…if what they want is GOOD food.

Anybody who knows me will tell you that I’m not the biggest fan of chocolate desserts.  With the exception of a few, very special sweets in our family recipe book, I vastly prefer those confections featuring toffee, nuts, or citrus.  So, when it came time to decide what dessert to have with our Christmas dinner this year, my family came to a bit of brick wall.  Having already eaten pumpkin and pecan pie during Thanksgiving, we were all in the mood for something a little different this time around.  With ideas like an apple galette and bread pudding being thrown around, each option seemed to fall flat the second it was introduced  — keeping with tradition, we were a bit indecisive.  It wasn’t until my sister insisted upon a dessert that included caramel in some form or another that my Mom suddenly remembered a recipe from an old Bon Appétite that she used to make years ago for special occasions — Toffee Cheesecake.

I don’t think I need to tell you how good this cheesecake really is.  I mean, caramel sauce? Whipped cream? Skor bar!?  What’s not to like?  The one thing I can say is that this is an extremely rich dessert of which a little goes a long way.  Next time you have a special occasion on the horizon, consider making this decadent dessert which will easily feed 10-12 guests.

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If there’s one thing I especially look forward to around the holidays it’s my Mom’s epic output of Christmas cookies.  From Mexican wedding cakes and raspberry-filled linzer cookies to chewy molasses spice cookies and our family favorite, Hello Dolly bars, no cookie style is left unrepresented….or so I thought.  I wouldn’t even know this type of cookie existed if it wasn’t for Lauren being struck by inspiration while thumbing through the pages of an old Christmas issue of Food and Wine Magazine.  I’m still not quite sure what it was, but something called out to her about these Chocolate-Dipped Florentine Shortbreads.

With a thin, buttery layer of shortbread and a chewy, orange and almond caramel topping, these cookies are simultaneously crispy and chewy — a truly outstanding textural contrast.  If that wasn’t enough, each cookie is then partially dipped in a thick jacket of melted bittersweet chocolate, serving as the perfect foil for the candied orange rind and zest running throughout the sticky topping.

Having tried the festive cookie, I’m afraid I’ve been ruined. I just don’t know how any cookie platter will be complete this Christmas without the inclusion of these confectionery gems.  Give them a try; you won’t be disappointed.

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