Bourbon Salted Caramel Sauce

Ok, this is so easy and so delicious that you should go make some right now.  It can be used on ice cream, in your coffee, drizzled on a banana, etc.

1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons bourbon
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Heat sugar and bourbon and stir until it starts to boil.  Once it starts boiling, do not stir it anymore.  You should swirl the pan around frequently and brush the sides down with a wet pastry brush to keep the sugar from crystalizing on the sides of the pot.  Let it boil (and continue to swirl) for 8-10 minutes  until it is nice and dark brown.  Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly then add the vanilla.  Let cool then refrigerate.

Apple Crisp

My go to dessert will always have chocolate in it.  But my husband loves dessert with fruits. He's especially fond of apple crisps, so I decided to try my hand at it.  I looked at a lot of different recipes and combined them and changed them based on what I had in my pantry.  I love the results and will definitely make it again soon.

Apple mix

5 cups apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (I used Granny Smith)

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

juice from 1/2 med lemon

topping

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). 

Mix the apples, sugars (1/4 each brown and white), flour (1 1/2 teaspoon), and cinnamon together and place in a 8x8 pan. Sprinkle lemon juice on top. 

For the topping, combine oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and butter together.  Crumble evenly over apple mixture.  Bake about 45 minutes.

Serve with a big scoop of ice cream.

Chocolate Cinnamon Bread Pudding

This is such a good and easy dessert to make.  I recently made it for a potluck (which is perfect because you can eat it warm or room temp or even cold) and I enjoyed it so much, I made a batch for home just a few days later.  This is really good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

1 tablespoon butter
8 slices cinnamon raisin bread
2 cups milk
4 oz chocolate
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
confections sugar for dusting (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350.  Spray or butter a 9 inch square baking dish. Toast the
bread and tear each slice into four pieces. Place them in baking dish. Heat chocolate, milk and butter over med until chocolate is melted (stirring frequently). Whisk eggs, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Slowly add the milk/chocolate mixture and stir until combined.  Pour over bread and bake 25 minutes.  Cool for about 15 minutes and top with confectioners sugar (if using).  Otherwise, top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Red Velvet Cake Truffles

Ok, this is my Mom's recipe.  She is the queen of desserts.  When we visit, she makes at least one new dessert a day until I finally beg her to stop.  These truffles are super easy and super addicting, so proceed with caution!

First, you make a red velvet cake (straight from the box).  Just follow the directions to bake.  Let cool. Cut it into chunks and place it in a very large bowl.  Add one can of cream cheese frosting.  You are going to get messy so get use to the idea.  You have to mix it with your hands.  Mix thoroughly.  Using your hands, roll out into small balls (about an inch). Place on a foil or wax paper lined baking sheet and chill in refrigerator for 3-4 hours.

Next, melt the chocolate (white, milk, dark, or all three).  I do it on the stove with a double broiler but you can also do it in the microwave.  Whichever method you use, just make sure the chocolate doesn't burn.  Take the balls and coat in the chocolate and place back on the lined baking sheet.  Once they've all been dipped, place back in the fridge to chill.

Isn't that easy?!

Ingredients
Red Velvet Cake mix and ingredients to make the cake
1 can cream cheese frosting
white/dark/milk chocolate for melting

Enjoy!

Brigadeiros...chocolate heaven

Brigadeiros are the awesome little bonbons that are frequently served at birthday parties.  They are made up of butter, cocoa powder and sweetened condensed milk then rolled in chocolate sprinkles.  They are easy to make but they take a little while.  Worth it, I promise.

Cute story about these little treats. A Brigadier (Brigadeiro) General was running for political office in the 1940's.  His wife made these candies and served them at his political functions.  The candies became so popular, people would ask "have you had the brigadeiros candy?" and there is the history of the name.  Supposedly. Either way, it makes a good story.

2 Tablespoons butter (+ extra for plate and your hands)
1 can (14oz/395g) sweetened condensed milk
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder (I used dark cocoa powder)
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 heaping Tablespoons almond butter
mini baking cups

Confession - I didn't even think about adding the almond butter until the very end of the cooking time.  I love nut butter/chocolate together and as I sat there stirring and stirring and stirring, it came to me in a vision.  I like the addition but if you're not as crazy about chocolate/nut butter, you can always leave it out.

Melt 2 T butter over low head.  Once it's melted add the sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla extract. Stir.  Stir. Stir.  You have to cook this over low heat and it takes a while (took me 25 minutes).  You have to continuously stir it so it doesn't burn.    When it was almost done,  I added the almond butter.  You can add it at the end but I'd just add it at the beginning with the rest of the ingredients.  Once it's reduced down and thickened to where you can part it with a spoon and have it stay apart for a few seconds, it's thick enough.   Pour the mixture onto a buttered plate and place in the fridge to cool.  You want this to be cool enough for you to pick it up and roll it in your hands, so let it cool for at least half an hour.

Once it's cool, butter your hands and roll the mix into small balls.  Next comes the fun part - roll the balls into the chocolate sprinkles and place in mini baking cups (mine were full size because I couldn't find the minis)
.  Put back in fridge for a while to firm up (another 30 minutes, if you can stand it).

There are other toppings you can use on them besides the sprinkles - chopped nuts, coconut flakes, crushed cereal, etc.  Be creative and use what you like.

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

the ingredients

the correct thickness

going into the fridge to cool

ready to roll

finished product

My Favorite Brazilian Dessert (so far)

Fried bananas with cinnamon and ice cream and drizzled with chocolate

1. this is so easy to make (which is always a plus)
2. it's delicious!
3.  it has fruit in it, so it's healthy (right??)

Slice the bananas, saute them in butter (let them stay on one side long enough to caramelize a little before flipping).  Melt some chocolate (microwave or double broiler). Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (I used 2tsp sugar mixed with 1tsp cinnamon but use whatever ratio you prefer). Drizzle with the chocolate and top with a scoop of vanilla or pistachio ice cream. Heavenly!

Terrible picture but taking pictures is the last thing on my mind when this is ready to eat!

Chocolate Banana Cranberry Bread

I love the bananas here.  I mean, I love bananas period but here they seem more flavorful and a little sweeter.

So, we had a couple bananas that were getting pretty ripe and I decided banana bread would be perfect. I also have a lot of dried cranberries and some chocolate and thought that might all work together.  And it did!   As I sit here typing this, I can't wait for my afternoon coffee so I have an excuse to have another delicious slice.

Here's the recipe --

1/4 cup softened unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 small bananas chopped
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate (or you can use chocolate chips)
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking soda, sifted
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat to 350.  Butter or spray a loaf pan.  Cream sugar and butter together.  Add the eggs, one at time, and mix between each one. Fold in the bananas, cranberries and chocolate, water and vanilla.  Add everything else and mix just until its incorporated.  You don't want to over mix it. Bake for about an hour - until the top is nicely brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Let it cool in the pan for a few minutes then loosen with a knife and put on a pretty dish.

I really like this bread but I think I'll use more chocolate next time. And maybe throw in some nuts.