Request: Minecraft – Pumpkin Pie
Someone was kind enough to remind me that it is Thanksgiving soon! Here in the UK we don’t celebrate the holiday, nor do we eat enough sweet pumpkin flavoured things if you ask me, so I was very, very excited when I saw Minecraft had recently added Pumpkin Pie. This recipe is a bit of a hybrid between a traditional pie, a cheesecake and delicious edible pixels. I promise this is the last recipe of the year that is orange and involves pastry, because it took me 4 attempts to get it just right this time. Not quite as simple as the input made it appear…
Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!
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Catherine – Strawberry Tart (Katherine)
Katherine is Vincent’s long-term girlfriend who evidently has a bit of a sweet-tooth. She’s rarely seen without a dessert in front of her that somehow she’s been able to only take a small piece from. If I were dining at Chrono Rabbit I can assure you I’d be on my third slice of whatever strawberry covered treat was on offer. The source of Vincent’s current anxieties, Katherine takes some pretty interesting and disturbing forms in his nightmares. Even her fork is seen as a threat to him, well, she is usually the one doing the killing in her dreams. I can see why Vincent is so scared; her underlying dark streak and relationship pressures are enough to make me nervous! But as long as there’s desserts, everything’s okay.
Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!
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Request: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Cheesecake
This is a special request from my good friend Geoff and it is in fact his 25th birthday present from me to him. Geoff spent quite a while deciding that this was what he wanted and I could hardly deny his request because frankly… it’s pretty awesome. I’m a big fan of Castlevania but after watching a play-through of the most recent instalment, Lords of Shadow, on the 360 I’ve yet to brave it myself (seriously one of the greatest endings to a game ever ). I had been tempted to do a Castlevania entry before, often distracted by the German-esque “bakery” levels filled with breads and treats that sometimes fly at your face. So I was glad that Geoff pointed out this delicious looking cheesecake. According to its description on the Castlevania Wiki it is “with chocolate chips” but one drunken conversation later we agreed that the strawberry topping angle was the way to go for maximum tastiness and Alucard would probably pick around the chocolate chips anyway.
Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!
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![Request: Minecraft – Pumpkin Pie
Someone was kind enough to remind me that it is Thanksgiving soon! Here in the UK we don’t celebrate the holiday, nor do we eat enough sweet pumpkin flavoured things if you ask me, so I was very, very excited when I saw Minecraft had recently added Pumpkin Pie. This recipe is a bit of a hybrid between a traditional pie, a cheesecake and delicious edible pixels. I promise this is the last recipe of the year that is orange and involves pastry, because it took me 4 attempts to get it just right this time. Not quite as simple as the input made it appear…
Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!
[[MORE]]
This recipe makes 2 small Pumpkin Pies.
What you will need: A 9-inch loose base cake tin, a large bowl, a whisk/electric mixer, and a 3.5 inch round cookie cutter.
Ingredients:
150g / 6 oz Shortcrust Pastry [Recipe]
150g /⅔Cup Light Brown Sugar
½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon Ground Ginger
⅛Teaspoon Nutmeg
Pinch of Salt
400g / 2 Cups Cream Cheese (Room Temperature)
3 Large Eggs (Room Temperature)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
230g / 1 Cup Canned Pumpkin
To Garnish:
Various shades of orange icing, cut into small squares.
Preparing the Pumpkin Pie:
Preheat the oven to 200C/390F. With your pastry prepared, roll it out to about 1cm thick, and cut a piece to line the base of your cake tin.
Bake it in the oven for 12 minutes until golden, then remove and leave to cool. Once it’s out of the oven, turn the temperature down to 180C/355F.
Meanwhile, combine the light brown sugar with the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
Gradually add the sugar and spices, while continuing to beat the cream cheese. Next add the eggs, vanilla and maple syrup and mix well.
Stir in the pumpkin and mix again until combined, then pour the mixture over the now cooled pastry. Place a small tray of water in the bottom of the oven to keep the air moist.
Put the pumpkin pie in the middle of the oven to bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, change the temperature of the oven to 160C/320F and bake for another 15 minutes.
Once firm, remove the pumpkin pie and leave to cool before placing in the fridge to chill for several hours, or overnight.
Making the Pumpkin Pie:
Remove the pumpkin pie from the cake tin and place on a flat surface. With the cooking and chilling, the filling will have contracted. Take a large round cookie cutter, and cut two perfect cakes from the large cake.
Decorate each of the pumpkin pies with tiny icing pixels, and serve with some freshly whipped maple cream.
Beautifully creamy, fluffy and light with a crisp base – I’m feeling hybrids in baking are the way to go. I loved the sweetness with the spices, and then the unusual taste of pumpkin was really complimented by the gentle sour of the cream cheese. While I have no prior pumpkin experience, it was pretty delicious and something I’d like to bake into more cakes in the future for sure.
Like this? You might also enjoy the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Cheesecake.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdi4zqenek1qjhjgyo1_500.jpg)
![Catherine – Strawberry Tart (Katherine)
Katherine is Vincent’s long-term girlfriend who evidently has a bit of a sweet-tooth. She’s rarely seen without a dessert in front of her that somehow she’s been able to only take a small piece from. If I were dining at Chrono Rabbit I can assure you I’d be on my third slice of whatever strawberry covered treat was on offer. The source of Vincent’s current anxieties, Katherine takes some pretty interesting and disturbing forms in his nightmares. Even her fork is seen as a threat to him, well, she is usually the one doing the killing in her dreams. I can see why Vincent is so scared; her underlying dark streak and relationship pressures are enough to make me nervous! But as long as there’s desserts, everything’s okay.
Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!
[[MORE]]
This recipe serves 6-8.
What you will need: A 9 inch (23cm) fluted tart tin with a loose base, 2 large mixing bowls, a sieve, a rolling pin, ceramic baking beans, piping bag, a small pot, cling film/saran wrap and greaseproof paper/baking parchment.
For the Shortcrust Pastry:
225g / 1 ¾ Cups Plain Flour
100g / ½ Cup Butter (Chilled and Cubed)
½ Teaspoon Salt
Water
For the Filling:
300g / 1 ½ Cups Cream Cheese (Room Temperature)
100g / ½ Cup Fine Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Large Eggs (Room Temperature)
120ml / ½ Cup Soured Cream
2 Tablespoons Fine Sugar
To Garnish:
175g / ½ Cup Strawberry Conserve
120ml / ½ Cup Double / Whipping Cream
2 Tablespoons Fine Sugar
16 Fresh Strawberries
18 Fresh Blueberries
Making the Shortcrust Pastry:
Sieve the flour into a large bowl and add the butter. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the salt and add water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture comes together as a dough.
Wrap the dough in cling film/saran wrap and chill in the fridge for an hour before use. Meanwhile, lightly grease the tart tin and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 180C/355F. Once chilled, roll out the pastry to an even thickness and line the tin. Cover with greaseproof paper/baking parchment and fill the pastry with ceramic baking beans.
Place the pastry in the oven and cook for approximately 10-15 minutes. Watch the pastry to ensure it doesn’t dry out or get too brown. Once it’s golden and firm it’s ready to come out. Remove the baking beans and greaseproof paper and leave the pastry to cool while you prepare the filling.
Preparing the Filling:
Turn up the oven to 220C/450F. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract. Add the two eggs and mix well until smooth. Don’t worry if it seems very liquid, this is normal.
Pour the mixture into the cooled and prepared pastry, leaving a small gap at the top, and put in the oven for around 7-10 minutes or until the centre has set.
Take the tart from the oven and set aside for 5 minutes to cool. Meanwhile, mix the sour cream and 2 tablespoons of sugar together. Spoon just enough of the sour cream over the top of the tart to create a thin layer.
Turn the oven off and return the tart to the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the sour cream has solidified.
Take the tart out and leave it to cool to room temperature before placing in the fridge for several hours or over night to chill.
Making the Strawberry Tart:
In a small pot, add the strawberry conserve. Warm through on a medium heat until the mixture becomes liquid. Allow it to cool for a minute before pouring a thin, even layer over the chilled tart. Place the tart back in the fridge until the strawberry conserve layer has set.
Meanwhile, whisk up the double cream with the sugar and spoon into the piping bag. Pipe cream around the entire edge of the tart.
Prepare your fruit for the top, check out this picture for how to arrange the blueberries and strawberries. Grab a milky coffee and enjoy the tart!
While I was trying to get a good look at the tart Katherine is eating during the game, I noticed that it actually changes a few times in one scene. It swaps between a sponge cake and the tart I’ve made above. I chose the tart as it was something a bit different to the previous recipes and it appears most frequently in the game. I went through 4 attempts at different varieties and combinations and then finally, I cracked it! A delicate cream-cheese layer, with caramelised sour cream topped with strawberries and blueberries is beautifully complimented by the smooth shortcrust pastry and whipped cream. Don’t waste your fork on your significant other, this treat is proof there are far better things to be forking.
Like this? You might also enjoy the Castlevania - Cheesecake.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hjyw985L1qjhjgyo1_500.jpg)
![Request: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Cheesecake
This is a special request from my good friend Geoff and it is in fact his 25th birthday present from me to him. Geoff spent quite a while deciding that this was what he wanted and I could hardly deny his request because frankly… it’s pretty awesome. I’m a big fan of Castlevania but after watching a play-through of the most recent instalment, Lords of Shadow, on the 360 I’ve yet to brave it myself (seriously one of the greatest endings to a game ever ). I had been tempted to do a Castlevania entry before, often distracted by the German-esque “bakery” levels filled with breads and treats that sometimes fly at your face. So I was glad that Geoff pointed out this delicious looking cheesecake. According to its description on the Castlevania Wiki it is “with chocolate chips” but one drunken conversation later we agreed that the strawberry topping angle was the way to go for maximum tastiness and Alucard would probably pick around the chocolate chips anyway.
Click ‘Read More’ for the full recipe!
[[MORE]]
This recipe serves 6-8.
What you will need: A 20cm cake tin, baking/greaseproof paper, rolling pin, large mixing bowl, wooden spoons, whisk, small bowl, pan.
For the Base:
85ml / ⅓ Cup Melted Butter
140g / ¾ Cup Digestive Biscuits
1 Tablespoon Golden Caster Sugar
For the Cheesecake:
600g / 3 Cups Cream Cheese
170g / ⅔ Cup Golden Caster Sugar
2 Tablespoons Plain Flour
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
2 Large eggs
1 Yolk
150ml / ¾ Sour Cream
For the Strawberry Glaze:
500g / 4 Cups Strawberries
150g / ¾ Cup Caster Sugar
2 Tablespoons Ground Arrowroot
Making the Base:
Prepare the cake tin by buttering and lining the base and sides with baking/greaseproof paper and preheat the oven to 160C/320F.
Put the biscuits in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin (should your claymore be at the cleaners) to bash them into crumbs, then place in a bowl.
Melt the butter in a pan on a medium heat and pour over the biscuit crumbs along with the tablespoon of sugar.
Mix well until the butter has been absorbed and then press the biscuit mixture firmly and evenly to the base of the prepared cake tin. Place in the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes, remove and set aside to cool - make sure it has cooled completely otherwise you will end up with a soggy base like I did.
Making the Cheesecake Filling:
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese gently until creamy and slowly add the sugar. Add the flour and a pinch of salt and stir in slowly making sure to clean the sides of the bowl.
Whisk in the vanilla and lemon juice. Add the eggs and yolk one at a time and then the sour cream whisking gently, being careful not to over-mix.
Pour the filling over the buttery biscuit base, gently tap or knock the tin to remove any air bubbles.
Bake for 10 minutes at 160C/320F, then reduce to 90C/190F and cook for 20-40 minutes. I found just keeping an eye on the cake until the centre was a little wobbly but firm was best.
Leave it out to cool, the top may crack but don’t worry as this will be covered. After an hour you can put it in the fridge to continue cooling.
Making the Strawberry Glaze:
Chop the 500g of strawberries, place in a pan, bring to the boil with about 6 tablespoons of water and the sugar.
In a small bowl mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot with some water to create a runny paste.
Once the mixture has boiled in the pot, add the arrowroot water a teaspoon at a time until it begins to thicken then remove from the heat and leave to cool for several minutes.
Once cooled slightly pour/spread the strawberry glaze over the cheesecake and return to the fridge to chill for several hours.
I have never made cheesecake in my life. The making of was relatively easy but then the lengthy cooking and cooling process is something I wish I’d planned better and well in advance… because as I write this it’s later than I would like and I’m praying I can post this before the clock ticks onto midnight and ruin my Wednesday posting spree. It might be a little rough around the edges, but it’s still a cheesecake! And it’s one hell of a tasty one. Despite the upset tummy and ills I may incur I had to steal a little piece to taste. I will make this again most likely, only with 3 days before it’s actually needed so I wont have to cry into a pot of boiling strawberries (the tears make it taste sweeter). You see Geoff, you SEE the lengths I go to for you?! It was great to have a challenge for once though, not everything should run so smoothly all the time and the result did taste pretty excellent - it’s just one of those things you need to make a few times to perfect. The base ended up a bit softer than I would have liked, so I’ve edited the recipe accordingly - other than this it tasted perfect! I can’t seem to think of a Castlevania qu-whip without it sounding too cheesy… oh, oops. (Also sorry for the late posting - I’ve had the flu this week)
Like this? You might also enjoy the Sims - Key Lime Pie.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr67qcCWFh1qjhjgyo1_r2_500.jpg)
