Chocolate Lime Cheesecake

What a lovely surprise this one is. Truly a yummy dessert. White chocolate and fresh lime.

 

  • 2 pkgs. soft lady fingers
  • 2 pkg. softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup berry sugar
  • 7 squares white chocolate (good quality)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 envelope unflavoured gelatin
  • 3 tsp. grated lime peel
  • 1  1/2 cup whipped cream
  • candied lime slices – 3 limes (recipe follows)

Line bottom and sides of an 8 1/2 inch spring form pan with lady fingers cut in half length wise.

Beat the room temperature cream cheese until completely smooth.  Add the sugar and chocolate and blend well.

Sprinkle gelatin on top of lime juice in a saucepan.  Let stand for 5 minutes until it has softened.  Over low heat, stir until gelatin dissolves. Add this to the cheese mixture.

Fold this into the whipped cream and pour into the pan. Chill for about 4 hours. Garnish with the candied lime slices.

Candied Lime Slices

Slice the limes thinly and blanch in boiling water. Dunk in an ice bath and repeat the process. In  saucepan, dissolve one-half cup sugar with one-half-cup water and boil for five minutes until it becomes thick and syrupy.

Add the peels and cook for five minutes. Remove the peels and allow to cool down. You can now use them on your cake. Arrange in a pretty circle on top by overlapping each slice a little. Yummy!

Holiday Martini

You should start with a signature drink when your guests arrive. Then, we offer wine for the rest of the evening.

You will need:

  • 6  parts eggnog
  • 2 parts vanilla vodka
  • 1 part Baileys liqueur
  • 1 part white chocolate liqueur

Filled a shaker with crushed ice add the ingredients and shake for a couple of seconds.  Strain and pour into chilled martini glasses.  Sprinkle a hint of cinnamon on top, make a toast and your evening has begun.

It is a simple recipe but oh, so, good!

Hot Chocolate With Attitude

Everyone loves a hot cup of hot chocolate when the nights are cold, stormy, snowing or if you live in a tropical area, PRETEND. This is really yummy.

 

  • Try to buy the best quality white chocolate you can.
  • You need one cup of white chocolate
  • 1 cup coconut cream (unsweetened)
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp. Godiva White Chocolate liqueur

Warm  the milks and cream over  medium heat.  Add the chocolate and stir until completely melted.  Do not boil.  Remove from heat and add the liqueur.  The alcohol will give the drink an extra touch of warm and snuggly.

Now, let the cold winds blow. Who cares?

Black and White Bark

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting some of the items you might wish to make for the holiday seasons upcoming such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or other holidays that you and your families celebrate.

You will need:

  • Pam spray
  • 1 pound White Chocolate ( Lindt, Dove, Ghiradelli or the best chocolate in your area)
  • 1 cup dark chocolate cookie wafers, chopped coarsely
  • 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pistachios

Spray a cookie sheet with Pam spray and line with parchment paper, leaving ends to overhang.

Melt chocolate in a bowl sitting over a pot of simmering water, not boiling.

Stir in the cookies and pistachios and pour onto the cookie sheet. With a spatula, smooth out and refrigerate for about 1 – 1  1/2 hours. Break into pieces and hide before they are completely gone by all the “Mr. Nobody’s “that live in your house.

You can use any combination of  your favourite flavours. Such as Pistachios and lime zest; change the chocolate to dark and add mini marshmallows and coarsely chopped graham crackers. Whatever you wish to use.

Have fun!

Banana White Chocolate Muffins

This is one sure way to get your potassium…..gotta love those bananas and this is another way to do that.

You will need:

  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup Crisco oil
  • 4 pureed bananas
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp. baking powder
  • 1/3 cup grated white chocolate
  • 1/3 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a bowl, blend eggs, oil, bananas and milk.  In another bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, white chocolate and pecans.

Make a well in the centre and add the milk  mixture.  Stir only until moistened.

Fill prepared muffin tin 3/4 full.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until they turn a light golden colour.

These are delicious and  fits into the “other” food group….chocolate. Just ask any woman.

Enjoy.

Angel Bits

This is an extra touch for any dinner party. Everyone knows chocolate and martinis go well together. Try it and  you will see.

 

  • 1 1/2 lb good quality white chocolate
  • 1/4 cup vanilla vodka
  • 3 oz. good quality dark chocolate’
  • 2-3 tbsp. whipping cream
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preparation:

Melt white chocolate and vodka in a metal bowl over a saucepan of hot, simmering water. Watch it carefully so it doesn’t burn. Pour onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.

Melt the dark chocolate and add the cinnamon. Drizzle over the mixture, swirling the chocolate mixture with a knife. Refrigerate until set and break into pieces.

Set out in a pretty bowl at your next gathering. Goes with your drinks.

Poppy Seed Cake With White Chocolate Icing

This is a bit different but still tasty.  It takes:

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 1/4 cups shredded coconut
  • 1 cup poppy seeds
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 cup sour cream

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl beat eggs and sugar until light in colour and thickened. Add butter and continue beating until well combined.

In a small bowl, stir together coconut, poppy seeds, flour, baking powder and salt. Stir half of the mixture into the egg mixture. Add the sour cream and remaining dry ingredients.

Pour batter into a greased and lined with parchment paper 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Smooth the top with an off center spatula and bake for about 30 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched in the center.

FROSTING

  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 7 oz. white chocolate, chopped
  • Poppy seeds

Place butter and chocolate in a double boiler and stir until the chocolate is melted and  smooth. Whip the cream until stiff. Slowly whisk in the cooled chocolate into the whipped cream and ice the cake when it is completely cooled. Sprinkle poppy seeds on top.

This is delightful in flavour and texture.

Poppy Seed Cake With White Chocolate Icing

Poppy Seeds are easy to use – cakes, muffins, cookies. This is a great cake recipe.

 

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1/2 cup Crisco oil
  • 1 1/4 cups sweetened coconut
  • 1 cup poppy seeds
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 cup vanilla yogurt
  • 1 tsp. chocolate flavoring

Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl beat eggs and sugar until light in colour and thickened. Add oil and continue beating until well combined.

In a small bowl, stir together coconut, poppy seeds, flour, baking powder and salt. Stir half of the mixture into the egg mixture. Add the yogurt, flavouring and remaining dry ingredients.

Pour batter into a greased and lined with parchment paper 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Smooth the top with an off center spatula and bake for about 30 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched in the center.

FROSTING

  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 7 oz. white chocolate
  • Poppy seeds

Place butter and chocolate in a double boiler and stir until the chocolate is melted and  smooth. Whip the cream until stiff. Slowly whisk in the cooled chocolate into the whipped cream and ice the cake when it is completely cooled. Sprinkle poppy seeds on top.

From my “Stress Free Extraordinary Dinners” Cookbook

English Royale Martini

With the upcoming wedding in England, it only seems appropriate to  make a martini to cover the event. You will need:

 

  • 3 parts Cinnamon Vodka
  • 2 parts Calvadoes Brandy
  • 1 part Gold Schlager (need the ‘bling’ of course)
  • 1 part white chocolate

 

Rim glasses by dipping in calvados and then into a mixture of cinnamon sugar.

Pour ingredients into a shaker filled with crushed ice. Shake well and strain into prepared chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a piece of cinnamon bark.

Gather round the television set and make a toast to the beautiful Catherine and handsome Prince William on their wedding day. Actually who needs the excuse of a wedding. This goes well at any time.

Raspberry Cafe Martini

This has been on before, but I thought you would like to try it again as Spring (whenever it will arrive) is a precursor to summer and wonderful berries.

You need:

  • 2 parts raspberry vodka
  • 1 part chocolate raspberry liqueur
  • 1 part white chocolate liqueur

Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain and pour into chilled martini glasses that have fresh raspberries as a garnish.