French 75 Panna Cotta with Candied Kumquats

French 75 Panna Cotta with Candied Kumquats
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We are only a couple of days away from bidding adieu to 2021 and from where I’m sitting, that is a very good thing. Sure, I had some good times this year but being the eternal optimist that I am, I’m inclined to believe the best is yet to come. And although I was decidedly wrong about 2020 and 2021. I live in hope that I will be right eventually. Even a broken watch, right? So in the spirit of carefully hoping for better things, I present you with this exuberant French 75 Panna Cotta for two complete with a candied kumquat halo. This is my final dish of 2021 and the closing sweet note of my brief but, I like to think, very romantic New Year’s at-home date menu.

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Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Meringue

Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Meringue
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Welcome to the final dish of my 2021 Holiday Menu and my last post before Christmas. And what a recipe to go out on. This Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie features a slightly savory pecan-studded crust, a velvety bourbon-spiked filling, and a crown of toasted molasses meringue. This pie hits all the festive notes. Warm, cozy, and boozy with a dash of nutmeg for good measure. Now, obviously, this dish breaks with the seafood theme of my holiday menu. But I figure you’ll forgive me this slight deviation from the rules because a seafood dessert is hard to come by. And a good seafood dessert seems impossible. But prove me wrong. I would love nothing more.

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Sticky Toffee Pudding – Overthinking Classics

Sticky Toffee Pudding - Overthinking Classics
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With Hanukkah in the rearview mirror, this dual holiday household is ready to turn its attention to the Christmas of it all. And what better place to start than on a sweet note? And it’s an Overthinking Classics episode, which is too perfect for a season full of food-related traditions. Although today’s subject, Sticky Toffee Pudding, pledges no allegiance to any particular holiday, to me it tastes like Christmas. Sure, I’ve had it at other times of the year. It’s particularly consoling in mid-February. But there’s something about this delightful sponge that just seems festive. Perhaps it’s the dates or the toffee or that fact that it pairs well with scotch, but Sticky Toffee Pudding is excellent at staving off the cold and cultivating an atmosphere of warmth and general coziness. What could be more Christmassy than that? So let’s dive right in.

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Sufganiyot Croquembouche with Sour Cherry Cream

Sufganiyot Croquembouche with Sour Cherry Cream
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Every year, I pick a recipe that pushes me to my limits. Last year it was this Gingerbread Cake and this year it’s this Sufganiyot Croquembouche. I won’t sugar coat it (pun intended) this recipe isn’t a walk in the park. But I have to say if you’re looking for a confidence boost, dusting this beast with its final sprinkling of sugar does indeed make you feel like a boss. Make sure you clear your schedule if you decide to take this dessert on. Rushing through any step will likely end in disaster or result in caramel-related burns – speaking from experience. So now that I have intimidated you completely, let’s dig into this Sufganiyot Croquembouche.

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