Gluten-Free Cheesecake Crust

Try using Macaroon Crumbs instead of GF version of Graham Crackers for your Cheesecake Crust :) a fabulous idea from Dorie Greenspan @ SeriousEats.com

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/04/creamy-cream-cheese-cheesecake-for-passover-recipe.html

Slippery-Slidey Cinnamon-Espresso Cup Custard

Creamy desserts are totally wonderful, & for those coffee nuts, i'm sure you'll love this flavor :)

BY DORIE GREENSPAN (SeriousEats.com)
(makes 4 servings)
1 3/4cups whole milk
2-3tsp espresso powder (2tsp gives you a mild espresso flavor)
1/2tsp cinnamon
3 large eggs, preferably at room temperature
1/2cup sugar
Directions:
1) Center a rack in the oven & preheat the oven to 325F.
2) Butter four 6-oz custard cups (or coffee cups) & find a roasting pan that's large enough to hold them; line the roasting pan w/a double thickness of paper towels to keep the cups from sliding. Have a kettle of very hot water at the ready.
3) Bring the milk just to the boil & stir in the espresso powder & cinnamon, stirring until they are dissolved.
4) Remove the pan from the heat & keep at hand.
5) Whisk together the eggs & sugar until the sugar is dissolved & the mixture is pale. (You can do this by hand or w/a mixer.)
7) Mixing without stop, add just a little of the milk—you don't want to the heat to shock the eggs.
8) When you've got about 1/4cup of the milk in (& the eggs are tempered), you can add the rest in a slow, steady stream.
9) Mix gently so you don't create too much foam.
10) Strain the custard into a measuring cup w/a spout & skim off all the foam that's on the top (even though you mixed gently); divide the custard evenly among the four cups.
11) Place the cups in the prepared roasting pan, set the pan in the oven & very carefully fill it w/hot water to come halfway up the sides of the cups.
12) Bake the custards about 45min, or until they're jiggly only in the center when you tap them lightly.
13) Remove the cups to a rack & cool to room temperature. Chill, covered, for at least 2hrs before serving.
TO SERVE:
14) Serve the custards in the cups or unmold onto small plates by running a knife around the edge of the cup to break the seal.

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2007/10/baking-with-dorie-slipperyslidey-cinnamonespr.html

Limoncello Semifreddo w/Strawberries

Summer is just around the bend & this fabulous dessert looks like just the thing to gulp down on a sunny day :)

BY DEBBIE MAJOR (DelicousMagazine.co.uk)
(makes 8 servings)

4 large very fresh eggs
75g caster sugar
500ml double cream
150ml limoncello, plus extra 4 tbsp
1kg small strawberries, hulled & halved
Finely grated zest of 1 large lemon

2 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
4 tbsp icing sugar
Directions:
1). Separate the eggs into 2 large mixing bowls.

2) Add the sugar to the egg yolks & beat for a few minutes w/an electric hand whisk until pale & thick.
3) In another bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks. Using clean beaters, whisk the egg whites to stiff but not dry peaks.
4) Fold the cream into the egg yolks, then fold in 150ml limoncello.

5) Carefully fold in the egg whites.

6) Spoon the mixture into a shallow 2.5-litre serving dish, about 5cm deep, cover with cling film & put in the freezer until needed – at least 7-8hrs.
7) About 20min before serving, put the strawberries into a bowl.

8)Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, the icing sugar & the extra 4tbsp limoncello. Gently stir together, cover & chill for 20min.
TO SERVE:

9) Scoop large spoonfuls of the semifreddo onto dessert plates & spoon some of the strawberries alongside.
**NOTES: Serve immediately as semifreddo melts faster than normal ice cream.

Contains raw egg

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/Limoncello_semifreddo_with_strawberries_1700

Vanilla Pannacotta w/Rhubarb Recipe

After a long absence in study land, have decided to come back with a recipe bang.. or at least with some some more fabulously delicious naturally gluten free recipes :D ENJOY!

BY ANGELA BOGGIANO (DeliciousMagazine.co.uk)
(makes 2 servings)
1½ gelatine leaves
30ml milk
1 vanilla pod, split & seeds scraped
200ml double cream
1 orange
35g icing sugar
100g forced rhubarb, chopped
4 tbsp caster sugar
Directions:
1) Soak the gelatine leaves in small bowl of cold water for 5min.
2) Meanwhile, place the milk, vanilla pod & seeds and half the cream in a small pan w/a strip of orange zest. Gently bring to the boil & simmer for 4-5min until thickened.
3) Squeeze the water from the gelatine leaves & beat into the cream.
4) Set aside to cool, then discard the vanilla pod & peel.
5) Whip the remaining cream w/the icing sugar until thickened, then fold into the cooled cream.
6) Pour into 2 x 120ml dariole moulds & chill for at least 2hrs to set.
7) Meanwhile, put the rhubarb in small pan w/the caster sugar & the remaining grated zest and juice from the orange.
8)Gently heat until the rhubarb is tender, then cool.
9) Dip the pannacottas in warm water, turn out onto plates & serve w/the rhubarb.

Nutritional info
Per serving: 703kcals
54.3g fat (33.8g saturated)
3.5g protein
53.3g carbs
50.6g sugar
0.1g salt

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/Vanilla_pannacotta_with_rhubarb___4166

Mustache Monday- Craig Stadler

March 24, 2009

By Lindsay Britton

Craig Stadler and his mustache won the Masters in 1982.
After winning that illustrious title he settled in to a life of having a mustache and being better than you. And while Stadler has 29 professional wins under his belt, it is safe to say that he wins everyday because his life’s work entails facial hair grooming and swinging a golf club.

Today Stadler plays on the Champions Tour, which I thought was an elite “mustache only” league. Turns out that such a thing doesn’t exist. This day is effectively ruined

http://blog.ingamenow.com/2009/03/23/mustache-monday-craig-stadler/

Chocolate Nut Truffle

i have been seduced by this gorgeous photo & idea of delicious chocolate & nuts combined into a fabulous snack. yummy!

FROM ANNE'S FOOD (annesfood.blogspot.com)
(suitable for a dish of approx. 23x33 cm)
FOR THE NUT BOTTOM:
125g pecan nuts
125g hazelnuts
50g pistachio nuts
150ml sugar
75g melted butter
FOR THE TRUFFLE:
300g dark chocolate
300ml cream (heavy, whipping, double - 35-40% fat content is what you want)
125g unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 egg yolks
Directions:
FOR THE NUT BOTTOM:
1) Crush the nuts coarsely in a food processor.
2) Mix w/sugar & melted butter.
3) Press out into a large dish (23*33 cm) that you have lined with foil or paper. Let cool completely.
FOR THE TRUFFLE:
4) Chop the chocolate & place in a large bowl.
5) Bring the cream to a boil & pour it over the chocolate. Stir until smooth.
6) Add the butter and the egg yolks, & stir until everything is completely mixed.
7) Pour this on top of the nut bottom, cover w/plastic and place in the freezer.
8) Thaw before serving (or cutting) but not completely - it should still be cold and firm.
TO TOP:
You can use anything to top it really - I used finely crushed freeze-dried berries, but a little pinch of chilli flakes would be nice, sea salt is always good, a sprinkling of finely ground nuts wouldn't hurt, or by all means just leave it plain. We've had leftover pieces with coffee, or for a slightly more fancy dessert, with a side of a simple raspberry sauce. (Mash raspberries with some powdered sugar.) All good. Very good.

http://annesfood.blogspot.com/2007/01/chocolate-nut-truffle.html

Caramelized Apples & Pears

this looks so delicious i wish i hadn't already eaten my food budget of the week.. mmm :)

ANNE'S FOOD (annesfood.blogspot.com)
(make 2 servings)
1 apple
2 small pears
40g sugar (any kind: white, brown, vanilla, muscovado)
1 cinnamon stick
1/2tsp whole cloves
1/2tsp whole black pepper
2 whole star anise
10g buttersplash of calvados or brandy (optional)
75ml apple juice
Directions:
1) Peel & core the apple & pears, & cut them into wedges.
2) Sprinkle the sugar in a large frying pan & place it over high heat until the sugar starts to melt & brown.
3) Add the spices & the butter, & don't stir - just shake then pan gently to mix the sugar & butter.
4) Lower the heat a little, too. Add the fruit.
5) Fry for 5-6min, turning almost constantly, until the fruit is softened & has a nice, caramelized surface.
8) Add a splash of brandy or calvados if you've got it - watch out, it might catch on fire.
9) Add the apple juice & cook until it's reduced to a syrupy sauce.
10) Remove the spices - or not - & serve it w/custard or vanilla ice cream.

**NOTE: The spices are great here - but if you want to make sure you don't accidentally bite into a peppercorn, you better count how many you put in & fish all of them out before serving. Just saying.

http://annesfood.blogspot.com/2008/04/caramelized-apples-pears.html