FOOD // MINT CHOCOLATE BLACK BOTTOM PIE

I love sweet treats - cookies, candies, cakes, pies, oh my! There's no hiding that I have a huge sweet tooth, that just loves to be filled. An with the holiday season up us I find myself making so many sweets I just couldn't help but share one. I thought I would share a recipe that I have made a few times again an again and just love! It's a bit rich for some but if you love chocolate this recipes perfect for you. Also if you're not a big mint fan, you can minus the mint by modifying the chocolate chips back to 8 oz. of regular chips. Enjoy and Happy Holidays! 


MINT CHOCOLATE BLACK BOTTOM PIE
Approx Time 4 Hours (due to chill times) // Serves 6-8

Ingredients
3 1/4 cups heavy cream
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
2 ounces andies mint baking chips
1 teaspoon of mint extract
1 tablespoon of spiced rum (we used captain morgan)
1 chocolate cookie pie crust
1/2 cup toasted macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons or confectioners' sugar

Directions
1.) In a medium microwave safe bowl, heat 1 1/4 cups of cream until hot, approx 3 minutes. Add chocolates and let stand until melted, approx 5-10 minutes. Whisk to combine, then whisk in rum. Pour chocolate mixture into pie crust and reserve a little for the topping later. If you don't care to decorate your pie just add all of the mix into your pie filling. Sprinkle nuts over top an refrigerate pie 3 hours // or up to 2 days.

2.) In a large bowl, use and electric mixer ( I used my food processor), beat 2 cups cream, mint extract and sugar on high until stiff peaks form, approx 2-3 minutes. Top pie with whipped cream. Used reserved chocolate mixture to decorate your pie. I also shaved some andies mints on top of the pie when I was done.

Modified recipe from Everyday Food // Issue No. 77 // November 2010 // Page 69 

VALENTINES WEEKEND

I hope you had a wonderful Valentines weekend. I know mine was perfectly relaxing which was much needed and appreciated, since weekends lately have been jammed packed and keeping us on the go go go. It was nice to stay in on Friday. We put on a record, cooked dinner (stuffed shells, one of my favs) together, enjoyed a couple drinks, made dessert, and then watched a zombie love movie (Warm Bodies, which mind you is a great movie) ... sounds romantic, right!? Well it was, and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect first Valentine's together. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.

FOOD : VALENTINES CUPCAKE TOPPERS

I'm enjoying Valentines a few days before hand, and kicking it off with cupcakes, which we will gladly eat later tonight. But needless to say, I took a stab at some simple cupcake toppers to pull off the whole look. I found these little post-its in the dollar section of Target (currently as of last weekend) and instantly thought they'd make the most perfect cupcake toppers. So with a few toothpicks, some extra tape, pink frosting and sprinkles here you have it. Of course I had to test a cupcake before hand too and boy were they yummy. Happy Humpy day sweet friends! :)