sugar – Bitchin Camero

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December 18, 2009

Candy Cane Cookies

mel breakfast, dessert, recipe, sides & bites candy cane, cookies, holiday, sugar, sweet

Candy Cane Cookies

My mother-in-law is the cookie queen. Especially at Christmas. Every year, disinfection I look forward to the massive tupperwares filled with all kinds of cookies. But my favorites are always, here always the Candy Cane Cookies. These are the ones I sneak in the morning before breakfast, after breakfast with my coffee, as a mid-morning snack… You get the picture.

They’re simple shortbread-style cookies flavored with almond extract and covered in crushed candy canes and powdered sugar. They look they’re nestled in a snowdrift. They get all over your nice black pants. They’re simply awesome.

These cookies have been a tradition in Tom’s family for years and I know I’ll be including them with my own traditions.

July 29, 2009

Vanilla Figs with Mascarpone and Balsamic Syrup

mel dessert, recipe, sides & bites cheese, figs, sugar

Vanilla Figs with Mascarpone and Balsamic Syrup

Ah, approved figs. One of my favorite odd foods. They look so weird, store but taste so good. I love them on pizza with prosciutto, angina in a salad with fennel and especially with cheese. Almost any kind of cheese. One of the best appetizers you’ll ever make is a mission fig stuffed with blue cheese and drizzled with honey. So simple, yet so delicious and exotic.

Last night I decided I wanted figs and cheese, but for dessert. I quickly caramelized some figs with vanilla sugar, then topped them off with a dollop of creamy mascarpone cheese and a drizzle of balsamic syrup (also known as balsamic reduction from my Summer Squash Caprese). You’d think the cheese and balsamic would mike it too strong and not sweet enough for dessert, but you’d be wrong. Very, very wrong. The vanilla sugar and natural sweetness of the figs were just emphasized by the mascarpone, and the balsamic syrup was perfectly tart and sweet.

When I popped it in my mouth, I was actually surprised by how much I liked it. Sweet, creamy, fruity and tangy all in one. It was so good that my husband thought the balsamic syrup was chocolate. Silly man. I’ll be making these again soon. And by soon, I mean tonight.