Chocolate Fondue

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 pound premium semisweet chocolate (recommended: Lindt or Callebaut)
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (I used Coffee Extract)
• 1 tablespoon brandy
• Strawberries, bananas, pineapple, brownies, marshmallows, cookies or any other dipping item of your choice

Directions

Special equipment:

• 1 saucepan 
• 1 mixing bowl (that will sit on top of saucepan) 
• Measuring cup 
• Measuring spoons 
• Whisk Fondue serving set 
• Fondue skewers 

1. Put approximately 4 inches of water in the saucepan and bring to a slow boil. Place the mixing bowl on top and pour in the heavy cream; let heat. Meanwhile, break up or chop chocolate into small pieces. When the cream feels hot to the touch, add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Whisk in vanilla and brandy. 

2. Pour into the fondue pot and light the handy fuel underneath; keep the flame low as not to burn the fondue. Arrange strawberries, bananas, pineapple, brownies, marshmallow, cookies or any of your favorite items on a platter and enjoy.

Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon Marscapone

INGREDIENTS
1 cup mascarpone cheese or cream cheese
2 tablespoons milk or cream
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons honey, warmed
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon peach brandy (optional)
6 ripe freestone peaches, halved and pitted
Mint sprigs, for serving



DIRECTIONS
1) Start the Traeger on Smoke with the lid open until the fire is established (4 to 5 minutes). Set the temperature to High and preheat, lid closed, for 10 to 15 minutes.

2) Using an electric mixer, beat the mascarpone cheese, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon until light and fluffy. Set aside. (Can be made up to 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)

3) Combine the honey, butter, and peach brandy, if using, in a small bowl. Brush the cut sides of the peaches with the mixture.

4) Grill the peaches, cut sides down, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are nicely marked.

5) Transfer to plates or bowls (two peach halves per serving) and top with a dollop of the mascarpone cheese mixture. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie (Pioneer Woman Recipe - Modified)

This is adapted from the Pioneer Woman's recipe. I used half the sugar and cream cheese she did to cut the fat and it was perfect. 

Ingredients

FOR CRUST

25 whole Oreos
4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

PEANUT BUTTER FILLING:

1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
5 ounces Softened Cream Cheese
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 package (8 Ounce) Cool Whip, Thawed

Directions

CRUST:
Crush the Oreos until they’re fine crumbs (I used a processor). Pour melted butter over the top and stir with a fork to combine. Press into pie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes, or until set.

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

FILLING:Beat the peanut butter with the cream cheese until smooth. Add brown sugar and beat until smooth. Add in the thawed Cool Whip and beat mixture until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.

Pour filling into crust, evening out the top with a knife or spatula. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemons, Lemons, and more Lemons! I hate letting any food go to waste so I devised a plan to use some of these lemons that southern California is producing right now in an overabundance!!!! Here is my second adventure into Lemon Meringue pie (because the first try didn't come out so well)....

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
2 lemons, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons butter
4 egg yolks, beaten
1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked
4 egg whites
6 tablespoons white sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
To Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.

To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.

*Notes from my experience: I should've baked the pre-made crust before I added the custard and meringue as the crust came out a little under done.  I also tried a different recipe before this and the custard didn't set AT ALL, although it tasted fantastic.  I also noticed 10 minutes was not quite enough to set the meringue and custard so I added another 5 minutes.  I could've devoured this entire pie in one sitting!!!! OH this recipe was adapted from the allrecipes.com website.

Roasted Strawberry Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 tbsp corn starch
• 4 tbsp softened cream cheese
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp corn syrup
• 1/4 cup buttermilk

Directions

1. Combine the strawberries and sugar in an 8″ square baking dish and roast in a preheated 375 degree oven until softened, about 8 minutes. Puree berries in a blender or food processor with the lemon juice.
2. Mix 2 tbsp of the milk with the corn starch in a small bowl until dissolved. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk cream cheese and salt until smooth. Set aside.
4. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Set aside.
5. Combine the remaining milk, cream, sugar, and corn syrup in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in cornstarch mixture. Return to medium high heat and cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
6. Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese until smooth. Add the strawberry puree and buttermilk and blend well. Pour mixture into a 1-gallon freezer bag and submerge the sealed bag in the ice bath. Let stand, adding more ice as it melts, until completely chilled, about 30 minutes.
7. Pour the ice cream base into the frozen ice cream maker canister and process until thick and creamy. Pack into a storage container and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours. Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving to soften slightly.