Alfajores (Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies)

I’m back. Yes, after four whole months of completely neglecting this blog, I’m posting again. Hopefully I can keep it up.

Cyrano Chocolate Cake

One of the things I love about always having a stash of chocolate in the house is that I can whip up something like this at midnight on a moment’s notice. I love a good flourless chocolate cake – they’re simple enough to make anytime on a whim, but elegant and tasty enough for a special occasion.

Black Russian Rye Bread

My friend Jonah recently came back from Russia, and has been really missing the food. He’s been learning to cook and wanted to bake some hearty black bread like he used to eat there.

Apple-Spice Layer Cake w/ Caramelized Lady Apples

Thanksgiving was also my father’s birthday this year, so of course we had to have a cake. My dad loves spice cakes, which is good because they’re seasonal and look appropriate amongst the other dishes in a Thanksgiving spread. He thought this one was very unusual but really enjoyed it.

Bourbon Pumpkin Tart with Streusel Topping

No one in my family really likes pumpkin pie, so I’ve never had the chance to make it. When discussing my menu plans for Thanksgiving this year, it came out that my dad’s girlfriend is  huge pumpkin pie fan, so I seized the opportunity. Of course, I’m not exactly the type to just follow the recipe off the back of the Libby’s can, so I wanted to do something a bit different than usual. Enter this gorgeous bourbon-spiked tart.

Apple-Cranberry Pie

Yeah, I know this picture really sucks. I think I am going to ask for an actual camera this holiday season, but until then, my Blackberry will have to do.

Anyway, pie. Apple pie. With some cranberries thrown in there. And some oat-streusel on top. Good, huh? There really isn’t too much to say about it. I made it gluten-free so my aunt could eat it by using a gluten-free crust and substituting gluten-free flour mix for the all purpose flour in the topping, and using cornstarch instead of flour as the thickener in the filling.

As terrible as the photo is, the pie was actually quite good. More than one person went back for seconds even after a huge Thanksgiving meal and despite having 3 other dessert options, so that says something, right?

Apple-Cranberry Pie
Martha Stewart

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

I don’t like pie, really. I’m not too big on the idea of cooked fruit, so that eliminates the biggest category of pies, and I hate almost all kinds of custard, so cream pies are out, too. I will occasionally have a small slice of apple pie, if I’ve made it myself, there isn’t too much liquid running out making the crust soggy, and all the stars have aligned. But the one category of pie that I actually enjoy is chess pie, especially pecan pie. Add some chocolate and booze, and you have a pie that I’ll not only eat, but actually enjoy.

 

Cinnamon Cake with Chile-Chocolate Buttercream

A while back I saw this cake on the Food & Wine Magazine website and showed it to my friend Carlos. He squealed with delight (no, seriously, Carlos is probably the only person I know who actually squeals with delight) and insisted I make it for him on his next birthday. His 25th rolled around this weekend, and he let me know that he had not forgotten about his cake.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Buns

If you’ve ever been to my house, you’ve seen the sagging shelves in my kitchen that house my precious cookbook collection. No matter how many I have, it never seems like enough. To stop myself from buying more, lately I’ve been getting them from the library (and renewing repeatedly for as long as possible). When I first cracked open Warm Bread and Honey Cake: Home Baking from Around the World, the recipe for Chocolate and Hazelnut Buns was the first one that caught my eye. After making these and a couple other recipes in the book, this one just might find its way to a permanent spot on my shelf.

Irish Soda Bread w/ Caraway & Drambuie

I’ve been really into baking breads lately. You can’t just bake a huge layer cake on a Tuesday and have it sitting around all week, but a loaf of bread? Sure. Bread is wholesome, it’s a necessity. I asked my dad what kind of bread he wanted, and he immediately responded “Irish soda bread. With raisins, caraway, everything.” So that’s what I made.