Easter Treats

Seriously, how cute is this from bakermama.com !!

It makes for a fun healthy appetizer course for your Easter gathering.  

The bunny face is a dish of hummus, ears are formed from pita crackers, red inserts pepper stripes, and olives for eyes. For more detailed instructions check out the website. 

Another yummy addition to your Easter gathering 

Torta Caprese 

Cook's Notes: Torta Caprese is a quintessential dessert served in Capri, Italy. It’s light, airy, fudgy, moist, tender, and oh, so chocolatey. It's definitely an elegant and decadent showstopper you can make at home without a trip to Italy. For best results use good quality bittersweet chocolate e.g. Ghirardelli and Dutch-processed cocoa e.g. Droste Cocoa. The Torta Caprese can stand on its own with a dusting of powdered sugar or add a dollop of Amaretto Cream with jarred Cherry Fruit Filling.

Make the dessert a day ahead as a timesaver. It keeps well for three days.

Recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated November/December 2018
Ingredients:

• 12 tablespoons of butter, cut into 12 pieces
• 4 oz. bar bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon crème of tartar
• 2 cups almond flour
• 2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
• In a small bowl mix together almond flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
• Microwave chocolate and butter at 50% power, stirring often until melted. Stir in vanilla and set aside.
• In a medium bowl beat egg whites, and add in the creme of tartar and 1/2 cup sugar. Beat until egg whites are stiff. Set aside.
• In a large bowl mix egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar. Beat on medium-high until thick and pale yellow. Add in chocolate/butter mixture and mix until incorporated about 15 seconds.
• Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture mix on low just until incorporated.
• Fold whipped egg whites in thirds to the chocolate mixture using a spatula.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes with just a few moist crumbs.
• Place torta on a wire rack to cool. Remove springform sides and wrap torta in plastic wrap until serving. 

Amaretto Cream (mix 1 teaspoon Amaretto with whipped cream)

"Spring" by Longfellow