Raspberry White Chocolate Mousse

One of the things I love the most about The Secret Recipe Club is that it allows me the possibility to make something I’ve been wanting to try, but haven’t, simply because I haven’t been able to find the best recipe yet.  For example…..mousse.  There are a million recipes out there for chocolate mousse, all quite different, but all basically the same, you know?  So when I first looked at Tina’s blog, Mom’s Crazy Cooking…..I quickly found this recipe for White Chocolate Mousse and I knew it was what I wanted to make!  Tina has one of those fabulous blogs that just makes you smile when you come upon it! And though I found this right away, each visit back had me second guessing my decision!  Tina recently posted recipes for Chocolate Orange Brownies with Orange Cream Cheese Icing; and Carrot and Zucchini Bars with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting that I absolutely can’t wait to try!  And she has many scrumptious looking recipes and ideas for dinner.  (Her recent recipe for Slow Cooker Orange Chicken is on my to do list for this week!).  But back to this mousse.  It is divine!  The one thing I liked about this recipe is that the white chocolate custard, before all the whipped cream is folded in, would make an amazing pastry cream!  I made 2 batches of this luscious stuff.  One I kept the traditional white mousse, and to the other, I added….. [Read more...]

Chocolate Hazelnut Tartlets

“THE SWEET TOOTH IS A GLOBAL PHENOMENON, AND THERE ARE DELIGHTFUL NUGGETS TO BE FOUND EVERYWHERE.”  Mark Bittman

Delightful nuggets, indeed!  I don’t know about you, but I always love having a ‘whole something’ all to myself.  Not a slice or a piece….but my own little dessert, no matter how small!  And I’ve become enamored with petite sweets.  Maybe it’s for that reason.  But when ‘indulging in moderation’, it’s nice to have a one or two bite dessert.  And I think they are also easier to eat and serve when entertaining.  I found this dessert in Yankee magazine.  And being a New England girl at heart, I just had to try it!  A delicate and buttery, hazelnut shell is filled with rich, chocolate ganache  and just a sweet hint of raspberry!  Check it out….. [Read more...]

Berry Basil Ice Cream

B is for BASIL

 

Well this is the second post in my series “My Spice Rack from A-Z”.  This month, I had to choose a spice beginning with the letter B.  Not sure what is in your spice rack that would fit the bill.  But I had bay leaves and basil!  While I cook enough times with both spices, I’ve never created a dessert with either.  Inspired by a poem by Keats, I chose basil!

I searched online a bit, and most recipes matched basil with lemon, and usually in a panna cotta.  I decided to keep it simple and basic and I made some ice cream.  I made it a bit differently than I usually do.  And I wonder if those of you who make ice cream can tell me the difference………. [Read more...]

Mango Sorbet with Raspberry Coulis

“MY ADVICE TO YOU IS NOT TO INQUIRE WHY OR WHITHER; BUT JUST ENJOY YOUR ICE CREAM WHILE IT’S ON YOUR PLATE.  THAT’S MY PHILOSOPHY.”  Thornton Wilder

 

Maybe it’s the mango.  But despite the fact that there is no dairy here, this is a very creamy treat!  I chose to top it with a raspberry coulis and some fresh berries.  A little toasted coconut would have been nice, too.  (I feel like I try to sneak coconut in just about everything!)  I would even dare to top this with a drizzle of chocolate coconut ganache!  And I’m thinking about how I could incorporate it into a fizzy beverage!

It’s very clean and refreshing, whatever you choose to do with it.  Just enjoy!!!

And the recipe for both follows……. [Read more...]

Petit Fours

“THERE IS AN ENDURING TENDERNESS IN THE LOVE OF A MOTHER TO A SON THAT TRANSCENDS ALL OTHER AFFECTIONS OF THE HEART.”  Washington Irving

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

I’m sitting here with my lower lip out because this day just isn’t the same without Jeff and Matt here.  I think Mother’s Day should be moved to the summer, when my guys will be back from school.  I’m not sure if I am really missing them, or if I am just missing the opportunity to have yard work done or my car cleaned inside and out!  (I am usually good for milking whatever work I can from them on this day!)  So to make myself feel better, I made some little cakes!  These are sweet and simple.  But let me tell you what I learned about working with the fondant icing….. [Read more...]