Tag Archives: Chocolate

August 12, 2011

No Bake Creamy Peanut Butter Pie

By Dilek

This pie is for Jennie and Mikey, and a sick little boy who is hopefully on the mend.  I am dedicating this pie to life and remembering how fragile it is and how in an instant everything can change.  Hug your dear ones today and enjoy a piece.

Originally posted in Jennie’s blog

No Bake Creamy Peanut Butter Pie

Serves 10 to 12

  • 8 ounces oreo cookie crumbs
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • 4 ounces finely semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 1 cup icing sugar
  • 1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1tsp shortening
  • handful of  chopped peanuts

Combine the cookie crumbs and the melted butter in a 9 inch spring form pan.  Place in the freezer while you work on the rest.

Melt the chocolate chips  in the microwave.  Pour over bottom of cookie crust and spread to the edges using an off-set spatula.  Sprinkle  peanuts over the melted chocolate. Return to freezer while you prepare the filling.

Beat the whipping cream using a stand mixer until stiff peaks form.  Transfer to a small bowl and store in fridge.  Beat the cream cheese and peanut butter in  on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Reduce speed to low and gradually add in the icing sugar.  Add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract and lemon juice. Increase speed to medium and beat until all the ingredients are combined and filling is smooth.

Stir in 1/3 of the whipped cream into the filling mixture.   Fold in the remaining whipped cream.  Pour the filling into the prepared springform pan.  Drizzle the melted chocolate on top, if using, and refrigerate for three hours or overnight before serving.

Melt the remaining chocolate chips in the microwave along with the shortening, stir to combine and drizzle on top of pie, sprinkle with peanuts and return to freezer or fridge for several hours.

Enjoy the pie and life.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Baking

January 25, 2011

Caramel Toffee Squares

By ursitti

Well, I feel like a stranger on here since I have been MIA from posting here since the fall, mainly due to getting carried away with Christmas, hosting guests and trying to get the finishing touches on yet another renovation, but here I am!

A week ago I realized that I still needed to share my cookie recipe for our 1st (hopefully annual) Christmas cookie exchange.  Here it is – Caramel Toffee Squares – these lovely little squares look pretty on the cookie try, and are a nice marriage of shortbread/toffee/chocolate flavour.  This recipe comes from the November 2006 Chatelaine issue, which was the year Chatelaine held a cross-Canada cookie contest and also when we finished our kitchen renovation.  After painstakingly bringing our 1950′s “Pepto-Pismo Pink” kitchen to the 21st century, I was a little zealous to try out recipes, so I made many of the cookies that were in this issue.  I am not stretching the truth when I say every cookie recipe in this issue is a keeper.  I guessing this is because 80% of the contest winners were family recipes passed down.  This particular recipe was submitted by Cara Kosie-Beeson from Port Colbourne, Ont, and every time I make these squares I love the read the story behind the recipe.  The recipe was passed down to Cara from her German-Grandmother who once owned a Tavern in Balmerton, ON., famous for its schnitzel, among other recipes.  I remember reading that at 11pm at night and I having to bake them immediately.  When I hear of a recipe that has been passed down generations and crosses an ocean, I must try it.  As a side note, I’ve tried using milk, dark and semi-sweet chocolate with this recipe - it’s all chocolate heaven to me.  Also, I recommend cutting them in small squares as they are sweet and make nice bite size treats.  Enjoy.

Base

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tbsp granulated sugar

1/4 tsp each salt and cinnamon

1/2 cup cold, unsalted butter, cubed

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2 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Baking, Bars and Squares, Chocolate

July 1, 2010

Happy Canada Day with Grandma’s Chocolate Macaroons

By ursitti

I call these cookies “Grandma’s” chocolate macaroons, not because it is a family recipe, but because these cookies are, in my mind, the kind of cookie you’d get at Grandma’s house – and not your Nona, Aubela, Oma or Meme – I’m talking “manga-cake” cookies from your North American Grandma.  Which is why I feel these cookies are great to make for Canada Day – I’m not sure why, but I feel these cookies fall into the category of traditional “Canadian” fare – the kind of cookie recipe you’d find in a cookbook put out by a church or bridge group.

Anyway, this is my go-to recipe for when I have zero time to bake, or I’m too tired to put the effort in.  They can be made in about 15min - that’s prep, and cooking – total time!  Don’t don’t discredit them because an 8-year-old can make them  – everyone LOVES them – kids, adults… even your 85-year-old Grandma!  Here’s the recipe:

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/4  cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla

In a medium sauce pan, melt butter with sugar and milk.  Bring to a boil, and let boil for 3 minutes*.  While this is boiling, prepare rolled oat, coconut, cocoa powder and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients to liquid ingredients once the liquid ingredients have boiled for 3 min.  Stir all ingredients together in pot and boil for another 3 minutes.  Using a spoon, drop cookies onto wax paper, allow to sit until firm and cooled.

Note * – Boiling the liquid ingredients for a full 3 minutes minimum is critical.  If this is not done, the cookies will be sticky and runny, and basically will not shape into cookies.

4 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Baking, Chocolate, cookies, Fast, Kid Friendly

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