Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake with Ginger Pecan Crust

Hello everybody! I said I would be mostly absent from my blogs due to Holidays, Family Commitments, etc... But I am here today to post about my baking adventures with my friends from The Cake Slice.

This year we are baking from"The Cake Book" by Tish Boyle . If you LOVE baking that book is a "MUST HAVE"! I really think so!!! I've gotten great recipes from that book and my husband feels like it was money well spent! How wouldn't he? When he gets to enjoy all the wonderful things I bake.

So, this month we voted to bake a delicious Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake with Ginger-Pecan Crust. It is really, REALLY easy to make! Even if you have never made a cheesecake in your life. This cheesecake is also very forgiving! I had MANY MISHAPS (including having to postpone baking the batter for about 3 hours because I didn't have a roasting pan -which I was sure I did- for the water bath) while baking it and still turned out perfect! Beautiful! and with no cracks!!

The secrets for this cake to avoid cracking are the use of cornstarch in the batter which helps with the structure of the cake, baking it slowly in a waterbath and running a paring knife around it as soon as it gets out of the oven.

I am not going to share the recipe publicly this time! But if you are interested in making this delicious pumpkin cheesecake to impress anybody at Thanksgiving please send me an e-mail to: love.for.coffee@gmail.com and I will send it to you... Here in the blog I am choosing to invite you TO GET THIS WONDERFUL BOOK! Let's support authors and people who make our life sweeter! Don't you think?

So... I will share some pictures of my cake below. I also want to mention that registered it for a contest (There was a Thanksgiving dinner in the apartment clubhouse where I live and all registered desserts would participate in a contest) I didn't win but I didn't feel bad at all... MY dessert was the only one that was completely gone! And ... I lost to a "BANANA PUDDING FROM A BOX" Which was really SHOCKING! This cheesecake definitely should have won the prize! And it's not the fact that I made it why I say so! All the credit goes to the creator of this recipe ... Tish Boyle! ... It truly had no rivals that could compete with it in that contest!!! It was creamy, the flavors were balanced and still deep! The crust was just delicious and like no other crust for a cheesecake I've ever had! it tasted fresh and warm at the same time and to make it even better it was topped with homemade whipped cream and roasted sugared pumpkin seeds with a hint of cinnamon that just took it to a higher level. Just perfect to have with a cup of strong coffee I think.

I wish I could share a slice with you:

© Paloma King

I'll be MIA

Hello everybody... so I will not be around (consistently) for a little while... you know... with all the holidays and stuff... But I will still stop by every once in a while! Have a Sweet Thursday and keep making desserts to share with us in the future!

For sure I'll be here on the 20th of each month to share about the cakes I bake with "The Cake Slice"

I'll miss you all! Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!

Give THANKS!!!

© Paloma King

Sweet Thursday and Peach Pie Recipe!

Hello everyone! It's Sweet Thursday again! Thank you for joining us! Hopefully we'll see you every Thursday! Take this space as a place where you can show off your desserts, get ideas/recipes from others or just enjoy the beautiful sweet treats displayed in the pictures of everyone's posts!

Remember, to join you just need to link up to a post of your creation where the "star" is something sweet (candy, dessert of some sort)  - not your kids or hubby, no matter how sweet they are - and hopefully you can post the recipe too! Please take our "Sweet Thursday Button" if you want to be a member!

<center><a href="http://love4coffee.blogspot.com/p/sweet-thursday.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Coffee Shop" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzALKyCZ9gd223wtjVPPobBwog9x6ih-cS1IEZ68qANNbzQQmP-wg4c7IDGlexxHmHxIhWWMpNExeJNtG_opkVFCmpUHhx7_LT13dLmIvwAYqL4n_XgZsk6PryJ3Q3_ZD2cxXjgQBkKXw/s1600/sweet+thursday+button.jpg "/></a></center>

I am excited and expecting more people to join us, right now we aren't many but I am sure soon we'll have more people interested to be part of our Sweet Thursdays!


So, here we go with my recipe:

Peach pie:

 

Ingredients:

• Double Pie Crust (Your favorite recipe or store bought! I will share my recipe at the end)
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter -room temperature-
• 6 large fresh ripe peaches, pitted, peeled and sliced (I used 4 because that's all I had and I was happy it wasn't a humongous and too filled pie... but you can use up to 10 peaches)
• 1 egg 
• 1 Tbsp. water
  

Directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter. Mix until it looks "crumbly"
3. Place one pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate. Scoop in one layer of peaches. Top with some of the crumbly sugar mixture, layer more peaches followed by the sugar mixture and continue the "layering" until you've used all the ingredients for the filling.
4. Place the 2nd. pie crust on top (you can even do a lattice topping but I just go for the easier route, plus I love my crust recipe so much that I want it to cover all the peaches) Just make sure you cut about 4 slits into the top crust so the steam can go through it. Close the edges together (as pretty as you can).
4. Whisk the egg with the tbsp. of water and brush the top of the pie with it.
5. Bake on the center rack in the oven for 1 hour or until it has a beautiful golden brown color along the crust and the peach filling is bubbling in the center. - to prevent the edges from 'over browning' you can wrap them (just the edges) all around with aluminum foil.
6. Take out of the oven and cool down to a nice warm temperature (warm is best!)

 Now my pie crust recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

I teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

6 tablespoons butter (softened)

6 tablespoons shortening

6 to 8 tablespoons ice water

If this is your first time making this pie crust, you MIGHT want to make a double batch to be sure you have enough crust.

Directions:

Mix in a large bowl:

2 cups all-purpose flour

I teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

Then cut in using a dough blender or fork (but not your hands):

6 tablespoons butter

6 tablespoons shortening

6 to 8 tablespoons ice water - I use 7 - (just until it all comes together, don't add more water because it would be ruined)

Wrap your pie crust in plastic wrap. Then place in refrigerator for 20 or more minutes, while you make the pie filling, then, when your pie crust has had plenty of time to cool, divide it into two, equal halves, roll them out and use them for your pie! Enjoy! 




© Paloma King

Ham and Potato Soup! Recipe!

So, today, just like last Tuesday instead of our coffee-related Jokes/quotes/facts/news that I usually share on Tuesdays I am going to be sharing a Soup Recipe! This time is the turn for a delicious Ham and Potato Soup! This soup is delicious! My husband never really liked soups until now... each soup I've made lately has been a big hit but this one is now a favorite! I am glad I started making soups even when I knew he was "all against them" I thought I would make him "cross to this side" and he did! And oh! am I happy he did! because I really love soups especially in cold, cloudy days!

So, here is our soup:

Ham and Potato Soup
(About 8 servings)

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 big carrot (or 2 medium/small ones) -peeled and diced-
• 3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
• 1 stalk of celery finely chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup diced cooked ham
• 3 1/4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules (or 1 1/2 cubes)
• Salt to taste (about 1 tsp.)
• Black pepper to taste (about 1/2 tsp.)
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
•  1 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese (for garnish)
• 4 green onions (for garnish)

 

Directions

1. In a stockpot warm the olive oil at medium heat, once it's hot add the potatoes, celery, onion and carrots stirring occasionally until they soften (about 8 minutes) -season with some salt and pepper, remember you will be adding the chicken bouillion granules - or cubes - and those will add more salt.
2. Once the 8 minutes have passed and the vegetables are a little softer add the ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon.
3. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, stir a little to make sure it combines and cook soup for 3-5 more minutes. Serve immediately garnishing with the shredded cheese and green onions

Enjoy!!!

 

© Paloma King

Happy Monday and a challenge!

Good Monday everyone! It is now starting to become a tradition here at "The Coffee Shop" to begin our Mondays with a happy, positive, grateful attitude, sometimes we are too "whinny" don't you think? And then we wonder why the whole week was so hard! Most times is our attitude that makes it all bad! So... let's stop saying "UGH MONDAY" or "I hate Mondays" and turn it into a Happy Monday... I mean... It's still "going to happen" isn't it? we are still going to have to "go through it" anyway! Plus... think about it! Praise God we still have the chance to be here another Monday!!!! I might be a weird person... but whenever I've "had to" go through something "bad" I've made myself find "something good about it" I've had to make myself find something "enjoyable" because I've realized two things:

1. "If I am still going to go through it, why kick and cry and whine? that just makes it all worse."
2. "I am not the first one nor the last one to "go through this" and if others have been able to go through it then why not me and why not find something good about it?"

And with those thoughts in my mind I have been able to go through "minor things" like Shots, dentists, surgery, headaches, tests in school, etc (I've thought like this since I was 12) and when I learned to stop complaining about the very little things then when bigger things came I wasn't destroyed! (Just a comment! I do not like going through bad things at all either!! nor little! Nor big!). But the sun still rises, the Lord is still with me, others have gone through this (and more) so... can't we do the same about Monday? Can you go this day without complaining? Try it out! I challenge you! It will be like "counting calories" (well... if you are in this blog maybe you are not exactly a "calorie counter") but I challenge you to keep track of yourself and EVERY SINGLE TIME you feel like a complaint is going to come out of your mouth just make a better decision and switch it to a praise, say something you are thankful about, see the good in it or the good that could result from it! This applies for the way we see the "weather, being stuck in traffic, etc" plus... it's just Monday! Come on! We can't live our lifes hating Monday! what a waste of a day! Hopefully there will be many many more Mondays in our lives! So... why not make "the best of them?"

What do you say? Do you take the challenge?

Today I am thankful for the time change! It seems it will help me get back on track with putting my 3 yr. old in bed at 8!!! YAY!

Beautiful Sun Clock

What are YOU thankful for?

© Paloma King

Coffee Friday! Thinking of mom!

Good morning everyone! Today's coffee is being served by my dear friend Jayne! She is a wonderful lady and I saw one of these pictures yesterday and asked her if I could use it today to share it with all of you! Not only she agreed but she even offered a second one for me to use the one I liked best so I am sharing them both!

I am also sharing her closed caption:

My new favorite coffee mug :) Thanks Mum! Love this pottery!

I don't care the kind of coffee you drink out of that cup! Is always going to taste good because it was a gift from her mom! Sweet memories will be evoked and I am sure there will always be a smile when drinking!

Thanks Jayne for letting me use your pictures and for sharing a cup of coffee with all of us!

Now... would you have a cup of coffee with us? If you'd like your coffee pictures to be featured here please just send them to: love.for.coffee@gmail.com   Please include a closed caption too and if you are a blogger add the link to your blog and maybe a small post if you'd like to say something about yourself, your blog, your picture and why you love coffee. Trust me, it will be fun!

Happy Coffee Friday everyone!

© Paloma King

Sweet Thursday and Pumpkin Brownies!

Hello everybody! Here I am with a new recipe for our Sweet Thursday! Hopefully you'll join us and share a recipe/picture on your blog about some sweet treat/dessert of any kind and then link up with us to show off! ;) how about that?

Won't it be cool when we have many people linking up and making our Thursdays sweeter with their desserts? I think it will be fun and a beautiful Link-Up party, with all those pictures of the most decadent desserts that are so inviting! plus we'll have a place to share our ideas and GET BAKING! So here is my recipe for today: (trust me... you HAVE TO try it!)

(slightly modified from AllRecipes.com)

Spiced Pumpkin Brownies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup natural cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan. Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
2. In another bowl, stir together the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract; beat in the eggs one at a time with a spoon. Gradually add the flour mixture, and stir the batter until it's evenly moistened. Divide the batter in half in two separate bowls.
3. Into one bowl of batter, blend the cocoa powder and chocolate chips. In the second bowl of batter, stir in the pumpkin puree, walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
4. Spread 1/2 of the chocolate batter into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, and follow with 1/2 of the pumpkin batter. Repeat the layers, ending with a pumpkin layer, and drag a kitchen knife or small spatula gently through the layers in a swirling motion, to create a marbled appearance.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan, cut into squares, and serve. 

© Paloma King

Fall is here ... so let's talk SOUP!

Hi everyone! I know I usually post quotes, jokes or facts about coffee on Tuesdays... but... being a Coffee Shop we need to stay "on top of things" and adapt to what people want and would like to see here! So... who doesn't crave a good soup on cold days? Aren't they warming and satisfying? I feel like when you eat soup it tells you "someone loves and cares for you"!  or at least that's what I hope my family feels when I make soups for them...

Here is a very easy and delicious soup recipe, try it! I know you'll love it!

Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup with Vegetables

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. olive oil 
• 1/2 white onion (finely chopped)
•  1 stalk of celery (finely chopped)
• 1 big carrot (or 2 smaller ones) -finely chopped-
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
•  Cooked and shredded chicken meat (I used 6 chicken drumsticks you can use 3 chicken breast halves, I just prefer dark meat for soups)
• 1 (6.2 ounce) package Fast Cooking  Long Grain&Wild Rice with seasoning packet (I use Uncle Ben's)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste for seasoning vegetables)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (plus more to taste for seasoning vegetables)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 tbsp.butter
•  1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup of milk 

Directions

1. In a large pot over medium heat, warm up the olive oil and add the onion, celery and carrots, season them with some salt and black pepper to taste (not too much because you will add more salt later, just a little bit so they are not bland) sautee them for about 9 minutes (until they are softer) combine broth, water and chicken. Bring to a boil turn heat down to medium low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, then stir in rice, reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat.
2. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and flour. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux. Whisk in cream and milk a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, 5 minutes.
3. Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat (about 15 minutes) and serve. 

Hubby loved this soup! He even took it to his job for lunch the next day! If you refrigerate it then you just need to add a little water when you re-heat it.

 Enjoy!

© Paloma King

Cold Monday!

Good morning everybody! I hear it is cold in many different places already and here in Texas our mornings have been a little cold too! Right now we are 49F (I know that's not even cold for some people! LOL!) but anyways! I just want to start the week with a Happy Thankful thought! Just like I am trying to do every morning! And praise God for something! And today I just want to praise Him for His creation! Thank God for seasons, changes and for chilly mornings! You, whoever you are, if you are reading this post it means that you have a computer and that makes me assume you have shelter, so I guess we both have something to be thankful for! Don't you think?

And for hot coffee... to make those chilly mornings even more enjoyable!

so... how do you want to start your week? In spite of the circumstances we all have a choice! What are you choosing today?

Go ahead! grab a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or something cold if you want or if you are reading from a place where it is warm right now... and choose a good attitude! Trust me... not only YOU will have a better week but also those around you! Our mood is contagious... what are you spreading?

© Paloma King

Sweet Thursday Link Up and Molten Chocolate Cakes

Hello everybody! It is Sweet Thursday again! Last week flew! And I am happy to share a new recipe with you! If you don't know yet what Sweet Thursday is just click here. I hope you join us today and every Thursday and link up with us! You just need to post about some dessert and share your link with us! Hopefully we have more people with each passing week and we can all show off our desserts!

Here is my recipe:
Molten Chocolate Cakes: (Makes 5)

( I first tried these at a friend's house -Jessica- they were awesome, she uses ceramic ramekins though so they were a little bigger)

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 6 Tablespoons flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease 5 of the cups of a standard muffin pan. Microwave the chocolate and butter in large microwavable bowl on high for 1 minute or until butter is completely melted (that's easier but I usually melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler, so you can do that if you prefer to). Stir with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar until well blended (let the mixture cool for about 2 mins). Whisk in eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour. Divide batter among the muffin cups (fill them all the way up). Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until sides and top are firm (you will see the top starting to show little cracks) and centers should still be "runny". Let stand 1 minute. Carefully run knife around cakes to loosen. Carefully invert cakes. Serve immediately.
Note: You can top the cakes with whipped topping. I just dust them with powdered sugar... you can also take about 1 cup of frozen berries, add a tablespoon or 2 of sugar and simmer them for about 10 minutes. Then use that to top the cakes.

© Paloma King

Tuesday of Quotes, Jokes and Interesting Coffee Facts

Good morning! I hope you are having a good week... Did you already have your first cup of coffee? Well... here I have some quotes and facts that you might find interesting... so you can read while enjoying your first/second or third? cup!

Forever:  Time it takes to brew the first pot of coffee in the morning.
-Author Unknown

Decaffeinated coffee, like taking paracetamol for the taste

And now some Coffee News 

Drinking Coffee could help reduce the risk of skin cancer
October 25, 2011 - Fox News

Drinking copious amounts of coffee may reduce the risk of the most common type of skin cancer, a new study finds.

Women in the study who drank more than three cups of coffee a day were 20 percent less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma, a slow-growing form of skin cancer, than those who drank less than one cup a month.

Men in the study who consumed more than three cups of coffee had a 9 percent reduction in their basal cell carcinoma risk... If you want to read more please visit:

 http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/10/25/coffee-drinking-may-reduce-risk-skin-cancer/#ixzz1bnYhF44e

So.... keep enjoying your coffee!

 © Paloma

Great Monday!

 Hello everybody! Ready with your cup of coffee? Ready for a new week?? I know I am... I have a new day to enjoy! New mercy! A new week beginning! A great brand new opportunity to do things better, to love more, to work harder, to praise! ... How is your attitude this Monday? Don't start the week with complaints! Usually we set the pace for how things go for us! If you are going through some problem (because I understand bad things happen) don't isolate yourself... Seek for help... Go out with friends, talk to someone and don't dwell on the past, mistakes or on those things that cause you pain... I am not talking here about "positivism" or "good vibes" I am just saying that there is always something to be thankful for... I am sorry if you are going through hard times! If you are... let us know and we can talk with you... and even pray for you! And if you are not ... then don't "look for the little bad things" in everything! Just give thanks for how blessed you are! Sometimes our own selfishness makes us unhappy! We are so focused on ourselves that we become grumpy, dissatisfied! If we were busy helping someone else not only we would appreciate more what we have and be thankful for it but we would also get the satisfaction of having been there for someone in need... I just want us all to hopefully start our week as good as we possibly can! If you are having a hard time in your job... focus on the fact that you have a job when many people don't.... if you are a mom who is tired with the routine of always cleaning after your kids... just focus on the fact that you HAVE your kids with you! And praise God for it! Praise God for the mess! :) ... I've heard those years fly by! And I as I type I am also saying it to myself! Anyway... ready to start the week? Once again, like last time... I invite you to share something (or things) that you are thankful for today... even simple things:

For me today is:
- For a great weekend with the family (we went to an arboretum and got to see BEAUTIFUL things!)- just look at this:

 

 

 - Ok... now something else I am thankful for...  I forgot to thaw my meat for lunch yesterday and I knew we would be all starving after the church service and when we got to our apartment the club house had FREE pizza (LOL!) so... no cooking, no cleaning! YAY!
- And last but NOT least for awesome long talks with my hubby!

There is so much more... but I would never end!

What are YOU thankful for today? even if it is a cup of coffee... why not thank for it?

© Paloma

Coffee Friday!

WElcome to "The Coffee Shop" whether it is your first time with us or not I want you to feel Welcomed in this virtual Coffee Shop! Our goal is for you to feel like you would among friends in your favorite Coffee Place.... of if you want to be on your own then that's ok... You can just read and relax... Find good atmosphere and why not? Great things to eat (we have wonderful recipes here) while you enjoy a cup of coffee! Not a cook? Then enjoy our Tuesdays of Jokes, Quotes and Facts about coffee... And if coffee is all you are looking for then you are in the right place! Today is "Coffee Friday" and we basically "serve your coffee" ... We share pictures of our cups of coffee with you! and hopefully you will want to share yours too... If you are interested in "hosting Coffee Friday" then just send your coffee-related pictures (and closed captions) to love.for.coffee@gmail.com ... You don't need to be a "blogger" to do so... We'll still give you credit for the pics... And if YOU ARE a blogger we'll also ask you to write a small post that will be featured here in "The Coffee Shop" along with links to your favorite posts (within your blog of course). So do not be shy and join our "coffee Friday's" ...

Here is today's picture (mine)

The talking cup of coffee

There was a birthday party for hubby's grandpa and that cup of coffee was there... so lonely that it got my attention! It was looking at me.... enticing! Inviting! and I could almost hear it whispering my name! (disclaimer: I do not hear voices in my head or from "talking cups of coffee" but if you love coffee as much as I do you understand what I am talking about!) ... HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

© Paloma King

Sweet Thursday Link Up and Apple Cake!

Hello everybody! Welcome to The Coffee Shop, as some of you might know today is "Sweet Thursday" (it's our third week) in the Coffee Shop! And I hope you join and Link Up with us! I will be posting a dessert recipe and all you need to do is post about something sweet/dessert and link up with us! it's that easy! hopefully you will join us today and every Thursday!

So... Today I will not only be sharing a GREAT RECIPE! But... it's also the day I am supposed to write about a cake I made! yes... I am supposed to write about it because I am part of a group of "cake bakers" ...

I just joined so this is my first cake and I am glad it turned out GREAT! The aromas coming from my oven were AMAZING! and hubby and I just enjoyed this cake so much that I am SOOO looking forward to the "cakes to come" ... Its texture is really soft and rich, I compare this cake to an AWESOME choir... there aren't any "voices" (flavors in this case) that are too overpowering or out of tune! The flavors blend in perfect harmony! It's definitely a "grown up kind of cake" too! Not for kids as I doubt they will like it as much.  So... here it is:

Apple Cake with Maple Frosting. 

From The Cake Book

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2/3 cup buttermilk (you can also use plain yogurt)
2 cups of Granny Smith apples (I almost used 3 apples), peeled and diced (1/3 inch pieces)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour through salt.) Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute, then gradually add the brown sugar and continue beating on medium-high speed until well blended and light, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time. Beat well after adding each egg, and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk (or yogurt) in two additions. Mix just until blended. Turn off the mixer, add the diced apple and chopped walnuts, and stir them in by hand.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top is light golden brown and a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool completely on a rack, then turn out onto a serving platter before you frost it.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
pinch of salt
1/8 tsp. maple flavoring
1 cup confectioner’s sugar (sifted)

Directions

In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth. Add the vanilla, maple syrup, spices and salt. Reduce the speed to low and add the confectioner’s sugar. Beat until well blended. Increase the speed to high, and beat until light and creamy, about 2 minutes.

© Paloma King

Happy Monday!

Good Monday everyone! The week is starting so let's start it right! Let's not begin to whine about it "being Monday" or how much we hate to do this or that... most of the time we are the ones setting the tone for the rest of the week with our attitude! Why not have a grateful/joyful attitude? I know it's hard sometimes.... I know it's easy to complain... besides... everyone else is doing it! right? We don't want to be the "weird ones" who are all happy and pumped up to start a new week! But let's be those "freaks" that are just happy to have a new day to live, thankful to God for giving us a whole new fresh page in our lives to write on! an hey! it comes with NEW MERCY too! So... Let's just be thankful for that and focus on the good instead of the bad... I constantly think that if we spent as much energy and time THANKING for the good things as we do worrying or complaining for the "bad things" in life... we wouldn't really have much time to complain (or maybe we wouldn't even dare to do it!) because we would have a whole new perspective of things! so... anyway... Just mention with me... today ... 3 THINGS (anything) that you are thankful for! Come on! Don't be shy! Even if it's not something "big" or that others might consider "Important" ... Let's do it!

Let me go first: (They don't have to be the things you are MOST THANKFUL FOR IN LIFE... they can just be simple day to day things sometimes you don't even care to thank for but that you acknowledge they make your life... just... better)

• Spices
• My vintage coffee cups (we got them at a Christmas gift exchange)
• Temperature below 100's !

See? It's not that hard! And stop by next Monday also! so you can see what others are thankful for and also if you need a little extra "push" to change your "Monday attitude" ...Would you share with us!?

 © Paloma King

Coffee Friday!

Hello fellow "Coffee Lovers" Welcome to the Coffee Shop and to another "Coffee Friday pre-launch" the re-start for our Coffee Fridays will be in November... But I've been already posting "Coffee Related Pictures" (started last Friday) for everyone to have an idea of what it is all about! We used to do this in the past... but then things happened (or should I say kids happened?) and I got disconnected from every wonderful friend I had already made here! It's taking a lot of work to get re-connected again and I am working hard at getting my friends back at their Favorite "Coffee Shop" but it will be worth it! So... back to the Coffee Friday thing... I just need YOU to send your own "Coffee pictures" to love.for.coffee@gmail.com so I can publish them here you'll be all in charge of "serving Coffee" (I will be sending you the schedule letting you know when your pictures will be featured)...  In the e-mail you send with your pics please also include a "closed caption" and a post telling us a little about yourself, your blog or why you love blogging and/or coffee... anything you want to share will be welcome! also make sure you send a link to one of your favorite posts of your blog... So you will get people to know more about you and your blog!

Join us then! Let's have fun and share a "cup of coffee" ...

Here is Today's "Coffee Friday Picture" to give you an example of what you can send! (By the way... BIG Thanks to my friend Sara who took a shot of her beautiful mug which she just bought at an art show!) Remember.. you can be as creative as you want... The picture can be of coffee beans, mugs, coffee shops, coffee stains, funny t-shirts that say something about coffee, etc...

Today (your name here) from (Your blog's name/link here) will be in charge of coffee.

(Your post here.... about one or two paragraphs and a link to one of your favorite posts in your blog)

And then your picture instead of this one

 (Your closed caption)

Make sure you visit (Your name here's blog) and thank her/him for sharing her/his coffee with us today!

So I hope you start sending your pictures! Thank you for being part of "The Coffee Shop"


Note: No inappropriate language/pictures will be published. We reserve the right to publish the article.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

© Paloma

Sweet Thursday! Recipe and Link Up!

 Happy Sweet Thursday Everybody! Thank you for choosing this blog as your "Virtual Coffee Shop" Relax and enjoy the atmosphere, the friends and a good cup of coffee if you like... or a cup of tea/hot chocolate if that's what you prefer! Today... as every Thursday (since last week) we are going to be talking about "sweets/desserts" that's what makes our Thursdays sweet! I will be sharing a recipe and then I'll just ask you to "link-up" with us to your blog... where you will be featuring something sweet like a type of dessert, something baked, candy or any kind of sweet treat! and hopefully you'll also share the recipe with us! Hopefully you will share our "Sweet Thursday Button" too!

<center><a href="http://love4coffee.blogspot.com/p/sweet-thursday.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Coffee Shop" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzALKyCZ9gd223wtjVPPobBwog9x6ih-cS1IEZ68qANNbzQQmP-wg4c7IDGlexxHmHxIhWWMpNExeJNtG_opkVFCmpUHhx7_LT13dLmIvwAYqL4n_XgZsk6PryJ3Q3_ZD2cxXjgQBkKXw/s1600/sweet+thursday+button.jpg "/></a></center>

So here goes my recipe!

I made this recipe for hubby's birthday this year... He REALLY loved it... I just changed it a little bit and used sliced almonds instead of walnuts because hubby prefers them! I found the recipe in the "Martha Stewart LIVING Magazine"

Chocolate Almond Fudge Bars

Ingredients  (Yield: Makes 3 dozen)

• Vegetable oil cooking spray
• 27 store-bought chocolate wafer cookies (6 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• Table salt
• 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pound bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup toasted and sliced almonds (or finely chopped walnuts if you prefer)
• Coarse salt, preferably fleur de sel (I used Kosher Salt)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides. Spray parchment.
• Pulse wafers in a food processor until finely ground, and transfer to a bowl. Add sugar and a pinch of table salt. Melt 6 tablespoons butter, and stir into crumbs. Press into bottom of dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Heat chocolate, condensed milk, whole milk, remaining 4 tablespoons butter, and a pinch of table salt in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, until melted. Stir in vanilla.

•  Pour chocolate mixture over baked cookie layer, smoothing top with an offset spatula. Sprinkle almonds and coarse salt over top, pressing slightly to adhere. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

• Remove fudge from dish using parchment to lift, and transfer to a cutting board; remove parchment. Trim edges of fudge with a sharp knife, and cut crosswise into six 2-inch-wide strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 equal bars, then cut each bar in half on the diagonal to form 36 triangles.

Enjoy!



© Paloma King

About our Link-Up Party

 Hello everybody! How are you doing? Here in "The Coffee Shop" we are getting ready for our Thursday Link Up Party Sweet Thursday If you want to join you just have to post about something "sweet" tomorrow in your blog (candy, chocolate, dessert, baked stuff anything like that!) and/or share the recipe for a dessert! (Sharing the recipe is not necessary but it would be great!!!) and then just link up with us! I'd really appreciate if you could also share our button:

<center><a href="http://love4coffee.blogspot.com/p/sweet-thursday.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Coffee Shop" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzALKyCZ9gd223wtjVPPobBwog9x6ih-cS1IEZ68qANNbzQQmP-wg4c7IDGlexxHmHxIhWWMpNExeJNtG_opkVFCmpUHhx7_LT13dLmIvwAYqL4n_XgZsk6PryJ3Q3_ZD2cxXjgQBkKXw/s1600/sweet+thursday+button.jpg "/></a></center>

So more can join and make this a more FUN party! The more the merrier, isn't that right???

We had two great recipes last week! I hope we can have more with each passing week! As I said... it will not only be a GOOD party but a very beautiful one with all the beautiful pictures of good sweetness! :)

I will be sharing a great recipe too of course! (Trust me.... even if you don't link up you want to check that recipe out... did I mention that "chocolate" is the main ingredient???)

So... what do you say? Are you in?? I hope you are! and it will be great to see you every Thursday too!

Have a great day!

© Paloma King

Tuesday of Quotes, Facts and Jokes

I know I am a little late and most of you already started your Tuesday... But here I am bringing you some funny quotes about Coffee... So here we go!

"I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon." ~Ronald Reagan

 

"In Seattle you haven't had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it's running" ~Jeff Bezos

 

"If it wasn't for coffee, I'd have no discernible personality at all" ~David Letterman

 I hope you enjoyed our quotes... Stop by tomorrow to enjoy some more "Coffee Shop" atmosphere with us... wherever you are!

© Paloma King

Happy Monday!

Good morning everybody! I hope you all had a great weekend! Let's start the week with happy/thankful thoughts, shall we? Please share with us about a good moment you had last week or something you are looking forward to during the week! anything you are thankful for? I am just very happy and thankful for my weekends lately, I mean.... In our near "past" hubby was working so many hours during the weekend too... and even when he was home he was always exhausted... I felt bad for him but I must say I also was sad we couldn't really enjoy much like a family, our weekends now are SO MUCH FUN just from having him with us!! and he even gives me (mommy) a break from the kids and things around the house! and yesterday hubby and I took a "Sunday nap" together... which we hadn't done in over 3 years (our oldest daughter is over 3 years... LOL!) ... Our little baby was sleeping and our oldest one did really great while we slept (it was actually a 2 hour nap) and she was content and just playing on her own! That was bliss! so... anything you'd like to share about? Remember "The Coffee Shop" is not only to talk about food and coffee (we do talk a lot about it and share recipes BUT it's just a virtual coffee shop, where you can talk about anything as you would with your friends!) ... so... share with us... and have a cup of coffee if you'd like!

 
© Paloma King

Coffee Friday!

As you know I've been saying that Coffee Friday is coming! And it is! The official re-start for our Coffee Fridays will be in November... But I will start posting "Coffee Related Pictures" today and each coming Friday so you have an idea of what it is all about! The difference will be when YOU send your own Coffee pictures for them to be published here you'll be all in charge of "serving Coffee" that day :) ... What you need to do is send your Coffee-related picture to love.for.coffee@gmail.com with a "closed caption" and a post telling us a little about yourself, your blog or why you love blogging and/or coffee... anything you want to share will be welcome! So your picture and your blog will be featured in "The Coffee Shop", also make sure you send a link to one of your favorite posts of your blog... So you will get people to know more about you and your blog!  ... Your pictures will be part of our "Coffee Friday Schedule" and I'll let you know via e-mail when your picture will be appearing here!


Join us then! Let's have fun and share a "cup of coffee" ...

Here is Today's "Coffee Friday Picture" to give you an example of what you can send! Remember.. you can be as creative as you want... The picture can be of coffee beans, mugs, coffee shops, coffee stains, funny t-shirts that say something about coffee, etc...

Today (your name here) from (Your blog's name/link here) will be in charge of coffee.

(Your post here.... about one or two paragraphs and a link to one of your favorite posts in your blog)

And then your picture instead of this one

(Your closed caption)

Make sure you visit (Your name here) and thank her/him for sharing her/his coffee with us today!
 
So I hope you start sending your pictures! Thank you for being part of "The Coffee Shop"

Note: No inappropriate language/pictures will be published. We reserve the right to publish the article or not.
© Paloma King

Sweet Thursday! Recipe and Link Up!

Today is our FIRST OFFICIAL LINK UP PARTY in "The Coffee Shop" I am so excited! I hope I start seeing more and more people join with each passing week! If you didn't read our post last Thursday (when we had a "Link up Party REHEARSAL" (lol) then you probably don't know what Sweet Thursday is all about ... So click on our "Sweet Thursday TAB" (or the Sweet Thursday button above) to read more about it... in just a few words I'll say that it's all about linking up and having a very Sweet Thursday! I'll share a dessert recipe and I will ask you to link up to one of your posts featuring sweet goods (pastries, candy or any kind of sweet treats) ... Let's make this and every Thursday SWEET!  (Link up tool at the bottom of this post!)

Now I will share my recipe which is delicious, VERY easy to make and doesn't require any baking! (Recipe from Auntie Amy)

Chocolate Eclair Torte

 

Ingredients

• 2 individual packages graham crackers
• 2 (3 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3 cups milk
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

For frosting:

• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 2 Tablespoons butter 
• 2 Tablespoons white corn syrup 
• 3 Tablespoons of milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ½ cup powdered sugar.

Directions

1. Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan with graham crackers. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well. Stir in whipped topping to pudding mixture. Spread half of mixture over graham cracker layer. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers. Refrigerate for about two hours before you frost it.

To make the frosting:

Melt chocolate, butter, corn syrup and milk. Stir in vanilla and sugar. Spread on top of dessert once it's been in the refrigerator for about two hours (it will make it easier to spread the frosting). Refrigerate for at least 8 more hours before serving

© Paloma King

Chocolate chip Cookies - FAIL!

In Mexico we have a saying "Al mejor cazador se le va la liebre" - "Even the best hunter will miss a rabbit" ... And of course I am far from being the best cook... but I feel like at least CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES are something I have "mastered" by now! And yes... I am actually very proud of my chocolate chip cookies but last night I just wasn't feeling like baking... I am fighting a cold (or that's how I feel)... and I just wasn't "inspired"... Plus hubby is sick and I made him some "caldo de Pollo" (Mexican Chicken soup) to make him feel better and I thought "Chocolate Chip Cookies" would be the Cherry on top of the cake that would help him recover! Not that they have medicinal properties! LOL! ... But LOVE does help heal! Doesn't it? So... regardless of all the "signs" I got telling me I shouldn't bake I still went for it... My 9 month old baby was tired and cranky by the time and she was crawling around my feet I kept  being distracted!! Then... I finally managed to start scooping the "cookie dough" on my baking sheets... of course I had to start eating cookie dough by then! (who can resist?) when this thought came to my mind all of a sudden "You shouldn't eat dough that has raw eggs in it" ... and that's when it hit me! RAW EGGS? RAW EGGS!!! I hadn't added the eggs to my batter! I felt like crying! (how dramatic! But forgive me! I was in one of those days where you just feel like crying even over "chocolate chip cookies without eggs!" ... I didn't know what to do... I KNEW adding eggs at this point wasn't a choice... But hubby, seeing my frustration suggested I'd "give it a try" and so I did.... let's just say that not only I wasted flour, chocolate chips, sugars, vanilla and butter but I also wasted 2 EGGS! which could've been saved if I hadn't added them when I knew I just shouldn't! It's funny I am posting this just after my previous post when I was making fun of myself and my "beginnings" in the baking field! Anyway... moral of the story??? Never bake when you just KNOW you are not feeling well... not feeling like baking and when you have a 9 month old baby crawling around you! .... and if you do ... just... DON'T FORGET THE EGGS!!! and if YOU DO... don't add them at the end.... at least save the eggs! - You can laugh now Auntie Sally! -

Hubby showing some"sacrificial love" ate two, they still ended in the trash

© Paloma King

Why I bake...

This is a more personal post... I got nostalgic today while making a dessert that I would usually eat in one of my hubby's aunts house... "Eclair Chocolate Torte"... and it got me thinking about my wonderful family in Wisconsin (we just recently moved from there)... and how they helped me "start baking"

First of all... I must say... that I had always seen my dad baking... I grew up hearing about flour, eggs, pecans and cinnamon, I knew what it was like to smell warm bread coming out of the oven but honestly I never really "understood it", it was always there... as a part of my life and I never appreciated it, my dad is a baker, a wonderful one, but I guess I always took it for granted, so much that I actually barely ever ate of the bread he made... Then I married and I moved to Wisconsin, where my husband, a wonderful and handsome gringo lived his whole life, also blessed to have people in his life (his mom and aunts) who have always baked from scratch and have always enjoyed doing so! I soon learned how much he "needs" to eat warm cookies! His mom would always make cookies for him, sadly she passed away and I never met her, but because of all that hubby loves coming to a home that smells like something is baking! So I started! in the beginning I didn't really know "how to start" but I looked for some online recipes (or took the recipe from the back of the Nestle chocolate chips bag) and started making "chocolate chip cookies" ... I felt like I had "discovered something" I couldn't believe I could "make cookies"! I always thought it would be harder... and you might laugh but I actually believed cookies took hours to bake! HA! ... Then, my husband's aunts (My aunts) started including me in their "baking sessions", they would bake "Christmas cookies" together and I joined them... embarrassed at first because they are REALLY GOOD AT IT! They seemed so "in control" and I was like a clumsy hen just copying what they were doing... I remember I tried making peanut butter cookies with them... and I didn't add guess what? PEANUT BUTTER! Auntie Janet was nice enough to eat the flat sugary crumbly mess that we could remove from the baking sheets (I doubled the butter too!) we all had a good laugh! ... So my love for baking started growing... I started "baking something" for the family gatherings... although I always felt like I was "bringing water to a well" (translation of a Mexican expression) ... You know? Like I was making a cake for a cake expert! LOL! how intimidating! But everyone would still oooh! and aaah! when eating what I made! I must say I have a wonderful, loving family in Wisconsin... and all those things encouraged me too keep baking! (Hubby's praises over the things I baked were definitely important too!)... Then, going to grandma's house (hubby's grandma) and seeing her spread baked goods and her famous chocolate cake when we would visit were something else that made me love baking, the way my aunts and grandma do everything with such love and femininity... I felt like I was witnessing with my own eyes a scene taken from "Little Women"! I truly thought things like that happened only in books... but I am so thankful I got to see it happen in real life... in my life... God has blessed me so much! grandma Shirley, Aunties Sally, Janet and Amy have been like a gift to me! and it's because of them that I actually finally got to understand why my dad speaks the way he does about flour, milk, butter and eggs! I hope I can keep learning so one days someone enjoys being around me as much as I've enjoyed being around those wonderful ladies!!! I hope I can see them soon!

© Paloma King

Let's have a SWEET Link-Up Party

Starting next Thursday we'll have our official SWEET THURSDAY Link-up Party... But I want to have a "Party rehearsal" today! What do you think? Would you like to Join us? I will share a "dessert" recipe and then you'll just LINK UP those great Sweet Recipes (desserts only) ... This is your "Virtual Coffee Shop" You don't need to leave your home to have the whole "Coffee Shop" experience! We'll all bring our desserts to your home! I think our Thursday link-up parties won't only be yummy but they'll be all beautiful too! don't you agree???

Please grab our button to share about it!

<center><a href="http://love4coffee.blogspot.com/p/sweet-thursday.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Coffee Shop" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzALKyCZ9gd223wtjVPPobBwog9x6ih-cS1IEZ68qANNbzQQmP-wg4c7IDGlexxHmHxIhWWMpNExeJNtG_opkVFCmpUHhx7_LT13dLmIvwAYqL4n_XgZsk6PryJ3Q3_ZD2cxXjgQBkKXw/s1600/sweet+thursday+button.jpg "/></a></center>

Here is my recipe:

Pay (PIE) de Queso (Mexican Version of the famous American Cheesecake)

Ingredients:

1 (14oz.)  can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk

6 ounces cream cheese, softened

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 prepared graham cracker crust (I use 2 cups of crushed honey graham crackers, 6 tbsp. melted butter and 1 tbsp. sugar. All mixed, pressed into the pie dish and baked for 6 min @375 F -cooled-)

Directions:

Preheat oven at 350F. In the meantime pour both condensed and evaporated milks, eggs, cream cheese and vanilla into the blender cup. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into prepared graham cracker crust. Bake @ 350 F for about 45 minutes or until center is set. (Do not overbake)

Remove pie from oven; let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate pie at least 3 hours before serving.





© Paloma King

Brownies and Coffee

Hello everybody! How are all of you doing? I am here, don't think I will be MIA again! :) I've been baking, cooking and baking some more! Taking pictures and everything... so yesterday I was wondering what I should make for dessert... I had just made "Pay de queso" (the Mexican version of  "cheesecake") and we loved it, but were craving some chocolate.... I had some chocolate chips in the refrigerator but didn't feel like making chocolate chip cookies and I found a great recipe that instead of cocoa powder uses chocolate chips... I wasn't sure how it would turn out but the reviews were really great... Hubby doesn't like really "fudgy gooey brownies" he likes them with that thin flaky kind of crust on top and I thought this would be it! I am glad I wasn't wrong... I think this will be "our brownies" from now on...

So... these are really Great (and very VERY easy) brownies! - Gotta love Allrecipes, don't you think???-

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch square pan.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and water. Cook over medium heat until boiling. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies set up. Do not overbake! Cool in pan and cut into squares.

Can you notice where I "pushed the crust down" with my finger? flaky goodness

Enjoy them with ... a cup of coffee if you love coffee just as much as I do... or with a cup of milk if you wish! ....

And since you are already here... why don't you leave a comment... come on! don't be shy!

© Paloma King