What I Did In 2010

First off, I want to wish you all a happy new year! Do you have any big plans? I think my family and some neighbor-friends are all going to hang out at my parents' house.

Mostly I think we'll be snacking around all night and playing Apples to Apples. Hopefully we'll be doing some toasting with sparkling wine, too. I love sparkling wine.
I thought I'd share that with you.

Also, Eric and I bought a box of fireworks on the fourth of July and we never shot them off, so I think tomorrow night might be the time. Maybe. I'm not sure how my parents feel about that yet.

I'm making brie wrapped in puff pastry with fig preserves, toasted pistachios and herbs. It should be pretty easy. I can't wait to ring in the new year with a big slice of brie!

2010 was a good year. Well, fairly good. My brother-in-law's accident wasn't good, but other than that it was a good year.

Let's take a stroll down memory lane and remember 2010. This is kind of fun for me because I don't remember what I did.

In March I moved out of my parents home and into a townhouse with Ericcakes.


In March I was on Food Network, on Ultimate Recipe Showdown, for the second time.


In April my niece, Madeline, was born.

In April I ran my first 8K.

In May I met my blogger/contest friend Lorie!

In May I went to New York City with Eric and toured the Food Network kitchens and had dinner at Daniel.


In June I went to France with my sister, Hannah.


In June I went to my first cardinals game with Eric.


In July I turned twenty-five.

In July I competed in the Great Steak Challenge sponsored by Beringer Wine.

In September I took cake decorating classes!

In October Eric and I went to see the Black Keys in Tulsa, Oklahoma.


In November I ran my first 5K. It was freezing.


In November we had one of the best Thanksgivings ever!

In December I competed in the Best of the Midwest cook-off.


That's a pretty action-packed year. I wonder what 2011 will bring?

I have some resolutions I'd like to share with you, but I'll wait until the new year. Start thinking about yours!

Happy New Year! Don't eat too many mini quiches and bagel bites!

Top Ten Desserts of 2010

2010 was a good year of desserts, and I hope 2011 will have even more. In 2011 I want to create more classic dessert recipes, and I also want to challenge myself more.

I went through every single dessert I made in 2010 and picked out my top ten favorites. These recipes are all winners so give them a try!


Chocolate Cheesecake-Filled Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

I made these cupcakes for my sister's baby shower and they were a hit. This is a recipe I will make again for sure.


Chocolate Covered-Strawberry Cheesecake Bread Pudding

The most delicious bread pudding ever invented. It's made with doughnuts and it tastes like strawberry cheesecake. Drool.


Mayan Mudslide Brownies

These fudgy, moist brownies are topped with toasted coconut, cashews and dulce de leche. The surprise ingredient is avocado.


Grasshopper Pie

You see? I do love that mint-chocolate combination. Eric loved this pie and he doesn't like pie. I did, too!


Key Lime Pie

This luscious, tart key lime pie is topped with whipped cream and has a graham cracker crust. I made this for fathers day because all dads love key lime pie, I think. :)


Red Velvet Cake

It's red velvet cake... do I need to say more? It's amaaaazzzing.


Chocolate Cookie Dough Candy-Chocolate Chunk Cookies

This is my famous chocolate chip cookie recipe loaded up with chocolate chunks and chocolate chip cookie dough candy. Yum!


S'mores Biscotti

I like this recipe because it's kind of whimsical. Graham cracker crumbs and chopped chocolate are in the cookie, and then it's topped with white chocolate and more crumbs.


Pumpkin-Maple Glazed Pumpkin Doughnuts

Homemade doughnuts are killer. The pumpkin, maple and spices make these really flavorful. I need one of these babies right now.




Number ten is today's recipe! Funny how that worked out, huh? ;)

This is a Cranberry Limoncello Crumb Cake that I made. I made this a while back when cranberries had just came into season, and I needed to use up some leftover limoncello I had.

You'll have to hurry to make this cake because I don't think cranberries will be in season that much longer. That makes me sad. Maybe I should stock up? <-- YES.



This cake is super moist; the batter has limonello, buttermilk and lemon juice in it, and it's flavored with almond extract and lemon zest. The cake batter is placed in a springform pan and topped with fresh chopped cranberries and a buttery, brown sugar crumb topping.



Ohhhh just thinking about this cake makes me want to bake it again. Sadly now is not the time because I need to work on some contest recipes and plan what I'm making for New Years. But Cranberry Limoncello Crumb Cake and I will meet again, this I know.

I'll be back shortly. I hope you have a good day!



Cranberry Limoncello Crumb Cake
Printable Recipe

2 cups coarsely chopped cranberries
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup limoncello
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Crumb Topping
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8 or 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, stir together cranberries and 2 tablespoons sugar until combined; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together 1/2 cup butter, oil, 3/4 sugar, lemon zest and almond extract until creamy - about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs until combined - about 2 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in buttermilk, limoncello, and lemon juice, alternating with flour mixture until combined.

Pour batter into prepared pan; top with cranberries. In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, and 3 tablespoons butter until combined. Knead the ingredients together until well incorporated; evenly sprinkle on top of cranberries.

Bake 1 hour or until set and golden brown and top.

Makes 8-10 servings

Holiday Camembert En Croute

Aww man, Christmas is over. Part of me is sad that the holiday is over, but part of me is a little relieved. Christmas can be kind of a stressful time, you know?

I'm really looking forward to New Year's now. Mainly because of the snacks. It's a good snackin night at the Hobbs house. MINI QUICHES HOORAAYY!

Now let's get to a Christmas recap!




I spent Christmas Eve-Day in the kitchen whipping up two desserts for Christmas, and an appetizer to bring to Eric's family's Christmas Eve party. I'll give you the dessert recipes in upcoming posts. For the appetizer I made up my own recipe for Holiday Camembert En Croute.

I rolled out puff pastry and topped it with toasted pistachios, dried cranberries, olive oil, honey and orange zest. The camembert cheese went on top and then I wrapped the cheese in puff pastry and baked it in the oven until golden brown. I plated the cheese with crackers and olive oil-toasted baguette slices.

I used this olive oil that Olivari sent me to try.


I could taste the olive oil in the filling of the cheese and thought it tasted delicious and fruity. I could pretty much drink olive oil.

I haven't seen Olivari in my grocery store yet, but I'm sure I will soon. I love that their olive oil bottles have pop up pourers. That's genius!





I don't have any other pictures of the camembert except for this one. I had to hurry and get ready for the party and didn't get a chance to take any good pictures. I might make this appetizer again for New Year's, because it was scrumptious, and maybe I could take some more pictures.



Eric's folks outdid themselves and made a ton of great food! There was pulled pork, smoked turkey, smoked brisket, dips, chips, crackers, cookies, fudge, and white chocolate-raspberry cake.












Can you believe I've never had a little smokey before? Well, I had my first one at the party. They were bacon-wrapped and sprinkled with brown sugar. Oh my... I didn't think I would like little smokies, but I do.



My plate was meat-heavy. The Emily from five years ago would be shocked. I've been craving protein lately and I'm rolling with it.



Served with the perfect margarita. I *think* this might be the recipe but I'm not sure. I had two of these babies and contemplated a third, but decided getting drunk at Eric's family's Christmas party wasn't a good idea.












After dinner we settled in to watch "A Christmas Story" - the first showing of the 24 hour marathon. I love the movie, but this year we watched it too many times and I think I'm ruined for life.



Then we had a yankee swap gift exchange with a lot of great gifts that everyone bought. My contribution was a Bass Pro gift card that I was certain would be popular. Eric ended up with a (losing) lottery ticket that he bought himself, and I took home a Shamwow that I know will come in handy as much as I spill stuff.



Then dessert happened. Cake! Peanut cluster!



Christmas morning Eric and I woke up early and went to his parents' house to open up presents. I have to share what they gave me because I'm so excited about it!



The Wilton cake decorating set! I featured this on my blog a few weeks ago, you might remember. Now I have all the tools to start decorating!



We then had Christmas breakfast with Eric's family at his aunt and uncle's house. I didn't take pictures because I felt like I might look like a weirdo (which I am), but just picture a plate full of Honeybaked ham, sausage ball and bacon and you'll get the picture. I can't figure out why I've been so thirsty today.


This was a whole lotta Christmas in two days. After breakfast we headed over to my parents' house for their celebration.



Mom does a lovely job of decorating the house every year.



Presents! You might spy some of Eric's presents that he wrapped.



Stockings! My favorite! Aren't stockings so much fun to go through?



A white Christmas!






Mom made all kinds of Christmas goodies: sugar cookies, butter cookies, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, and chocolate covered orange peel.



My sisters, brother-in-laws, Eric, and I decided to wear festive shirts and sweaters on Christmas and surprise my parents. Don't you love our turtlenecks we bought from Kmart? They were only $5. :)



Everyone opened up presents after going through the stockings. One of the presents my mom received was a shake weight, which gave everyone a good laugh, and we all passed it around and tried it out.



I pulled an Oprah and said, "It's a deep fryerrrrrrr!" when I opened up a huge box my parents gave me.



Now all my dreams have come true! Think of all of the things I can make now: fried chicken, hushpuppies, corn fritters, funnel cakes, doughnuts, crab rangoons.
I think it's time I invested in some more stretchy pants.



I returned the crock pot I borrowed from my parents, because I'm the proud owner of this baby. Thank you, Hannah!



If anyone wants a cup of coffee, come on over! I'll brew you a cup using my new coffeemaker. Thanks, Rachel!



I've wanted a Griddler for YEARS. I told Eric I wanted one a long time ago, and he remembered! I was so surprised when I opened up his gift. I absolutely love it! Thank you, Ericcakes! Now I can flip pancakes, grill chicken and make grilled cheese sandwiches with ease.



There's going to be lots and lots of cooking going on now. I have a ton of appliances but nowhere to put them. Any suggestions would be helpful!

Now I have to tell you about the best gift of the night. It was a game my dad received as a present. After we all ate a dinner of delicious Chinese take-out, we settled in to play a good game of...











Best game ever. Twas a Christmas to remember.


Holiday Camembert En Croute
Printable Recipe

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped pistachios, toasted
1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries
3/4 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 wheel camembert cheese, rind sliced off
1 egg whisked with a touch of water or milk

Olive oil brushed baguette slices, for serving
Crackers, for serving

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Roll out pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin; set aside for a second.

In a medium bowl, stir together honey, olive oil, pistachios, cranberries, rosemary, orange zest and pepper until well combined. Place in center of puff pastry, spreading mixture to the width of the camembert. Place camembert on top. Wrap pasty around cheese, cutting of some of the extra dough.

Cut out leaves from extra dough and place on top of of pastry-covered cheese. Brush with egg. Bake 25-30 minutes or until deep golden brown. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with bread and crackers.