Tag Archives: dessert

June 6, 2012 · 7:11 pm

Honey Ricotta Tartlets (with raspberry!)

Just a warning: I’m feeling sentimental today.  If you don’t care, feel free to move on with your life.  I won’t be offended.

It’s just that…there’s something about dough.

Any kind of dough.

There’s something about a distraction from every day living…

…and then catching sight of a pretty distraction that means forever love.

There’s something about simple ingredients.

Farmer’s market fresh, from new farmer’s market friends.

There’s something about good friends.  Turns out these guys come in handy (Thanks, Laura!!)

There’s something about buttery crust, (the easy to deal with, not at all intimidating kind), with a touch of lemon to brighten things up

There’s something about cinna-speckled, honey sweet filling.

There’s something about the immediate post-bake golden globes.

There’s something about a raspberry…

…or three

(never skimp on raspberries…life lessons with Ellen Z.)

((that rhymed…just saying))

There’s something about the word “tartlet”…it sounds way more fun than “tart.”  Also way more manageable.. let’s not make this a stressful situation.

There’s something about a pretty plate hand made just for me by that man o’ mine.  (Seriously, he made that.  With his hands. He’s great.)

Simple.  Easy.  Delicious.

Also cute…did I mention cute?  Meet tartlet man.  He has a raspberry hat.  And ears.

(Why must I always play with my food??)

There’s just something about baking.  I love it with all of my heart. There’s something about creating.  Something about the science of it…knowing “if this, then that”.  There’s something about having something to share at delicious dinner with good friends .  There’s something about the little reminders that come, (from a silicone mold or a 100 year old bowl or an engagement ring), of friends and family and good feelings from happy times.  There’s something about honey and butter and how they really just always taste good.

I don’t know if you ever bake. I don’t know if you love it like I do.  But there’s something about taking a second to do something you love…it’s necessary for living.  Baking is my something.

So you know…take a sec.  You deserve it.

((Also…if baking happens to be your something you love, I highly recommend some ricotta tartlets..they’re pretty awesome))

Enjoy!

❤ Ellen

Honey Raspberry Ricotta Tartlets

Recipe adapted from this recipe

Yields 16 two inch tartlets

8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
zest from 2 lemons
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

8 oz ricotta cheese
1 large egg
1/4 cup honey
zest from 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
serve with raspberries
1. Thoroughly mix the melted butter, lemon zest, salt and sugar.
2. Add the flour and mix just until combined.  The dough should be soft.
3.  Line each tartlet mold with an even layer of dough, pressing as thin or as thick as you like (I prefer a pretty thin layer…more room for filling that way!)
4. Cover the molds with plastic wrap and chill for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
5.   Once chilled, prick all over with a fork before placing on a middle rack in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.  (If you don’t prick them they will puff up too much in the oven and leave no room for filling!)
6. While the shells bake, prepare the filling.  Thoroughly mix the ricotta, egg, honey, lemon and cinnamon either in a food processor with the blade attachment or by hand with a spoon.  The filling should be smooth and creamy.
7.  Fill the warm tartlet shells to just under the brim with the ricotta mixture.  Bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the filling just sets.  The filling will puff up a but while baking but it settles flat as it cools.
Serve warm or chilled but always with raspberries and with friends!

10 Comments

Filed under Dessert, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , ,

April 1, 2012 · 10:07 pm

I Made Peanut Butter Cups!

…and it was too easy.

If you know me at all it won’t surprise you that I love and adore peanut butter cups above all candy.

Chocolate.  Peanut butter.

I mean really…no contest.

Lately I have been on quite the DIY kick.. and I’m loving it.

You will too.

These are SO. EASY. I’m amazed.  I was fully prepared for some ridiculous complicated process but no sir!

I’m cheating a little because I have these little treasures in my cabinet

I got these little silicone cups for Christmas one year. My friends know me well.

(Thanks, Laura!)

Also…they obviously became peanut butter cup molds because mini cupcakes would be the obvious choice and way too easy.

Never fear…mini cupcake tins work too.  Or you could make giant peanut butter cups in a regular cupcake tin.

((Giant peanut butter cups are 100% happening.  Just for you, brother bear))

(((Actually, in real life I’m making him a single enormous peanut butter cup using my giant cupcake mold.  Because…I own one of those.  How do I end up with this stuff?)))

This is a picture of happiness.

Chocolate.  In a sunflower bowl.  There’s blue involved.

It gets better…

Melty chocolate.  Be still, my heart.

The first stage of filling begins!

Now pop them in the fridge to set up…it really doesn’t take long

At this point I looked up to see that man o’ mine hard at work…creating something, too.

He has a hammer and I have chocolate.  Neither of us could possibly be happier.

Anyway…you’re gonna need peanut butter too.  Slightly sweetened if you wish.

In case you’re wondering, yes.  I made that peanut butter.  You don’t actually have to do that but I think it’s pretty cool.

I’m telling you…DIY kick.  Join me.

Now distribute!

And fill

Another brief stop in the fridge and they’re finished!

Daniel’s done too!

A hummingbird feeder!

He rocks.

(AND he’s cute!  Sorry, ladies.  I’ve got dibs ;).)

Now go immediately shove a peanut butter cup in your face.  Because really, you have already shown remarkable restraint by letting them set completely.

Enjoy!

❤ Ellen

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

I used this recipe almost exactly except that I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, made my own peanut butter, and used only about 1/4 cup of confectioner’s sugar in my peanut butter.  I have big plans for different versions, too.  Stay tuned!

4 Comments

Filed under Dessert, Snacks, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

March 4, 2012 · 5:16 pm

Banana: The renaissance fruit.

Ok,ok.  I’ll play along.

This little trick has been everyyyywhherrree lately and I finally gave it a try.

I was suspicious at first.  It sounds gross and impossible.

Then…these little guys got me thinking it could work.

It’s chocolate soft serve!

It’s Fro’ Yo’!

Nope….it’s a banana.

(Moo.)

((My brother is the only one who will get that))

(((Hint for the rest of you: Rugrats.)))

That’s right! That glob of creamy chocolate deliciousness is just a banana!

Frozen and blended.

Is there NOTHING a banana can’t do!?

I’m glad I tried it.  I really enjoyed it.  It definitely has the texture of soft serve ice cream and it will be AWESOME this summer!

[[Warning: At least the way I made it, (with no sugar and just the slightest touch of chocolate)…you can tell it’s a banana.  I don’t want you to get too excited thinking it tastes EXACTLY like your favorite Dairy Queen concoction.  It definitely tasted like a banana.  As a banana lover, I kinda liked that.]]

BUT!

I bet if I added some sugar or more chocolate or some other add in…those flavors would overpower the banana flavor.

So…don’t write it off.  It’s completely worth a shot.

I scream, you scream we all scream for…bananas?

Ok, so we’ll have to write another song.

Enjoy!

❤ Ellen

Banana Soft Serve

Not really a recipe, more like an idea. If you have ever been on pinterest I promise you’ve seen this before.

1 banana (for one person)
About a tablespoon of the chocolate sauce from this recipe

1. Peel a banana and wrap it well. I would recommend using two Ziploc bags. Place in the freezer overnight or until completely frozen through

2.  Break into chunks and blend in a blender (or food processor) until it resembles the texture of soft serve ice cream.

3.  Add the chocolate (or peanut butter or cinnamon or whatever flavor you want!) and give it a pulse or two to combine.

If you want mix-ins like chocolate chips,  remove the soft serve from the blender and stir those in with a spoon.

Enjoy immediately or stick it back in the freezer for later!

Leave a comment

Filed under Dessert, Snacks, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,