Chocolate Cherry Cordial Tart

As a new Gojee contributor, I was invited to the Gojee Potluck Dinner at their headquarters in New York City on January 12th. Unfortunately I am not able to make it. But this is what I would have brought with me if I did! The combination of cherries with chocolate, a touch of chocolate Balsamic and the flaky puff pastry crust is just delicious! Starting on Thursday, January 26, check out other potluck dishes fellow gojee contributors shared. Go to gojee.com and enter “gojeepotluck” into I Crave.  You can also follow #gojeepotluck on Twitter

Chocolate Cherry Cordial Tart

Wonderful as an afternoon treat with coffee or tea.
Add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream  or frozen yogurt and you have a perfect dessert.

Serves 8

4 cups fresh sweet Bing cherries, pitted
1/2  cup sugar
1/4 cup port wine
1 tablespoon chocolate balsamic
vinegar (I use Fiore brand), but if not
available, use an aged Balsamic
1 teaspoon arrow root powder
(dissolved in a couple
tablespoons of the port)
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 sheet frozen puff pastry,
thawed (you could make your own!)
4 ounces softened cream cheese
4 ounces shaved chocolate (or
Chips)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix the pitted cherries with the sugar, port,
balsamic, dissolved arrow root powder, and cocoa
and put into medium saucepan. Cook over medium
heat until sauce comes to a boil. Remove cherries and boil
sauce 2 to 3 minutes longer to thicken. Remove from heat and
place cherries back into sauce and allow to rest.

3. Press the puff pastry sheet into a 9-inch shallow and greased baking dish or tart
pan.

4. Spread the softened cream cheese on the pastry. Spread the chocolate shavings
(or chips) evenly over the cream cheese. And using a slotted spoon, place the
cherries in a single layer over chocolate.

5. Bake for 35 minutes. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes before serving.

This recipe is in the Baked Goods section of my cookbook, The Art of Breakfast.

Chocolate Dipped Homemade Marshmallows

I’ve been playing with patterned edible transfer paper (a new thing for me) and discovered it looks fun on top of these dipped marshmallows. The paper has to be put on when the chocolate is completely wet; if it starts to set the slightest amount, the pattern won’t adhere. I think I’ll have to order some more fun, colorful patterns! Give it a try. I bought mine at Golda’s Kitchen.

Ever tried homemade marshmallows?

YOU SHOULD! You may never buy packaged mass-produced again!

This was a Martha Stewart recipe. We turned them into bite sized S’Mores :-)

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Chocolate Cherry Cordial Tart, from The Art of Breakfast

Chocolate Cherry Cordial Tart

Wonderful as an afternoon treat with coffee or tea.
Add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and you have a perfect dessert.

Serves 8

4 cups fresh sweet Bing cherries, pitted
1/2  cup sugar
1/4 cup port wine
1 tablespoon chocolate balsamic
vinegar (I use Fiore), but if not
available, use an aged Balsamic
1 teaspoon arrow root powder
(dissolved in a couple
tablespoons of the port)
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 sheet frozen puff pastry,
thawed
4 ounces softened cream cheese
4 ounces shaved chocolate (or
Chips)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix the pitted cherries with the sugar, port,
balsamic, dissolved arrow root powder, and cocoa
and put into medium saucepan. Cook over medium
heat until sauce comes to a boil. Remove cherries and boil
sauce 2 to 3 minutes longer to thicken. Remove from heat and
place cherries back into sauce and allow to rest.

3. Press the puff pastry sheet into a 9-inch shallow and greased baking dish or tart
pan.

4. Spread the softened cream cheese on the pastry. Spread the chocolate shavings
(or chips) evenly over the cream cheese. And using a slotted spoon, place the
cherries in a single layer over chocolate.

5. Bake for 35 minutes. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes before serving.

Recipes can be found in The Art of Breakfast, How to Bring B&B Entertaining Home

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Simple and Perfect for Valentines Day

You can turn something simple into something special just by melting some chocolate. You can either buy melting wafers or the ready to melt containers of dipping chocolate. Use white and dark chocolate for contrast, then put some melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle to decorate!

Valentines Day Breakfast in Bed

My afternoon in the Danforth Inn’s kitchen with Meredith Goad, food writer for the Portland Press Herald was fun and delicious. My first video (photographers are usually behind the camera) seems a tad boring to me but I’ll work on it for next time.

The Danforth’s kitchen seems home to me, it’s one of Kim Swan’s inns and the one where I hold the Art of Breakfast cooking workshops for Maine’s Innkeeping Academy that we started a little over a year ago.

 

 

I love to show how combining simple ingredients in unique ways can elevate breakfast and add a touch of sophistication.

Ah, the lost Art of Breakfast?

 

Read the full story and get recipes for the menu

“How Sweet it Is” dessert competition kicks off Maine Restaurant Week

 

Maine Restaurant Week runs March 1-12 with a kickoff event February 28th.

My sweet tooth and I are thrilled to be one of the five judges for the new dessert competition this year.

Come join us for this fabulous foodie event!