Who doesn't enjoy a mid-winter bash with homemade treats?
This thought was doubtless in my Dad's mind as he began formulating a plan to surprise the ever-loyal and faithful adult choir.
It's easy to take music for granted. I mean, the choir sings twice every week without fail, so it just becomes second nature for everybody. But my Dad always appreciates the time and effort people put into just being available to sing and be a blessing to others.
So...... he puts a request to the family's resident baker. Me, of course. Could I bake a few treats for a post-choir practice- pre-evening service fellowship time (did you get all that?). And I said yes, of course. I very rarely turn down a chance to bake for a crowd of people.
It wasn't too hard deciding what to make. I knew I wanted three desserts, and one of them had to be chocolate and another cheesecake. The third one, I eventually decided, should be fruit-based for those with a lighter palette.
The chocolate dessert was easy. Anna discovered the recipe in a cookbook we had lying around years ago - Hazelnut Mocha Brownies. We actually omit the hazelnuts most of the time so people with nut allergies can indulge. These brownies are SO AMAZING, at least, I think so. They are my go-to recipe whenever something chocolate is desperately needed.
I was originally going to make strawberry streusel bars for the fruit dessert since those are also an old standby of mine, but I remembered I actually had two lemons in the fridge. So I turned to my trusty favorite food blog for a recipe for puckery lemon bars. I've always loved lemon, and I always try to make desserts that appeal personally to me.
Now the cheesecake took only a few moments of deliberation. I found a recipe for Oreo cheesecake that looked really good. After all, how could you go wrong with that combination?
So the recipes were picked, the ingredients were hastily bought, and my epic baking day, Saturday the 14th, began.
Oh, and btw, those three desserts weren't the only thing I had to make. Mrs. Royalty had asked any lady in the church who was willing to make some treats/ gifts for a pastors' wives lunch she was hosting. So I decided to make chocolate-covered Oreos and chocolate-covered brownie truffles. Hmm, my day was getting busy.
I don't have as many pictures of the actual baking process as I'd like, since I was too busy to take the time to clear away the mounds of dishes to pose a decent shot.
This thought was doubtless in my Dad's mind as he began formulating a plan to surprise the ever-loyal and faithful adult choir.
It's easy to take music for granted. I mean, the choir sings twice every week without fail, so it just becomes second nature for everybody. But my Dad always appreciates the time and effort people put into just being available to sing and be a blessing to others.
So...... he puts a request to the family's resident baker. Me, of course. Could I bake a few treats for a post-choir practice- pre-evening service fellowship time (did you get all that?). And I said yes, of course. I very rarely turn down a chance to bake for a crowd of people.
It wasn't too hard deciding what to make. I knew I wanted three desserts, and one of them had to be chocolate and another cheesecake. The third one, I eventually decided, should be fruit-based for those with a lighter palette.
The chocolate dessert was easy. Anna discovered the recipe in a cookbook we had lying around years ago - Hazelnut Mocha Brownies. We actually omit the hazelnuts most of the time so people with nut allergies can indulge. These brownies are SO AMAZING, at least, I think so. They are my go-to recipe whenever something chocolate is desperately needed.
I was originally going to make strawberry streusel bars for the fruit dessert since those are also an old standby of mine, but I remembered I actually had two lemons in the fridge. So I turned to my trusty favorite food blog for a recipe for puckery lemon bars. I've always loved lemon, and I always try to make desserts that appeal personally to me.
Now the cheesecake took only a few moments of deliberation. I found a recipe for Oreo cheesecake that looked really good. After all, how could you go wrong with that combination?
So the recipes were picked, the ingredients were hastily bought, and my epic baking day, Saturday the 14th, began.
Oh, and btw, those three desserts weren't the only thing I had to make. Mrs. Royalty had asked any lady in the church who was willing to make some treats/ gifts for a pastors' wives lunch she was hosting. So I decided to make chocolate-covered Oreos and chocolate-covered brownie truffles. Hmm, my day was getting busy.
I don't have as many pictures of the actual baking process as I'd like, since I was too busy to take the time to clear away the mounds of dishes to pose a decent shot.
My mixture for the brownie truffles. I mixed crumbled brownie with fudgy frosting, so it got really gooey.
Dipping the truffles
Armed with a lemon and my zester
Ta-da! The finished product!
Here's the link for the recipe - http://www.melskitchencafe.com/perfect-lemon-bars/
The chocolate treat bags
And now, for the all-important photos of people EATING the desserts!
The younger gentlemen of the adult choir. Pardon some of their faces- no doubt they had a mouthful of dessert!
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