blue teeth, blue hearts

I didn't make this pie, Briermere Farms did. They have an astounding variety of delicious pies that are affordable only if you're independently wealthy.

Here's the secret: ask if there are any day-old or frozen pies, they're half price but just as good. All you need now is a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.

dulce vida

Sometimes life is easy during the summer, sometimes being home is immeasurably strange. Long days and dulce de leche cheesecake, how sweet it is.

Dulce de leche cheesecake squares
(from the most recent issue of Bon Appetit) 

Crust
2 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs 
2 Tbsp. sugar 
1/4 tsp. cinnamon 
10 Tblsp. unsalted butter, melted

Filling 
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese 
1 cup sugar 
3 eggs 
1/2 cup dulce de leche 
2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl, then add the butter and toss to combine. Press into a greased 9X13 baking pan, then bake for ten minutes at 350 degrees.

For the filling, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then add the eggs, beating after each one. After the eggs, add the dulce de leche and vanilla and combine. Pour on top of the crust, and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the filling appears set and the top has cracked.

Cool completely, then top with more dulce de leche, then cut into squares.

best brownie ever

I don't tend to use mixes, but I'd always thought that brownies were the one exception that come out better from a box. I'd never made consistently good homemade brownies, and Betty Crocker is so reliable.

This recipe came from Margaret, from her Chocolate Bar recipe book, one of the best among her extensive and wonderful cookbook collection (I think she owns every one of Ina Garten's cookbooks, because the Barefoot Contessa is a goddess, and because she lives in East Hampton and Margaret lives in Southampton, and met her once at a coffee shop.)

Anyway, these homemade brownies reasserted that I can make anything better than Duncan Hines. I served them at a dinner party with honey-sweetened whipped cream.

Best brownies

3/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tblsp. cocoa powder
4 oz. butter
3/4 tsp. coffee grounds
5 oz. semisweet chocolate
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and add the coffee and semisweet chocolate.

When butter and chocolate is melted, take off the heat and add the sugars, then the eggs and vanilla, then the dry ingredients (combining until smooth after each step).

Pour into a greased 9X13 baking pan, then bake at 350 degrees for 28 to 30 minutes.