TWD::Date-Nut Loaf

 

 

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe was chosen by Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet.  I've never cooked with dates before so this was a real treat for me.  I've had those Christmas candies in the box that are dates, and LOVE them.  I've even had a fresh date to nibble on before and was in a sugar-loving coma!  So, needless to say, I was pretty anxious to make this one. 

 Thankfully, it didn't disappoint.  Despite my baking mishap...notice the sunken center.  I checked it, at a diagonal, even, to make sure it was 100% baked.  Guess my toothpick technique failed me this time.  Sad, but we all have those baking mishaps, so why not document them, too.  In any case, I LOVED this loaf cake.  It was dense, yet light. Tasted extremely well balanced between the buttery brown sugar batter, and the nutty sweetness of the dates and pecans.  I haven't tried it yet, but Dorie says this one gets even better over time, and toasted, with more butter to boot.  I mean, really, what is better than MORE butter, right!? 

Take a minute and see how the other TWD Bakers did with their loaf cakes by going to the TWD Blogroll.  You can also get a copy of this recipe by buying Dorie's book, "Baking: From My Home to Yours".

{date-nut loaf recipe}

TWD::Non-Tarte Noire

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection comes from Dharmagirl of Bliss: Towards a Delicious Life. As you can already tell, I didn't choose to bake the Tarte Noire. I even bought myself a tarte pan recently. I just wasn't in the mood. What was I in the mood to make, you ask? Cheesecake! Mmmm, creamy dreamy silky tall cheesecake. Not just any Cheesecake, though. A turtle cheesecake! I mean really, who doesn't LOVE caramel, chocolate and pecans!? I actually came across the idea on Katrina's blog, baking and boys and thought, why not?

You wanna know the best part? Even though it LOOKED all elegant and fancy it was incredibly easy! Don't you just LOVE desserts like that!?! I know I do! I used the turtle crust, caramel and pecans portion from the Kraft Foods website, while using Dorie Greenspan's Tall and Creamy Cheesecake recipe from the book, "Baking: from My Home to Yours."

{Tall and Creamy Cheesecake: a basic}

As we all took a slice and started devouring, the only change I'd make to this deliciously elegant and incredibly RICH cheesecake....the chocolate drizzle. I'd make it more of a ganache next time. Just melting the chocolate and drizzling on top, did NOT provide the flexibility and gooeyness it needed when we cut into it. No matter, it still tasted FANTASTIC!!!