Gifting

Goat Cheese + Grand Marnier Truffles

January 30, 2012

6 oz. bittersweet chocolate {not semisweet} 6 oz. fresh goat cheese, at room temperature 2 T powdered sugar 1 1/2 tsp Grand Marnier or Cointreau 1 tsp orange zest 1/4 cup cocoa powder, for dusting the truffles Makes 16 truffles. 100 calories each. Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl set over simmering water until [...]

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Dark Chocolate + Peppermint Marshmallow Pops

December 13, 2011

60% cocao Ghirardelli baking chips or {good} white chocolate marshmallows {regular size or jumbo} crushed candy canes lollypop sticks Prepare a baking sheet with a piece of wax paper and set aside. Melt the chocolate in a small bowl over boiling water, stirring frequently. Remove the bowl once melted and move to work area. Maintain [...]

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Cranberry, Pistachio + White Chocolate Biscotti

December 11, 2011

2 1/4 cups flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 6 T unsalted butter, room temperature 3/4 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 T lemon zest 1 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 tsp whole aniseed 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries 3/4 cup shelled, unsalted pistachios 6 oz imported white chocolate, chopped From Bon Appetit: [...]

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Salted Rosemary Shortbread

October 23, 2011

3/4 lb {3 sticks} salted room temperature butter 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 1/2 cups flour 3 T minced fresh rosemary artisan salt {fleur se sel or finely ground pink Himalayan} Makes 2 dozen. Preheat the oven to 350. With an electric mixer, combine the butter, sugar and vanilla. In a separate [...]

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Seasonal Compound Butters

May 29, 2011

Here are a few of the infinite possibilities, each uses 2 sticks of salted butter: orange zest + cointreau + honey {1 T cointreau, zest of 1 navel orange, 2 T honey} spread on muffins, scones & breads caramelized shallot + cognac {1/2 cup minced shallot caramelized in butter until deep golden brown, 1/2 [...]

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Chocolate Brandy Cake

December 8, 2010

3 cups flour 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp salt 16 oz. bittersweet chocolate (chocolate chips are fine in this case) 3 sticks butter 1 1/3 cup brandy, Southern Comfort, or dark rum 1 cup strong coffee ( I use water and 1 Starbucks Via) 2 1/4 cups sugar 3 large eggs 2 tsp [...]

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Pumpkin Spice Granola

December 3, 2010

3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 T melted butter 1 T vanilla 1 T pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp sea salt 3 cups old fashioned oats 1 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup currants Preheat oven to 325. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In [...]

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