Mini Maple Pecan Pumpkin Pies - Recipe!

Pumpkin is huge around the Holidays - you can have virtually anything pumpkin spiced, from Lattes to Donuts.. but I decided to make mini pumpkin pies with maple pecans on top.

Absolutely amazing.

Okay, so I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I did very, very little with this 'recipe'.

There is the traditional, long way to make pumpkin pie or there is my way.

I'm posting this more for the love of pumpkin pie rather than the actual recipe. So, forgive me if you're here to learn to make Pumpkin pie from scratch because you won't learn 'the full recipe' from me.

Basically, what I did with this recipe was bought pre-made pie shells (mini sized ones) and cans of pumpkin that was already puréed. (The only reason it was done this way, was to save a lot of time! The café can get extremely busy during Holiday season)

**RECIPE**

(To make 12-16 mini pies)
2 cups of Pumpkin Purée (canned)
1 cup of double cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs plus the yolk of a third egg
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
(You can use cloves - I prefer not to - if you do, add 1/4 tsp ground cloves)
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp lemon zest
12 - 16 mini pie shells
12 - 16 Pecans
Maple Syrup


**DIRECTIONS**

Preheat oven to 425F
Beat eggs in a large bowl
Mix in sugars, salt, spices and lemon zest
Mix in pumpkin purée
Stir in cream
Mix together well until smooth

Pour filling into uncooked pie shells

Bake at 425F for 15 minutes

(While your pies are cooking - mix maple syrup and pecans together in a plastic container, ensure pecans are fully covered in syrup)

After 15 minutes, lower temperature to 350F

Remove pies from oven and place maple covered pecans on top

Bake for 40 - 50 minutes more

Use a knife or skewer to check the middle of the pie

If it comes out clean, your pies are ready.

Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for about 1.5 - 2 hours

(Your pies will be slightly puffed up when you remove them from the oven - this is normal - they will reduce after they've started to cool) 

Enjoy!

Baileys Toblerone Cheesecake Recipe - YUM!

Ugh - cheesecake. My love.

Now, as you may have seen from my last post - I'm on a weight loss journey but that doesn't stop me enjoying the food that I love. That includes cheesecake.

Luckily for me, I've already lost 53lbs (and counting) and with the plan I'm on, I can eat cheesecake and not feel bad about it.

I make a Baileys Toblerone cheesecake, which is the recipe I'm about to give to you.

It is divine.

Anyways, here is the recipe for my Baileys Toblerone cheesecake. It usually makes about 8 slices but I've sold them in bitesize portions at my café and they went down a treat!

Perfect with a cup of coffee after lunch.

**Recipe**

200g Digestive Biscuits (I'm sorry, Rich Tea just wont do!)
100g Butter
300g Cream Cheese (Philadelphia works best)
200g Whipping Cream

200g Toblerone

3-4 shots of Baileys

(When I say shots, I literally mean a shot glass of Baileys, popped into the mix!)


**Directions**

Crush digestives and melt butter in a pan, once melted, add biscuits and mix together

.Place mixture in an 8" spring form tin, flatten until even and firm

Empty cheese into a large bowl and beat until smooth.

Lightly whisk cream until almost stiff then add to the cheese

When you've finished mixing cream and cheese, add your shots of Baileys (taste to test)

(There are two options for the toblerone - I use the following method)
Break up toblerone into small pieces, add to mixture and mix well

(Second option - not one I've used)
Melt toblerone in a pan, once melted, add to cheese/cream mixture and mix well.

Pour the mixture onto the base, smooth out.

Bang cake tin onto a hard surface gently to ensure mixture settles.

Pop into the fridge for 2 -3 hours (preferably overnight)

Add some chocolate on top to decorate

Enjoy!

New Recipe Book!

So, I love recipe books. I'm always searching for the newest recipe books, with the best recipes.

I like to buy new recipe books every few months to keep up to date with the best food.

The newest recipe book I've bought is no exception.

My dream is to one day write my own recipe book. 

So, I was googling new books and I came across the new Paleo Recipe Book. I did a lot of research on it, to see how good it was. I don't want something that I've possibly already bought another version of. I was nicely surprised. This book has the best recipes I've seen in a long time.

Now, if you're anything like me and you absolutely love trying new food, creating dishes and feeding friends and family, you will LOVE this book.

I bought it and I've made a few different recipes from it so far (I haven't taken photos but I will!) and they were delicious. My favourite is the avocado bacon omelette. I love avocado. I love bacon. Win win!

I also love a good discount - so when I bought this book I had a discount code to give me a percentage off the price. I got €5.90 off the total price. Happy days!


I will be sharing links to different recipe books so you guys can join in on the fun, buy the books I'm buying and enjoy the food I'm trying.

This one is a must-have.

If you're deciding on buying this book - it may already have the discount code attached.
If not, this is the discount code/coupon you should use: holidaysale

New Paleo Recipe Book. 

You will NOT be disappointed. I promise.


I also want your feedback - let me know how you get on with the recipes and I will do the same.

Keep an eye out!


Bon Appetite.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes (recipe)

These absolutely adorable Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes are a creation that my main chick & I came up with, on pancake Thursday. Yes, I said Thursday.

Now, we all know that it's pancake Tuesday but unfortunately for my main chick & I, we were both working on pancake Tuesday and didn't get a chance to make them until two days later.

This, my darlings, was the result. Beautifully crafted banana chocolate chip pancakes, which were an absolute delight to devour.

I can tell you now, I didn't leave so much as a crumb on the plate. They were awesome.

So, I feel like I should share this delightful recipe with you.


**RECIPE**

This recipe makes 4 large pancakes
adjust your supplies according the how many pancakes you wish to devour (and share..of course!)

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 tbsp of sugar

2 tsp of baking powder

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

1 1/4 cups of milk

1/2 cup of banana, mashed gently

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp of vanilla essence

1/2 cup of chocolate chips, divided

Maple Syrup to drizzle


**DIRECTIONS**

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in a large bowl.

After mixing well, stir in milk, banana, egg and vanilla.

Fold in 1/4 cup of Chocolate chips.

Heat a pan on a medium heat with a spray of oil.
(Don't have the pan up too high, you may burn the pancakes!)

Pour batter onto pan making 3 inch rounds, roughly.

Cook for roughly two minutes or until the top starts to bubble.

Flip pancake and cook for another minute or until the pancake turns golden.

Prepare remaining pancake batter as above, adding more spray if needed.

Place on plate, sprinkle with chocolate chips and drizzle with maple syrup. 


Enjoy!!