Desserts

Leslie had a wonderful idea to make cookies, candies, and other confections as Christmas gifts for our friends.  We picked out recipes that could be easily packaged and stored.  15 Minute Chocolate Walnut Fudge fits both of these requirements. I've always been a fan of the the Fluff  "Never Fail Fudge" recipe, but alas this has that recipe beat.  I enjoy the subtle flavor of the different chocolates, and it's not over powering sweetness.

Given the approaching holiday season, Corey and I decided that it was time to start baking and reviewing a series of treats that make for great gifts and desserts around this time of year. Given that spice and molasses fit well with Thanksgiving feasts, these cookies served as a natural starting place for us. From the baking book, "Baking Illustrated," these cookies are probably most accurately described as addictive. Their soft texture almost melts in your mouth and unlike an number of other "molasses" cookies that we have tried, these cookies allow you to truly taste and appreciate the rich flavor of molasses. These cookies will definitely be appearing (and disappearing quickly) in our house again.

Unfortunately we do not have a picture of these cookies to show you how absolutely delicious they are, but you will just have to trust us on this particular review! If you love chocolate, these cookies are your dream double chocolate cookie. When cooked properly, they are shinny and slightly crunchy on the outside and super soft and chocolaty on the inside. Corey's grandfather, Andrew, is a chocolate fanatic, and he recently made a very specific request for these cookies which is a sign that any chocolate lover should try these at least once. Use the best chocolate that you can find, watch the cookies carefully so that they do not burn, and you will not be disappointed!

Absolutely delicious! Leslie made this cake for Corey's birthday in mid-September, and it received rave reviews from everyone who tasted a piece. Unlike some traditional Coconut Cream Cakes, the amazing folks at Cook's Illustrated went out of their way to infuse coconut flavoring into every portion of this cake, the cake itself, the frosting, and the coating. The result was a light but substantial cake full of flavor that kept us coming back for piece after piece. You will notice that there are a lot of steps to the process of making this cake. Although the process seems long, it is easily doable for the average bakers. Just remember to read the recipe in its entirety before beginning the process so that you are not surprised by anything that comes up while you are baking.

Prep Time:1 hour
Cook Time:40 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Fruit

• 8 cups strawberries (about 2 ½ pounds), hulled
• 6 tablespoons (2 ½ ounces) sugar

Shortcakes