Whole Foods Fresh Take on Fresh Berries – Recipe Contest!

Straight from the Whole Foods Website, Submit an original recipe, and you could win a $250.00 Whole Foods Market Gift Card!  What are you waiting for?  Time is of the essence, this contest runs until June 15th, at 5pm CTD.  Only one entry per person. Read Details below. If you’re entering, I wish you Good Luck! I can’t wait to see your winning recipe! – Fireuptheoven.

“Fresh Take on Fresh Berries” Recipe Contest

Nothing says summer’s here like the arrival of organic berries. To celebrate, we’re giving away five $250 Whole Foods Market gift cards to the freshest of the fresh organic berry recipes.

It’s time to think outside the pie! We’re looking for a fresh take on fresh berries. Leave the highly-processed sugar in the pantry (agave syrup, honey and maple syrup are ok to use) and get creative with seven ingredients or less (don’t worry, we won’t count basic pantry staples such as oil, salt and pepper). Maybe try a savory pairing with a sharp cheese to create a creamy risotto, or baked into bread for a surprising sandwich, or even grilled up atop your favorite burger.

Whether you choose to use fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or a combination, your fresh take on summer berries just might win you a $250 gift card!

How to enter

Submit the original recipe along with a photo of your dish using the official entry form by Friday, June 15 at 5 PM CDT. Only one entry per person, so make sure you pick your best!

See the complete official rules.

Here’s some links to some Berry Recipes for those who are interested:

Recipes Courtesy of Whole Foods Market.

• Strawberry-Balsamic Dressing
• Blueberry Summer Refresher
• Summer Berry Pie
• Berry Blue Salad
• Gluten-Free Baked Berry French Toast
• Traditional Strawberry Shortcake

Mango Strawberry Key Lime Tarts

Right now, in Whole Food Markets, they are featuring the Ataulfos (also know as yellow mangos).  Pronounced: aht-ah-uhl-foe.  Creamy, buttery, peppery and virtuously fiber-free, they’re in season and begging for you to pick them up and make something with them.  You’ll get them at a good price now, through April 17th at Whole Foods Markets.

To top it off, they’ve created a simple 1 ½ minute video on how to cut a mango.

I was given a case of mango’s to step up to the challenge of what would you do with a case of Mango’s?  This is the first recipe that came to mind for the challenge. Limes came to mind, along with strawberries. These are delicious and easy to do.

2 Ataulfos Mangos, cut up (See Video)

1 Pint Strawberries, cut up

Cut mango’s and strawberries up in a medium bowl. Set aside.  Make crust and Key lime Pie Filling.

Key Lime Mascarpone Cream Pie

From: Pie it Forward – Pies, Tarts, Tortes, Gallettes & Other Pastries Reinvented

By: Gesine Bullock – Prado

Key Lime is such a happy citrus – what other sour fruit brings to mind two of the loveliest things on the planet, the beach and pie, when you utter her name?  And she never fails to please, this lovely pie. Key lime pie is as silky sweet and tangy as a lazy day on the soft sands of Florida. Mascarpone is a natural addition, providing an extra dose of creaminess and tang. – Gesine Bullock – Prado

1/2 Batch Sweet Tart Dough

1/2 Cup, Plus 3 Tablespoons Key Lime Juice (I used Manhattan brand), Divided

1 (14 oz.) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

4 Egg Yolks

Pinch of Salt

1/4 Cup Mascarpone Cheese

1 Cup Heavy Cream

1/4 Cup Confectioner’s Sugar

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (175 Degrees C).  Line an 8 inch tart pan with the dough, then dock the bottom and freeze it for 20 minutes.  Line the crust with parchment, fill it with pie weights or dried beans, and bake it for 20 minutes.  Remove the weights and lining, then bake the crust for 15 minutes more, or until it no longer has a raw – dough sheen.

2.  For the filling, whisk together 1/2 cup of the Key lime juice with the condensed milk, egg yolks, and salt.  Pour the mixture into the crust and bake it for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the filling is set.  Allow it to cool completely.

3.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the mascarpone cheese, cream, confectioner’s sugar, and remaining key lime juice until the cream hold stiff peaks.  Transfer the cream to a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip and pipe it onto the cooled Key Lime Pie.

Makes One (9 inch/20-cm) Pie.

Note:  I made my pie into little tartlets, and added Strawberry and Mango to the top of the tarts.  I used this crust recipe here, filled the shells unbaked with the key lime filling and baked them in a preheated 350 degree oven for 12 – 15 minutes.  Cool completely before removing from the mini muffin pans.

Fill tartlets with fruit mixture and accent with whipped cream. Serve at once.

Minnie Mouse Birthday Cake & Cookies for my Granddaughter!

One of my sweet Granddaughter’s turned 9 this year, and for her birthday she wanted Minnie Mouse. Always looking to please them on their birthday’s this is the cake I came up with. Birthday girl was happy and had a birthday party at the roller skating rink. What fun!

Anna's 9th Birthday Cake.

Matching cookies were requested too!

Mickey & Minnie Mouse Cookies

Happy Birthday Anna!

Sweet & Spicy Cookies

What a busy, busy, September, (daughter and niece got married), October, November, December and most of this January has been for me! Please forgive me as this blog has been put on the back burner as life had taken over.  And even in all that hustle, bustle, bake-a-thon that went on here, I have only a few pictures to account for it. Sad, I know.  Anyways, I wanted to post and let you know that I have not abandoned my blog here, and I will be back, with excitement, baked goodies and a  burning desire to share it with all of you.

A favorite recipe that I had come across in the Holiday season is a cookie recipe, that quite frankly has replaced MOST of my sugar cookie recipes. Unless requested, this is the cookie dough that I make almost every time now.  This recipe has nutmeg in it, so you if have anyone with nut allergies, leave it out and continue with the recipe. Once you try this, you may not go back to regular sugar cookies. The recipe comes from a Red book magazine.

My daughter's wedding test picture

Sweet & Spicy Cookies (Snowflakes)

Slightly adapted From: Redbook

Active time: 20 minutes

Total time: 1 hour plus cooling

Makes about 54 cookies

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I start with 3 cups and add up to 1/2 cup more if needed)

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cups eggs

Another Test picture for my daughter's wedding - Miette Style

Directions:

1.  In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt, cloves, and nutmeg.  In a large bowl, beat butter, shortening and sugars until creamy.  Beat in the eggs one at a time.  With mixer on low-speed, beat in flour mixture, half at a time, until blended.  Divide dough into thirds; wrap in plastic wrap and press into a disk shape.  Refrigerate until firm enough to roll, about 2 hours.  (I skip this process, as you can roll these without them being refrigerated.)

2.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease several large baking sheets.  Roll 1 piece of dough  at a time, on lightly floured surface with floured rolling-pin, to scant 1/4 inch thickness.  With 3 to 4 inch snowflake (or any desired cookie cutter), cut out cookies.

My beautiful niece & husband cutting their cheesecake

Cookies, my sister in law and I did for Grand kids to take to school!

3.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned at edges.  Cool on wire racks.

Note:

If you’d like to make the snowflake cookies, you will need a straw, royal icing, coarse sanding sugar, silver dragees, and ribbon.  When cutting out the cookie dough, use a straw to make a hole in the top of the snowflake.  Bake as directed.  Decorate snowflake with royal icing, sanding sugar and silver dragees.  When cookies are dry, run a ribbon through the hole at the top of the cookie.  Makes beautiful tree decorations.

So there you have it.  Some of my baking escapades these past months. I wish I had pictures of everything I had made, the blog wouldn’t have been neglected  this long. Such is life. I’ll be seeing you soon!

My daughter, sister-in-law and I made these coffee cakes for the holidays. I’ll be posting the recipe soon!  (Look for Nanna’s Old World Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe! It is a delicious coffee cake.)

Holiday Coffee Cakes

Power Rangers Birthday Cake for my Grandson

Every year my little Grandson (David) has a request for his birthday cake.  This year he turns 4 and he had a hard time picking between Power Rangers and Sponge Bob. So, to make my little man Grandson happy, we decided on a Power Rangers Birthday cake and Sponge Bob and Patrick Cookies. (Which by the way, the cookie cutters for Sponge Bob and Patrick are available here, at Karen’s Cookies.  Look for Thomas the Train, Hello Kitty, Sesame Street, and I also know that Mickey Mouse is available at Copper Gifts.  Although, out of stock at the moment.)

My Grand kids had fun helping decorate the cookies.  My daughter Barb, (David’s Mom) as always, did a fantastic job on the Birthday party. The kids had so much fun and got to do Trick or Treating after the party. She lives in Howell and they had The Legend of Sleepy Howell weekend, with trick or treating in downtown Howell sponsored by downtown businesses. Here they are all dressed up.

Does your hometown do special events and trick or treating where you live?

My Top 5 Favorite Desserts!

As promised, following is my Top 5 desserts for 2010!!  Some of my favorites are already posted and picked by the readers, so I will forgo picking those again and give you 5 desserts that weren’t in the top 10.

My #1 All Time Favorite Dessert for 2010!!  Drum Roll Please…..

#1 Top 5 Desserts 2010 – Caramel Creme Brulee

This is my favorite dessert!  Easy to make, and nice because it can be made ahead of time and then the sugar sprinkled on top and caramelized just before serving! This dessert is the most talked about, memorable dessert, I’ve made to date. My family is still talking about it and asking when I will be making it again!

#2 Top 5 Desserts 2010 – Lemon Meringue Tarts

The sweet cookie tart crust fully complements the tangy lemon filling! These are soooooo good and so worth your efforts!

#3 Top 5 Desserts 2010 – Strawberry Meringue Tarts!

Delicious, delightful, Strawberry Meringue Pie! Who can resist? Make individual tarts, or make a whole tart, either way, it’s gonna be good!

#4 Top 5 Desserts 2010 – Dutch Apple Pie!

This is one of those tarts where you find yourself coming back for more just walking by it. This is one of the best Dutch Apple Pies I have ever had!

#5 Top 5 Desserts 2010 -  Fleur De Sel Caramel

I just can’t resist this creamy, delicious, where have you been all my life candy! This is even my 7-year-old Grand daughter’s (Anna) favorite! She will pick this over all other desserts or candies! Kid has good taste!

There you have it! My favorites!  I encourage you to try these desserts and the Top 10 that  you the readers have picked! All of them are worth every single calorie! And if you’re going to indulge, you might as well do it in style!

Happy New Year & Top 10 Posts for 2010!

Thank you, to all of you that stop by and read my blog!  Your presence here is very much appreciated, and gives me reason to keep posting!

I wish all of you a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous 2011!!

I thought I would share the Top 10 Posts for 2010, by you the readers of Delectable Desserts! I’ll post the Top 10 that you have picked as favorites and then post 5 of my favorite, encouraging you to give them a try if you haven’t already!

#1 Top Post – Chocolate Tuxedo Cake

What a Delicious, Beautiful,  Grand Cake this is!!  This is high on my must try list! Makes a Beautiful Gift to someone you Love!

#2 Top Post 2010 – Cream Horns!

Cream Horns are my Husbands, most favorite, requested things I make! (And anything mousse, of course!) These bring smiles of delight to the faces of my family!

#3 Top Post 2010 – Mississippi Mud Pie (B) AKA Muddy Mississippi Cake

Folks, this cake is it!  This is the “Devil” as my daughter puts it!  Rich, creamy and totally chocolate! This comes from one of my most favorite cookbooks – Baked Explorations – by Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito!  If you don’t own this book, I highly encourage you to pick this one up!

#4 Top Post 2010 – Strawberry Fraisier

This cake required me to make it twice!  The first time I didn’t quite follow the directions as I should have. My mistake was delicious too!  That’s the greatest thing about dessert recipes, you can usually enjoy the mistake the first time around too! (At least in this case, it worked out that way!)

#5 Top Post 2010 – Mini Wild Blackberry Tarts

We have a bounty of Blackberries in my backyard. This is a dessert that I came up with to enjoy our bounty!  This is one of my favorite desserts!

#6 Top Post 2010 – Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Short on time?  This cake is it! 1-2 boxes of Ice Cream Sandwiches, a jar of Fudge Sauce, Whip Cream and some Peanuts or other nuts, and you have a desserts in minutes!  If your families like mine and can’t wait for the set time, No Biggie! It’s still Delish! (And minutes away!)

#7 Top Post 2010 – Black Forest Cake

Delicious, Moist, Chocolaty Cake, especially with the homemade Devil’s Food Cake recipe at the bottom of the post! If you like Black Forest Cake, do give it a try!

#8 Top Post 2010 – Raspberry Miroire

This ranks in my Husband’s Top 5 things I’ve made. He’s crazy for anything mousse! I’m with him on this one, this cake is delicious!

#9 Top Post 2010 – My O’ My, Blackberry Pie

Blackberries are my favorite fruit! This pie is one of my favorites too!

#10 Top Post 2010 – Boston Cream Pie

Who can resist Boston Cream Pie? Certainly not me! What’s not to like right? Cake, Pastry Cream and a chocolaty glaze to go over it! I’m in Heaven!

Stay tuned for my Top 5 Recipes in my next coming post!

Cookie Trays for Christmas

Large Cookie Trays

Small & Large Cookie Trays

We made our neighbors, friends and relatives cookie trays for Christmas and I thought I would post the pictures. These are better than the last post on Cookie Trays anyways. I will be posting the recipes for the cookies made soon. Stay tuned!

My daughter and I start making the cookie trays

This one is almost completed!

Here’s a Recipe for Butter Twist Cookies found at Martha Stewart’s Website. I have made these cookies the past couple of years. They are delicious and my youngest Grand daughter Anna, loves these things!  Color half of the dough from the recipe pink or red and twist them together to make multi-colored twists!

Butter Twist Image & Recipe From: Martha Stewart Website

Butter Twists

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter , softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg white
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until creamy. Mix in vanilla and egg white. Reduce speed to low. Add salt and flour; mix until combined.
2. Roll dough into 3/4-inch balls. Roll each ball into a 6-inch log. Bend log in half, then twist. Space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake, rotating halfway through, until cookies just begin to turn golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on parchment on wire racks. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving from Delectable Desserts! May your blessings be many!

James Beard Celebrity Chef Dinner Coming to Detroit!

The Celebrity Chef Tour is coming to Detroit on November 4th 2010!! Not only does this mean a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to enjoy a spectacular meal by some of America’s top culinary talents, but also a chance to meet the chefs and ask questions!  The November 4th event will take place at Forest Grill, an intimate American-bistro, in the beautiful town of  Birmingham!

The dinner will be hosted by award-winning and nationally recognized chef, Brian Polycn, and will feature celebrity chef Jimmy Schmidt, a
three-time James Beard Award winner. Proceeds will go to benefit the James Beard Foundation – a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating,
nurturing, and preserving America’s diverse culinary heritage and future.

(Chef Brian Polcyn)

If you are a Visa Signature cardholder – just look to see if your Visa
Card says ‘Visa Signature’ across it – you get savings on ticket
purchases.  Your evening includes the unique opportunity to meet the
chefs and engage in a Q&A session after enjoying a reception and a
multiple course dinner with wine and beer pairings. It’s sure to be an
unforgettable evening. Tickets are available now.

Learn more about this evening at: celebritycheftour.com

(Chef Jimmy Schmidt)