Chocolate Raspberry Pots de Creme

To my mother,

Thank you for anything and everything you do for me. I appreciate it all, even if I don't express it to you nearly enough. You're my editor. You're my shoulder to lean on. You're my source of wisdom. You're my mentor. You're my friend. But most of all, you're my mother and I love you, forever and always.

Thank you for letting me move back home while I'm in between places. I know I never seem to make my bed and my room is always a mess. I know the kitchen is always covered in a thin, immovable layer of powdered sugar and flour and it's totally my fault. I know, in my 22 years of life, I haven't quite figured out that my dirty clothes go in the laundry basket instead of on the floor.

Thank you for understanding this is a difficult concept for me.

I can't express my appreciation to you for allowing me to take as much time as I need to figure out what I want to do with my life. You don't rush me or push me towards one direction over another. You listen to me thoughtfully and try to help me figure out where I belong. Thank you for supporting me, no matter what my "career of the day" happens to be.

I love you because I can count on you to watch every romantic comedy with me, no matter how awful or cheesy it may be. I love you because you support my obsessive baking even when we're all watching our calories. I love you because we both have lofty dreams of being gardeners even though we can't be bothered to weed our vegetables once we plant them.

But most of all, I love you for being the kind of mother I can only hope to be someday. Happy Mother's Day!

Love,
Kristin

These Chocolate Raspberry Pots de Creme are dark, decadent, and rich. Dark chocolate is melted and mixed into a base of cream cheese. Raspberries are then infused into the chocolate, bringing a touch of sweetness and a new dimension of flavor. These pots are not for the faint of heart. If you are wary of such a dark and decadent dessert, feel free to use a semi-sweet or even milk chocolate to cut the bitterness of the dark chocolate. It will give it more sweetness and a lighter tone.

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Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls

Dear Computer,

I know you are on your last leg of life. We have entered the final days. It is hard to admit (to both you and myself) that you are past the point of repair. You are old. You've had a good life. It is time we begin our goodbyes.

You and I, we've been together for a long time. Four years, to be exact. We've traveled the world together. I protected you from the great rolling fogs when we lived in England. We struggled to learn French together while in Quebec. We've seen the Rocky Mountains, we've been from sea to shining sea. But now you are old; the 3 foot journey from the kitchen counter to the dining room table has become too much for you.

When I was feeling down, you were there to cheer me up. You showed me pictures of baby animals and delighted me with beautiful pictures of food. We watched hours of television together. I was always surprised that we had the same taste in music. But now a 4 minute YouTube video completely shuts you down.

Then you broke your hip (or hinge, as it may be). It was sad, but we dealt with it. We worked around your new disability. But then you cracked the other, breaking yourself cleanly in half. I taped you together, but the tape wouldn't hold. I held you up with wine bottles, first full and then empty—it was a rough moment for the both of us. Your screen is dim, your track pad no longer recognizes my touch. Now you are held together with rubber bands and rulers.

We've had a good run, you and I. Soon you will go to a better place, where memory is unlimited and your battery never runs of juice. I will have to find a replacement, you know. But don't worry, no computer can replace the space you have made in my heart.

After you leave this earth, the next thing to go will be my bank account.

Love,
Kristin

PS: These heart shaped rolls are for you. Pay no attention to the fact that Valentine's Day is tomorrow.

These cinnamon rolls are heart shaped! The dough is soft, full, and easy to work with—what more could you ask for? The filling is rich, buttery, and just oozes that gooey brown sugar. The filling isn't too sweet, which I enjoy; this is breakfast, not dessert. The glaze is made from cream cheese and has this lovely tang. Each flavor is distinct and independent—the yeasted dough, cinnamon, and cream cheese. This is a perfect Sunday morning pastry.

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Gingerbread Cheesecake

I never want to eat again.

I don't want to eat food, make food, or look at it. If I see one more dirty dish, I might just cry. This is a lie and I'm sure I will take it all back tomorrow (though I am very serious about the dishes bit). After spending most of a week feasting and spending endless hours in the kitchen, I'm exhausted. The holiday season has taken its toll on me, as evidenced by my sore feet and expanding waistline. There is no other time in the year where I would consider a bowl of puppy chow and a few sugar cookies a legitimate breakfast. And the season isn't even over yet.

I have more leftovers than I care to mention. Try as I might, I can't escape from the cookies, cakes, and sweets. They taunt me from the counter tops. They quietly hide in the refrigerator. They are even stacked up in the garage, becoming the first sight I see when I enter the house and the last before I leave. I have a massive sugar infestation.

... Help me!

Tomorrow I am going to eat a thoroughly healthy breakfast... and then I will break out the cookies and milk. Five more days before the new year (and before I have to feel guilty about it)!

I originally made this cheesecake in a 10-inch springform pan but, due to unforeseen and tragic circumstances, this is not what the fates had in mind. May it never be said that I cannot salvage a cheesecake. As it turns out, these gingerbread cheesecakes are delicious in bite-sized proportions. The gingerbread flavor is loud and proud, though the sour cream topping keeps it in check. It's dense, it's delicious. Do yourself a favor and make this before the holiday season officially ends.

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