my valentine treats.

my favorite way to show love to others is through food.  i, very luckily, get to show my love every day through cupcakes & cookies & cheesecake & truffles & scones & ...

here is a little glimpse of my valentine love:

{chocolate cinnamon heart cookies dipped in ganache}

{a little old school -

sugar cookie sandwiches

with strawberry frosting}

{nutella cake bite truffles}

this was a fun experiment for me this week - i saw an idea for white chocolate cheesecake squares with strawberry glaze on pinterest, of course.  i started with my favorite tried & true graham cracker crust recipe with the addition of cocoa powder for contrasting color.  i made a rather traditional white chocolate cheesecake center.  & then i needed strawberry jam for the strawberry glaze.  we don't have strawberry jam at urban.  {ok, we do.  in teeny tiny packets that i was not about to go open a hundred.}  so i decided i could make something that resembles strawberry jam, right?  i pulverized some strawberries, cooked them down with a little sugar & a lot of cornstarch, finished with some vanilla, & chilled this mixture.  you know what, that is a pretty darn good play on strawberry jam!  

{enjoying the extra jam-like strawberry goodness on toast}

{white chocolate cheesecake 

with a chocolate graham cracker crust 

& strawberry glaze}

yesterday morning after i had finished my valentine treats, the food network posted a photo on instagram asking what sweet treats its readers were making for valentine's day...

{red velvet cheesecake brownies!

great minds think alike, my friends.}

i hope all of you feel so very loved today, on valentine's day, & every day. 

love love,

kjp.