15th dessert exchange, sunday, november 14

our next dessert exchange will be at 5pm at my place in wicker park, just 2 blocks from the blue line. newcomers are always welcome, so please don't hesitate to sign up. i think 10 people should work comfortably. i do have 2 cats who will stay locked in my bedroom for the duration. IF IT'S OK, I'LL EXTEND THIS TO 12 PEOPLE. IT MEANS SLIGHTLY SMALLER SLICES OF CAKE TO SHARE, BUT I'M FINE WITH THAT, IF THE REST OF YOU ARE! AND MOST LIKELY SOMEONE WILL CANCEL BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

the rules are, as usual:- i'll make a light vegetarian dinner.
- please bring enough dessert for 12 people to take some home as well
as have a small bite during the evening.
-please bring containers for taking home desserts.

justjoan (i kind of jokingly suggested a theme of all cranberry desserts. i love cranberries and it'll be near thanksgiving, but this is just a suggestion-feel free to ignore it.)
ATTENDEES: justjoan, something cranberry
eli- bacon pecan pie
2 northwestern journalism students-bringing something
pielady
chouxfly
pairs4life
nancie- cranberry orange cake
msoma97- la bete noire
cookiemonster
mmmdonuts
foodie1-pumpkin/banana tartlettes
cathy2- cranberry dumplings!

I'm in.

Cranberries & Cream Ice Cream with Candied Orange Peel. This from those of us who do not love cranberries.

I would like to attend.

I'm in as well. I will be bringing a cranberry dessert, perhaps Cranberry Tarts.

Count me in too. People seemed pretty into the bacon pecan pie idea I mentioned at the last exchange, so I'll likely bring that, assuming I can figure it out between now and then.

Let's try this again...I'd like to be included too, and if all goes well, I'll bring the same desserts: pumpkin coconut pie and prosecco-pear tiramisu.

I would like to join you as well (first time attending the dessert exchange). I will take up our hostess' challenge and try to incorporate cranberries into the dessert. Right now I am thinking either a cranberry ribbon mascarpone cake or oatmeal cranberry cookies.

I can't believe I missed the cranberry challenge comment. I will reevaluate my offerings and write back later!

Pie Lady wrote:I can't believe I missed the cranberry challenge comment. I will reevaluate my offerings and write back later!

pielady- please dont feel you need to change your desserts! what you were planning to bring this week sounded great. bring whatever you want. eli wants to try out a bacon pecan pie, so he won't be bringing cranberries. don't feel any pressure to change.... see you soon, justjoan

We'll see...I'll be trying out that pumpkin coconut pie this week anyway, and whether or not it turns out will be the deciding factor. Tonight I'll try the tiramisu...it seems to have worked out nicely, but I didn't cut into it yet. Already it seems it needs more sugar, but time will tell.

Also, I was thinking of cranberry bacon truffles...

justjoan wrote:eli wants to try out a bacon pecan pie, so he won't be bringing cranberries.

Well, that's my plan currently, but I don't really have any more than a vague idea of how I might do this and there's a very real possibility that I may not end up with anything viable. If that's the case, I will likely do something cranberry, because I love cranberries. (I was really intrigued by the cranberry upside down cake someone (Dobra?) mentioned, so I may give that a shot.)

Count me in!

I would like to be added to the list.
Dobra

Please count me in

I had such a nice time on Sunday. Thanks, Melissa, for hosting a beautiful meal and gathering!

Someone asked for the recipe to the simple cake I made. I adapted a banana bread recipe as follows:

2 ripe bananas
1 cup (approx) grated zucchini
1 cup (or a little less) sugar
one stick softened butter
2 eggs
3 T whole milk
splash of vanilla extract
sprinkle of cinnamon
2 C flour
1 t baking soda
pecans, walnuts, mini chips, dried cherries
a few teaspoons of sesame seeds

oven to 350. cream butter and sugar. blend in eggs, vanilla, mashed bananas, zucchini, and milk. add mixed (flour, soda, cinnamon and a sprinkle of salt). fold in nuts etc.
grease two loaf pans and sprinkle with sesame seeds (flour optional). divide into pans and bake approx 45 min, or until done.
yummy.

Someone asked for the recipe to the simple cake I made. I adapted a banana bread recipe as follows:

thanks mmmdonuts, it was exceptionally moist, though i didnt notice the sesame seeds-an unusual touch. justjoan (and i'll add you to the list for the next exchange)

I'd love to attend! dessert - pumpkin banana mousse tartlettes

Hi,

Not sure where the cutoff is, I can be on waitlist. I am considering cranberry dumplings.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Not sure where the cutoff is, I can be on waitlist. I am considering cranberry dumplings.

Regards,

cranberry dumplings are too awesome to pass up. cathy, you're #12. next person interested will be on the waiting list. edited to add: i've put everyone's name in the first post, in case you want confirmation that you're on the list. it's great to see the spaces filling up so fast- i wish there was room for more, but any more than 12 would, i think, require people bringing cakes to make more than 1 so there'd be enough to go around. justjoan

mrsm wrote:I would like to join you as well (first time attending the dessert exchange). I will take up our hostess' challenge and try to incorporate cranberries into the dessert. Right now I am thinking either a cranberry ribbon mascarpone cake or oatmeal cranberry cookies.

Welcome to the dessert exchange Mrs. Madeczec (sp?). Sausage making on Friday and dessert exchange on Sunday. We're in for a good weekend.

eli wrote:

justjoan wrote:eli wants to try out a bacon pecan pie, so he won't be bringing cranberries.

Well, that's my plan currently, but I don't really have any more than a vague idea of how I might do this and there's a very real possibility that I may not end up with anything viable. If that's the case, I will likely do something cranberry, because I love cranberries. (I was really intrigued by the cranberry upside down cake someone (Dobra?) mentioned, so I may give that a shot.)

i've made many a pecan pie and it seems to me that just folding crispy pieces of bacon into the pecan pie 'goo', would be easy and tasty. and much easier than trying to top the pie with bacon, where it might likely burn. just a thought..... jjoan

HI,

When I make pecan pie, the toasted pecans are already laying on the pie crust when I pour the custard on top. On a first run, I would mix the nuts and pecans together. They might rise to the top integrated together or in layers.

Regards,

justjoan wrote:

eli wrote:

justjoan wrote:eli wants to try out a bacon pecan pie, so he won't be bringing cranberries.

Well, that's my plan currently, but I don't really have any more than a vague idea of how I might do this and there's a very real possibility that I may not end up with anything viable. If that's the case, I will likely do something cranberry, because I love cranberries. (I was really intrigued by the cranberry upside down cake someone (Dobra?) mentioned, so I may give that a shot.)

i've made many a pecan pie and it seems to me that just folding crispy pieces of bacon into the pecan pie 'goo', would be easy and tasty. and much easier than trying to top the pie with bacon, where it might likely burn. just a thought..... jjoan

That was my thought as well. I guess I'll just have to try it out and see how it goes.

several of you have emailed me to gently remind me that someone named zoid had wanted to come to the 15th exchange, but hadnt posted yet. i thought i'd tell you all that i emailed him (joe), and he isnt actually available on the 14th. but he expressed interest in coming another time. justjoan

i've just decided what i'm making. probably. individual cranberry/wild blueberry tarts or crostatas (free form tarts). jj

Put me down for La Bete Noire. (The Black Beast)

how do you all feel about letting 2 northwestern journalism students join us at the next dessert exchange? they wont be taking home any of our desserts, but they'd like to ask us some questions about being lth'ers for a school project. i've got enough chairs; it'll be a little crowded, but i'm game if you are. here's what one of them has to say:

We wouldn't want to take up too much of your time/evening. We know you guys are there to enjoy each others' company and cooking. (And we would be happy to contribute to that, I make a mean banana bread. Or, as you previously proposed, I have a wonderful recipe for cranberry, almond and orange scones ) The questions wouldn't be anything major, just things like how you found the group, what kind of content you look for, what you post and why, how often you are "logged on" and questions along those lines. We'd also be there to observe you guys too, what you're talking about and how you're interacting (I'm aware this sounds a little creepy but it's just the "fly on the wall"/silent observer aspect of the project). As soon as we have all the information we need we would be happy to get out of your hair. Feel free to share this with the group so they know what we're all about! Thanks again!

I'm of two minds on it. On the one hand, I have no problem with them coming and I think it's actually pretty cool that they want to include us in their project. On the other hand, we do have someone on the wait list already and I don't entirely think it's fair to let the journalism students come when Nancie expressed interest first. I could pretty easily be swayed either way.

eli, nancie's my friend and not even an lth'er, though she keeps promising to join. if i don't have a guilty conscience about her, i don't think you should.... i also think someone is likely to cancel between now and then- things always come up at the last minute, and then she can come too. let's see what others think, joan

pairs4life had a good suggestion. the 2 journalists can come and so can nancie, if she still wants to. but that really is the upper limit. pairs4life also kindly offered to bring another dish for dinner, which i will humbly accept, if this comes to pass. but i still want to wait a few days for everyone else to have a chance to chime in before we make any decision for or against the students' participation. i dont want any of our people to feel uncomfortable with the idea of being interviewed. jj

I don't see it being a big deal-