Hot Chocolate Cheese Cake

So.... this is the best cheese cake on earth! OK, so I didn't come up with it... it came from my new Chocolate cookbook I got for Christmas from my dear Aunt G. It it delicious!

Pie Dough
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
2 and 3/4oz butter, diced
2 tbsp superfine sugar
1/4 cup ground almonds
1 egg yolk

Filling
2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
12oz cream cheese, ROOM TEMPERATURE
1/2 cup ground almonds
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, sifted
1tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
1. To make the pie dough, sift the flour and cocoa into a bowl. Add the butter *and rub it in until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Stir in the sugar and almonds. Add the egg yolk and enough water to make a soft dough. Roll out on a lightly floured counter and use to line an 8-inch spring form pan greased with butter. Let chill in the refirgerator while preparing the filling. *I believe it is best to do this by hand.

2. To make the filling, place the egg yolks and superfine sugar in large bowl and whisk together until thick and pale. Whisk in the cheese, almonds, cream, cocoa, and vanilla until blended.

3. Place the egg whites in a clean, greasefree bowl and whisk until stiff but not dry. Stir a little of the whisked egg whites into the cheese mixture, then folk in the remainder. Pour into chilled pastry shell. Bake in a preheated oven, 325 for 1 and 1/2 hours, or until risen and just firm to touch. Let cool for 10 minutes, then loosen pan from edges. Let chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before searving.

4. I like to top my with chocolate drizzle or with powdered sugar.

Enjoy my five foodie friends!

Peppermint Bark

This is a delicious and easy Christmas present to make for friends and neighbors.

Ingredients

1 cup crushed candy canes

2 lbs white chocolate

Preparation

Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate. Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)

*We used Nestle white morsels and apparently that is not real chocolate and if you don't watch out your chocolate will turn into a big ball of sludge and will never melt. We looked it up online and you should try to use real white chocolate because the ingredients in the fake stuff make it harder to melt (not impossible because we did use it, but we had to throw out 4 cups of fake white chocolate!).

-Sarah

Lighter Sesame Chicken

Lighter Sesame Chicken

This is a yummy, healthy substitute to take out Chinese...enjoy!

(I borrowed this picture from the recipe's page online because I didn't take one!)

3/4 cup brown rice
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 garlic clove, finely chopped or crushed with a garlic press
2 large egg whites
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 2-inch chunks
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 1/2 pounds broccoli, cut into large florets, stems peeled and thinly sliced

Directions
Place a steamer basket in a large saucepan, and fill with 1 inch water; set aside for broccoli. Cook rice according to package instructions.
Meanwhile, make sauce: In a small bowl, combine honey, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and garlic; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together egg whites and cornstarch. Add chicken; season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add half the chicken; cook, turning occasionally, until golden and opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining tablespoon oil and chicken. Return all the chicken to skillet; add reserved sauce and scallions, and toss to coat.
Meanwhile, place saucepan with steamer basket over high heat; bring water to a boil. Add broccoli, and cook until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Serve sesame chicken with broccoli and rice.

Taken From Everyday Food, December 2007

~Lynn

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie - Scrumptious!

Thanksgiving and chocolate bourbon pecan pie - need I say more?!

And yes, I made the crust too!


Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
  
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup dark corn syrup
  
• 3 tablespoons bourbon liquor
• 1 1/2 cups pecan halves
• 1/2 cup mini milk chocolate morsels
• 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
• Homemade whipped cream, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt butter in a small saucepan. While butter is melting, add beaten eggs to a medium sized bowl. Stir in brown sugar, flour, vanilla extract, corn syrup and bourbon until combined. Add butter when just melted.

Mix in the pecans and chocolate morsels. Mix all together. Pour mixture into pie shell.

Place on a sheet tray and bake for 50 to 60 minutes.

When ready to serve top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Homemade Whipped Cream

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour heavy cream into a bowl and whip with an electric mixer for a few minutes, until it becomes thick. Add confectioners' sugar and beat until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Fold in vanilla extract.

Suzy's Pie Crust
(For a 9" two-crust pie)

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2/3 c lard or 2/3 c Crisco + 2Tbls.
• 1/4 c water

1. Measure flour
2. Cut in shortening
3. Sprinkle with water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing with fork until flour is moistened.
4. Gather dough together with fingers so it cleans the bowl
5. Press into 2 discs and wrap with plastic wrap
6. Chill dough at least 1 hour
7. Roll out pastry

Pasty Chef Note:
If you have extra pie dough, you can make some little leaves and place them in the center of the pie, like I did - cute and adds an extra special touch!

Happy Thanksgiving!
~Priscilla

P.S. - I chopped my hair off!