Mango Coconut Cream Puffs with Mango Mojito Sauce

“THERE SHALL BE ETERNAL SUMMER IN THE GRATEFUL HEART.”  Celia Thaxter

Mango Coconut Cream Puffs with Mango Mojito Sauce | From My Sweet Heart

Well it is that time of year.  Though it is not technically autumn, September 1st always feels like the beginning of fall to me, no matter what the weather.  In my mind, I just know that summer is over.  So The Baking Group (not yet officially named), has decided to give summer a tropical send off! Since I realized that I haven’t eaten one mango all season, I decided to mix a combination of tropical flavors into one little cream puff!  Sweet cream, mangoes, coconut, spiced rum and mint all mix and mingle to create a light, clean, fresh bite. [Read more...]

Cherry Almond Pastry Bars

After sitting out last month I am so happy to be back participating in the Improv Cooking Challenge!

Cherry Almond Pastry Bars | From My Sweet Heart

This fun group of cooks, chefs, bakers, bloggers is hosted by Kristen from The Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker.  And every month, Kristen gives us 2 ingredients to incorporate into a recipe of our choice.  Can you guess from the picture what we worked with this month? . . . . . [Read more...]

Chocolate Strawberry Turnovers

COFFEE MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING.  CHOCOLATE MAKES IT WORTHWHILE.”  Author Unknown

Chocolate Strawberry Turnovers | From My Sweet Heart

The cycle of a lazy Sunday morning.  I am too comfortable in my bed and my eyes remain closed as I contemplate how to spend this beautiful day.  Everything about this morning feels good.  And soft.  The soft, cool breeze wafting through my window stirs me to wrap my favorite soft, cotton blanket around me, my feet, still poking out.  The soft, tinkling of the wind chimes relax me to sink even deeper into my soft, pillowy feather bed.  I can sense that my soft and sweet, affectionate cat, Sinclair, has come to enjoy the morning, too.  His soft little face gently nudges my head.  Nudging, but I won’t open my eyes.  Nudging, and my nose begins to itch.  Nudging, I roll over.  Nudging, he finds me on the other side.  Nudging, nudging, nudging!  Sinclair!!! 

So Sinclair is out and I am up!  A warm cup of coffee, light with cream begs to wash down…..something.  The coffee keeps me focused just enough to layer mascarpone, strawberries, strawberry jam and bits of milk chocolate on cold flat pastry.  But I am patient….I know that it’s just a matter of time until the dough warms and puffs and flakes and browns in the oven.  Wait!  Let me sprinkle it with sugar and toss some almonds on top for good measure!  And it’s just as I had hoped!  Maybe even more!  Warm and crusty, sweet and gooey. Chocolate and strawberries mingling and oozing.  It’s pure, blissful, comforting.  And it’s gone before my coffee has time to wash over it.  A few more sips.  And I am tucked back in bed.  The perfect lazy morning until….. [Read more...]

Croissants

BON MATIN MES AMIS!

Croissants | From My Sweet Heart

The Daring Bakers go retro this month!  Thanks to one of our very talented non-blogging members, Sarah, the Daring Bakers were challenged to make croissants using a recipe from the Queen of French Cooking, none other than Julia Child!

Well this is my first assignment as a Daring Baker!  And what a doozy as I was challenged to once again stare down my old nemesis…..pastry dough!  (I was secretly hoping for some kind of fancy cake to build my confidence!)  But truthfully, pastry dough would not be my nemesis if I just worked with it more often!  So this turned out to be a good exercise for me.  These turned out quite light, fluffy, and buttery.  And amazingly, something that took 14 hours to prepare, were gone in less than 1!  Relieved to have this first challenge under my belt and looking forward to more! [Read more...]

Blueberry-Vanilla Cream Cheese Hand Pies

“A MOTHER IS A PERSON WHO SEEING THERE ARE ONLY FOUR PIECES OF PIE FOR FIVE PEOPLE, PROMPTLY ANNOUNCES SHE NEVER DID CARE FOR PIE.”  Tenneva Jordan

Blueberry Vanilla Cream Cheese Hand Pies | From My Sweet Heart

 Well the bad news is, it is Mother’s Day weekend and my guys are once again away at school.  The good news is, this recipe makes 10 hand pies and there’s only one of me!!!  This is a perfect Saturday morning recipe.  It is quick and easy and amazing in flavor!  I love, love, love blueberries!  And I will be using them a lot as spring turns into summer.

But this recipe is simple and  delicious!  The pies are incredibly light given the buttery, flaky crust and the amount of blueberries and cream cheese packed inside of them.  They come together quickly, but the end result is something pretty special.  I hope you will give them a try and feel free to mix and match berries and liqueur.  Yum! [Read more...]