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Key Lime Pie – Spring is Here

3 May KeyLimePieAbove

Spring makes me happy. There is nothing nicer than warming temperatures and spring flowers. 

Flowers

Thanks for the beautiful bouquet, hubby!

I recently went on a quick jaunt to the Florida Keys – it rained the whole time, but it didn’t prevent me from tasting “the world’s best key lime pie” at Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen in Key Largo.  Although many places we passed made similar claims about their pie, it was indeed the best key lime pie I have ever eaten.  I knew I had to replicate it at home so I schlepped a lb of key limes back with me to New Haven.

Keylimes

Since I like a challenge and am always trying to eat less wheat, I decided to make a gluten free “graham cracker” crust.  Although it wasn’t as beautiful as I would have liked, the taste hit the spot. It has great crumbly texture and the perfect graham flavor.  Hubby claims it’s better than any graham cracker crust he’s ever tasted – but I’m never sure if he’s just misremembering. Either way, it rocks. And it’s gluten free.

KeyLimePieCrust

While reviewing tons of recipes, I came upon a raging argument over whether whipped cream or merengue was a more authentic topping.  Since Mrs. Mac’s used whipped cream (as did the 70′s style key lime pie post card I bought), I did too. Which ever you choose, I recommend whipping up one of these – it is super easy and is bursting with spring flavor.

KeyLimePie

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Decadent Flourless Chocolate Cake (Made Four Ways)

24 Mar FlourlessChocolatecake2

What can I say? Who doesn’t love a good flourless chocolate cake. Well, me I guess. But I understand that most people really do love chocolate.

It is Hubby’s favorite food this time of year (really anytime of year).  This cake is rich, chocolatey, and dense. And since it’s flourless, it’s perfect for passover and the gluten intolerant. Best of all, it’s super easy to make and only has a few ingredients.

Chocolate

I’ve topped it several ways over the years, but this year I decided to test out several of them at once for a real taste test.  I made a simple dairy free ganache, a (dairy free) salted caramel, and a strawberry coulis.    I also dusted one cake with cocoa (for unadulterated chocolate flavor).  The winner?  It was hard to tell because they all received high praise; though not surprisingly, Hubby voted for the extra chocolate of the ganache.

flourlesschocolatecake

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Almond & Coconut Macaroon Tartlettes

20 Mar Almond and Coconut Tartlettes

These little beauties were inspired by a wonderfully generous gift: a giant set of little tart pans. I was so excited I started baking right away!

Overhead

Oh man, I’m glad I was inspired. If you make only one dessert for passover (or your next dinner party), this should be it. After sampling these tartlettes yesterday, Hubby claimed they were the best thing I’ve ever made.  And I have to admit they are quite tasty, not to mention easy to make.

The crust, reminiscent of my favorite passover treat, is made by simply stirring together ingredients – no fussy doughs here.  The filling, though it has a few more steps involved, comes together quickly as well.  At first I was worried that the almond paste flavor would come through too strongly;  I was wrong.  It is just right.  I couldn’t resist going back for seconds.

Alas, the woes of a baker.

Almond and Coconut Macaroon Tartlettes

I modified the original recipe and for a first, made it not vegan.  Perhaps I was avoiding one more “soy bomb,” as my friend Steve loves to call it.   If you are vegan or keep kosher and want to serve this after brisket, you can can easily sub in soy milk and vegan cream cheese.

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Thin Mints Cupcakes

14 Mar ThinMintCupcakeFeatured

I am (slightly) embarrassed to say it, but I spend a lot of time on my iPhone these days.  When I need to fill a few minutes, I often turn to it for a source of entertainment. My go to distractions: word games, Instagram, and Pinterest. Pinterest is completely addicting. I am constantly seeing delicious things that I must make soon.  Sadly, I too rarely get around to making them, though my pins do serve as wonderful inspiration.

Since I mostly follow fellow food lovers, my stream of pins is filled with gorgeous dishes; lately everyone seems to be pinning minty chocolate things like crazy (especially this great blogger).  Since minty chocolate things are the bees knees (and one of the only ways I like chocolate), and I had been looking for some more green things to make for St. Patty’s day, the Thin Mints Cupcake was born (and made gluten free, just because I like a challenge).

ThinMintCupcakeTop

Whoever suggested too much of a good thing is bad, hasn’t tried these cupcakes.  They take everything that is wonderful about a thin mint – and double it. If you too are looking for something green for this weekend, try out these cupcakes!

ThinMintCupcake

I promise these don’t taste “gluten free” but if making the cookies from scratch isn’t your thing, just sub in regular Thin Mints and 3/4 cup APF for the GF flours in the cake. Also don’t be afraid to split the project up – you can even take three days to make them (cookies one day, cakes the next, frosting the day you are serving)!

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Poppy Seed Hamantaschen Scones

23 Feb PoppySconesFeature

Hubby and I are venturing down to DC today – and are lucky to spend some time with good friends (who happen to enjoy whirling Purim groggers as much as I do). As I ride the train down the NE Amtrak corridor, I’m reminded just how much I love the east coast and its cities. It’s a gorgeous foggy day and no matter which town and city we go through, the density is awesomely beautiful.  I’m eagerly awaiting the New York skyline and the Philadelphia rowhouses.

So these aren’t technically Hamantaschen, but they are reminiscent of my favorite purim cookies, both in shape and taste.  These scones evolved from the realization that I had way too much filling – and the knowledge that poppy seeds aren’t cheap!

Although they were born of circumstance, they are a delightful addition to my Purim celebrations.  I wouldn’t dare suggest giving up on traditional Hamantaschen, but these scones are certainly worth trying. (Have I mentioned that I love scones before?) Perhaps there are some apricot Hamantaschen scones in my future…

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