I give up.
I tried and tried to come up with something to write about and it is just not happening. I’m also having a baking slump too. I pour and pour through tons of cook books only to find nothing to make. Kind of like my closet, totally full, and yet never anything to wear. I did get a new cookbook this week so hopefully that will inspire me (Dulce: Desserts in the Latin-American Tradition if you are wondering what I got).
My life the last week has been mostly hockey, hockey, hockey. Either watching or playing (it is playoff time…and yes my team is doing badly). I was in a tournament. We made it to the championship game. And lost. Yep, first losers again. Sigh.
Suffering from a sinus infection. Makes that whole breathing while playing hockey thing hard.
Got glasses and contacts last week. Was told I didn’t really need them by the eye doctor but the DMV told me that if I wanted a license I will need them. Boo. For some reason now that I have glasses, I feel old. Never really felt old until that day. I’ll get over it though. 🙂
And lastly I have been working on getting my teaching certificate here in the state of Washington. Yes, that’s right, I am considering going back into the classroom. May just be as a sub, but may just be full time eventually. Never know.
I have absolutely no tie into these bars. I made them because they are key lime and are cheesecake like. The original recipe doesn’t call for key limes, but I always sub key lime for regular lime. I also threw in some raspberry sauce. The original recipe uses a white chocolate drizzle, which I am sure is lovely too. But since I love key lime and raspberry together that is what I went with.
Good? Pretty much ate the whole pan.
Lack all motivation for clever name Key Lime-Raspberry Bars
For the Crust:
1 ½ cups ground graham crackers (about twelve 2 ½ by 5 crackers)
3 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP freshly grated lime zest
1/8 tsp salt
6 TBSP unsalted butter, melted
For the Topping:
16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
½ cup freshly squeezed key lime juice
1 TBSP freshly grated lime zest (use regular limes…more colorful)
1/3 cup raspberry puree (see below)
Position rack in the center of the oven. Preheat to 350F.
Grease a 9-by-13 inch pan. Set aside.
Combine graham crackers, sugar, lime zest, ans alt in a bowl. Pour the butter over the mixture and blend with a fork. Press the mixture inti the bottom of the prepared dish. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and set it aside to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of and electric mixer set on medium speed, cream the cheese and sugar together. Add the egg yolks and continue to mix until will blended. Scrape down the bowl.
Add the key lime juice and lime zest and mix until well incorporated.
Pour the mixture over the warm crust, and make sure it is spread evenly. Drizzle raspberry puree in a random pattern over the top of the filling. Use a knife to swirl the puree into the filling. Do as much or as little of this as you like.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the center of the topping is set and the top begins to color slightly. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into bars.
Adapted from The Greyston Bakery Cookbook by Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan
Raspberry Puree
2 pints of raspberries
1/2 cup sugar
lime juice, to taste
Combine ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until berries have given up their juices. Bring liquid to a boil and continue to boil until liquid is thick but still fluid.
Run berries through a fine mesh strainer. Pressing down to make sure that you are forcing all the fruit and juices through.
Refrigerate.
This will make more than you need but is a versatile sauce that can be used for many things. Will last about 3-4 days.
Tammie says
They look yummy! Just wanted to be sure about the amount of sugar in the raspberry puree. Was there supposed to be a number after the 1/ or is it a whole cup?
FOODESSA says
I just saw a summary of your blog…and I just had to come see you.
Don’t you know that what you’re going through is absolutely normal.
I feel the same slump when a big client gives me a very uninteresting design project to jazz up.
So how do I solve my dilema…I bring myself out to a place that makes me happy.
Find that place…it will come back to you ;0)
Your dessert looks good by the way.
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Kaitlin says
I LOVE your glasses! Super cute!
I always seem to be lacking a way to tie what I bake into what I write… It’s a little frustrating, but I suppose that I can go with it.
As for no baking inspiration? I recommend The Craft of Baking if you find that Dulce doesn’t really do it for you 😀
Elle says
Darling glasses…perfect for doing sub teaching…you look super smart and NOT old.
The bars are amazing looking. Understand the slump…having one, too. Maybe once the plants are into the garden baking and blogging will again become interesting. Yawn.
Erin says
These look so good! I know my husband would just love them, so I’ll have to make them soon! Good luck with whatever you decide in regards to teaching!
Leslie says
Looks pretty nummy, whatever you call them.
Bri says
No need for a snappy name, those bars look fantastic! And the glasses are pretty “snappy” too!
bellini valli says
The bars look amazing…wait I will put on my glasses and have a better look…still looks amazing:D
Jennifer in NYC says
You look pretty!
The bars look and sound yummy!
mellisa w. says
I pictured you as a blonde. I have almost the same glasses, they are cute. Hope you have a great day, thanks for all you do I always look forward to your postings.
Joanne says
I think we all have days. Weeks. Months. Like this.
And if it makes you feel any better. I got contacts when I was ten. So you have ten-year-old eyes!
The bars look delicious. Love that you subbed in the key lime and especially love that raspberry swirl.
ciaochowlinda says
We all go through those slumps. Take a break for a while next time it happens. But if these bars are the type of thing that comes out of it, I’d say it was worth it. And you are a young chick-a-dee my dear who looks beautiful in glasses.
Kristina says
Aw, you are lucky! You can really pull off those glasses. I cannot pull of glasses at all. And don’t worry, you’ll be back soon with more brilliance, not that those cheesecake bars are not extremely brilliant…
Sara Kate says
Hi Peabody,
I’m the author of the Greyston Bakery Cookbook – glad you are enjoying it and are adapting recipes – this one looks so good!
cheers,
Sara Kate
DPLK says
You look so awesome in your glasses, it looks very natural on you. I’ve been wearing glasses so long I look absolutely ridiculous without them, but you look great either way.
As for what to make, if all else fails, it’s always good to go back to old favorites or just what you feel like eating 🙂 which it looks like you did!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
YUMMY!!!! That looks sooo tasty.
Your glasses are hott and I’m sorry your team lost:( I can tell you’re a rock star so hopefully you feel good!
Ariana from Chicago says
Oh dang, these look delish. And what a pretty gurl you are! For some reason I thought you were blond though?? Did I dream that?
Peabody says
Never been a blond in my life.
Kara says
I don’t care what you call them, they look phenomenal!
And I think you look cute in glasses. And not old AT ALL!
Cookbook Queen says
Sorry to hear about the sinus infection, those suck really bad…:(. On the plus side, you got a new cookbook, which is always a good thing. As for the glasses, they look good, a lot like the pair I have. I mostly wear contacts but I bust out the glasses when I want to look smart….-er. Hope next week goes better for ya. Beautiful cheesecake!!
Fallon says
The glasses look great on you!
Monica H says
These look delicious.
ANd I like your glasses- don’t look old to me 😎
Memoria says
You look too cute for words!!! You don’t look old at all! I love the glasses.
These bars look fantastic. I’m bookmarking yet another recipe of yours.
Janice says
These are now on my list.
Right now we are finishing off the decadent cinnamon roll cheesecake: Divine!
TY Peabody, you are the best;-)
Sophea Lazane says
Oh, please don’t feel old when you have to wear glasses. They look great on you!! And the Key Lime Raspberry bar, it great!
wendyywy says
Peabody,
You’ve slimmed down so much..
Compared to last year’s Easter, I remember you in the kitchen with your dad doing eggs..
Now you look so different.
🙂
The Dutch Baker's Daughter says
Glasses? Phooey…I had them (the cat eye ones) when I was in second grade. Now they are all the rage. Even my fashionista twenty-year-old daughter wears them for the heck of it once in awhile. They look good on you!
Slumps happen, life gets in the way. Take a breather and it will come back to you….although, from the looks of those bars, your slump isn’t too severe, lol. Wow–another great treat!
Maybe teaching is just what you need to feel back on course. Good luck to you!
Karen says
Have to say I love the glasses. They make you look very sophisticated. The students will think that you are a genius!
dani says
of all the kind of slumps to be in (work, school, friends) baking is my least favorite 🙁 hope u come out of it soon!
annie says
Pea, these look awesome. I’m still amazed at how much creativity and energy is needed for a blog, I don’t know how you all do it so well. BTW, I love your glasses, you look sexy in them!
Patricia Scarpin says
These bars look very inspiring to me, sweetie – love raspberries and love citrus flavors, too.
You look so beautiful with your glasses! 🙂
Katrina says
Beautiful swirl job. I always mess up a swirl!
Helen says
These do look really yummy. I am so like you, I have so many clothes but complain nearly every morning that I have nothing to wear!
Jen says
You look great in glasses!
MyKitchenInHalfCups says
If only I could be as good as you are when you’re uninspired and blank.
Cute glasses not old!
Kerstin says
The glasses look great on you! Very cute 🙂 And your raspberry lime combo sounds lovely as well.
Lisa @ The Cooking Bride says
Wearing glasses in no way makes you old. I have been wearing them since I was five. The right pair of frames can make you look like a hotty.
Steph says
I’ve been in a baking slump for the longest time. These bars look so yummy!
Katie says
These look gorgeous with the bright red swirl. Love the sound of the lime with the raspberry.
Your glasses really suit you, you’re not old!!
Melanie says
I think that you look cute in them. I wear both too.
HeartofGlass says
How funny! I was just considering going into teaching through NJ’s alternative route system. With budget cutbacks in my state, however, I’m not sure that is such a good idea.
The bars are seasonal and don’t need a cute tie-in–it’s spring!
anna says
Those bars look yummy and I think you look very pretty and dignified (!) with your glasses.
MIA says
You look adorable in your glasses!
Jessica says
The glasses look adorable on you! And the cheesecake bars look delightful. YUM!
Lisa says
I love your glasses! And the bars look wonderful.
Spycandy says
You look so pretty in this pic! Nice glasses. Will have to try these bars, they look yummy
Erika says
I love your glasses! I think they are very flattering.
Good luck with getting back into teaching, and thanks for the yummy recipe!
Mimi says
You look gorgeous in your glasses. Makes me want to go get mine. I’ve needed them for years but I’m too stubborn to go.
Oh.. and the key lime bars are pretty gorgeous too!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes) says
What a beautiful swirl you’ve achieved!!
Mary says
I love the glasses…they look fabulous….
Fellow Glasses Wearer, Mary
Colleen says
These look pretty inspired to me! Sometimes you can just make something because you want to 🙂 Love the flavors together.
Dani says
Girls in glasses are hot, I say, as I sit here typing with mine on!
I love the idea of raspberry sauce on these bars – they look awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Ron Merlin says
I just gotta make these, they look so good.
Probably will have to blog them too if they come out, and will give you credit naturally….
Ron Merlin
Pamela says
just discovered foodblogs & now you ….. life is great. The drivers license/glasses thing …same situation with Hawaii DMV.
Maureen says
Just thought you would like to know that I made these lime bars for the 4th of July block party. There was not one crumb left. I did use the raspberry which not only adds to the flavor but makes the bars pop with color. The only change I made was in the crust. I am not a fan of graham cracker crusts so I crushed gingersnap cookies from Trader Joes and added butter. Thank you – this recipe is a keeper.
Yang says
Oh, they look good! You may have lost the game, but the bars you made are winners… and so are you. About your sinus infection, I understand that it is uncomfortable, but besides over-the-counter medications there are alternative ways, like essential oils to help you with the congestion. Tea tree oil is one, and melalueca oil is another.