Category: Desserts

Holiday Pecan Chocolate Pie: recipes at my table

Holiday Pecan Chocolate Pie

Holiday Pecan Chocolate Pie

Holiday Pecan Chocolate Pie is decadent, smooth and crunchy.  It truly defines the season and chocolate is my favourite sweet to work with when baking.  I love the smell of chocolate and its texture.  Pecans are my favourite nuts and I love their salty undertones.  They pair well with chocolate.

I continue to search for the most flawless pie crust, and I think I may be there.  In high school my friend Susan’s mom made the best pies.  Her secret was the fat and she incorporated lard into her pies.  I played with part of my crostata recipe and part of a pie recipe and this is what I achieved.  Hoping that this will make your life easier.

The Pie dough is named after my daughter-in-law Paige.  Last year at Thanksgiving she tried an unforgiving pie dough from a famous cook book, and it didn’t deliver.  Like most of us, she had to doctor the crust.  I am hoping to make life easy for her.

Paige’s Pie Crust comes together easily.  This pie crust is good for a variety of pies.

Sift the Cocoa before adding it to remove any lumps.

After I melt the chocolate I add they corn syrup.

The egg and brown sugar ready to whisk.

I temper the eggs by adding a little of the hot mixture and save the eggs from scrambling.

I love the taste of pecans.

Using a spatula combine the pecans into the chocolate.

This pours easily into the pie shell and now ready for the oven.

It will puff up in the oven, but then settle down once it cools.

A bit of puff when it comes out.

All dressed up for the table.

Holiday Pecan Chocolate Pie: recipes at my table
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Holiday Chocolate Pecan Pie

Holiday Chocolate Pecan Pie is made with Paige's Pie Dough.  

Course Dessert
Cuisine Home Cooking in Canada, Italian
Keyword Holiday Chocolate Pecan Pie
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8
Author Renata Solski

Ingredients

Paige's Pie Dough

  • 1 12 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2-6 tbsp cold water

The Chocolate Pecan Filling

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 3 tbsp cocoa sifted
  • 1 cup corn syrup
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup pecan pieces

Instructions

Paige's Pie Dough

  1. In a food processor pulse the flour, sugar and baking powder.

    Add the shortening, egg and 2 tbsp of cold water.

    Mix on high.  Add more cold water as needed.

    Dough needs to come together in a ball. 

    Turn the dough onto your counter and knead for a few turns.

    Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.  

    When ready, roll out the pie dough.

    Put in a 9 inch tart pan.

    Set oven to 375 F.

The Chocolate Pecan Filling

  1. Melt the butter in a small pan.

    Add the syrup and sifted cocoa.  

    In another bowl beat the eggs and sugar.

    Take a small amount of the hot syrup to the eggs to warm them up a bit.

    Now add the remaining syrup and beat together.

    Fold in the pecan pieces.

    Pour the mixture into the pie shell.

    Place in oven for 35 to 40 minutes. 

    Remove pie and serve warm with some whipped cream or ice cream.

Recipe Notes

If you make this pie ahead of time it may be warmed in the oven before serving.  Put it in at 250 F for 10 minutes.  

 

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Baked Turdilli : Recipes At My Table

Baked Turdilli 

Baked Turdilli

Baked Turdilli are a healthier version of our traditional treats.  When I go home to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario for Christmas, mom and I will make the traditional ones.  These are an easier version, but with good taste.  The original recipe requires that you deep fry these little dough balls which turn out a bit like a donut.

Turdilli originated in Calabria, but Italians everywhere make them.  They vary in size.  I like them smaller so that I can taste the different kinds.  I put white icing sugar and Sambuca on some and cocoa, icing sugar and Baileys on others.  They honey ones are my favourite, and sometimes I pile them like a mountain.  When I make a mountain of honey turdilli, I make them smaller.

First I beat the eggs and the crisco shortening.

Then I add the remainder of the ingredients and bring them together with the dough hook attachment.

The dough comes together.

It pulls away from the bowl and is ready for the counter.

The dough should be pliable and not sticky.

I cut pieces and roll them into 1 inch thick ropes and then choose your size.  Mine were cut into 1 inch pieces.  If you want to make a mountain, cut into 1/2 inch pieces and of course you can make them larger.

You want to put ridges in them so that the honey sticks. If you don’t have the special basket, you can use a fork.

You know that I love to peek into the oven.

Let them cool when they come out of the oven.

Melting the honey.

In they go and toss them around.

Put them on a rack onto a cookie sheet and sprinkle to decorate.

These one are iced.

Baked Turdilli : Recipes At My Table
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Baked Turdilli 

Baked Turdilli are traditional Calabrese Christmas cookies. 

Course Dessert
Cuisine Home Cooking in Canada, Italian
Keyword Baked Turdilli
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Author Renata Solski

Ingredients

The Turdilli

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp Crisco Shortening
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup oil
  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt

The icing

  • i cup icing sugar
  • 1 tbsp Baileys, Sambucca or your choice of flavouring

The honey

  • 1 cup honey
  • sprinkles optional
  • white sugar optional

Instructions

The Turdilli

  1. Beat the eggs and shortening first.

    Add the water and oil.

    Next put in all the dry ingredients.

    Mix with dough hook.

    Roll onto counter and knead a few times.

    Cut large pieces and roll into 1 inch ropes.

    Now, cut to desired lengths.

    Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

    Bake at 400 F for 10 minutes.

    Lower oven to 350 and cook a further 10 to 15 until golden.

    Place on a rack to cool.

    Ice and decorate as desired.

The honey coating

  1. Place the honey in a pan until it bubbles.

    Remove from heat and toss in turdilli.

    Coat all the turdilli in honey. 

    With a slotted spoon, place turdilli on a rack.

    Garnish with sprinkles or plain white sugar. 

    They are also good with just the honey.  

Recipe Notes

To make chocolate icing sugar add 1 tbsp of cocoa to the mixture. 

Icing should be thin.  

 

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Christmas Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake: recipes at my table

Christmas Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake

Christmas Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake

Christmas Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake is nice gift to give during the holidays.  This one is for our Dental office here in Leamington;  Dr. Archer and her crew are the best and they offer kindness all around even in the most difficult of situations.  I hope this brings a smile to their faces.  Her office does many acts of kindness for our community, and I want them to feel special today.

Cranberries and Christmas go together.   For more information on cranberries and their history, this is an easy read: https://kitchenproject.com/history/cranberries/index.htm

The streusel items come together.  

Blend all the ingredients for the streusel until they are crumbly.  

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  

Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and put the yogurt in another.

Alternate the flour and the yogurt until you have creamy mixture. 

Place half the batter in the bottom of a spring form pan. 

Spread half the streusel mixture over the batter and half the cranberries.

Now add the remainder of the batter and smooth it out.  

When it comes out of the oven, let it cool and then remove the rim. 

All packaged up and ready to go. 

 

Christmas Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake: recipes at my table
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Christmas Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake

Christmas Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake makes the perfect gift.  

Course Dessert
Cuisine Home Cooking in Canada, Italian
Keyword Christmas Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Author Renata Solski

Ingredients

The Streusel

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup butter

The Cake

  • 1/2 cup butter, margarine or oil
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 2 cups cranberries

Instructions

The Streusel

  1. Blend the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter together until it looks crumbly.  

The Cake

  1. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

    Add the eggs one at a time.

    Continue with the vanilla.

    In another bowl gather all the dry ingredients.

    Measure the yogurt into a small bowl.

    Set your mixer on low and  alternate the dry mixture and the yogurt.

    Rinse and dry the cranberries and put them by the streusel mixture.

    Prepare a 10 inch springform pan by greasing it.

    Spread half the batter into the pan and top with half the streusel and the cranberries. 

    Top with the remaining batter.

    Garnish with the remaining streusel and cranberries.

    Place in a 350 F oven for 60 to 80 minutes.  ( Check after 60 by inserting a toothpick; it should come out dry)

    Let cool for 10 minutes and remove the rim. Then let completely cool and slide the cake off the bottom using a large knife.

Recipe Notes

Cooking time will depend on your oven.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comforting Apple Cake

Comforting Apple Cake

Comforting Apple Cake makes the whole house smell of sugar.  I love baking with apples and my friend Catherine Wilson wants to bake a cake with apples.  I hope this recipe is easier for her than the last one she tried.

The ingredients are basic and the method easy.  Bring this to your table and add ice cream or cheddar cheese.  It is a dense cake and small slices are in order.  I like to sprinkle coconut sugar over it for a little colour.

The type of Apples you use in baking is important to the texture, flavour and the shape of your baking.  Know your apples and which to use:  https://www.thekitchn.com/the-best-apples-for-cooking-ingredient-intelligence-208455

First you need butter and sugar.

Cream the butter and sugar until smooth and add egg yolks one at a time.

Whisk the egg whites and sift the dry ingredients together.

This produces a thick batter.

Cut and fan the apples.

Press into a spring form pan and arrange the apples on top.

Just out of the oven.

Remove rim.

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Comforting Apple Cake

Comforting Apple Cake fills the house with the smell of apples and sugar. 

Course Dessert
Cuisine Home Cooking in Canada, Italian
Keyword Comforting Apple Cake
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 44 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 14 minutes
Servings 12
Author Renata Solski

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2/3 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs separated
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 2 tbsp limoncello
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2-4 apples depends on size
  • 1 tbsp coconut sugar for sprinkling on top
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg sprinkling on top

Instructions

  1. Set oven to 350 F

    Butter and flour a 9 inch spring form cake pan.

    Beat the butter in a large bowl until creamy,

    Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

    Now add the egg yolk one at a time while whisking. 

    Add the lemon juice, almond extract and limoncello.

    In another bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. 

    Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form.

    Alternate the flour and egg whites into the creamy butter mixture.  Mix only enough to combine. 

    Add the milk and give it one final whisk.  

    This is a thick batter.

    Place batter into the pan. 

    Spread and I used a piece of plastic wrap to spread it.  

    Peel the apples, slice in half crosswise and then in half again.

    Make cuts into each piece in a fan-like motion.  Do not cut through.

    Arrange the fans on top of the batter.

    Lightly press the apples into the batter.

    Sprinkle with coconut sugar and nutmeg.

    Bake for 50 to 55 minutes.

    Let cool 10 minutes before removing rim.

    Slice and serve warm or cold with ice cream.

    You can also glaze the top with a little icing.  

Recipe Notes

Use a firm apple. Make sure you know your apples.    

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