Chocolate Indulgence Cake with White Chocolate Sauce and Candied Pecans #ChocolateforJoan

Chocolate Indulgence Cake with White Chocolate Sauce and Candied Pecans #ChocolateforJoan

I make an effort to try to avoid clichés, but every now and then you realize that life is short and people need to make the most out of each day.

When I started this website more than three years ago, I didn't anticipate that I would form real life friendships with other food bloggers I met through social media, however over time that is exactly what occurred. So couple of weeks ago when I learned that my friend Joan of Chocolate Chocolate and More passed away in her sleep, I felt a strong sense of loss.

I had seen Joan online for years and I was fortunate enough to meet her a handful of times in the last year. The only picture I have of the two of us was taken the first time we met when she was in town for IFBC in 2014, however. I had just moved into the area less than a month before and was unable to attend the conference considering I hadn't completely unpacked everything but I was able to sneak over to the host hotel to meet some friends for a few hours for lunch on the Friday before official conference activities began. We instantly connected. I remember at one point that afternoon, nature was calling so I asked her to watch my phone while I was in the men's room. She teased that there might be additional pictures in my phone's gallery when I returned that Mrs. Stuntman might find questionable. I returned a couple of days later on Sunday afternoon. I was only able to see her in passing but she was thoughtful enough to leave me a gift bag of some of the items she collected during the weekend.

(From left to right: Bobbi of Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen, me, Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Kiss My Smoke, Joan)

The second time I met Joan in person was at the Food and Wine Conference this past summer. She was invited to speak because more than two million people have 'Liked' the Chocolate Chocolate and More Facebook page. To put that in perspective, Joan has more Facebook 'Likes' than Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay and Alton Brown combined. My memories of Joan on that trip are surrounded by my lunch at Shubee's Coastal Grill and Bar because she was one of the ladies who I was lucky enough to join on that occasion. Something as mundane as transportation to the restaurant stood out because Joan was kind enough to give me a ride in her son's new car, where I returned the favor of teasing her by suggesting she baptize the vehicle by giving the car in front of us a love tap.

The last time I met Joan in person was a couple of months ago at IFBC. Unfortunately, we only met in passing because we mostly attended different sessions and I couldn't attend many of the after hour social gatherings because I opted for my own bed over a hotel room which meant I was driving and couldn't enjoy any cocktails.

Each time I met her, I found her to be incredibly kind, thoughtful and sincere.

Inspiration Behind the Dish

For this dessert, I used Joan's website name for inspiration. The dish had to contain at least three components, two of which had to contain chocolate. The Flavor Bible didn't yield any surprises with items such as nuts, cream, mint and sugar pairing well with both chocolate and white chocolate. Berries were also common between the two but I decided to omit them from the dish because they are not in season.

Dish Details

I'd imagine you could find this dish on any restaurant dessert menu. For it, I paired adaptations of a chocolate cake found on foodnetwork.com with a sauce found on epicurious and the pecans on food.com.

Ingredients

Cooking spray
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 2 1/4-ounce package pecan halves
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (approximately 6 ounces) white chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Mint leaves for garnish

Method

1. Complete the mise en place. Preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit. Coat four ramekins with cooking spray and set aside.

2. Candy the pecans. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the pecans and toss to coat. Add the brown sugar and salt and stir until caramelized. Transfer the pecans to wax paper in a single layer to cool and set aside.

3. Prepare the sauce. Place the white chocolate chips in a heat safe bowl, then slowly bring the whipping cream to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once a boil has been reached, pour the cream over the chocolate and whisk to combine and melt the chocolate.

4. Bake the cake and finish the dish. Set up a double boiler by filling a medium saucepan with enough water so that the water level is just shy of a heatproof bowl placed over the saucepan. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Place the heatproof bowl over the simmering water and add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and stir until melted. Add the butter and sugar and stir until melted then whisk in the two eggs until well combined. Add in the flour and stir until just combined but do not overmix. Remove the chocolate from the heat, then spoon an equal portion of the batter into each of the prepared ramekins. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet, then place into the oven for ten to twelve minutes. To present, invert a ramekin onto a warmed plate, spoon some sauce around the cake, then garnish with the pecans and mint leaves.

Final Thoughts

Mrs. Stuntman enjoyed the dish, however she thought the cake was a little rich. She did ask for more pecans.

Since Joan's passing, there have been a number of tributes that have been published but I wanted to highlight a Go Fund Me page to support the three teenage children that have survived her. Please contribute to it if you can.

Other loving tributes include:

• Friday Coffee Talk Time by Eat Picks
• A Tribute to Joan of Chocolate, Chocolate and More! by YumGoggle
• Peanut Butter Chocolate No Bake Cookies by It's Yummi
• Chocolate Mint Greek Yogurt Dip {Easy, Healthy} by Lauren Kelly Nutrition
• Chocolate Pretzel Bread Pudding by Wine and Glue
• 8 Incredible Chocolate Desserts by Crazy for Crust
• Easy Brownie Pie by Love From The Oven
• 7 Nirvana-Inducing Chocolate Recipes by Noble Pig
• 10 Chocolate Recipes Perfect for Fall by Frugal Foodie Mama
• Graham Cracker Toffee Bark by Crunchy Creamy Sweet
• Top 10 Chocolate Recipes by My Imperfect Kitchen
• Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars by TidyMom
• Lunch Lady Brownies by Barefeet in the Kitchen
• Kahlua and Cream Fudge by Culinary Concoctions by Peabody
• Easy Blender Kahlua and Cream Chocolate Mousse by Pineapple And Coconut
• 12 Cookies & Bars Made With Chocolate by Simply Southern Baking
• 30 Amazing Chocolate Recipes by Spend with Pennies
• Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate Recipes by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Low Carb Brownie Truffle Pie by All Day I Dream About Food
• Remembering a Friend {Boozy Chocolate Milkshake Recipe} by Dine & Dish
• A Chocolate Tribute for Joan (90+ Chocolate Recipes) by Simply Southern Baking

Joan does have contributors, so her blog in addition to her social media pages remain active so please be sure to catch her on Facebook, G+, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

Rest in peace, my friend. You're genuinely missed.

November 11, 2015 update:

Robin of Simply Southern Baking saw this and shared a few of her pictures that were taken at Shubee's. Thanks, Robin!

(From left to right: Lisa of Jersey Girl Cooks, Robin, Melissa of Serendipity and Spice, Marlene of Nosh My Way, Joan, Wendy of The Weekend Gourmet, KC of Chat 'n Dish, me, Faith of An Edible Mosaic and Healthy Sweet Eats)

Mozzarella Ice Cream with Tomato Jam and Candied Basil #FWCon #WiswconsinCheese

Mozzarella Ice Cream with Tomato Jam and Candied Basil #FWCon #WiswconsinCheese

Yikes! Has it really been two weeks since my last post? Where has the time gone? In all honesty, I have been pretty busy with my daughter finishing up her school year and I was eating a lot of heat and serve dinners Mrs. Stuntman purchased from Costco. There's nothing wrong with them, but they're not appropriate to publish here.

In addition, my summer schedule significantly changed a couple of weeks ago when Mrs. Stuntman and I agreed that I would make a return trip to the Food and Wine Conference next month. I have very fond memories from last year's conference because I was able to connect in person with so many people I had been speaking to online and because I won a recipe contest with a filet mignon dish.

Inspiration Behind the Dish

Speaking of recipe contests, Wisconsin Cheese has sponsored one for the 2015 Food and Wine Conference and this is my entry. The rules stated that each entrant develop an original, easy summer recipe, so per (what has become) my standard operating procedure, I consulted my copy of The Flavor Bible which suggested pairings with wine, bread, and fruit. I had originally planned to prepare either a crostini or bruschetta, however one evening I was replicating the caprese pasta dish I published last autumn and thought that the flavors of mozzarella, tomato and basil might work here, but I knew that a plate of sliced tomato, mozzarella and basil drizzled with some balsamic would be insufficient. I had always been intrigued by dessert menus at fine dining establishments that feature cheese plates, so it occurred to me concept of a caprese salad could be converted into a dessert.

Dish Details

For each component of this dish, I studied several versions I found from a google search and used similarities between them to develop these original recipes. I believe this dish could be featured on any fine dining dessert menu. One of the requirements was to use cheese produced from cow's milk from a Wisconsin cheese producer so I ensured I used mozzarella from one of these companies.

Ingredients

For the tomato jam:
2 pounds Roma Tomatoes, coarsely chopped
Juice from 3 limes (approximately 1/2 cup)
1 pinch kosher salt
1 cup sugar

For the ice cream:
8 ounces mozzarella, coarsely chopped
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1 cup sugar
4 egg yolks

For the basil:
1 bunch fresh basil leaves
1 egg white
1/2 cup sugar

Method

1. Prepare the jam. In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir occasionally until the jam is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

2. Prepare the ice cream. Put the mozzarella cream and milk in a blender and blend until the cheese has broken into bits. Separate the eggs and place the yolks in a separate bowl and beat, then set aside. Combine the dairy mixture with the sugar into a medium saucepan over low heat to warm. Slowly raise the heat. Once the mixture reaches approximately 100° Fahrenheit and pour approximately 1/2 cup of the dairy into the eggs to temper them. Pour the egg yolks and cream back into the dairy and stir. Continue to slowly raise the heat and stir until the mixture reaches 175° Fahrenheit, then remove from heat and transfer the custard to a medium bowl and place in an ice bath to cool, then refrigerate for at least 3 to 4 hours. Transfer the custard to your ice cream machine, then churn according to the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Candy the basil. Place the egg white in a bowl and then the sugar on a small plate. Dip a basil leaf into the egg white and shake off any excess, then dredge the leaf in the sugar on both sides, then place on a parchment-lined sheet pan to dry, approximately 10 to 12 hours. To plate, spoon some jam on a cold plate, top with a scoop of ice cream and garnish with candied basil leaves.

Final Thoughts

The 2015 Food and Wine Conference will be held July 17 through 19 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida and will connect bloggers with small business owners, winemakers, chefs, public relations professionals, traditional media, new media, authors and brands. Topics of discussion will range from search engine optimization, marketing and promotion on social media, and effective writing to publishing a cookbook, working with public relations agencies and food photography. I invite you to attend and recommend you use the promotion code available from any of the 33 brand ambassadors to receive a $50 discount off of a conference ticket. Even if you are not attending, I encourage you to stay updated by following the #FWCon hashtag and by giving the Food and Wine Conference facebook page a 'Like', adding the G+ page to your circles, and following the twitter and pinterest pages. Furthermore, please 'Like' Wisconsin Cheese on facebook and follow them on twitter, pinterest and Instagram.

Strawberry Balsamic Cheesecake

Strawberry Balsamic Cheesecake

It's highly unusual that I'd publish two sweet dishes in a row and no, there's nothing wrong with me. I'll be back to my savory self probably in my next post. This dessert happened simply because some friends from California were visiting this past weekend so we met at a mutual friends' home (the three of us knew each other from college) just north of Seattle for dinner where I was asked to bring a dessert and decided upon a cheesecake.

I was a little surprised when I did a google search for strawberry cheesecake because I found a lot of plain cheesecakes with a strawberry topping. I found only two that put strawberry purée into the cake batter and chose the one that used fresh strawberries. In addition, I knew pairing strawberries and balsamic was pretty common in Italy and I have some experience with the affinity myself last summer when I made a strawberry balsamic ice cream so a made a few additions.

The Challenge

Uphold the reputation I built for myself as a food blogger.

The Source

I adapted this Martha Stewart recipe

Ingredients

1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled plus 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced thin lengthwise
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
4 to 5 whole sheets graham crackers
3 tablespoons plus 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Cooking spray (or an additional 1 tablespoon butter if not available)
4 8-ounce bricks cream cheese at room temperature
1 pinch salt
2 large eggs at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces mascarpone cheese at room temperature
Boiling water

Method

1. Prepare the strawberry purée. Preheat the oven to 300º Fahrenheit. Combine the hulled strawberries with the corn syrup in a small bowl, then place on a aluminum foil-lined sheet pan in a single layer and roast them in the oven until they are a deep red, the syrup thickens and the berries shrink slightly, approximately 90 minutes.

Empty the strawberries and any fluids into a blender to purée. While the blender is running, add the balsamic vinegar. Set aside to cool completely while the crust is prepared.

2. Prepare the cake crust. Increase the oven temperature to 350º Fahrenheit, then spray a 9-inch springform pan on the bottom and sides with cooking spray (or apply approximately 1 tablespoon butter, if substituting). Line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper, then wrap the bottom of the pan in a double layer of aluminum foil. Grind the graham crackers in a food processor with 3 tablespoons sugar. Slowly pour in the melted butter until a paste is formed. Transfer the paste to the springform pan in an even layer so that the entire bottom is covered in crumbs. Bake the crust in the oven until it is firm and has slightly darkened, approximately 10 minutes. Set aside on a wire rack to cool while you prepare the cake batter.

3. Prepare the cake batter and bake the cake. Decrease the oven temperature to 325º Fahrenheit. Place the cream cheese bricks into a mixing bowl and mix with an electric mixer, using a paddle attachment until creamy, then scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix in the sugar and salt, eggs (one at a time), vanilla and mascarpone until creamy and there are no lumps, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl after each addition. Stir in the reserved strawberry purée until the batter becomes uniformly pink in color. Empty the cake batter into the springform pan on top of the crust in an even layer, using a baking spatula to ensure the cake is flat on top. Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan and pour enough boiling water in the roasting pan so that the water level reaches halfway up the side of springform pan. Bake in the oven until set, approximately 60 to 70 minutes. Remove from the water bath, then place the springform pan on a wire rack to cool before covering with aluminum foil and refrigerating it overnight.

4. Garnish the cake. One to two hours before serving, place the strawberry slices in concentric circles, starting at the outer edge of the cake, then so that the slices overlap slightly with each inner circle, then recover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Successful?

I wasn't as happy with the consistency as I would have liked because the batter was too soggy but the flavors were definitely well balanced because the sweet strawberries balanced by the tart vinegar. One of my friends who was there had even asked for the recipe.

Mint Ice Cream Sandwich Featuring The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen Bake Shop Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mint Ice Cream Sandwich Featuring The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen Bake Shop Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies

A couple of months ago, Mrs. Stuntman came home from the supermarket with some ice cream sandwiches. At first, I couldn't understand the purchase. Why eat frozen food in the dead of winter? I might have even mocked her, suggesting that she could even store them outside overnight as it was colder there than in the freezer. Alas, a couple of nights later, I found myself reaching for one as I was watching television. As I was eating it, I was reminded of my favorite ice cream sandwich, It's-It. For the uninitiated, it's ice cream sandwiched between two oatmeal cookies, then dipped in chocolate. As I was eating the dessert, I thought to myself, I could do this better. Taking inspiration from the It's-It, I really liked the idea of using cookies in the dish instead of a chocolate wafer found in many store bought varieties which made me think of my friend Susan of The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen.

You might remember Susan from last summer when she prepared a Peach Slab Pie for my Adding Some Class with... series. If you'll remember, I noted at the time that she had successfully funded a Kickstarter campaign to open a bake shop. Well, I'm happy to announce (if you were unaware previously) that the bake shop is now open for business! The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen Bake Shop features Susan's Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies, Triple Choc-o-lot Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Cookies, in addition to a Cookie Sampler Package that contains 4 each: Original Chocolate Chip, Triple Choc-olot Cookies and Peanut Butter Cookies plus a Cookie of the Month Club where she highlights cookies with seasonal flavors. Each order arrives in a beautiful gift box that contains cellophane pouches with two cookies in each pouch (or single-packed in the case of her Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Cookies).

After making my own purchase of Susan's cookies, I can highly recommend you do the same. In my case, I used Susan's Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies in this dish. If you have been reading this website for any length of time, you know I'm not a fan of taking short cuts, so you might be asking yourself why are you taking a short cut here? I would reply with is this a short cut? Had I baked my own, I would have used the same quality of ingredients Susan uses and prepared them with the same care which is a huge contrast to the mechanically prepared confections found at the supermarket. The mint flavored ice cream was made to appease my daughter because it's one of her favorite flavors in addition to it's visual appeal.

The Challenge

Successfully complement cookies from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen Bake Shop.

The Source

I adapted David Lebovitz's Mint Chip Ice Cream recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1 pinch salt
2 cups packed fresh mint leaves
5 large egg yolks
1 to 2 drops green food coloring (optional)
1 dozen The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies

Method

1. Combine the milk, sugar, remaining heavy cream, salt and mint leaves in a small saucepan and scald over medium-low heat. Once hot, shut off the heat, cover and let the mixture sit for 60 minutes to allow the mint leaves to steep and let the flavors infuse. After the hour has elapsed, strain out the mint leaves, and discard but not before pressing down on them against the strainer with a spatula to extract as much flavor as they can muster.

2. Whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl and set aside. Rewarm the mint-infused milk, then slowly whisk in a small portion into the bowl with the egg yolks to warm the yolks. Combine the warmed yolks back into the infused milk and cook over medium-low to medium heat until the mixture reaches 170º Fahrenheit, stirring constantly until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Strain the infused milk and eggs into a bowl with the remaining 1 cup heavy cream and green food coloring (if using), then let it cool. Cover, then refrigerate overnight. Churn it in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

3. To serve, place one cookie on a plate, flat side up then top with a scoop of ice cream, then a second cookie, pressing down on the second cookie so the ice cream fills it's circumference.

Successful?

The mint flavor was a little strong but it still complemented the cookies well. Once again, I highly recommend you to patronize Susan's bake shop, but if you're unable to do so, please 'Like' her facebook page, add her on G+, follow her on twitter, Instagram and pinterest.

Red Wine Poached Pears with Ricotta and Balsamic Glaze for a Libational #SundaySupper

Red Wine Poached Pears with Ricotta and Balsamic Glaze for a Libational #SundaySupper

A couple of weeks ago on Thanksgiving I spent the majority of the day watching football however I could not help but think of the things that made me thankful in 2014. One item that is high on my list from a food standpoint is the #SundaySupper Movement. It has provided me with several memorable experiences, most all of them positive. This tradition continued with a new experience this week when I volunteered to co-host with Alice of A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen. I was delighted to meet her in person a couple of months ago when she was in town for IFBC, but the only picture I have from that meeting is one where she is holding the camera and wasn't in the picture. I have hosted events in the past by myself so it was nice to divide the hosting duties, but beyond that it was a pleasure to work with her.

Speaking of hosting duties, I published my preview for this week's event with the intention of preparing a lemoncello tiramisù. It utilized a sabayon in what I thought was a creative way. Then I went looking for a small container of lemoncello and couldn't find one in time to prepare this dish. This issue was further complicated when I had to do a mad scramble to think of a replacement dish because the temperature gauge on my oven broke off this past week which eliminated any possibility of baking. To keep with the theme of Libational Recipes, I didn't want to prepare a savory dish with a wine sauce because I still wanted to challenge myself with a dessert. Then I remember a picture from Fabio Viviani's first cookbook that I thought looked elegant. It also provided an opportunity to update the process of making ricotta cheese from scratch.

The Challenge

This could almost be categorized in my Presenting: series because the challenge is to replicate the photo in Fabio's book.

The Source

Adapted from pages 24, 220 and 268 of Fabio's Italian Kitchen by Fabio Viviani with Melanie Rehak.

Ingredients

1/2 gallon whole milk
1/6 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pinch kosher salt
2 cups balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup molasses
3 cups red wine
1/2 cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
4 pears, peeled

Method

1. Prepare the ricotta. Bring the milk to a boil in a large saucepan. Once the milk reaches a temperature of 181° Fahrenheit, immediately remove the pan from heat and add the vinegar, lemon and salt. Stir as the milk curdles to fully incorporate the salt and lemon. Cover and let it cool for approximately 2 hours. Once cool, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer, pressing lightly on the curds to ensure the whey is completely drained.

2. While waiting for the ricotta to cool, prepare the balsamic. Combine the balsamic vinegar and the molasses in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the mixture to the consistency of a syrup. Set aside to cool.

3. Poach the pears. In a large pot, combine the wine, honey and cinnamon and bring to a boil. Add the pears and simmer them in the wine for about 15 minutes. Remove the pears and set aside to allow them to cool, then raise the poaching fluid heat to high. Reduce the fluid to the consistency of a syrup. To plate, place one pair off to one side on top of the reduced poaching fluid with a dollop of ricotta and drizzled with balsamic.

Successful?

In my rush to complete the dish the evening I prepared it, I neglected to notice one word in the ingredient list: peeled. It would have changed the composition of the dish. Unfortunately, the pears did not soften sufficiently. Despite my troubles with it, the flavors of the dish complemented each other well.

Other Libational Recipes this week:

Libations

• Big Easy Milk Punch by The Weekend Gourmet
• Blue Sparkling Star Cocktail by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Boozy Iced Spanish Coffee by Nosh My Way
• Campari Mint Spritzer by eating in instead
• Cranberry Moscow Mule by Ruffles & Truffles
• Creamy, Loaded Eggnog by La Bella Vita Cucina
• Malibu Breeze by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Merry Berry Spritz by Amee's Savory Dish
• Minty Lime Rum by A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen
• Pomegranate Panache by Jane's Adventures in Dinner
• Rhubarb Fool Cocktail by Food Lust People Love
• Southern Pomegranate Sparkler by Noshing With The Nolands
• Sparkling Pomegranate Berry Punch by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
• Vanilla Bailey's With A Twist by Momma's Meals

Savory and Sweet Libational Dishes

• Apple Bourbon Pulled Pork Sliders by Curious Cuisiniere
• Beerberry Pancakes by Brunch with Joy
• Beet Relish by What Smells So Good?
• Belgian Beef Stew with Belgian Ale by Cooking On The Ranch
• Brandied Triple Cheese Ball by Magnolia Days
• Champagne Chicken by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Cornish Game Hens with Sausage Red Wine Sauce over Polenta by The Texan New Yorker
• Craft Beer Jelly by Nik Snacks
• Eggnog Dutch Baby Pancakes with Cranberries by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Hot Buttered Rum Balls by Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
• Lentil Soup with Wine Braised Shallots by Pancake Warriors
• Red Wine Braised Short Ribs by Cooking Chat

Libational Desserts

• Amaretto Coconut Biscotti with Amaretto Salted Caramel Drizzle by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Amaretto Cranberry Swirled Cheesecake by The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch
• Baked Pears with a Warm Tequila-Citrus Espuma by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Bourbon Cranberry Compote by Pies and Plots
• Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl
• Chocolate Stout Beer Brownies by The Perfect Brownie
• Dumante Frozen Espresso Creams by Seduction in the Kitchen
• Honey Chamomile Hot Toddy Tea Cake by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Kahlua Bundt Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Red Wine Poached Pears with Ricotta and Balsamic Glaze by Crazy Foodie Stunts
• Rum Glazed Cookie Cream Buns by NinjaBaker
• Tiramisu Biscotti by The Redhead Baker

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Adding Some Class with Susan of The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen

Peach Slab Pie

I believe I met Susan of The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen two years ago when I joined Food Bloggers Network which is a facebook group founded by Jessica of Oh Cake so I was already familiar with her when I joined #SundaySupper Movement where we connected further. We met in person a couple of weekends ago at Food & Wine Conference where I was able to take a picture with her.

In all honesty, I'm a little envious because she and her husband live in New York City and has access to some of the best foods available, such as lamb brisket and ramps. She even has a breakfast recipe category which I find impressive because I'm not awake enough in the morning to produce blog-worthy breakfast dishes.

I also admire Susan because she successfully funded a Kickstarter campaign earlier this year to open a bakery to sell cookies. Susan told me that she should be able to start accepting orders by the end of August. To keep yourself updated on her progress with her bakery, please ensure you 'Like' her on facebook, add her on G+, in addition to following her on twitter, Instagram and pinterest.

And now, I present Susan:

Hi there Crazy Foodie Stunts readers! I’m Susan from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen and it’s an absolute pleasure to be here today as part of DB’s Adding Some Class series. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing DB virtually for quite some time now and finally had the chance to meet him and his beautiful family in person just a few weekends ago at the Food and Wine Conference in Orlando, FL.

It was a wonderful weekend full of informative sessions on how to become a better blogger, SEO tech babble that went over most of our heads, food, wine and most importantly meeting your online friends in person for the first time. I don’t think words can describe what a pleasure it was to sit and talk with DB and all our #SundaySupper friends throughout the two and a half days we had together. My only complaint is that the time was just too short, especially when we are on opposite coasts and only have these once a year opportunities to see each other.

When DB invited me to post for him today he basically gave me free reign to do as I wished. Since peaches are about to come into their prime and I know for a fact that he can get some really tasty ones in his part of the country, some Peach Slab Pie was in order.

Plus we all know DB is your go-to guy for the savory food but baking is not his favorite area.
Right?

So this pie is the pie for crust lovers. It’s also the pie for people who do not like making pies because it’s rustic, it’s not round and if your dough tears while you’re putting it together you can just patch it right back up. I kept things simple too, just simply peaches, a little sugar and a little cornstarch to thicken things up. You can even leave the peach skins on if you really want to ease into – but I personally don’t care for the texture once they are baked.

Ingredients:
For the crust -
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
pinch of salt
1 and 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cold
4 tablespoons cream cheese, cold
3-5 tablespoons ice water
For the filling -
5 ripe peaches
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
pinch of salt
1 large egg + 1 teaspoon water for egg wash
cinnamon sugar to top (optional)

Directions:
In a medium bowl mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Using a pastry cutter mix in the butter until it resembles small pebbles. Add in the cream cheese and continue to mix with the pastry cutter until it’s broken up.

Add the cold water 1 tablespoon at a time and mix the dough with a wooden spoon until it forms into a ball. You want to make sure the dough doesn’t become too wet. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Bring a large pot of water to boil and set up an ice bath. Score an X at the bottom of the peaches with a sharp knife. Drop in the boiling water for 30 seconds and remove with a slotted spoon into the ice bath. Let sit for 15-20 seconds and the skins should peel off without a problem.

Very carefully with a sharp knife, quarter the peaches and remove the pit. Slice into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices, place in a medium bowl. Mix in the sugar, cornstarch and salt and set aside.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees and have a rimmed quarter sheet pan read (9×13 inches).

Lightly flour your work surface and roll out 2/3 of the dough into a rectangle large enough to fit the pan. Transfer the dough to the pan and let the edges hang out (if you rolled it just shy that’s fine).

Using a slotted spoon, scoop out the peach filling leaving the juices behind and spread evenly across the dough leaving a 1/2 inch boarder.

Roll out the remaining dough to cover the peaches and fold the bottom crust over the top to seal. Use the tines of a fork to seal the edges. Brush the top with an egg wash and if using sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the crust is crisp and golden brown. Let cool for 30 minutes to an hour before slicing.

Serve with a scoop of ice cream. Store any remaining pie in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

I'd like to thank Susan for being my guest today. One of the reasons is because I absolutely love this dessert because it's baked dish but is forgiving enough for a the beginner baker such as myself. She passed along more pictures of the dish.

Before I leave you, I wanted to give you an update on the ribs dish I published two Sundays ago. Well, I competed using that sauce but only received two votes for best rib. For me, this year was different because Mrs. Stuntman, my daughter, my sister and one of her friends joined me so despite the loss, a good time was had by all.

Pluot Ice Cream for a Summer Chillin' #SundaySupper

Pluot Ice Cream for a Summer Chillin' #SundaySupper

Last Sunday while you were probably reading my London Broil dish, I was at the Irvington Farmer's Market in Fremont, California. I was there for an upcoming project but I couldn't help but notice some other items while I was there. It was a rare instance of allowing myself to be susceptible to impulse purchases. It was interesting because I had browsed the market a couple of weeks prior to my most recent visit and noticed a few ingredients that were there this time around that weren't there in the past. It's a great measure of what produce is in season and at its peak. One fruit on sale that day by many of the farmers present that had piqued my interest was the pluot. I inquired with one of the vendors selling them and she noted it's sweet flavor so, with this week's #SundaySupper theme in mind, Summer Chillin', (hosted by Alaiyo of Pescetarian Journal) I thought it might make a great ice cream.

The Challenge

Prepare a dish using an ingredient bought spontaneously

The Source

I adapted the pluot pureé from Earthbound Farm's website to the ice cream base from Fine Cooking magazine's website.

Ingredients

1 pound firm pluots (approximately 5), peeled, quartered and pitted
2/3 cup plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided
Juice from 1 lemon
5 egg yolks
1 3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup 1% or 2% low-fat milk
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Method

1. Prepare the pureé. Combine 2/3 cup sugar, pluot quarters, and lemon juice in a small skillet over low heat. Stir until the sugar melts and the pluots soften, approximately 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat to allow the mixture to cool. Transfer the contents of the skillet to a blender or food processor and pureé until smooth. Transfer the pureé to a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

2. Prepare the ice cream base: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup sugar and the egg yolks until just broken up. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, sugar, milk and salt over medium-high heat until the mixture reaches a slight simmer, then reduce the heat. Whisk 1 cup of the cream mixture into the egg yolks slowly so the eggs don't scramble. Pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan and place over medium heat, stirring continually until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and can hold it's shape when you draw a line on the back with your finger. Strain the mixture into a clean bowl and set aside to cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight along with the pureé.

3. Once cool, whisk the pureé into the base and churn according to your ice cream machine manufacturer's instructions. Once finished serve in chilled bowls.

Successful?

This dish will be the first of several dishes I will publish over the course of the next few weeks using the produce I brought home that day from the farmer's market. I was a little concerned that it might be too sweet due to the amount of sugar added to both the pureé and the base but thankfully, that was not the case. There was also another minor challenge of successfully taking photographs of the dessert before it melted. It definitely was one of my faster photo shoots, however what helped was the glass bowl I used which I put in the freezer the night before.

Before you go, check out the other chilled dishes that are offered for this week's #SundaySupper:

Brisk Beverages

• Blackberry and Peach Sparkling {Camping} Sangria from Simply Healthy Family
• Mocha Madness Milkshake from Desserts Required
• Savory Salted Cumin Mint Lassi With Greek Yogurt from Sue's Nutrition Buzz
• Skinny Watermelon Mojito from Peanut Butter & Peppers
• Southern Sweet Tea from Gluten Free Crumbley
• Strawberry Mango White Sangria from The Texan New Yorker
• The Polar Cap Drink from Seduction in the Kitchen
• Vanilla Root Beer Cream Soda from Feed Me, Seymour

Chilled Starters

• Avocado Hummus Dip from Shockingly Delicious
• Bak Kwa (Grilled Chili Pork Jerky) from Food Lust People Love
• Cucumber-Watercress Soup - Gazpacho Style from The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Gazpacho from Jelly Toast
• Green Gazpacho from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
• Rabarbersuppe Med Vin (Danish Rhubarb Wine Soup from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Mexican Flag Guacamole from What Smells So Good?
• Polish Chilled Beet Soup (Chlodnik) from Curious Cuisiniere
• Tuna Tartare from Kimchi Mom
• White Gazpacho from The Little Ferraro Kitchen

Snappy Salads and Sides

• Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad from Neighborfood
• Broccoli Salad from Flavor Mosaic
• Cantaloupe Risotto from Confessions of A Culinary Diva
• Cold Peanut Noodles from girlichef
• Korean Salad from Noshing With The Nolands
• Layered Salad with Green Goddess Dressing from Delaware Girl Eats
• Pesto Pasta Salad from Supper for a Steal
• Picnic Orzo Salad from A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen
• Spinach Salad with Curried Apple and Cashew Dressing from Peaceful Cooking
• Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad from Serena Bakes Simply from Scratch
• Tuna and Potato Salad from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Quinoa Fruit Salad with a Creamy Yogurt Dressing from Simply Gourmet
• Watermelon, Mango and Arugula Salad from Take a Bite Out of Boca

Refreshing Main Dishes

• Buffalo and Blue Cheese Chicken Salad from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad from Cookin' Mimi
• Jalapeno Ham Salad from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
• Shrimp Ceviche from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Surimi Salad from Pescetarian Journal
• Zucchini Lasagna from Nosh My Way

Cool Confections

• Berry Ice Cream Bomb from Jane's Adventures in Dinner
• Cherry Cream Cheese Ice Cream from Magnolia Days
• Lemon Curd Parfait from Life Tastes Good
• Lemon Thyme Ice Pops from Country Girl in the Village
• Mocha Latte Ice Cream from The Foodie Army Wife
• No Maker Required Berry Ice Cream from Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos
• No-Bake Penuche Drop Cookies from Killer Bunnies, Inc.
• No-Bake Raspberry and Japanese Yuzu Citrus Bars from NinjaBaking.com
• No Churn Lemon Ice Cream {Dairy Free} from Healthy. Delicious.
• Nutella and Pistachio Gelato from La Bella Vita Cucina
• Olive Oil Gelato from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
• Pluot Ice Cream from Crazy Foodie Stunts
• Raspberries and Cream Panna Cotta from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Salted Caramel Gelato from Manu's Menu
• Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Pie from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Sandwiches from The Redhead Baker
• Trio of Fruity Ice Cream Toppings from Foxes Love Lemons
• Vanilla Bean Chia Seed Pudding from Pies and Plots
• White Chocolate Fruit Dip from Hezzi D's Book and Cooks

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.