Azoresgal~Life on an Island

I saved the sad looking, brown spotted bananas in my fruit bowl, and made a banana tarte tatin. Tarte tatin is one fancy shmancy looking dessert,   but it's one of the simplest things you can make. With very few ingredients you can  bake up a delicious and impressive looking dessert.  Bananas and caramel just go together really well, just think bananas foster .  I must warn you, once you bite into a piece, you will find yourself reaching for another. 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar 4 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. orange zest 1⁄4 tsp. ground cinnamon 4-5 large firm-ripe bananas, halved lengthwise 1 package  puff pastry, thawed Vanilla ice cream, for serving 1. Preheat oven to 220// 425°. 2. Cook sugar and butter in a small sauté pan over medium heat, swirling skillet often, until mixture is deep golden brown, 8–10 minutes. (do not stir or sugar will crystalize) 3. Remove from heat and stir in orange zest and cinnamon; pour caramel mixture into a small glass or...

This is one decadent dessert.  It has three layers, a crunchy chocolate crust, a lucious caramel filling and a heavenly chocolate ganache topping. Then it is sprinkled with sea salt, seriously do you not feel  faint ??  Oh Lordy the combination of flavors is amazing. I know you are thinking, caramel, I have to make caramel ?? Oh no, but you don't, I cheated, yes because I like easy peasy. I used a can of cooked condensed milk, genius , right ? So you see, it is really easy, and if you do make it, I just know you will love it ! Crust 1 1/4 cups  chocolate cookie crumbs (bolacha mulata) 5 tbsp.  butter, melted 3 tbsp. sugar Filling  1 can cooked condensed milk (397 grams) Ganache 300 grams dark chocolate 1/2 cup cream  sea salt flakes Position a rack in the middle of an oven and preheat to 350°F (180°C). In a bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, butter and sugar and stir until the crumbs are well moistened. Pat the mixture fi...

These were so much fun to make, messy, but fun ! I think the best part was the look on the faces of my kiddos...priceless! They loved them, they couldn't get over how creepy they looked! These would be great for a Halloween party, or perhaps a fundraiser, they are sure to spook everyone out ! 8 small red apples 8 oz white chocolate/200g 2 Cup Sugar ½ Cup water 1 Tbsp Red food dye lollipop sticks/ branches (cleaned) Start out by washing your apples. If the apples don’t stand on the counter, just slice a little off the bottom. Place your lollipop stick in the apple at this point. Gently melt the white chocolate in the microwave or over a ban marie. Spoon the white chocolate all over the apple and allow the excess to drip off. Place them on a tray lined to parchment paper to dry, for roughly an hour. The chocolate has to be completely set before adding the ‘blood’ caramel. To make the blood caramel: Place the sugar and water in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Heat o...