Salted Caramel "Ding Dong" Cake

Life just gets away from you sometimes. Things have just been so busy and unfortunately that meant that I didn't even post once in March. I've still been cooking and baking plenty but the drive to photograph and write up anything just wasn't there.

Chocolate Cinnamon Crisps

I love experimenting with new recipes, especially bread ones. It's amazing how many different things you can make from a few simple ingredients.

Take this recipe from Red Star Yeast for example. All they've done is add some chocolate to the dough and then it's all in how you form the dough in the end. Yet it's completely different than anything I've made before. Almost like a flattened cinnamon roll but the chocolate brings it a whole new direction. The kids loved these, so it's a good thing I doubled the recipe to start with.

Peppermint Bark Cookies

I had a craving for peppermint bark earlier this week and I went searching for a good recipe for it. While searching I came across this recipe for chocolate peppermint cookies from Martha Stewart and they sounded even better than just plain old peppermint bark so I went for it. That was Monday night, which was also the first night home after spending a week in China. I was exhausted but I decided to bake something instead of going to sleep. Probably because it was the first time I'd had the opportunity to be in a kitchen in over a week. I had also learned from my time in China that almost no one there has an oven. So I baked in honor of all those people who will never get to enjoy it.

Four Layer Gourmet Caramel Apples

My wife would like 100% of the credit for this creation. And for something this amazing, she deserves it. This isn't exactly a recipe I'll be sharing with you but it's a fun treat that you can create with the kids help and it makes a great gift for the upcoming holidays!

Four layers you ask? Absolutely. Caramel, Butterfinger, Chocolate and Candied Peanuts. When she first described what she wanted to make, I thought  she was a bit crazy, and I honestly didn't think it would be as good as she was imagining that it would be. Butterfinger layer is one thing but then adding peanuts on the outside? I thought it might just be too much. And maybe it is, but it was pretty amazing.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Sometimes time just gets away from you. I've always been a busy person. Not necessarily hectic, run all around the place type busy, but busy. I like side projects and lots of things going on that I can be involved in, but the month of October just got away from me. Full time job, trying to launch a new business, wedding, travel, foster kids and a major professional certification exam.

Chocolate Hazelnut Cupcakes

I'm not sure why I even said yes. I'm not a professional by any means and I've never done anything near a wedding cake before. It was soon after my cake won a ribbon at the state fair though so I must have been at a weak moment when my brother asked if I'd make their wedding cake and I actually said yes. The only reason I even considered it though is because they said they wanted something less traditional and were thinking more of a cupcake tower.

Dark Chocolate Cherries

Cherries are still in season people! If my pie and sorbetto haven't tempted you, these dark chocolate cherries are guaranteed to. They are incredibly easy to make and the hardest part is just waiting for them to be ready. I came across this recipe when Kate In The Kitchen posted about her adventures with cherries and I knew that I couldn't pass them up. Simple syrup is created by heating water and sugar together. Dark Chocolate is then melted into the syrup before being poured over cherries packed into a quart jar. They're then sealed for up to two weeks to create a beautiful dark chocolate treat!

Buttermilk and Chocolate Chip Waffles

I've got a special guest blogging for me today! It's my seven year old son Kayden. I asked him if he'd like to make dinner last night and then challenged him to do it all by himself. 

Nuts About Oats

I'm so excited to announce my participation in the Nuts About Oats Contest sponsored by Peanut Butter & Co. and Bob's Red Mill!

I was one of six bloggers asked to create a breakfast recipe using peanut butter and oats. It took me about 2.5 seconds to figure out what I wanted to make. I grew up with my my Mom making these amazing cranberry cream scones and I knew I could easily integrate some peanut butter and oats into them and make them even better.

Gingerbread Truffles

Looking for a great homemade gift to wrap up and give to friends and family? Or do you need something fun and different to bring to your work Christmas party? These truffles are amazing and the flavor is perfect for this time of year. The inside of the truffle has chewy candied ginger in them and the cream has been steeped with ginger, allspice and fresh cloves so it has the perfect holiday spice.

Hot Cocoa and Homemade Marshmallows

It's December and it's time to start hunkering down for the winter. It's been unseasonably nice here in Minnesota this year which we have thoroughly enjoyed but it's only a matter of time until the snow comes in all its vengeance.

Since we don't drink coffee, we tend to be pretty particular about our hot chocolate. My wife keeps the good stuff up on the higher shelves and lets the kids drink the cheap stuff. We were out of eveything a few weeks ago so I took it upon myself to create some of our own. It's become a favorite now and although it's more expensive because it uses milk instead of water, it's well worth it. Rich and creamy, it has deep flavor and is perfect for sipping on those cold winter days.

Chocolate Budino Tart with Olive Oil and Sea Salt

Can you imagine taking chocolate, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt and coming up with a decent dessert? Well how about one that is simply amazing? As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program I recently received samples of Crisco's Olive Oil varieties and wanted to find a recipe that really showed off the great flavor. This tart contrasts the sweetness of the chocolate and the savory flavors of the olive oil and sea salt resulting in a deep flavor that I never would have expected.

Video Demonstration for Bon Appetit's Spiced Chocolate Torte Wrapped in Chocolate Ribbons

Now that the Super Bowl is over, it's time to start thinking Valentine's Day. What better way to show your love for that special someone than to create this beautiful torte. Three wonderful layers of sweet chocolate spice cake layered with light fluffy buttercream, covered in a rich chocolate glaze and then perfected with black and white chocolate ribbons. While typically branded as a holiday cake, there is no reason why this cake can't be the centerpiece at a birthday, celebration or in this case, an intimate Valentine's dinner.

Spiced Chocolate Torte Wrapped in Chocolate Ribbons

***Foodbuzz.com Top 9 on December 31, 2010***

Thank you everyone!

Check out my Video Tutorial for step by step instructions on how to create this masterpiece!

I've been doing a lot of baking lately and there's even more in the queue but it's the holidays and I've just been in a baking kind of mood. I have to warn you, this cake is not for the faint of heart, both in preparation or consumption. If you have ever been on a diet, are currently on a diet or may ever be on a diet this cake could be disastrous. It also takes a significant amount of time to prepare, but if you are willing to take the time, you will end up with a masterpiece well worth the time and effort.

Peppermint Patties

***Foodbuzz.com Top 9 on December 19th, 2010***

One of our favorite restaurants here in Minneapolis is called Fogo de Chao. It is an amazing Brazilian restaurant but I think my wife really likes it because they have a basket of peppermint patties at the door that she loves to fill her pockets with. Ok, maybe it's me that fills my pockets with them but they're really for her. Really.

I found this recipe and decided to add it to my cooking day while we were stuck inside all day during a blizzard last week. After I finished them, I tossed the bag of candies in the freezer and I love to take a few out at a time and snack on them while they're still cold.