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Lemon Ladyfinger Semifreddo

July 25, 2012 By + 57 Comments

I’m taking the Blue Ribbon Challenge!

Lemon Ladyfinger Semifreddo | From My Sweet Heart

Well this is my first month participating in the Blue Ribbon Challenge!  This wonderful group is created and hosted by Anna from Crunchy Creamy Sweet.  Once a month, Anna chooses a delectable food theme.  We simply make it in any way we desire, post about it, and link up! The next day, we vote!  And the winner earns the coveted Blue Ribbon Badge!  Anna is such a sweetheart and this is such great fun!   So I encourage everyone to come and join in!  Follow the links for more information!

This month, the theme was semifreddo!  I have only attempted this once before when I made a Pistachio, Vanilla & Strawberry Semifreddo.  And though I think they turned out well, I must admit, I think ice cream is easier to make.  I don’t own an electric hand mixer…..so my arms got a work out with my whisk!  The result, however, is nothing short of sublime!  Lemony, light and luscious!  And this time, I added a hidden treat . . . . . [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blue Ribbon Challenge, Frozen Treats Tagged With: , , , , ,

Peach Raspberry Cake

July 15, 2012 By + 44 Comments

“ONE DOES A WHOLE PAINTING FOR ONE PEACH AND PEOPLE THINK JUST THE OPPOSITE – THAT PARTICULAR PEACH IS BUT A DETAIL.”  Pablo Picasso

Peach Raspberry Cake | From My Sweet Heart

I absolutely LOVE the simplicity of flavors in this peach raspberry cake.  Both fruits can be equal partners in the taste.  Or you can make one fruit shine and the other fruit a detail.  I love baking with seasonal fruit. When they are at their peak, then there’s not much you need to do to add sweetness.  This cake is simple, moist, and subtly sweet with just the hint of lemon.  And the fruit is most definitely the flavor in this cake.  I chose to let the peaches shine a little more.  Here are some things you can do to make your favorite fruit the star . . . . . [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cake Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Torta di Pane al Cioccolato

June 16, 2012 By + 63 Comments

I’m Baking From . . . . . La Cucina Italiana!

Torta di Pane al Cioccolato | From My Sweet Heart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, I am sharing a recipe from one of my favorite cooking magazines, La Cucina Italiana, “since 1929 Italy’s premiere food and cooking magazine”.  While they have an online site, I have subscribed to this periodical for the past year.  The recipes are so unique and authentic, and unlike any others I’ve found in various cooking sources.

This torta is no exception!  This cake is the beautiful lovechild of two contrasting and opposing ingredients.  Stale, old, ordinary white bread and exquisite, quality Belgian chocolate!  How can this happen???  While chocolate is the primary flavor here, it doesn’t punch you in the face.  But while most chocolate desserts (like brownies or fudge) have you thinking how chocolatey they taste; this dessert has you thinking…..wow!  That’s really GOOD chocolate! The flavor was so soft and mellow and refined!  This is the first time that I stepped out and upgraded the quality of chocolate I bake with.  For the first time I used . . . . . [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cake, I'm Baking From....., La Cucina Italiana Tagged With: , , ,

Coconut Risotto

May 31, 2012 By + 42 Comments

“PULL UP A CHAIR.  TAKE A TASTE.  COME JOIN US.  LIFE IS SO ENDLESSLY DELICIOUS.”  Ruth Reichl

Coconut Risotto | From My Sweet Heart

Most days, I think we can all benefit from a little ‘group therapy’.  And my favorite online group to participate in is the  Improv Cooking Challenge.  Kristen, from The Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker, is the wonderful creator and leader of this great group of chefs/bakers/bloggers/food fanatics!  Each month, Kristen gives us two ingredients to toss together in the recipe of our choice.  And my fellow Improvers come up with the most amazing stuff!

Kristen’s blog is all about food and family. And while she cooks full flour for her family; she is gluten free.   Her motto is “delicious doesn’t have to be expensive.” And I couldn’t agree more!   Kristen is running a new feature on her site to introduce her readers to ‘The Improvers’.  And today, I am so happy and grateful to be a guest on Kristen’s blog!  And so I’ve chosen to make. . . . . [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creamy Desserts Tagged With: , , , ,

Pineapple Coconut Tarts

May 11, 2012 By + 53 Comments

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

Pineapple Coconut Tarts | From My Sweet Heart

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...]

Filed Under: Tarts Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Chocolate Strawberry Turnovers

March 22, 2012 By + 58 Comments

“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...]

Filed Under: My Thrifty Finds, Pastry Tagged With: , , , , ,

Home Made Irish Cream

March 4, 2012 By + 47 Comments

  • 1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 8 ounces of heavy cream
  • 4 eggs
  • 16 ounces of Irish whiskey (I used Jamesons)
  • 2 ounces of espresso
  • 1 ounce of chocolate syrup
  • 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract

Beat the condensed milk, cream and eggs in a glass bowl.  Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and continue to gently whisk until the mixture reaches 160°F on your thermometer.  The mixture should also lightly coat the back of a metal spoon.  Remove this from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.  Add the whiskey, coffee, chocolate syrup, vanilla and almond extracts.  Stir well.  This recipe makes about 1 1/4 quarts, but since it is fresh, it must be stored in the refrigerator.  It will keep for up to 1 month. 

Again, I’d like to tell you about one of my thrifty finds.  I’m not of Irish heritage, but I couldn’t resist scooping up these sweet, little shamrock glasses that I found at the thrift store for 50 cents each!  And that really old, green flask…my dad found that in the Boston Harbor over 40 years ago!

As always when I post a cocktail, I’m going to share a favorite piece of music with you!  I love Patty Griffin!  And this song always brings me such a feeling of clarity, simplicity and joy.  Enjoy this Irish cream and have yourselves a Heavenly Day!

 

Filed Under: Dessert Drinks, My Thrifty Finds, Sweet Happy Hour Tagged With: , , ,

Cheddar Quick Bread with Cherries

February 27, 2012 By + 42 Comments

Baking from scratch really can be quick and easy!!!  Easy you say?  Absolutely!  Boring?  Not a chance!

Cheddar Quick Bread with Cherries | From My Sweet Heart

The Daring Bakers‘ February 2012 host was – Lis!  Lisa stepped in last minute and challenged us to create a quick bread we could call our own.  She supplied us with a base recipe and shared some recipes she loves from various websites and encouraged us to build upon them and make new flavor profiles. 

The only rules for this Daring Bakers challenge is that the bread would contain no yeast and take no longer than an hour and a half to prepare.  While Lisa offered a great base recipe and some wonderful suggestions, this time we were allowed to make any quick bread that we wanted.  So I decided to share one of my favorites….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bread, Daring Bakers Tagged With: , , ,

Sugared Donut Muffins

February 20, 2012 By + 38 Comments

“I AM BEGINNING TO LEARN THAT IT IS THE SWEET, SIMPLE THINGS OF LIFE WHICH ARE THE REAL ONES AFTER ALL.”  Laura Ingalls Wilder

Sugared Donut Muffins | From My Sweet Heart

Whenever I feel in doubt about how to approach most anything in life, my instinct usually tells me to just keep it simple.  Baking is a perfect example of that.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love outrageous, complex, over the top, and unusual desserts.  (One of my favorite cookbooks is Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey by Jill O’Connor!)  But the purist in me can find just as much bliss in a simple madeleine, a plain, fudgey brownie, or some creamy butterscotch pudding.  This sugared donut muffin is another example of simple perfection.  Just the right balance of sugary donut, cinnamon muffin and strawberry jam in one petite bite will leave you wanting for nothing more than. . . .  

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Donuts, Muffins and More, Sweet and Savory Offerings Tagged With: , , , ,

Life is Yummly!

December 24, 2011 By + 24 Comments

“RIVERS KNOW THIS:  THERE IS NO HURRY.  WE SHALL GET THERE SOME DAY.”  Winnie the Pooh

I have always loved the word yummly and use it a lot to describe anything that I taste that is insanely delicious!  And before I became acquainted with Yummly, the recipe search site, I had always associated this term with Winnie the Pooh somehow.  I think I was getting confused with ‘rumbly in my tumbly’, which Pooh says often, and which happens to me quite a bit, too!

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to come home to an email, in which I was alerted that Yummly had used my recipe for Cranberry Cherry Ribbon Cookies in an article called ‘10 Christmas Cookies that Will Put You in a Cookie Coma’! How very awesome!

Yummly is the world’s largest and most powerful recipe search site.  They have been featured by The Today Show, Reuters, Fox, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, About.com and more.  And they have millions of viewers and subscribers.  So you can imagine my surprise when they wrote to tell me that I would be added to their list of other hand picked blogs that are featured by them and that my recipes were “Certified Yummly”.  I am proud to be associated with such a wonderful site, and one that I use so often in my own recipe searches!  And I am in great company with so many other wonderful blogs!

Baking is a passion that really teaches patience.  But sometimes….. when you are patient enough….. life is not only good…..it is Yummly!

Filed Under: special little tidbits Tagged With: , , ,
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