More bananas! Just like a few days ago was “National Croissant Day”, Monday is “World Nutella Day” (back in 2022, I did a whole series of nutella recipes for that), so I thought that I would get a head start on that “holiday” by making these Crêpes with Nutella and Bananas. They always remind me of markets in Europe, particularly France and Germany, were there is inevitably someone making these fresh to go. It’s something about the banana and Nutella combination that is also so reminiscent of childhood. Their quick to make and a super snack or dessert.
Sweet Snacks
So January 30 is National Croissant Day, as designated by someone, somewhere, so I thought that I would make this casserole along the banana theme using croissants. Call it a French Toast Casserole or a Bread Pudding, same thing really. Either way, pretty yummy. Note: the recipe calls for a full 8 x 8-inch baking dish, which serves 4, but pictures is my 4 x 4-inch mini pan which is half a portion for just me (the other half isn’t pictured).
Mini-Chocolate Chip Coconut Macaroons (2024 New and Improved Recipe!)
One of the things when you are making macaroons, is that you have to find a careful balance of egg whites to coconut: wet to dry, as it were. Most recipes under estimate the coconut requirement. I, on the other hand, have a tendency to try to stuff as much coconut as humanly possible while still hoping that the whole thing manages to stay held together. This is a “new and improved” recipe of one of my standbys and I think that they came out just perfect this time.
It’s so very cold these days. Yes, it’s January, yes, it’s supposed to be cold and generally, I like the cold, so I am not really complaining. Arctic cold snaps are tolerable, but they do make me feel like turning on the oven more. My flat is so small that turning on the oven actually heats up the entire place somewhat. So I decided to make this Meyer Lemon + Blue Poppy Seed Bundt Cake before work this morning. The meyer lemons make it all sunshiney too, which is good for the winter-blahs.
There are many different types of cheese cake — New York style, British style, Basque Style, non bake, water bath, flavored, straight up. My favorite style, not surprisingly, is German-style, which is light and fluffy, made with a dairy product called quark (see note) and can be plain or flavored. I wanted to make one for annual cake day that was winter-inspired and originally had planned for this cake to have a cranberry compote, but even so soon after the holidays, there were no more fresh cranberries to be had. Surprisingly, there were currants, so I went with them as they are a similar sweet-and-tart flavor profile that balances the creaminess of the cheese cake. Definitely a winner.