Gingerbread Biscotti

Another logo :-) Read about this one at Food Blogga. Many many many Christmas cookies.

Gingerbread Biscotti:

10 oz all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups brown sugar

2 tsp ginger

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp baking soda

4 oz chopped pecans

1/4 cup molasses

2 large eggs

Preheat over to 350 F.

Combine flour, sugar, ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and baking soda. Mix in pecans. Mix together eggs and molasses and mix into flour mixture. Mix until mixture comes together.

Divide dough into two equal pieces. Shape into logs and bake on parchment lined sheet pan for 30 -35 mins. Cool 10 mins. Then cut on diagonal with serrated knife. Place back onto sheet pan and bake 10 - 20 mins longer (depending on if you want chewy or crunchy biscotti).

I dipped mine in white chocolate.

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Ice Cream

Read all about the logo and what it means Here

8 oz egg yolks

15 oz brown sugar

2 pt milk

1 pt heavy cream

pinch salt

2 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

Combine milk and cream in a heavy bottomed saucepot. Scrape seeds out of vanilla bean. Add seeds and pod to cream mixture. Heat over medium heat until just barely at a simmer. Mix yolks, salt, cinnamon and sugar. Add around a cup of the hot cream to the yolk mixture and mix well. Add yolk mix to the hot cream. Continue to cook until mixture has thickened slightly. Remove from heat. Strain mix in a very fine strainer. Chill mix. Turn in ice cream freezer.

Shown in photo with caramel sauce and gingerbread biscotti.

Oops

Ever wonder what happens when you turn a mixer full of flour on high speed?

Yeah....fun stuff fun stuff

Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie With Caramel Ice Cream

New toys..which I used to make my little pies.

Tart Shells:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

Cream together butter and sugar. Add vanilla and egg yolk. Mix together flour and cocoa powder. Mix together butter and flour mixtures. Chill for 1 hour. Roll out and line tart pan. Bake weighted at 350 F for about 10mins. Tart shells should be slightly underbaked.

While shells are still warm spread a single layer of chocolate chips in the bottom of each one. Then a single layer of pecans. I don't toast my pecans when i make pecan pies but you can if you would like.

Filling:

8 oz dark brown sugar

2 oz melted butter

1/4 tsp salt

8 oz large eggs

14 oz dark corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla

Mix together sugar, butter, salt, vanilla and corn syrup. Mix in eggs. Bake at 350 F for about 15 - 20 mins.

I served it slighty warm with caramel ice cream, chocolate sauce and caramel sauce.

Caramel Ice Cream

Ice cream mix:
8 oz egg yolks
4 oz sugar
2 pt milk
1 pt heavy cream
pinch salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup carmal (see below)
Combine milk and cream in a heavy bottomed saucepot. Heat over medium heat until just barely at a simmer. Mix yolks, salt, sugar and caramel. Add around a cup of the hot cream to the yolk mixture and mix well. Add yolk mix to the hot cream. Continue to cook until mixture has thickened slightly. Remove from heat. Strain mix in a very fine strainer. Chill. Turn mix in ice cream freezer.

Caramel :
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup heavy cream

Bring water and sugar to a boil. Cook until mixture has turned an medium amber color. Add cream. Continue to cook until caramel has melted.

Potato and Cheese Soup

4 slices smoked bacon, chopped

1 leek, (white parts only), chopped

1/2 cup diced onion

1 carrot, chopped

1 clove garic, minced

1/2 cup flour

6 cups chicken stock

3 lbs potatoes, cubed

1 lb grated cheese

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup heavy cream

Cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan. Add leeks, onion, carrots, and garlic. Cook 5 mins. Stir in flour. Add chicken broth. Add potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cook until potatoes are tender about 15 mins. Slowly sprinkle in cheese. Stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper.