Goat Cheese Cake with Peach and Blueberry Topping

I have to admit I a very visual eater. I think that's why I love food blogs so much. I see a great picture of food and I want to try it. You could show me the same recipe without a picture and it wouldn't peak my interest nearly as much.



This actually leads to difficulties for me when looking for cookbooks. In Jen's world, all cookbooks would have a full color photo for each recipe.

So I actually surprised myself when I decided to make this recipe. Hubby and I had done some peach picking and I was searching for good peach recipes. None of the cobblers, crumbles, or pies were popping out at me even with their delcious looking photographs. But somehow, this little recipe caught my eye.



I think I was intrigued by the combination of goat cheese, peaches, and blueberries. Other than just eating with my eyes first, I also like to know what to expect. So many recipes out there produce different textures or colors, so it's just nice to know ahead of time what you're going to get.



I felt really silly when I took this cake out of the oven to see that it was like a cheese cake. Now that might sound like a crazy comment since the name of the cake is goat cheese cake, but in all honesty, by calling it goat cheese cake instead of goat cheesecake, I was not expecting a cheesecake.



What I was expecting was more like a yogurt cake. As most of you know, yogurt is a common ingredient used in cakes to keep things really moist. I just figured that the goat cheese was used in place of the yogurt to produce a denser version of a yogurt cake. Even the batter supported this theory. It looked and tasted like I figured it would.



But like I said, I was shocked when I took it out of the oven. It had risen up quite a bit and browned similar to a cheesecake. It even deflated as it cooled. I was still perplexed until I actually took my first bite. It was totally a DUH! moment. The cake tasted like a lighter version of a cheesecake with a bit of tanginess from the goat cheese. And it was heavenly.



The fresh fruit piled on top provided the perfect amount of sweetness to counter that tanginess. This recipe might just become my go-to cheesecake recipe, it was that good. And I can eat it since it doesn't have pounds and pounds of cream cheese in it!

I think from now on, I'll stick with recipes that have pictures so I know what I'm getting into! What do you guys think? Do you prefer recipes with pictures or are they just an added bonus?

One Year Ago: Indian Spinach and Chickpeas
Two Years Ago: Eclairs

Boston Chocolate Tour - A Review

A couple weekends ago, I was able to enjoy the beautiful weather by walking around the South End eating a bunch of chocolate. You can't go wrong eating chocolate and enjoying a perfect Boston summer day.

I had contacted Boston Chocolate Tours to see if they would be interested in a giveaway for my lovely readers. Instead, they offered me two tickets to any of their chocolate tours in exchange for this review. I decided it was a fair trade and invited another blogger, Sophie, to join me.



I chose the South End tour because David mentioned that it was his favorite so I figured why not. We started our adventure at Code 10 on Washington St. Sophie and I were the first ones there and we were able to chat with our tour guide Katie for a few minutes. Katie gave everyone a little goodie bag that included our pass for the day (a small tag on a lanyard), a small bag of pretzels in case we needed something salty between all the chocolate, and a couple printouts. One had a listing of various VIP deals we can get showing our pass. The other was a listing of some of the places that the chocolate tour would take us.



Once 2:00 rolled around, we were still missing a couple people, but we went ahead and got started. Code 10 sells baked goods from Rosie's as well as various deli sandwiches and snacks. Here we tasted a frosted brownie called Chocolate Orgasm. It was a dense fudge-like brownie with a smooth frosting on top. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

After eating our brownies, we all headed outside where Katie had us all go around and introduce ourselves. Katie mentioned that she had been a tour guide since the company opened last November.



Then we headed across the street to Flour Bakery. We didn't go in because it was pretty packed, so Katie ran in to grab our goodies. Here, we tasted Oreos. They were pretty fantastic and apparently they sell out pretty early during the day, so if you want one, call ahead. I was able to grab an extra one to take home to Hubby and he really enjoyed it as well.



After our Oreos in the sun, we headed over to Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel. They were in the midst of their pajama brunch which they do every Saturday and Sunday. The food smelled amazing as we walked through Tremont 647 to get to Sister Sorrell.



Once we got there, we had the whole bar to ourselves. They gave us each a chocolate martini which included their own in-house infused vanilla vodka. We also had a small piece of chocolate cake. The chocolate cake was very light and fluffy and not overly chocolatey.



While we were sitting there, Katie explained how chocolate is made. I'm not going to go through it all here because I wasn't taking notes. She also explained how to properlly taste chocolate. Then we got to try out our tasting skills by tasting a piece of Taza chocolate. It was good and had a gritty texture because of how they make their chocolate.

After that, we went to Appleton bakery. We walked by Chocolee but they were closed due to air conditioning failures. Apparently a couple weeks ago all of their chocolate melted! How horrible is that?!? At Appleton, we were able to taste two brownies. One was a walnut brownie and one was a cream cheese brownie. I didn't try the cream cheese brownie because of my lactose intolerance, but I heard it was divine.



Next we went to a cute little place called Picco. It had a nice outdoor seating area and they're known for thier pizza, ice cream, and beer list. Sophie and I agreed it would be a great place to grab lunch on a nice day. Here, we tasted some chocolate sorbet. It was very creamy and delicious. You definitely would have thought it had tons of heavy cream in it.



After our sorbet, we went to a shop called Aunt Sadie's. They have a bunch of scented candles including a chocolate candle (they also had tomato, chicken noodle soup, and some other really unique candles). It was a cute little shop, but no chocolate tasty there.

Last, we ended our tour at the South End Buttery. We were in the back room and got to taste an espresso milkshake (I passed on this too) and a mini chocolate cupcake. The cupcake was good and the frosting was to die for. I loved that frosting.



The chocolate tour was a fun way to see the South End, learn about some of the great restaurants and shops in the area, and enjoy some tasty treats along the way. I was originally expecting it to be more of tasting chocolates than eating things with chocolate in them. I think the chocolate tasting that is offered is more in line with what I had in mind...

The price of this particular tour is $48/person. I have to admit that if I had paid $48, I might have felt a bit like I got the short end of the straw. Don't get me wrong, Katie was extremely knowledgable and fun to hang out with. And all of the chocolate treats we tasted were delicious. I just think a price closer to $36 is more reasonable for what I experienced that weekend.

If you'd like more information about Boston Chocolate Tours, be sure to check out their website - they also offer chocolate tastings, workshops, and private events. A big thanks to David of Boston Chocolate tours for letting Sophie and I experience this tour! If you've ever been on a chocolate tour anywhere, I'd love to hear about your experience.

Massaged Kale Salad

One of the shows that I enjoy watching is Next Food Network Star. I thought they sent Brad home too early, and I was really starting to like Tom towards the end. I wasn't surprised when Aarti won because I had seen it on Food Network Humor that FoodNetwork.com had leaked the winner.

I decided to watch Aarti's first episode to see how it went. When I saw her make this massaged kale salad, I was intrigued. And, since kale is something I've never made at home, this recipe would help me get something done off my 30 by 30 list.



I'm sure I've had kale in entrees when eating out, but like I said, I have definitely never bought it or done anything with it at home. I grabbed a big bunch at the farmers market and gave this recipe a shot. Hubby said that his mom used to make kale when he was young and he never liked it, so he was a bit apprehensive about trying this salad.



I'm sure you're wondering how it was? It was delicious! Hubby said it was the best kale he'd ever had. The kale had a great flavor. It reminded me of a really hearty spinach flavor. The lemony vinagrette and the mango chunks provide a great brightness and sweetness to the salad.



AND, the best thing about this salad is that it keeps in the fridge! We had it the first night as a side dish with some Peppery Lemon Brown Sugar Salmon and the next day we both had some in our lunches. It didn't get super soggy like a dressed lettuce salad would.

Happy Blogiversary to ME!

Well the day of my third blogiversary has finally arrived. I hope you enjoyed the chance to win some of the prizes that I gave away this month.

I have enjoyed blogging these past three years and can't wait to see what next year has in store for me! I feel very lucky that you guys all come here on a regular basis to read about what I'm baking in my tiny Boston kitchen.

Here's a quick snapshot of some of the exciting things that happened in the last year.

This was the first year of doing my Week Of Series. I had a lot of fun doing them and hope you guys enjoyed them as well.

I've gone through a couple headers as well. Stop by and check out the new one I created in early August if you haven't already.

I also started using a new lens on my camera about a year ago. I think it's made a significant different in my photography on this blog.

Hubby and I renovated our kitchen! I still can't believe we lived in our place with that crappy kitchen for two years before doing something about it. It's a billion times better now.

Oh and I created a Facebook Page and a Twitter account. I'm still not sure how Twitter fits into everything. I feel like anything I have to say gets said on here or FB. If anyone has any thoughts on how to use Twitter to the max, let me know.

Thanks again for reading and feel free to drop me a comment about things you like to see different in the future or things you really enjoyed in the past.

Blogiversary Part III Giveaway WINNER!

Thanks to everyone for celebrating my blogiversary with me this month. Here's the breakdown of what everyone said they would want:

17.1 % - Silpat for a baking sheet - I have three of these and I use them every time I bake.

17.1% - One Year Subscription to Food Network Magazine - I love the FN Magazine. I had a subscription and haven't renewed it yet

14% - Round Cookie Cutter Set - I've mentioned multiple times how much I love this cookie cutter set. I use them for everything I can possibly think of.

13% - Mini Tart Pan Set - Another item that's been on my wishlist for some time now.

12 % - Stacking Cooling Rack Set - This cooling rack set is a lifesaver for anyone with very little counter space.

8.8 % - Candy Thermometer - I've had this on my wishlist for quite some time now

7.8% - Stoneware Egg Crate (please indicate color) - Isn't this just too cute? I was originally thinking I'd use it to hold jewelry if I get one.

5.2% - 6" Round Cake Pan (set of 2) - Everything is cuter when it's small. Cakes included. I think I'd make more cakes if I wasn't going to have a huge double 9" cake sitting around the house.

3.1% - Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson - This book comes highly recommended and has been on my wishlist for a while now.

2% - Cloth Napkins (set of 4, please indicate color) - We don't have any cloth napkins, but I'm thinking about getting some of these.

And now on to the winner. As always, I used Random.org to generate a number:



Entry number 173 is Suzi who would like a subscription to Food Network Magazine! I'm so excited - this is the first winner who's selected something I don't have. So I'll be ordering one for you and one for me! Suzi - please email me your address so I can get your prize ordered ASAP.

Recap of Last Year's "Other" Desserts

Some desserts don't fall into a major category, so I label them Other. Eventually, I'll update my labels and create a Cake and Pie label, but until then, here's my Top 5 list of "Other" desserts.

This Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread was a concoction I dreamed up for a Bundt-Off. Yes, I have crazy friends, and yes, this is crazy delicious. I need to make it again...



When a special occasion popped up, I knew instantly that I wanted needed to make this Chocolate Overdose Cake. I topped it with chocolate covered strawberries to add some elegance. It was exactly what you'd expect from a layer of brownie, topped with chocolate mousse, topped with a chocolate cake layer, all overed in chocolate ganache.



When spring rolled around, I made this Lemon Raspberry Cake. It was the first time I had ever decorated a layer cake and I was pretty proud of how it turned out.



The Homemade Ding Dongs transported me back to a time of brown bagged lunches in the cafeteria of my middle school.



And I had to include Hubby's first attempt at baking on my list. He made this Strawberry Shortcake Cake for my birthday and did a great job at it!

Recap of Last Year's Main Meals

It's not ALL baked goods in our house. We do cook dinner as well. This is where I get the most help from Hubby in the kitchen. He's actually a better cook than I am. Check out the recipes that made my Top 5 list for the year.

Shrimp with Cilantro Pesto is our go-to meal when we're not in the mood to cook since it takes no time at all to cook. I always have the pesto in the freezer and we make sure to have frozen shrimp in there as well.



Hubby got really excited to learn how to butterfly a chicken. I get really excited when he makes such amazing meals. This Broiled Butterflied Chicken has become a staple in our house.



When the strawberries were ripe, I tried all sorts of strawberry recipes. While most were sweets, this Salmon with Strawberry and Tomato Salsa really hit the spot. We made it multiple times this summer.



The infamous Chicken Gyros. If you read food blogs, I'm sure you've seen this pop up in many of them. It's another recipe that I love to make and always recommend.



The Chicken Osso Bucco that Hubby made is his favorite meal to cook recently. Sometimes he'll even whip it up when he's "not in the mood to cook" which amazes me because it does have quite a few ingredients and steps. Of course, I never complain when he's the one cooking dinner!

Recap of Last Year's Cookies and Cupcakes

I made quite a few cookies and cupcakes this year even considering all the bars and brownies I made. Here's my top 5 from the year.

My quest to find a perfect white cupcake ended with these White Cupcakes. They don't dome up, but I've decided, that's ok. Domed cupcakes look the same as flat cupcakes when they're frosted anyways.



These Oreo Cupcakes are amazing. If you haven't made them yet, go buy some Oreos and make them soon. Hands down my favorite thing I've ever made.



I was also glad to find a great Chocolate Frosting recipe. I love how dark and rich is it.



I love M&Ms. Add them to cookie batter and they get even better. Add them to chocolate cookie batter and it's amazing. These Chocolate M&M Cookies are another favorite. And with festive M&Ms you can make them for any occasion.



My sister and I made these Homemade Oreos and really enjoyed the flavor. Can you tell I've been big into Oreos this year?

Recap of Last Year's Side Dishes

Here are some side dishes that have been very memorable. Never underestimate a good side dish. It can really bring a whole meal together.

I can't even count how many times I have made this Butternut Squash and Spinach Casserole. It serves quite a few people, so it's great for potlucks and dinner parties. It also reheats well and is healthy!


If you are looking for a delicious ooey-gooey Mac and Cheese recipe, look no further. I served this at our SuperBowl party and it was quite a success.


We love anything roasted. When you add a quick and easy marinade, you can transform plain old potatoes into these Roasted Potatoes.


Again with the roasting. Roasting Asparagus is my favorite way to prepare asparagus and we were eating this almost daily for a while...


And last but not least, this Fire Roasted Ketchup is good on everything. It takes zero effort and time and you'll be blown away by the flavor.

Recap of Last Year's Bars/Brownies

This week I am featuring my favorite recipes from the last year. It was really hard to narrow down these lists. I hope you enjoy!

This was definitely the year of the cookie bar. I have said this a hundred times this year, but I love the no-fuss ease of throwing a pan of bars in the oven and not having to deal with baking multiple pans and cooling and frosting them like you do with cupcakes. Definitely check out my bars/brownies tag to see the others that didn't make the list.

The Lemon Blueberry Ice Cream Bars were very summery and tasty. I used dairy-free ice cream so I could enjoy them as well. The combination of lemon and blueberry is one of my all time favorites.


These Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Brownies have to be famous by now - they popped up in blogs all over the internet last fall. If you haven't made them, be sure to move them to the top of your list for fall baking.


Oh Cookie Dough Brownies... What can I say about these that you can't guess from the title. A delicious brownie with a thick layer of cookie dough on top? Pure decadence.


My sister loves Snickerdoodles. I love bars. Combine the two and you get an awesome Snickerdoole Blondie that's easy and delicious.


I loved the combination of the raisins, peanuts, oats, and chocolate in the Chocolate Oatmeal Almost Candy Bars.