Banana-Chocolate Sandwiches

Dessert 3.04.2012: Banana-Chocolate Sandwiches

Banana-Chocolate Sandwiches

This is not really a fancy dessert, but bananas, chocolate, peanut butter and graham crackers just go so well together!

Banana-Chocolate Sandwiches (sliced bananas, semi- or bitter-sweet chocolate chips, heavy cream, butter, peanut butter, graham crackers, pine nuts) - pour just enough hot cram over the chocolate to melt; keep stirring until dissolved; add a little butter; dip bananas; sprinkle with nuts; let cool in fridge. Spread a little peanut putter on crackers and top with chocolate-bananas. Enjoy!

Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips

Dessert 2.26.2012: Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips

Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips

I like to keep my desserts small - this way I don't have to feel too bad for eating one or two, even :)

Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips

• Combine in small bowl; set aside:
• 1.5 cups + 1 tbs all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Beat eggs and sugar until creamy and leaves ribbons:
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• Add cooled, browned butter, whip until fluffy:
• 4oz/1 stick browned butter; cooled, but still liquid
• Add; mix until combined:
• 1+ cups coarsely mashed very ripe bananas
• 1 tbs ricotta or sour cream
• 1 teaspoons vanilla
• With a rubber spatula gently fold in flour mixture until well combined but still lumpy. Add chocolate and nuts.
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts

Bake ~20 minutes @ 375F or until wood skewer comes out clean.

Chocolate Custard

Dessert 2.20.2012: Chocolate Custard - Creme do Pots

Chocolate Custard

If there is a dessert that is to die for it's this simple chocolate custard.

Chocolate Custard (1/2 cup sugar, 4 egg yolks, 2 cups heavy cream, 5 oz bittersweet chocolate) - fill into 4-6 ramekins and bake in water bath @ 300F 25-40 minutes (or until set but still jiggly in the center)

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Dessert 2.13.2012: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Chocolate Covered Strawberries (strawberries, melted semi-sweet chocolate, butter)

Peanut Butter Bars

Dessert 2.05.2012: Peanut Butter Bars

Peanut Butter Bars

Peanut Butter Bars

• Melt butter, combine with crackers, sugar and peanut butter and spread in a 9x13 ungreased pan. Refrigerate:
• 1 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• Gently melt chocolate and peanut butter in microwave or double boiler; spread over peanut butter mixture. Refrigerate at least one hour:
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 4 tablespoons peanut butter)

Peanut Butter Bars

Thanksgiving Dinner 2011

Thanksgiving Dinner 2011.

This past Thanksgiving was great! It took me all of 20 minutes to pick the recipes; 1 hour of grocery shopping (not including the 3 additional trips to the market on Thanksgiving day); 2 days or prepping (making stock, porchini butter, cheese cake, and cranberry sauce); and cooking for 6 straight hours in Thanksgiving day. We had a few close calls by a kitchen novice who burned his fingers and cut his thumb (not me :), which luckily did not lead us to the emergency room (this time).