Tuesday, March 11, 2014

How to Make an Easy yet Impressive Snack Cake Using Melted Gelato by Cleo Coyle


We turned our clocks forward last weekend, but yesterday Marc and I went back in time, thanks to author and professor Ken Wishnia, who invited us to speak with his college literature class about our latest amateur sleuth mystery Billionaire Blend

Everyone at Suffolk County Community College was welcoming, making it a delightful visit. We not only spoke about our book but also gave a little talk on some basic keys to a good story and signed books for the students after class. 

By the way, Ken is a wonderful teacher and author, and his critically-acclaimed Filomena Buscarsela series is back in print. Learn more here. Rumor has it, Ken's a great cook, too, and I'll see what I can do to persuade him to guest post here in the future with a recipe.

As for today's recipe, I've anticipated next week's "Wearing (and Eating) of the Green" on St. Patrick's Day by baking up an easy pistachio cake.

~ Cleo



This recipe is no longer available online,
but I invite you to sample more of my recipes
at my online coffeehouse...

www.CoffeehouseMystery.com 



Eat with joy!
~ Cleo Coyle

New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Yes, this is me, Cleo (aka Alice). 
Friend me on facebook here.
Follow me on twitter here
Visit my online coffeehouse here.




Now a National
Bestseller in Hardcover

A Coffeehouse Mystery 

*Starred Review* -Kirkus

"Top Pick"  -RT Book Reviews

"...a highly satisfying mystery."
-Publishers Weekly



See the book's
Recipe Guide
by clicking here.



* * * 


Coffeehouse Mystery
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(with mini plot summaries)


The Coffeehouse Mysteries are bestselling
works of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the
13 titles includes the added bonus of recipes. 


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18 comments:

  1. Isn't gelato marvelous?! A good brand (like the one you show) has such a wonderful flavor and mouth feel.
    This sounds like great fun. Just wish I had more cake eaters around so I won't feel obliged to eat it all myself.
    Have a marvelous St. Patty's Day and be careful of all the celebratory people in the city!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Libby - Gelato truly is a little spoonful of heaven. We have several dedicated gelato shops here in New York City, but (as you said) the brand I picture "TALENTI" is very good quality, and it's produced out of Texas. And I hope our blog audience can find it in their area--or another brand they may like. The Melted Gelato Cake is insanely easy and fun. I'm looking forward to experimenting with more flavor combos. (More on the cake in the replies below...)

      Thanks for dropping by the Kitchen today, Libby, it's always a pleasure to see you!

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  2. I'm a gelato fan, too. The taste is so rich and tasty. When I'm eating it, I find it hard to believe that there is less butterfat in it than ice cream, but that is indeed the case. Your pistachio cake looks festive, right on time for St. Patrick's Day. Thank you for sharing it.

    My colleagues and I enjoy your books, Cleo, as well as your recipes. Do keep them both coming.

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    Replies
    1. Janice - I'm a fan of gelato, true, but I'm a much bigger fan of librarians like you. Marc and I owe big thanks to librarians across the country for their longtime support of our Coffeehouse Mystery series. So cheers to you and your colleagues. May you always eat (and read) with joy!

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  3. Oh, gelato!! Cleo, your pics and recipes always make my mouth water. Sounds like you had a nice time at the college. Now get back to writing please. Finished your latest coffeehouse mystery and waiting for the next!

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  4. I never knew that gelato was made with milk. It tastes so rich I always assumed it was full of fat. Pistachio is good, but I am a citrus lover, so I see a lemon gelato cake in my near future!

    BTW, all the writers here should check out the new Amtrak Writers in Residency program:

    http://blog.amtrak.com/2014/03/amtrak-residency-for-writers/

    You simply fill out an application, submit it, and wait to see if you are one of 24 writers chosen to ride the rails long-distance FOR FREE! The selection begins on March 17th, so those who are interested should look into it now. I wish I was a writer, as I've always wanted to go on a long-distance train trip!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Pam, on all counts. Marc and I very much enjoyed getting out to the college yesterday. Ken Wishnia is a class act, a wonderful author, and he's hosted many writers in the past. His lucky students have enjoyed visits from Lee Child, Megan Abbott, and many other authors. A really nice experience. (And, yes, indeed we have another CM on the way for you and all of our kind readers.) Thanks for dropping by, Pam, have a delicious week.

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  6. Cee Pluse - You are not alone in that assumption about gelato. Until I looked into it, I thought it was richer than ice cream, but it's not. It's *half* the fat. (Well, usually half. The exact amount depends on the brands and flavors you compare, but it's always less than ice cream.)

    What's also surprising is that gelato can be less calories and fat than the oil or butter you might add to a cake or cake mix. On my *things-to-do* list is creating a from-scratch melted gelato cake recipe. Stay tuned on that one.

    AMTRAK for writers! What a fantastic notion. Trains always inspire me. New ideas almost seem to rush at me while the train is moving, and I'm sure other writers have experienced that, as well. I'll be looking into that program. Thank you for posting the link Cee Pluse. I'm sure other writers will use it, as well.

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  7. My mouth is watering! Hubby's birthday is coming up so I may make this for him. Love Talenti gelato partly because my maiden name was so close--Valenti.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Valenti - beautiful name. I think it would make an excellent name for a gelato brand, too. Marc and I send our very best birthday wishes to your husband, Peg!

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  8. Now why is it that in all my years of school I never had the wonderful opportunity to meet an author?? I feel deprived ;-)

    Oh Gelato...how I love it. I may have to throw caution to the wind and have a wee bit of this luscious looking cake. Being dairy-free can be so boring sometimes...I wonder if I can find a dairy-free gelato? I see food sleuthing in my future. In the meantime Mr. Nanc, Chef Connor and the lovely Emily will be enjoying this after our Irish boiled feast!

    Do tell us...what was the best part of meeting with the students? What a great way for them to meet authors personally and to be able to interact with them. Kudos to Professor Wishnia!

    I also see that you used the new almond and hazelnut combo milk...it is one of my new fave treats!!

    Your fan forever,

    Nanc

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    Replies
    1. Nanc - You are too funny. But I know what you mean about meeting an author. I grew up in a steel town, outside of Pittsburgh, and would have given anything to speak with a real live professional writer, let alone one who published fiction for a living. Professor Ken is truly giving his students a gift with the authors he brings to his classes. The kids may not always appreciate it, but then I didn't appreciate everything my teachers did for me (at the time). I have since learned better. :)

      As for this week's recipe, I wish I could have found a way to make it dairy-free for you! But I will continue to keep you in mind for future recipes. I know how hard it is to have severe food allergies, and I consider it a challenge to think of ways for folks to make a delicious food--without including ingredients that might be disagreeable. Never easy as a recipe writer to consider every variation--but it's worthwhile when I'm able to do just that.

      Happy St. Patrick's day and thanks for dropping by, Nanc, you're the best.

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  9. How lusciously yummy. I use pudding to moisten up my cakes. This looks divine!

    Best,
    Daryl / Avery

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes. I agree on the pudding, even when cake mixes have pudding included. Depending on the cake, I like to add extra instant pudding, as well. And I'm sure many other cooks out there still do the same. Thanks for dropping by, Daryl, especially on this very busy release month for you! Congrats again on the release of INHERIT THE WORD.

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  10. Love your taste in gelato, Cleo. Talenti is my favorite! I admit I'm partial to their milk chocolate flavor, though. I never considered baking a cake with melted ice cream or gelato! Yum!

    ~Krista

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    Replies
    1. Krista - Talenti is so good. If it's not yet widely available in stores across the country, it certainly should be. I do see other major ice cream brands introducing gelato, but I have not sampled them. Hmm...in the name of culinary research, maybe I should drop by the freezer section of the store again. Such a sacrifice, sampling gelato. :)

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

      Delete
  11. In response to my posting this on FB, a friend commented that the only place gelato should be melting is in her mouth!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Libby - Two responses:

      (1) Thank you kindly for sharing this post on Facebook. I appreciate it!

      and...

      (2) Who can argue with melting gelato in your mouth? I'm overjoyed your friend didn't ask "what's gelato?" :)

      ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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