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!

Dark Chocolate and Toffee Cookies

I know Lynn is the queen of cookies.... but these are delicious too! I'm talking I got proposed to by a married man over these...

Ingredients:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (I think Dark Chocolate is way better though!)
1 (6 ounce) package almond brickle chips (I use the Heath Bar chips)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Mix sugars, margarine and shortening until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir in chocolate chips and brickle chips.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Make 9-10 minutes until lightly brown.

I have found that if you measure them out with a TBS and cook them for 8 minutes they are perfect! Enjoy and be loved.

Peace, Rach

Courtesy of allrecipes.com.