Spring Break. Florida. Key Lime Pie. It’s tart, sweet, rich, creamy and perhaps the easiest pie you’ll ever make. Top the pie with freshly whipped cream and garnish with strips of zest. Your first taste will have you dreaming of white sand beaches. Classic Key Lime Pie Crust 1 […]
Desserts.
A list of desserts.
Mini Guinness Chocolate Floats
I love a full bodied stout. I love coffee. I love chocolate. These mini floats combine all those flavors in one or two tasty sips. The Guinness, with its rich, creamy notes, is the perfect partner for chocolate ice cream. Boozy whipped cream is a terrific topper. Take a […]
Chocolate Panna Cotta with Spiced Pepita Brittle
This decadent dessert is simple to make and requires just a few ingredients. It can be made in advance of the big night and promises a creamy and chocolatey end to a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. The pepita brittle complements the panna cotta, offering a smokey and salty side. Chocolate’s not […]
Dark-Chocolate Bark with Dried Cranberries, Candied Ginger and Pepitas
Christmas bark is a great option for a quick and tasty hostess gift. It requires only a few ingredients that you most likely have on hand. Making bark can be as creative as you want to make it and NO BAKING REQUIRED. I chose sweet cranberries, candied ginger and pepitas…sweet […]
Pear Almond Tart
This Pear Almond Tart allows the seasonal pear to upstage that pumpkin and apple. The combination of flavors is a natural. A sweet crust is filled with a golden brown buttery almond cream and sliced poached pears. For serving, drizzle with caramel sauce, top with salted caramel ice cream, a […]
Cherry Clafoutis
Clafoutis, (kläfo͞oˈtē) is a French dessert made of fruit, typically cherries, baked in a sweet batter. This tart is simple to prepare. Just arrange the cherries in a buttered dish and cover with a thick flan-like batter. Dust the clafoutis with powdered sugar and serve lukewarm. You may want to […]
Limoncello Fruit Salad
Summer entertaining calls for you to have quite a few side dishes in your repertoire. A fruit salad will brighten any picnic table. This adult version adds Limoncello to the berry mixture. The yogurt topping incorporates lemon curd, vanilla and honey that turns this seasonal staple into an elegant […]
Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
Mix AND bake a chocolate chip cookie all in one skillet!! This recipe had me at one skillet (and one spoon). Serve this giant baked cookie right out of the skillet with 4 scoops of ice cream and 4 spoons. Slightly under-cook for a gooey, chewy fun dessert. In […]
French Apple Cake
Dorie Greenspan, the renowned cookbook author, calls this her “back pocket recipe,” meaning it can be made without a trip to the store. This trademark apple cake needs few ingredients and just a couple of steps to produce a rustic dish which is more apple than cake. Just mix in a […]
Apple Dutch Baby
Apples on apples on apples…..this is a tasty way to take advantage of Fall’s greatest fruit. It’s an eggy creation that is a cross between a pancake and a crepe. This easy, delicious dish with its crisp golden brown edges and popover texture offers a weekend breakfast better than […]
Cherry Almond Dutch Baby
Where has this baby been my whole life??? I had my first Dutch Baby a few weeks ago in wine country at a beautiful B&B where host Felisa introduced me to this tasty dish. This “pancake” pulls together quickly using a few basic ingredients that you can whisk in a bowl […]
Field Trip To Paso
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Momofuku Crack Pie
I needed a gesture of thanks…and a BIG one for our awesome neighbors, the Koz family!! We were stranded in Dallas while Chicago was getting pummeled by another storm of the century. They shoveled our driveway that had drifts up to three feet. I knew a sweet treat would be appreciated. […]
Salted Butter Caramel-Chocolate Mousse
I’m in planning mode for Christmas Eve dinner. I love the idea of a rich chocolate dessert to put that exclamation point on the evening. On past Eve’s we’ve closed with Creme Brulee, Strawberry Panna Cotta, Chocolate Almond Torte, Chocolate Lava […]
Pumpkin Creme Brulee
Do not let this elegant seasonal dessert intimidate you…….it’s easy! Amazing how just a few ingredients can create a dessert that will be your show stopper this holiday. It has the earthiness of the pumpkin, warm notes from the cinnamon and a crunch from the rustic burnt topping. Make […]
The Original Plum Torte
The New York Times published Marian Burros’s recipe for this Plum Torte every September from 1983 until 1995…the most famous recipe ever printed in the NYT. It’s perfect in its simplicity. Only eight ingredients, all of which, except the Italian plums, are most likely in your kitchen. When this torte cooks […]
Peach Cobbler
A cobbler is simple. A homey, comfortable ending that typically shows up at a summer BBQ. In the height of your local farmer’s market harvest, peaches and our favorite berries are bountiful…perfect for this seasonal favorite. Top the sweet filling with a crisp, yet tender biscuit. As a perfect companion […]
Zucchini Bread
Zucchini bread probably conjures up the memories. Gram’s cooking or picking zucchini in your family garden or even …well I have no zucchini bread flashbacks and this is the first time I’ve ever made it. It will not be the last!!. This bread has a soft and moist texture….thanks to […]
Strawberry And Rhubarb Compote with Pork Tenderloin
A match made in heaven. Strawberries and Rhubarb. Typically, this combination is seen on the dessert table. I like the idea of a savory dish and am pairing this seasonal side with pan seared pork tenderloin. The flavor components work well with pork (or chicken) and kumquats add […]
Guinness Chocolate Cake
I’m not a baker but look what happened!!!! This single layer cake with its frothy crown of frosting is so easy to pull together and the results so delicious…it’s a must try. The signature bitterness of Guinness disappears and leaves a moist dense cake. Guinness works well with desserts due […]
Pumpkin Bread Pudding With Spicy Caramel Sauce And Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise
I’ve always been a fan of bread pudding…. all varieties! But this Bobby Flay version using pumpkin bread takes the gooey decadent dessert to the next level. Fancy, yes. A bit steppy, yes. Can you do it?? YES! Most of the prep work comes days in advance. I made […]
Pumpkin Cheesecake Milkshake
Tis’ the season of pumpkin….a flavorful ingredient to create a fun milkshake!!! This sweet treat will be the addition we need to round out our Thanksgiving festivities. The roaring fire is the perfect setting for our after dinner games where we will be serving up our traditional Brandy Alexander and pumpkin […]
Caramel Roasted Pears With Cheese
I don’t need a sweet ending….so this works for me!!! Cheese course and dessert all in one. Warm pears and ginger snap crumbles drizzled with caramel sauce play well against the creamy, earthy cheese. A hint of thyme is added to the finishing sauce for a woodsy accent. This dessert […]
Rustic Cherry Tart
I needed a dessert and I needed one fast! We had family in for 5 days and I really didn’t plan a lot of sweet endings. While this may have been an oversight, a quick review of my pantry came up a winner. All ingredients were in the house, so […]
German Chocolate Cake Sundae
Randy’s favorite cake is German Chocolate. My Dad’s favorite cake was German Chocolate. (Strange…the only two people I know who love this cake). It was Father’s Day and this seemed like the perfect dessert….but I don’t make cakes! I do however love the traditional flavors of this classic….chocolate, caramel, pecans and […]
Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries
Panna Cotta is an Italian dessert that literally means “cooked cream.” Requiring only a few ingredients and just minutes to make, this is an easy ending to your meal that will always impress. When Randy heard balsamic vinegar he was a bit skeptical, however, adding a tablespoon of sugar and a […]
Banana Cream Pie Shooters
The instructions were…bring a sweet for the sweet table. I knew the table would be filled with cakes, pies and all things chocolate. I wanted to do something a little different. Knowing that Tom (the birthday boy) loved banana cream pie, this deconstructed version was a no-brainer. The recipe below […]
Meyer Lemon Tart
It’s Meyer Lemon Season. My suggestion is to run not walk to pick up these lemons to make this tart. Meyer lemon season is December to April. These floral, thin skinned fruits (with an origin from China) are a cross between a lemon and a mandarin or common orange. […]
Blood Orange Olive Oil Cake
I have never made a cake with olive oil. I certainly have never made a cake with blood oranges. The combination of the two intrigued me. The rich herbal tones of olive oil and blood oranges with their crimson colored flesh and unique flavor profile result in a not-too-sweet, moist […]
Chocolate Wontons
So this morning I was looking in the fridge and saw that the wonton wrappers had an expiration date of… tomorrow. I had Nutella, fruit and bingo….an easy Valentine dessert the kids will LOVE to make. At Common Threads when we “visit China” we make vegetable wontons and the kids […]