Technical difficulties

It seems that the latest Microsoft update has done rotten things to Zippy, my laptop. I'm having problems accessing email and getting web access in general. Right now I'm working remotely from TFE's so he can figure out what the silly people in Redmond WA have done to the computer.

For SHF#28: Sweet Seduction Participants:

• If you emailed me this Saturday or earlier and HAVE NOT received an acknowledgement or reply, I haven't received your message.
• If you sent me a note Sunday or afterwards, I'll send you a confirmation as soon as I can.
• If you think you missed the deadline, I'm extending it until my computer woes are...went...
• I will do my best to get the round-up posted on Friday.

grrr

jasmine

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SHF#28: Honey-almond cheesecake

Leave it up to me to host this month's Sugar High Friday (SHF#28: Sweet Seduction) and post on a day that's not a Friday...and not attempt an event-specific logo until, well...now. If you're planning on participating, please send me all the pertinent details. If you forgot and still want to get in on the round-up, please send me a note so I know it's coming. If all goes well, I'll have the round-up posted this coming Friday.

My offering is a joint-effort...well sort of. Since I'm in a relationship, offering what could be construed as an effective way for someone to seduce me away from The Fussy Eater, posting a (deleted) would probably not be wise...or fair...or whatever. I asked TFE what he would like to be seduced with and he wanted a reprise of (deleted).

Hrmmm....

After some thought, I came up with something that combines both of our pleasures: honey-almond cheesecake.

It's pretty perfect, in my mind: I've always liked almondy goodies, he's always liked creamy cheesecakes. Add to that the aphrodisiac properties of honey, and I think we've got a pretty seductive sweet.

I searched the web and my bookshelves, and found this recipe on The Gilded Fork. It looked really good, but I decided to use it as a base from which I'd attempt my own creation.

Sweet and slightly tangy (from the sour cream), this cheesecake is rich and creamy, with a little bit of crunch from toasted almonds.

Honey-Almond Cheesecake
Ingredients:
Crust:
100 g graham wafer crumbs
50 g ground almonds
2 Tbs sugar
60 ml melted butter
Filling:
475 g room-temperature ricotta cheese
60g sugar
90 ml runny honey
2 Tbsp plain flour
500g room temperature marscapone cheese
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla paste
pinch of salt
Topping
250 ml sour cream
30 g sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
60g toasted almond slivers
runny honey

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and butter a 9" (23 cm) springform pan.

Mix together all the crust ingredients and press into pan. Bake until golden, about 10-12 minutes. Cool completely before filling.

Beat together the ricotta, sugar and honey until smooth. Add the mascarpone cheese and mix until just combined. Add one egg, flour, vanilla and salt and mix to combine. Beat in the rest of the eggs, one at a time until smooth. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake until the the cheesecake is puffy and the centre jiggles slightly when the pan is tapped--roughly 50 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the cake in the oven with door ajar for another 30 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and set the pan on a wire rack to cool to room temperature.

Mix together the vanilla extract, sugar and sour cream and pour on top of the cheesecake. Set the cake in the refrigerator to cool. To serve, drizzle as much honey as you want over top the slices and strew the toasted almonds on top.

cheers!
jasmine

tags: Sugar High Friday, SHF

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Another cookbook review: InterCourses

The day after a holiday (sacred or secular) is always interesting.

Yesterday was filled with insipid hearts and flowers. Love, wuv and the rest. Yesterday's radio playlists features crooners who crooned and warblers who warbled unending love and devotion (cue Ms. Houston).

This morning was the ugly aftermath.

These are lines that blasted from my clock radio this morning as I was getting ready for work:

Song One: I still be believe in love, but not with you
Song Two: So don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable
Song Three: Owner of a lonley heart much better than an owner of a broken heart

Ummm...yeah...somebody must have had a really bad reaction to Valentine's Day.

Well, if that music director ever recovers from whatever caused that set of songs, perhaps s/he should plan a romantic meal from InterCourses. Yes, my latest cookbook review is up at Canada Eats.

cheers!
jasmine

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