   

Sources & Recipes:

Magic S'mores Bars

S'mores Brownies 

S'mores Cupcakes 

S'mores Pops 

S'mores Macarons 

Three Kings Day

Traditions are often the glue that hold families together, and I am all about family and traditions. My family has celebrated the feast of the Epiphany since I was a baby. On this day, the twelfth day of Christmas, when the 3 kings brought gifts to baby Jesus, my family celebrates with a picnic dinner around the tree. We are always sad to see the end of the season, when all the decorations are carted away, and so we enjoy this moment, as we all sit on a blanket spread on the floor like a large skirt around the tree. The glow from the Christmas lights and the sound of Christmas music playing for the last time fill the house with warmth, as we toast the end of the season and the good times and memories shared by all. Oh yes, did I forget to mention that we do exchange three more gifts....small, often funny gifts though, not gold, frankincense and myrrh.

A traditional dessert of this day is called “Roscon de Reyes” (translation: king’s cake) which is served the night before or the morning of January 6^th. Click here to read more about this tradition and to find the recipe for Roscon de Reyes. 

 image source: flickr

Pound Cake

Every family has different traditions and food preferences. These preferences may have become standard fare at your family gatherings around the holidays. When I asked my fiancé what dessert made him think of the holidays, his immediate response was "Pound cake." This was a surprise to me since I have never seen pound cake during one of my family’s parties. This made me realize how different celebrations and food choices can be. So, here it is… pound cake!   

Glazed Lemon Pound Cake 

Vanilla Pound Cake

Chocolate-Swirled Pound Cake 

Blueberry-Sour Cream Pound Cake 

Lemon-Cornmeal Pound Cake with Berries and Cream
Pound Cake with Maple Glaze
Cinnamon-Raisin Pound Cake with Basic Glaze
Pumpkin Pound Cake

Cheesecake

Dense, creamy and dreamy, cheesecakes are always a hit. These cheesecakes will have you craving more because they are just that good.

For the no-fuss cheesecake lovers: 

Choose your poison: Classic Cheesecake vs. New York-Style Cheesecake

For the chocolate cheesecake lovers:

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake 

Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake

"Almond Joy" Cheesecake

For the strawberry cheesecake lovers: 

Irish Strawberry-and-Cream Cheesecake 

Strawberry-Glazed Cheesecake

Strawberries-and-Cream Cheesecake

For the adventurous cheesecake lovers: 

Pumpkin Cheesecake 

Brandy Alexander Cheesecake

Gingerbread Cheesecake

Thin French Apple Tart

This tart is a dramatic 12 inches! It will definitely impress your guests. For best results, make sure to cut the apples very thin.

Thin French Apple Tart Recipe (adapted from myrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 1/2  (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie dough (such as Pillsbury)
• 1/4  cup  sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 2  pounds  Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 2 1/2  tablespoons  honey
• 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 425°.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface; roll into a 12-inch circle. Place on a 12-inch pizza pan. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of sugar mixture over dough (just enough to lightly coat dough). Arrange apple slices spokelike on top of dough, working from outside edge of dough to the center. Sprinkle apple slices with remaining sugar mixture. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes.

Combine honey and vanilla in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at high 40 seconds. Brush honey mixture over warm tart.

This tart is best served warm, enjoy!

Champagne Desserts

We are officially in the year 2011.. yay! I wish everyone peace, good health, and harmony for this new year. Even though we are so busy, schedule time with family and friends and enjoy these champagne desserts.

Recipes:
Berry Gratin with Champagne Sabayon 
Champagne Granita
Champagne Frosted Cupcakes
Champagne Sabayon
Sparkling Baby Cakes
White Peaches and Raspberries in Champagne Syrup

Happy New Year's Eve!

Hope everyone will be celebrating tonight to bring in the New Year! I know that people all around the globe follow different traditions for New Years Eve. I wanted to share a little Spanish tradition that my family always adheres to at exactly 12 pm. Right at the very moment when the ball drops, and the clock strikes midnight, each person eats 12 red grapes. Each grape is meant to give you good luck for each month of the New Year. You should give it a try! 

 photo source: grapes

If you are celebrating out (in a restaurant or otherwise), place 12 grapes in individual zip-lock bags and bring them for all of your family & friends to enjoy!  Wishing everyone good luck in the New Year! 

All About Champagne...

Since champagne is the beverage of choice on New Year's Eve, here’s a quick guide to make your champagne selection easier:

• Brut: extremely dry (less than 1.5% sugar)
• Extra sec or extra dry: dry (1.2-2.0% sugar)
• Sec: slightly sweet (1.7-3.5% sugar)
• Demi-sec: sweet (3.3-5.0% sugar); dessert wine
• Doux: very sweet (over 5.0% sugar); dessert wine

We all know that champagne should be served chilled (refrigerate for two hours before serving). But be careful not to over-chill your champagne; otherwise you will dull both the flavor and the bouquet.

To keep your champagne sparkling after the party is over, use an inexpensive metal champagne stopper. If you don’t have one of those handy, drop a stainless-steel needle or pin into the bottle, then fasten a balloon over the top with a rubber band. This will maintain the effervescence for about two days.

1. Pomegranate-Rosemary Royale

2. Crimson Spice Champagne Cocktail 

3. Raspberry Sparkler 

4. Sparkling Sangria 

5. Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail 

6. Sparkling Passion-Fruit Aperitifs

7. Framboise Spritzers

8. Sparkling Rosemary-Peach Cocktails

9. Rossini Bellini

10. Cran-Raspberry Spritzer 

11. Champagne Limoncello Cocktails

12. Sparkling Cranberry Blush

In lieu of champagne, you may want to try a sparking wine, here are five to try.