Spicy, salty, chocolaty sweet, delicately sandy, but also crunchy… In other words – delicious cookies. I’ve already blogged about my love to this flavor combo. Spicy wasabi ganache I dipped the shortbread in is exactly the same one I used to fill my macarons. I went a bit further this time and added wasabi peas into the cookie dough, as well as sprinkled them over the ganache glaze.
This is both a dessert and cheese course in one. Although my son declared they were the best when eaten with wild mushroom soup as a bread substitute. He’s got quite a taste for an 8-year old.
This recipe was born out of the need to utilize some leftover filling I used to stuff chicken breasts for our dinner. I also conveniently got rid of some Italian salami that was left on an antipasto platter after the same dinner. Maybe this is not a very fascinating or motivating preface, but let me assure you, these little things are loaded with flavor.
I believe the most delicious recipes are created accidentally, without too much hope or expectation of a great result.
First, I thought the cake was too seasonal and the time for its posting had already passed, but then I realized the St. Patrick’s Day was still ahead and decided to share the recipe anyway. Besides, there are two winter months left, plenty of snow, so the cake in its whiteness should fit just right in.
The gingerbread recipe is adapted from the famous Gramercy Tavern’s. It’s moist, flavorful (Guinness and fresh ginger make the world’s difference), and light. And it goes so well with tangy lemon filling. The meringue frosting with some lemon juice added doesn’t seem overly sweet at all. The whole thing turned out to be a perfect winter cake. I was surprised that even after a quite heavy meal everyone asked for the second serving.
Meringue mushrooms are totally optional, the cake will look great without them, just create more swirls in the frosting.
Who’s been a good doggie? My girl certainly has. And she certainly deserves these wholesome treats made exclusively for her. Unlike other dog biscuits I posted earlier, these ones are for dogs’ consumption. They are made of brown rice flour, rolled oats, brewers yeast and beef stock. And Lexis finds them delicious.
Lexis is almost 10 months now and what an incredibly smart, loyal, loving and gentle dog she is! She is starting her advance obedience class in a few days. Here, she is demonstrating her “wait”.
Nobody in the family can imagine our life without her. We all became happier and healthier since we’ve got her. Happy New Year, dear!!!
