Pineapple Coconut Tarts

“PARADISE IS OPEN TO ALL KINDS OF HEARTS.”  Pierre Jean de Béranger

Two bites = two words. Tropical. Paradise

A sweet tart crust….. filled with luscious coconut pastry cream….. sprinkled with chewy toasted coconut….. and topped with fresh, sweet, juicy pineapples.

Is your heart open? [Read more...]

Coconut & Salted Caramel Thumbprints

“WHAT YOU LOVE IS AS UNIQUE TO YOU AS YOUR FINGERPRINTS.”  Barbara Sher

I have never read any of the books written by Barbara Sher.  But I do agree with her belief that nothing will make you really happy but doing what you love.  We change so much as people over time.  Growth…..sometimes painful, but always a good thing!  And sometimes there are aspects of ourselves that have remained the same. I know that I have enjoyed writing since I was in the 7th grade!  And I still do!  And yet, it seems I’ve had to experience half of my life to realize how much I love to bake!  Thumbprint cookies are pretty common.  But it’s what you do to them that makes them unique to you.  And for me, that can only mean one thing….. [Read more...]

Banana Split Ice Cream Bread

Well it’s been a rough week for me as I have found myself off my feet most of the time with a knee injury.  And since it’s been impossible to hobble around the kitchen on my crutches, I decided to make life easy for myself and post another installment of I’ll Have What She’s Having…!  This particular recipe is for Ice Cream Bread.  And it couldn’t be easier.  Because all you do, literally, is mix together your favorite ice cream with some self rising flour.  Into a bread pan and into the oven.  And just under an hour later you have a moist, sweet, delicious bread.  And that’s that!  And with so many ice cream flavors and combinations for mix ins, you could probably make this bread a hundred times and never have the same bread twice!

I chose to use some Ben & Jerry’s Banana Split ice cream (strawberry and banana ice cream with walnuts, fudge chunks, and fudge swirl); and I added some additional walnuts and coconut for some mix ins!  Of all the baking I do, honestly, breads and muffins are not exactly my strengths.  So I am scratching my head on how I have this perfect bread sitting on my kitchen counter!

This recipe comes from Maranda at Jolts & Jollies.  While this is not a new blog, it is new to me.  And I’m not quite sure how I stumbled upon it.  But I’m glad I did!  I don’t know Maranda personally, but she seems like a lovely, warm and compassionate person.  She shares many wonderful recipes from main dishes to desserts.  But as you might have expected….it’s her cakes and sweets that have caught my eye!  And when you pop over to her site for this recipe, you will see why!  Maranda has such a great variety of recipes, with clear cut instructions and wonderful photos!

So for an easy, delicious, fool-proof bread (not to mention that you will probably already have what you need in your pantry and freezer)….please go on over to Jolts & Jollies.  Say hello to Maranda, see how she chose to make this bread,  and check out the rest of her wonderful blog.  You will be as glad as I am that you did!

 

Macadamia Nut Double Decker Brownie Bites

“AS WITH MOST FINE THINGS, CHOCOLATE HAS ITS SEASON.  THERE IS A SIMPLE MEMORY AID THAT YOU CAN USE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS THE CORRECT TIME TO ORDER CHOCOLATE DISHES:  ANY MONTH WHOSE NAME CONTAINS THE LETTER A, E, OR U IS THE PROPER TIME FOR CHOCOLATE.”  Sandra Boynton


Since the start of summer, I’ve been so caught up in the excitement of summer’s wonderful fresh fruits and berries.  Watermelon, blueberries, cherries, peaches….so much to choose from!  And every month I will always highlight a fruit in season and feature that fruit in many of my creations.  But today, the fruit in season for me was CHOCOLATE!  Not sure if it was the overcast and  rainy day here in D.C, but  I simply had to have something warm, gooey and chocolatey!  And these little bites filled with fudge, coconut, brown sugar and macadamia nuts (no….that is not my tooth in the picture….these little gems are too moist!)….. just hit the spot.  Do you know what made this recipe particularly easy?….. [Read more...]

Coconut Irish Cream Truffles

“IF NOT FOR CHOCOLATE, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR CONTROL TOP PANTYHOSE.  AN ENTIRE GARMENT INDUSTRY WOULD BE DEVASTATED.”    Author unknown

 

I have been wanting to make some form of candy for some time now.  What better way to start than with TRUFFLES!!!  I had a few fits and starts.  The first batch a few weeks ago to include my old nemesis the strawberry….turned out like bubble gum!  And today, though the cream center had set quite nicely….I initially scooped them out a little bit large!  And after rolling the first few in chocolate and then coconut…..well they ended up looking more like meatballs than truffles!  (Hey!  I’m all for eating a Coconut Irish Cream Meatball!!!)

So to get the really easy recipe for these, with a slight variation, and to laugh with me at the picture of the ‘meatballs’ I’ve also posted….come on in……. [Read more...]

Strawberry Breakfast Cookies

“THE BREEZE AT DAWN HAS SECRETS TO TELL YOU.  DON’T GO BACK TO SLEEP.”  Rumi

I am not a big breakfast eater.  I prefer to skip breakfast and indulge in a larger and very leisurely brunch.  And I prefer to eat breakfast for my dinner!  Go figure.  What I really love to eat for breakfast are pastries and sweet things with either a cup of cafe au lait or tea with milk and sugar. And while I LOVE a good sticky bun; sometimes a simple piece of brioche with a little jam is all I need.  Mostly, these days….my breakfast is on the fly.  And so anything made portable is great!

These breakfast treats are really good and very simple!  They are a cross between a scone and a cookie.  And again, the ingredients can be so versatile.  The secret ingredients in these little gems are……. [Read more...]