Raspberry & Rose Focaccia

Serves 18-20

Ingredients

For the jam filling

  • 1 cup fresh raspberries
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 4 teaspoons water

For the dough

  • 4 cups bread flour
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 cup freeze dried raspberry powder
  • 2 cups warm tap water
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
  • 3 Tablespoons water

To glaze and finish

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons Heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon rose water
  • 2 Tablespoons food-grade rose petals

Method

Jam Filling

  1. Combine everything but the cornstarch and water in a medium saucepan. Heat over a medium-high heat until boiling and the berries break down to a pulp
  2. Combine the cornstarch and water, add to the raspberry mixture and cook until the mixture has thickened. Remove from the heat and allow to cool

Dough

  1. Combine the flour, salt, yeast, sugar and freeze-dried raspberry powder in a large bowl. Stir well with to combine.
  2. Add approximately half of the water (no need to measure). Stir well to incorporate the water. The mixture will be shaggy and dry at this point. Add most of the remaining water (reserve 2-3 tablespoons) and stir again until the water is well incorporated. If the mixture seems dry add the rest of the water and stir to combine. You’re looking for a thick, shaggy, fluffy wet dough. If the dough still seems dry, add a bit more water, a tablespoon at a time until the thick, shaggy consistency (and no pockets of dry flour) is reached.
  3. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and stir until most of the olive oil is incorporated
  4. Cover the bowl with with plastic wrap and set aside to proof for 30 minutes
  5. After 30 minutes, remove the cover and, using either a large spatula or slightly wet hands, pick up one side of the dough, stretch it, and then fold it over onto the rest. Turn the bowl one-quarter turn and repeat the stretch and fold. Repeat the stretch and fold 4-5 more times, turning the bowl one-quarter each time
  6. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for one hour. During the one-hour rise, use a piece of paper toweling and rub the 2 teaspoons butter over the interior of a 9×13-inch baking pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper then drizzle with 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and set aside
  7. After the one-hour rise, repeat the stretching and folding described in step 2 above, then turn the dough into the prepared pan. Flip the dough over to coat with oil and flatten it out with your hands in the pan. It won’t cover the entire pan at this point but flatten it out as much as you can. Then cover the pan tightly with the plastic wrap. Set aside to rise again for one hour
  8. When the one-hour rise in the pan is completed, oil your fingers and poke them into the dough, dimpling and stretching it in the pan as you go. You’re trying to evenly fill the pan to the edge and into the corners
  9. Once you’ve completed the dimpling, set the pan aside to rest while you preheat the oven. With one rack in the center position, preheat the oven to 425˚F
  10. Once the oven reaches 425˚, stud the surface of the dough with the fresh raspberries, filling some of the dimples, then drizzle the dimpled dough with 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, then 2 tablespoons of room temperature tap water
  11. Bake on the center rack in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until nicely browned
  12. Remove the focaccia with a metal spatula to a wire rack and allow to cool for 20 minutes. While the focaccia is cooling make the glaze

To glaze and finish

  1. Fit a piping bag with a Bizmarck tip and fil with the raspberry jam
  2. Using the tip, pierce and fill the focaccia at random locations with the jam, taking care to keep the filling within the loaf
  3. In a bowl combine the glaze ingredients, except the rose petals, and stir until fully smooth
  4. Drizzle over the warm focaccia loaf to your liking, then sprinkle with the rose petals
  5. Slice, serve and enjoy!

Krispie Treat Hearts

Makes 16

Ingredients

Treat Hearts

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 12 ounces of mini marshmallows
  • 6 cups crisped rice cereal

To Finish/ Glaze

  • 6 oz chocolate (white or dark chocolate), melted
  • Decorative sprinkles
  • food coloring (optional)

Method

  1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until completely smooth. Remove from heat
  2. Stir in the Rice Krispies cereal until completely coated
  3. Turn the mixture out onto a large sheet of parchment paper or wax paper. Using a greased spatula, shape it into a large rectangle, keeping it about an inch deep all over
  4. Grease a 3-inch heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out the hearts. Once you’ve made the first round of cuts, reshape the remaining marshamallow mixture into another smaller square or rectangle and repeat until you’ve cut all the hearts
  5. Let the hearts harden for about 15 minutes while you melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave safe bowl
  6. Dip the treats into the chocolate, or drizzle the chocolate, and add sprinkles. Harden in the fridge for about 10 minutes or just until the chocolate is set

Note: Treats taste best the day they are made. However, you can make them up to three days ahead and they’ll taste pretty fresh.

Red Velvet Cake Truffles

Makes 42

Ingredients

  • 1 box red velvet cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box to prepare the cake)
  • 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
  • 2 Tablespoons butter, unsalted
  • 12 oz milk, dark or white chocolate chips

Method

  1. Prepare and bake the cake according to package instructions. Let cool completely before moving on to the next step.
  2. Using a fork or your hands, break the cake into fine crumbs into a large bowl.
  3. Add softened cream cheese and knead gently with your hands until cream cheese is fully incorporated. You can mix together with a wooden spoon, or spatula, but I find using your hands works best here
  4. You can use your hands or a cookie scoop to roll into 42 cake balls (about 1 heaping tablespoon per ball) and place on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Place in the fridge to chill while you prepare the chocolate
  5. Heat chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl until completely melted, stirring to combine
  6. Remove cake balls form the fridge and place one ball at a time into the melted chocolate. Using forks, evenly coat each ball with the chocolate. Use the forks to remove the truffle from the chocolate and before transferring it back to the baking sheet, slightly tap the fork against the side of the bowl to get rid of any excess chocolate. Place on the baking sheet and repeat with remaining chocolate balls.
  7. Pour leftover melted chocolate into a small ziptop bag, cut off one corner and pipe melted chocolate in desired design on top
  8. Return truffles to the fridge for 15 minutes or until truffles are set

Valentine Pop Hearts

Makes 10

Ingredients

Pop Hearts

  • 1 box (400g) Ready-to-bake refrigerated pie crusts
  • ½ cup cherry pie filling, or strawberry jam

Frosting

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp milk
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • Food Gel colouring, optional
  • Sprinkles, optional

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  2. On a parchment-lined or lightly floured work surface, unroll one sheet of pie crust. Cut the pie crust into 10 hearts using a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place the hearts on the prepared baking sheet
  3. On the same work surface, unroll the other sheet of pie crust and cut it into 10 hearts using the same heart-shaped cookie cutter
  4. Spread 1/2 teaspoon filling, or jam, in the centre of each heart that is on the baking sheet, leaving about 1/4-inch around the edge
  5. Place another heart-shaped crust evenly on top of each jam-topped heart. Press the edges down with your fingers all around the heart and then use a fork to crimp and seal the edges
  6. Bake for 15 minutes or until light brown around the edges
  7. Meanwhile, make the frosting by combing the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Stir until you have a spreadable consistency, adding a small amount of extra milk if required. The frosting can be left white, or coloured using gel colouring
  8. Remove the pop tarts from the oven and let cool on a rack before finishing
  9. Frost the centre of each pop tart with desired coloured frosting. Alternatively place the frosting in a piping bag, snip the end  off and drizzle over the cooled pop tarts
  10. If using finish with decorative sprinkles

Super Easy Red Velvet Cookies

Makes 16

Ingredients

  • 15 oz box Red Velvet cake mix (or White Cake mix)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Red food coloring gel (if using white cake mix)

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside until needed
  2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, oil and eggs. Mix until well combined and uniform in color.The batter will be quite stiff.
  3. Stir in both types of chocolate chips
  4. Lightly spray a 1.5 – 2 Tbsp cookie scoop with cooking spray. Scoop batter onto prepared baking sheets, about 2-3 inches apart- they will spread out
  5. Bake 11-12 minutes. Cookies will look soft and be slightly underdone in the center when you take them out- they’ll keep cooking while on the baking sheet
  6. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely