Maple Shortbread Bars

Maple Shortbread Bars

Ingredients:
For The Crust:
2 cups flour
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled

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For The Filling:
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
⅔ cup real maple syrup
2 eggs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon maple extract
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped pecans

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Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. For crust, combine flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Cut butter into slices, and cut in with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly. 

Press into bottom and half an inch up the sides of a 9- by 13-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Cool on rack.

For filling, combine all ingredients except pecans, and mix until smooth. Pour into cooled crust. Distribute nuts evenly over top. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool on a rack before cutting.
Yield 39 bars 3" X 1"  

Chockolat Salami

Chockolate Salami

Yields 1 roll; serves 6-8

Ingredients:
10 oz. good quality dark or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup plain biscotti (or cookies, tea biscuits, etc.), coarsely chopped
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2/3 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup hazelnuts, roughly chopped
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cubed, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons brewed coffee
1/2 tablespoons dark rum
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon orange zest
powdered sugar, optional

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Directions:
Preheat oven to 350º F and make sure oven rack is in the center of oven.

Take your chopped almonds, hazelnuts and biscotti and spread them out in an even layer on a baking sheet.

Place in oven and toast for 5-7 minutes, or until lightly toasted.

Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and add chopped chocolate to the top bowl.
Stirring frequently, cook until completely melted and smooth, then stir in orange zest, vanilla and rum.
Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and eggs until smooth, 3-5 minutes. Mix in cocoa powder and coffee to the egg mixture until no lumps remain, then whisk in melted chocolate mixture.

Stir until combined and gently fold in toasted nuts and biscotti.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, or until pliable.

Unwrap chocolate and turn it out onto a clean sheet of plastic wrap. Use your hands to roll chocolate into a long, 2-inch thick log. (Or 2 smaller logs.)

Tightly wrap log in plastic wrap, twisting (or tying) the ends so that it keeps its shape, and return to refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

When ready to serve, use a sharp, serrated knife to cut 1/2-inch thick rounds.

Note: you can dust log with powdered sugar before wrapping in plastic wrap and you can also freeze it for up to 1 month.