Category:  Desserts, Creams & Sauces

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Prep time: 10 minutes
Bake time: 15 minutes at 425°F and 45 minutes at 350°F
Makes: One 9-inch pie

Every year, pumpkin pies can become redundant, routine and plain boring, right? This year, for Halloween, I decided to change the “look” of my pumpkin pie by adding some decoration to it. I hope you make this Halloween pie – it’s so easy and fun!

Ingredients:
Ready-made, frozen pastry for one 9-inch pie (thaw per manufacturer’s directions & set in a 9-inch pie plate)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
One can (16 ounces) pureed pumpkin
One can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
Halloween pumpkin face sticker decorations
ready-made whipped cream

Directions:
1. Set oven rack in middle of oven; heat the oven to 425°F.

2. Using 2-inch wide aluminum foil strips, cover edges of pastry in pie pan.

3. With a fork, poke a few holes in bottom of pastry; set aside.

4. In a blender, combine the eggs, sugar, spices, salt, pureed pumpkin and evaporated milk.

5. Blend until ingredients are combined and look uniform; set aside.

6. Pour the blended, liquid ingredients in pie pan.

7. Gently transfer the filled pie pan to a rack set in middle of oven.

8. Bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, lower oven temperature to 350°F.

9. Bake for an additional 30 minutes. During last 5 minutes of baking, carefully remove and discard the aluminum foil strips.

10. After 30 minutes of baking, using oven mitts, carefully transfer the pie to a cooling rack or wooden board. Let pie cool completely.

11. When pie is cool, refrigerate it for 3 hours or overnight.

12. At serving time, decorate the pie by transforming it into a pumpkin face!

13. Set it on table for all to admire. When ready to serve, remove stickers, slice the pie and serve on individual plates.

14. Garnish each slice with whipped cream. Enjoy!
Text & Photograph ©2023 Nancy DeLucia Real

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Granita is a frozen Italian dessert, usually made with fresh fruit. It’s similar to sorbet. This melon granita recipe is so easy to make. The freezer does it all, even while you sleep. Enjoy this cool dessert on a hot summer day!

Active Prep Time: 5 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 4 hours or overnight
Makes: 4 half-cup servings

Ingredients:
2 cups melon cubes (cantaloup or honeydew)
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Juice from 1/2 of a lime
One small watermelon and melon scooper (for garnish)
Fresh mint sprigs (optional)

Directions:
1. In a blender, combine the melon, water, sugar and lime juice; puree until smooth.

2. Gently pour the melon mixture into a 9-inch round metal baking pan; transfer it to a freezer, uncovered.

3. Freeze the melon mixture for 4 hours or overnight.

4. After the melon mixture has become frozen, prepare the watermelon balls.

5. Using a melon scooper, form about 32 to 36 watermelon balls and place them on a plate; cover and store the watermelon balls in refrigerator.

6. Saving remaining watermelon for another use.

7. Meanwhile, place pan with frozen melon mixture on a counter.

8. Using a fork, make scrape-marks in the frozen melon mixture.

9. The scraping will create flakes – this is the “granita”.

10. Continue scraping until all the granita is made.

11. Divide the granita among 4 half-cup glass or porcelain bowls such as ramekins.

12. Place the bowls on a small, individual plates – garnish with watermelon balls and fresh mint sprigs. Serve immediately.
Text & Photograph ©2022 Nancy DeLucia Real

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After I purchased sandwich cookie cake molds at a local Williams Sonoma® store, I was inspired to make this cake for our 2020 December holidays – (this is to memorialize a year of C19 lockdowns in March and in December).

Mirroring our current lives, the cake is simple, with no frills. But it’s delicious, too.

Enjoy this comforting dessert with your favorite coffee, tea or liqueur after your Chanukah, Christmas or New Year dinner!

Prep time: 20 minutes (cake); and 10 minutes (frosting
Bake time: 25 to 30 minutes
Serves: 12 to 15

Ingredients for the Cake:
3 tablespoons vegetable oil (safflower or sunflower) or unsalted butter (for greasing cake pans)
1/2 cup cocoa powder or more (for dusting cake pans)
2 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
1-3/4 cups granulated sugar (unbleached)
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup milk (whole or low-fat)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (safflower or sunflower)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounces melted, unsweetened chocolate (cooled)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Grease two Williams Sonoma® Cookie Cake Pans or two 9-inch round cake pans.

3. Sprinkle cocoa powder over greased cake pans; shake off excess. Set pans aside.

4. Measure remaining ingredients in a large (12-cup) mixing bowl.

5. Beat 1 minute on low speed, constantly scraping bowl with a spatula.

6. Beat 3 minutes on high speed; scraping bowl occasionally.

7. Pour cake batter into pans until they reach 2/3 height. If there’s extra batter, grease and dust with cocoa a 2-cup baking dish (make a third cake to use for a separate purpose).

8. Place cake pans on a rack positioned in center of oven; bake for 25 to 30 minutes (bake small, extra cake for 15 minutes; check doneness).

9. Test doneness of cakes by inserting a pointed knife in center of each one. If knife comes out clean, the cakes are done.

10. Remove cakes from oven and set aside on a cooling rack or trivets on a counter for 15 minutes.

11. Invert the cakes onto a parchment paper-lined cutting board.

12. Meanwhile, prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients for the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 to 3 teaspoons milk (whole or low-fat)
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1. In a large (12-cup) mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, milk, vanilla with handheld  mixer. Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with a bowl.

2. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed, until smooth and spreadable. Set aside.

3. Meanwhile, using a spatula, turn one cake over and set it on a serving platter (with print side facing down).

4. Spread the frosting evenly over cake on platter.

5. Place the second cake, printed side up, on top of frosting.

6. Serve immediately by cutting cake into slices or refrigerate cake (covered) up to 2 days ahead.

7. If making this cake ahead, remove from refrigerator 2 hours prior to serving.
Text ©2020 Nancy DeLucia Real

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Yesterday (during our COVID-19 confinement), I thought of making my best pastry, slicing apples and voila! I made a delicious apple pie. Thinking ahead in our current situation, I froze the pie for a future dinner. What the heck – all I have to do is defrost the pie and warm it in the oven. Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream or gelato for “a la mode” style.

NOTE:  At this point in our home-confinement, kids will have fun with this recipe. Try it!

Pastry Ingredients for 9 to 10-inch pie pan:
2-2/3 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup safflower or sunflower oil
4 to 6 tablespoons cold water

Prepare Pastry Dough:
1. In a 4-quart mixing bowl, measure flour and salt; add oil.

2. Mix with pastry cutter or a fork until particles are size of small peas.

3. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough amalgamates. If needed, add 1 to 2 more tablespoons water.

4. Gather dough into a ball; divide it into 2 balls. Cover in plastic wrap and place in freezer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the apples:

Ingredients for Apple Filling:
6 large apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
3/4 cup granulated, unbleached sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix the Apple Filling:
1. Place the sliced apples in 4 to 6-quart mixing bowl; set aside.

2. In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.

3. Add the dry flour-spice mixture to the apples and stir well with a large spoon. Set aside.

Roll Out the Pastry Dough:
1. Lightly flour two waxed paper sheets, each measuring 16 inches long.

2. Flatten one dough ball into a circle until it is 3/4 inches thick. Place it between the floured waxed sheets.

3. Using a rolling pin, gently roll out the pastry using short strokes going outward. You may have to lift and re-flour the sheets so the dough will not stick.

4. Peel off top waxed sheet and, placing one hand underneath bottom sheet with pastry dough, make a quick flip into pie pan. Peel off remaining waxed sheet.

5. Repeat rolling out instructions for remaining pastry dough. Peel off top waxed sheet and set aside.

Fill and Seal the Pie:
1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Using a fork or knife, make holes in pastry lining the pan.

3. Give the applies a mix and turn them into the pastry-lined pan. They should sit in a mound.

4. Using a pastry wheel, cut 1-inch wide strips from the remaining pastry dough.

5. Beginning with longest strip, place it in center over top of apples. Place remaining strips on each side of center strip – one inch apart.

6. On the diagonal, repeat laying out remaining strips over first layer of strips.

7. Trim edges of pastry to 1-inch overhang.

8. With fingers, grab & roll pastry edges under to edge of pie pan. Make a curvy design as you work around pie pan.

9. Cover edges of pastry with 1-inch wide strips of aluminum foil (this prevents burning).

10. Place pie pan on a rack positioned in center of oven & bake 30 minutes.

11. After 30 minutes, remove foil strips and bake additional 5 minutes.

12. Immediately transfer pie to cooling rack or wooden board set on a counter.

13. Serve apple pie warm with vanilla ice cream or gelato.

ALTERNATIVELY, FOR STORAGE:

1. COVER PIE WITH PLASTIC WRAP AND REFRIGERATE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY; OR
2. COVER PIE WITH PLASTIC WRAP. THEN, PLACE PIE IN A LARGE PLASTIC BAG (USE WHITE KITCHEN TRASH BAGS).
3. REMOVE AIR AND MAKE A KNOT IN FIRST BAG.
4. PLACE BAG WITH PIE IN 2ND BAG & SECURE WITH A KNOT; PLACE IN FREEZER. DOUBLE BAGS WILL KEEP OUT THE “FREEZER BURN”.
5. ON DAY OF SERVING, BRING PIE TO ROOM TEMPERATURE.
6. PREHEAT OVEN TO 350°F.
7. COVER TOP OF PIE TO EDGES WITH ALUMINUM FOIL, PLACE IT ON A RACK POSITIONED IN CENTER OF OVEN & WARM IT FOR 30 MINUTES.
   Text & Photographs ©2020 Nancy DeLucia Real

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I need to relax these days – don’t you? Here’s a great biscotti dessert with a “kick”! Enjoy this on Valentine’s Day with anyone you love!

Prep time: 15 minutes (mixing dough & shaping biscotti logs)
Makes: 36 to 40 biscotti

Ingredients:
3-3/4 cups all-purpose, unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached, granulated sugar
69 drops red food color
1-1/2 cups white chocolate chips

Mixing the Dough:
1. Preheat double ovens to 350°F. You can also use one oven (baking directions will follow).

2. Line two 18X12-inch baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

3. In a 2-quart bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cloves & cinnamon; set aside.

4. In a 4-quart mixing bowl using a hand mixer (or in bowl of a stand mixer), blend together the eggs, egg yolks, vanilla extract and sugar until uniform.

5. With mixer going, add the red food color drops.

6. With mixer set on low speed, stir in the chocolate chips.

7. Set mixer on medium and gradually (a little at a time), stir in the flour until a dough forms.

8. When dough is uniform, turn it onto a lightly-floured surface (NOT MARBLE, GRANITE or OTHER STONE – IT WILL HALT THE “RISING” ACTION OF DOUGH).

Shape Biscotti Logs & Bake:

1. Lightly knead dough until it is smooth – do not overwork it.

2. When dough is smooth, divide it into four balls.

3. Roll each dough ball into a 15 X 2-inch log; place two logs on each baking sheet, spaced 3 inches apart.

4. Flatten logs slightly.

5. If using two ovens, place one sheet in each oven – racks must be centered in ovens; bake for 30 minutes.

6. Alternatively, if using one oven, place sheets on separate racks (top and bottom); bake for 15 minutes.

7. After 15 minutes, switch top and bottom sheets and bake for additional 15 minutes.

8. After 30 minutes baking time, transfer sheets with dough logs to a counter; cool for 6 minutes.

9. After 6 minutes, using a serrated knife, cut biscotti – 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide. DO NOT USE A “SAWING MOTION” AS BISCOTTI WILL CRUMBLE. INSTEAD, CUT “DOWN” INTO DOUGH.

10. Place each biscotto (Italian, singular) with cut side down on baking sheets.

11. Bake 5 minutes per side. Cool and serve.

TO STORE BISCOTTI: Place biscotti in double freezer bags and freeze up to two months. Place biscotti on a platter one hour prior to serving.
Text & Photograph ©2020 Nancy DeLucia Real