TWD: La Palette's Strawberry Tart

This week's recipe was so delicious and light.  Perfect for summer.  I did alter the garnishing, but stayed true to Dorie's buttery crust and strawberries.  I substituted the strawberry jam for peach-cinnamon.  I also made a lavender simple syrup that I glazed the berries with, instead of just sugar.  I topped off the tarts with a cinnamon-sugar creme fraiche to compliment the peach-cinnamon jam filling.  

Lavender Simple Syrup:

1/3 cup lavender

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Bring ingredients to a boil.  Remove from heat and let rest for 20 minutes.  Strain and save.

TWD: French Chocolate Brownies

It's been awhile, but Dorie, I'm back baby!!

I have been pretty busy with my own baking and have abandoned my blog group, Tuesdays with Dorie, for a few weeks.  I could not pass up brownies, so I squeezed in some Dorie time this week.

Well, they were not my most beautiful creation- but they sure were delicious!  So gooey in the middle!!  Next time I need some ice cream too =)

TWD: Peanut Butter Torte

Oh Dorie!  You have out-done yourself AGAIN!

Peanut Butter Torte= AMAZING!

Oreo crust.

Gathering ingredients...

Crunchy peanut mixture

Whipped cream

Mini PB Tortes

TWD: Carrot Cake

Tuesdays with Dorie: Bill's Big Carrot Cake

This week, I killed 2 birds with one stone- blog group (check!), birthday order (check!).  Although I made a few alterations to Dorie's recipe, this cake is amazing.  Now, I missed the taste test, the best part- boo, but the smell and moistness was incredible!  In my version, I ditched the nuts, raisins, and coconut.  However, I added an 8 oz. can of crushed pineapple, mmm delicious.  This cake was incredibly easy to set up and the cream cheese icing adds the perfect touch.

Cinnamon, pineapple, carrot???

yea that's right- delicious!  Well, in the cake at least =)

Crumb-coatin'

On its way to gorgeous =)

Perfection!

Time to decorate... my favorite part.

TWD: Marshmallows!!!

MARSHMALLOWS!!!!

Vanilla & Cinnamon Sugar

What a fun, and surprisingly easy, experiment!!  So delicious.  I am thrilled at the results.  I will definitely create these again and hope to experiment with even more flavors.

1 cup cornstarch

3/4 cup water

1 1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

2 1/4 oz. packets unflavored gelatin

1 tablespoon vanilla extract  

Melt-in-your-mouth Cinnamon Sugar and Fresh 'n Fluffy Vanilla.

TWD: French Lemon-Cream Tart

Possibly the most delicious lemony dessert I have ever made!!  The combination of the buttery crust, creamy filling, and tartness of the fresh lemons is pure excellence.  The pictures do not give it justice in the slightest (excuse the poor photos- bad lighting).  Looks like it's time to invest in a fluted tart pan, but my spring-form pan worked out just as well.  I also sugared some lemon slices for an extra sparkle!  

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice, from my mom's tree

Whisking Away!  

3/4 cup lemon juice

lemon zest

1 cup sugar

4 large eggs

Is it done yet?  

only 4 more hours to refrigerate...

Tuesdays with Dorie- Gooey Chocolate Cake.

GOOEY CHOCOLATE CAKE:

This was both my first ever Blog Challenge and Tuesdays with Dorie event!  Although my cakes were not exactly ooey gooey, I was at least comforted by my fellow bloggers' matching misfortunes, lol.  The cake was still delicious, and the recipe is definitely a keeper.  Conclusion- less bake time.

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 ounces bittersweet chocolate

1 stick unsalted butter

2 large eggs

1 large egg yolk

6 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Sift flour, cocoa, and salt.  Melt 4 ounces chocolate and butter over a double boiler. Remove from heat once melted.  In a large bowl, whisk eggs and yolk.  Add sugar and whisk until blended, about 2 minutes.  Add dry ingredients and whisk by hand.  With a light hand, stir in melted chocolate/butter mixture.  Divide evenly into 5-6 ramkins or muffin tins and sprinkle 1 ounce finely chopped chocolate.

Although the recipe calls for a bake time of 13 minutes, I think I will try 9-10 minutes next time.  These are served best warm and make a lovely Sunday night dessert =)

I topped my cakes with fluffy whipped cream and a dash of cocoa powder.