Mastering The Art of Desserts and The Masters

It's Masters Week here at our house.  No more news channel in the mornings...it's The Golf Channel all the way until Sunday, live from Augusta, Georgia.  Looks like there will be a lot of the traditional egg salad and pimento cheese creations I get to come up with this weekend...yummy!!

Tonight is also the traditional Champions Dinner which will be hosted by last year's champion, Jordan Spieth.  Since Jordan is from Texas I'm sure BBQ will be served tonight along with some other Lone Star surprises.  I always have fun trying to re-create the Champions Dinner the same weekend as The Masters...looks like BBQ brisket will be on Sunday dinner's menu for us.

As much as I love watching golf with my husband on Sundays I can usually only take so much. During my off time I'm usually in the kitchen playing with recipes and catching bits and pieces of the tournament from the Family Room television.

I have never been much of an adventurous baker, but every now and then I try to conquer my fears.  I saw this cheesecake on Pinterest a few weeks ago.  The photo was breathtaking so I clicked on it to get the recipe.  The entire site was in a foreign language...not good.  I tried doing the translation button and that didn't work...definitely not good.  Well I had no idea how to make this, so I decided to just try the "semi-homemade" version and wing it myself.

In the photo I saw some kind of chocolate cake type base but didn't know if the cheesecake was baked or not.  I turned to my best friend "Jell-O"!!  This masterpiece definitely took some time and strategy to try and figure out.

I wish I could give an exact recipe, but I'm sure anyone can create this.  Once I got into it, the dessert really started to come together nicely.  The taste of it was out of this world!!  Now if I could just figure out what part of the world their Pinterest page and recipe came from and learn the language!!

The Masters Cheesecake
My Semi-Homemade Version

Start with a box of your favorite brownie mix.  Assemble according to box directions but this time, bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Baking time will decrease due to a thinner brownie than usual.  Let brownie cool after baking.

Take a spring form pan and put on top of the cooled brownie.  Trace and cut the shape/size onto brownie.  Line the bottom of spring form pan with parchment paper and place the circle of brownie into the bottom of pan...this is now your base of dessert.

Cut 1/2 pound of strawberries into vertical slices and line the circle inside of pan with the cut strawberries right on top of the brownie...this is the perimeter of dessert.

Next, prepare 2 boxes of Jello-O "No Bake" cheesecake mix, according to directions.  Do not prepare the graham cracker crust from the mix...save it for another golf tournament creation.  Pour the prepared cheesecake mix into the pan in the center.  Spread evenly to get all around pan as it will now completely cover the strawberries.  Put in refrigerator and chill for at least 4-6 hours.

For the topping, prepare your favorite chocolate ganache recipe (I think there are about 257 of them published now).  Spread the prepared ganache all over the chilled cheesecake.  Let cool in refrigerator for at least one hour.  Top with more cut strawberries.

Now, congratulate yourself on mastering this dessert...it's well worth it!!

One Year Ago:  Spicy Sausage Skillet
Two Years Ago:  Mushroom Soup

Shortbread S'mores Cups and The Stanley Hotel

Today is Halloween once again.  The Tamale Casserole is in the crockpot and has been brewing since 6:00 this morning, when we saw the girls off to their volleyball tournament.  After a full day of sports, I'm afraid I have become my worst nightmare...this year I decided to boycott Halloween and handing out candy.  This year, I announced "we're going dark"...no candy handouts.  Since the girls won't be home, it's just not the same this year.  They were sweet enough to carve masterpiece pumpkins for me, and decorate our front porch, but that's the extent of it this year...and that's perfectly okay.

We did however, get a dose of spook while visiting the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes, Colorado, just 45 minutes from our house.  "The Stanley" is quite a historical landmark, both outside (and inside).  Just walking around either on the grounds or in their haunting halls, can give you the chills.  We treated my brother-in-law and his friend to a first class tour there.

They recently made some incredibly beautiful improvements to the grounds, including a new reflective pond and maze (just like in the movie, "The Shining").

Our self-guided tour was glorious.  The sun was perfectly shining on the porch and we sat and enjoyed their garden sofas and a glass of wine with all the other tourists.  Afterwards, we treated ourselves to a picnic on one of their breathtaking lawn areas...the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

If you're also doing away with the Halloween candy this year but are looking for a treat and no tricks, this little one is awesome.  I took my Grandma's Layered Pudding and morphed it with my daughters' favorite S'mores.  These were great for just wanting a little taste of sweet without having a full pan of calories haunting me every night!!

Shortbread S'mores Cups

1 cup flour

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup (plus 1 cup) powdered sugar, divided

1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese, room temperature

1 9 ounce container of Cool Whip

1 small package instant chocolate fudge pudding

1 small package instant white chocolate pudding

3 cups cold milk, divided

large marshmallows

Mix flour, butter, salt and 1/4 cup powdered sugar well and pat out in a 9" x 13" pan.  Bake in 325 degree oven for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool.

While shortbread is baking, mix cream cheese, Cool Whip and 1 cup powdered sugar.  Whisk/beat until well blended.  Set in refrigerator for one hour.  

In a separate bowl, mix chocolate fudge pudding and 1-1/2 cup milk. Whip well with electric mixer and set in refrigerator for one hour.  Do same process in separate bowl with the white chocolate pudding, and also set in refrigerator for one hour.

When ready to serve, remove cooled shortbread from pan and crumble.  Add a layer of the shortbread crumbles in a short triffle cup.  Add a spoonful of the cream cheese/Cool Whip mixture.  Then, add a small layer of chocolate fudge pudding and a layer of white chocolate pudding.

Toast your marshmallows in fire or on a gas cooktop flame (carefully).  Add toasted marshmallows to top of pudding....and enjoy some ooey, gooey sweetness!!

One Year Ago: TyKu
Two Years Ago: Tamale Casserole

Chocolate Raspberry Silk Pie and Rocky Mountain Park Picnic

Other than the Alaska mountain ranges, I have never seen anything more beautiful than Rocky Mountain National Park in the fall.  The colors and wildlife just take your breath away.

A couple weeks ago my husband's sister and her husband came to visit us for the first time.  We did all the local Colorado stops including Rocky Mountain National Park.  The elk were making their annual appearances in full force and were a sight to see!

We made a day of it, packed up a wonderful wine picnic lunch and enjoyed the most incredibly memorable afternoon by the creek with our delights.

Never a dull moment when my husband is around!!

A feast for the forest!

Cheers and a toast by all!

Before all our company arrived, our neighbor gave us a huge bowl of beautiful fresh raspberries from her garden...so many that I didn't know if we could use them all.  I remembered a decadent dessert my friend Toni made for us once, her famous Chocolate Silk Torte.  Given I was trying to make this thank you dessert for our neighbor during the middle of the week, I needed to do some short cuts.

I figured out a semi-homemade fudge bottom, chocolate silk pie with fresh raspberries and cream. Wow!!!  Went together really easy and quick.  Our neighbor was so overjoyed with our gift, she was speechless.  Oh, don't worry...there were so many raspberries, I made a pie for us too.  This recipe will make many future appearances...I think my friend Toni would be proud of me!

Chocolate Raspberry Silk Pie

For Friends and Neighbors

2 packages (3.9 ounce) Jell-O Chocolate Fudge Flavor Instant Pudding

2 cups cold milk

4 ounce Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided 

1 Oreo pre-made pie crust

1 tub (8 ounce) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

2 cups fresh raspberries, washed and dried

powdered sugar

fresh mint leaves

Beat pudding mixes and milk in large bowl with electric mixer and whisk on high for 2 minutes.

Microwave (3 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate on high 1 minutes, or until almost melted.  Stir until completely melted.  Stir in 1 cup of the pudding and pour into crust.

Add half the Cool Whip to the remaining pudding.  Fold and mix carefully until fully combined.  Spread over the pudding/chocolate layer in crust.

Add 2 rows of raspberries around perimeter of pie.  Top with a couple spoonfuls of Cool Whip and garnish with a few more raspberries and sprig of mint.

Dust powdered sugar over the raspberries.  Grate/shave the remaining chocolate over the pudding areas and center.

Chill for at least one hour (the longer it chills, the better) before serving.

Ready for special delivery.

Pairs really well with a red wine, warm fire pit and beautiful night.

One Year Ago:  Chocolate Chip Shortbreads
Two Years Ago:  Chicken Tortilla Soup

Sweet Dreams Cake

My husband was watching television last night and gasped that he saw a Valentine's Day ad for a jewelry store.  "I can't believe it", he exclaimed.  "Valentine's Day ads already?", he said in amazement.  I looked at him in shock...I told him that Valentine's ads have been running for over a month now...where have you been?

I have never been a strong component of Valentine's Day.  As a "Grown Up", I believe that you should show your love to those around you all year long...not just make the extra effort one day out of the year.

As a teen in high school, I dreaded Valentine's Day during the school week.  It felt like every other girl was getting a "candy gram", flowers, teddy bears with a heart on its belly, balloon bouquets and the ever popular Russell Stover velvet covered box of chocolates from their boyfriends.  They could barely walk down the hall as their overflowing arms are weighed down with the menagerie of gifts.  (I'm guessing that any therapist would probably tell me this is the reason I am not a fan of the annual love day).

Fast forward and now I have teenage girls in high school.  They have already expressed that they are dreading Valentine's Day this year because of all the couple's gifts exchanges that will soon be taking place in their school's halls...and that breaks my heart, because I know exactly what they are going through.

We will make a conscience effort that my husband and I have stuffed bears with hearts on them and special boxes of chocolates to give the girls this year.  I know it's not the same as a boyfriend giving it to them...but a thoughtful gift of chocolate always helps a girl feel a little better, even if it's from her daddy.

My only advice is, don't worry girls, one day your Prince Charming will walk down those halls, into your life...until then...Sweet Dreams.

Sweet Dreams Cake

Red Velvet Dry Cake Mix 
(eggs, canola oil and water, as per cake mix instructions)
(2) 3.4 oz. packages Jell-O White Chocolate  flavored Instant Pudding 
4 cups cold milk
8 oz. Cool Whip whipped topping
Hershey's mini chocolate coated candies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare cake mix according to the directions on package and bake in a 9" x 13" pan until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cake cool completely. Then using the end of a wooden or plastic spoon, poke several holes all over the cake.

Whisk together the pudding and the milk, then pour over the cake, making sure to fill the holes.

Refrigerate the cake for about 10-15 minutes, until pudding has set.

Spread the whipped topping evenly over the top and then sprinkle with the mini candies.

Store covered in refrigerator.

One Year Ago:  Ham and Cheese Biscuit Bake

Black and White Parfaits and Tinis and Back To School

Tomorrow is back to school (my third favorite day of the year)...Hallelujah !!!!  After 2-1/2 weeks of vacation, the girls are off to be with their peers, books, volleyball  and a normal routine again and I couldn't be happier.

We had about a foot of snow come in and blanket us this weekend.  I couldn't believe what I heard come out of the girls' mouth..."I hope we have a snow day tomorrow and they close school."  Are you kidding me???  No, off to school you will go..snow, hail, freezing rain...out of the house you will be !!

 The dogs had a great time playing in the snow this weekend, bouncing through all the white powder and attacking the soccer ball and anything else they can find buried in the yard.

My husband said that Theo looks so black against the white snow.  Right then, I have no idea why, but I immediately went to my mom's dessert that she used to make for us when we were little.  Two ingredients from the 70's and I always felt like she worked all day and it was the most special treat for us to have on Sunday nights after our pot roast.

This worked out great since I am trying to rid of the extra pantry items for over the holidays.  Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone, so to go with the black and white parfait I also created a black and white martini.

Black and White Parfaits
Courtesy of Mom

Cool Whip Topping
Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers

Layer (starting with the whip cream) in a small glass or parfait glass, the whip cream and alternating with a chocolate wafer.  Layer until you get to the top and finish with the whip cream.  Top off with one of the wafers crushed and sprinkled on top.

Cover each glass with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator for 6-8 hours.

Black and White Tini
Celebrating Back To School

1/2 cup milk
1 mini Smirnoff "Fluffed Marshmellow" flavored vodka
1 mini Smirnoff "Vanilla" flavored vodka
1-1/2 teaspoon JELLO-O White Chocolate flavored instant pudding mix
Hershey's chocolate sauce
crushed Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers

Mix milk, both vodkas and JELLO-O instant pudding mix in shaker with ice.  Shake for about 30 seconds.

Dip rim of martini glass in chocolate sauce, then dip rim into crushed wafer crumbs.  Strain drink into glass.