You are here: Home / 2011 / Archives for October 2011

Pumpkin Bourbon Cheesecake covered with Leaves of Chocolate

October 29, 2011 By + 35 Comments

“I CELEBRATE MYSELF, AND SING MYSELF.  AND WHAT I ASSUME, YOU SHALL ASSUME.  FOR EVERY ATOM BELONGING TO ME AS GOOD BELONGS TO YOU.”  Walt Whitman

Pumpkin Bourbon Cheesecake with Chocolate Leaves | From My Sweet Heart

HaPpY BiRtHdAy To Me!!!

I LOVE my birthday!  It always feels like such a special day to me, because even though I know that I’m not the only one in the world celebrating a birthday today, I TREAT myself as if I am the only one celebrating a birthday today!  Every year I make myself a different kind of cake.  I have yet to make anything pumpkin this season, so I thought today would be a fitting day for some pumpkin cheesecake!  I added a splash (or two!) of bourbon, cuz I am in celebration mode after all!  And I used a pecan shortbread crust.  But my favorite thing about this cake are the chocolate and white chocolate leaves!  Actually, it was the hike in the woods to pick the leaves that I enjoyed the most!   This upcoming year, I am going to take the time to find something special in every day.  And celebrate more for no reason at all!!!  There are so many good things in life to embrace……this cake is just one of them!  This year for my birthday, I treated myself to ……… [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cheesecake Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Chocolate Mint Thumbprints

October 23, 2011 By + 34 Comments

Another delicious recipe from BAKED SUNDAY MORNINGS! 

Chocolate Mint Thumbprints | From My Sweet Heart

These cookies are not just for the holidays anymore.  A nice, light minty chocolate cookie filled with peppermint white chocolate.  I ran out of clear rolling sugar so I improvised with some colored sugar, non pareils and chocolate jimmies (that’s what we call chocolate sprinkles in New England!)  These are easy and fun to make.  Since the recipe calls for you to press your ‘thumbprint’ twice; once halfway through the baking!!!….I decided to use the rounded edge of the handle of one of my whisks.  And I really think you could adapt both the cookie and the filling to accommodate any occasion.  Leave out the minty flavor and use coffee or raspberry or rum; add the same flavors to the filling or use dark chocolate ganache or caramel!  The variations for flavors and decorations are endless!  On a scale of 1-5, I am giving this 4 whisks! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baked Sunday Mornings, Cookies Tagged With: , , , , ,

Tequila Mockingbird

October 22, 2011 By + 21 Comments

Tequilla Mockingbird | From My Sweet Heart

  • 3 oz apple cider
  • 1 oz white tequila ( I used Cazadores Reposado)
  • 1 oz creme de cassis
  • 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice

Fill a shaker 2/3 full with ice.  Add the apple cider, tequila, creme de cassis, and lemon juice.  Shake well.  Place 4-6 ice cubes in an old fashioned size glass and strain the drink over the top.  Garnish with fresh apple slices if desired.

As you come to know me, you will find out that I am a HUGE classic literature buff!  Actually, buff may be too kind and nerd like may be more appropriate!  I have read To Kill a Mockingbird 4 times.  Once as a teenager, and once as an adult; and then once each when my boys read this novel in high school.  It has always been one of my all time favorites!  So when I saw the name of this drink…..it naturally caught my eye!  I wanted a sweet fall drink, but was not quite in the mood for the warm ciders and mulled wines just yet.  I stumbled upon this cocktail recipe and at first glance of the ingredients I thought…..how in the world do these work together in the same drink?  And the answer is BRILLIANTLY!!!  This is my absolute new favorite fall drink!  The tequila does something to mellow out the sweetness of the cider.  The cassis deepens the color of the drink. (Look at the color of the pitcher of cider in the background compared to what’s in the glass!)  And the lemon juice adds a bright freshness to it all!  This is extremely refreshing and not overly sweet.  I’ll definitely be drinking this until cider season is over!

So as I was on my deck taking pictures…..look who crashed the photo shoot…..LITERALLY!

This poor little guy tried to enter my family room via a closed window!  He fell to the deck, stunned, and I feared that he was injured.  One of his legs looked a little puffier than the other.  And he just sat there for the longest time…breathing kind of fast….and unable or unwilling to fly.  I was on my belly right in front of him taking this picture.  He didn’t look hurt…but he wouldn’t move!  So I went inside and got online and got the numbers for the animal rescue in my area.  I debated for a minute.  I thought, what if he could never fly again.  Maybe I could keep him and take care of him.  So I named him Bandit (look at the area around his eyes).  But then I realized, that I had no way of assessing whether he was truly injured or not.  So just as I began to dial the phone….he turned, got his puffy leg back into position…and flew away!  I hope I see Bandit again one day.  But I don’t think I will.  He’s so much better off in his own world than mine.

So enjoy this drink while listening to a clip from THE DIXIE CHICKS.  And one of my favorite songs on so many levels LET HIM FLY.  Have a beautiful weekend everyone!

Filed Under: Cocktails, Sweet Happy Hour Tagged With: , ,

Chocolate Nemesis

October 18, 2011 By + 33 Comments

“YOU ARE MY SWEETEST DOWNFALL.  I LOVED YOU FIRST…I LOVED YOU FIRST.”  Regina Spektor

Chocolate Nemesis | From My Sweet Heart

The dictionary defines nemesis as ‘the inescapable or implacable agent of someone or something’s downfall.’  And for me….that usually amounts to pastry dough!  But I have to tell you, this chocolate conqueror, well…….you won’t want to escape!  This fabulous dessert is a delicious cross between a flourless chocolate cake and an Italian budino.  It is rich, creamy, fudgey and very intensely chocolate!   And I’m not ashamed to tell you that this is just what I needed after a chaotic week of sorting out my behind the scenes blog woes!  This may be exactly what you need, too. . . . . [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cake Tagged With: , , ,

Five Spice Pear Pie Bars with Orange Icing

October 9, 2011 By + 30 Comments

“AUTUMN, THE YEAR’S LAST, LOVELIEST SMILE.”  William Cullen Bryant

Five Spice Pear Pie Bars with Orange Icing | From My Sweet Heart

With fall baking comes pies!  Lots of pies!  I love pie and I love making them.  And the finished product is always so impressive.  But when you just want an itty bitty bite…. it’s hard to cut yourself just a little sliver.  You know what I mean!  That piece of pie, which is so tall and full and stands so proud on your plate…..well as delicious as it may be ….it’s reduced to a fruity crumbly mess when you try to cut just a thin slice.  So here is all of the goodness of a pie, in this case pear, in a flatter form.  I’ve cut these into little pie wedges; but you can cut them into bars or squares.  So cut yourself a small piece ….because you’ll still have the bottom crust, the top crust and all that great fruit in between!  And the interesting ingredient in this recipe (at least to me) was…….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bars Tagged With: , , , ,

Sweet Potato Strudel with Brown Butter and Cranberries

October 5, 2011 By + 29 Comments

“MY DREAM IS TO BECOME A FARMER.  JUST A BOHEMIAN GUY PULLING UP HIS OWN SWEET POTATOES FOR DINNER.”  Lenny Kravitz

Sweet Potato Strudel with Brown Butter and Cranberries | From My Sweet Heart

I am with Lenny on this quote!  There is so much I would be willing to give up just to live life more simply.  Life can feel so complicated at times that the more I can do to reduce the fuss, the better off I am.  This sweet potato strudel recipe is very simple.  But it doesn’t compromise in flavor.  It’s a simple combination of sweet potatoes, carrots, brown butter, golden raisins, cranberries, pecans, salt and pepper! And that’s it!  All rolled up in puff pastry and it doesn’t get any easier or more satisfying than this!  I love savory baking; especially in the fall and winter.  This is a very festive and unique savory strudel.  And it would make a great accompaniment to any main dish or a perfect little lunch all by itself.  Remember….just keep it simple…… [Read more...]

Filed Under: Savory Baking Tagged With: , , ,

Chocolate with Caramelized White Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

October 2, 2011 By + 22 Comments

“C IS FOR COOKIE.  THAT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.”  Cookie Monster

Chocolate with Caramelzied White Chocolate Sandwich Cookies| From My Sweet Heart

I have been thinking lately.  Since my blog focuses primarily on desserts, I feel compelled to try to post things that are a little different or out of the box in some way.  We all have our own great tried and true recipes for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, or that fabulous brownie.  And we all have our family recipes that we will stick to no matter what!  I may love the taste of your apple pie. And you may love the taste of mine. But come holiday time….we’re probably going to make our own apple pies.  Unless…..there is a twist!  And so it is with these seemingly simple chocolate sandwich cookies!  I’m sure everyone reading this has a good one in their repertoire.  So I thought I’d offer you a technique that I have tried for the first time.  And it’s one that I’m sure you can adapt to many other recipes. You see…..that gorgeous filling in between the cookies is none other than caramelized white chocolate! Find out how to do this and what other fabulous ingredients give it this wonderful color and texture….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cookies Tagged With: , , ,