C'est le Brie

By Natalie Anne (recipe adapted from Yammie’s Noshery)

I’m always so nervous to make cheesecake because I feel like its never going to be as rich and creamy as I hope for. But this recipe blew me away. It was a bit of a process all together, but so incredibly worth it. I was home visiting my parents for Thanksgiving and I’m not the biggest fan of pumpkin pie, so I decided to try something a little more non-traditional plus this recipe made my mouth water and I couldn’t wait to try it.

First I prepared the graham cracker crust:
3 cups of graham cracker crumbs (about 2 packages of crushed graham crackers)
1/2 cup Heath Bar Toffee Bits
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 sticks butter (1 cup), melted
1 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I strayed from the recipe and used dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate and I wholeheartedly recommend it)

Preheat the oven to 300º. Combine everything (except the chocolate chips) and press into a springform pan lined with parchment paper. Push all the way up the sides and press in firmly. Spread the chocolate chips over the pressed mixture. Set the springform pan on a baking sheet (just in case it drips). Bake for about five minutes or until the chocolate chips are melty. Smooth them out with an offset spatula. Throw it in the freezer while you prepare the filling.

Next I made the Homemade Caramel Sauce:
1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup heavy cream

In a medium sauce pan, combine the sugar and syrup. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula. Once it is caramel colored, add the butter and stir until the butter is melted. Add the cream and stir until it’s all combined. Bring it back to the heat if you get clumps and stir it until they’re dissolved. Store in the refrigerator if not using right away. Makes about 3/4 cup.

*Now this was my first time making homemade caramel and I was entirely convinced I was doing the entire wrong, until I started to see the caramel color slowly come out of the sugar and syrup. I was so excited, and it tasted so heavenly. It wasn’t too thick to work with and remained light and creamy.I definitely recommend making this caramel sauce instead of using a sticky store bought one.

Cheesecake Filling:
3 packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 cup caramel topping (recipe below)
4 eggs, lightly beaten

Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream for a few minutes until the sugar is dissolved. Add the vanilla and caramel and beat well. Add the eggs and beat just until combined. Pour into chilled crust. Wrap the springform pan with a couple of wet dishtowels (this helps the cheesecake to cook more slowly and evenly). Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. The center will still be jiggly, but never fear, it shall set in the end. Turn the oven off and open the door about 4 inches, but leave the cheesecake in for about 30 more minutes (this helps the cheesecake to cool more slowly and evenly and prevents cracking). Remove from the oven and cool for about 30 more minutes. Refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.

Finally the Whipped Cream:
1 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup caramel (from your homemade wonder)
1/2 cup Heath Bar Toffee Bits

Beat the whipping cream and sugar in a chilled bowl until stiff peaks form.
Spread the caramel slowly across the cheesecake. Sprinkle the toffee bits evenly over top. Dollop the whipped cream along the edges of the cake and garnish with more toffee bits.

And there you have it, the most scrumptious cheesecake you will ever indulge in!

❤ Natalie

by Natalie Anne ❤

Poland was one of those places I never thought I would actually get the opportunity to travel to. My sister, Millie, and I are part Polish, and it has sort of felt like a mystical place that doesn’t exist in our world. After growing up in rural Virginia, Eastern Europe seemed anything but tangible. When imagining Poland, I seemed to always fantasize about medieval pathways and towering Gothic cathedrals. When we magically got the opportunity to venture to Poland, my sister and I found ourselves staying in the historic Jewish quarter of Krakow and we certainly saw our fair share of cathedrals. But what caught us by surprise was just how delicious Polish cuisine is. We expected to experience the pierogis and Kielbasa sausage, but other than that we weren’t too familiar with what exactly classifies Polish food. We blindly found restaurants in every corner of Krakow. And not one of them disappointed us. We have compiled a short list of our favorite restaurants in Krakow to give you just a taste of what culinary delights Krakow has to offer!

1. Restauracja Szara

After finally getting checked in to our hotel after our 9 hour flight and layover in Belgium, we decided to check out Krakow’s city square and managed to find our perfect first Polish restaurant right in the heart of the city. Even though it was 4 o’clock in the afternoon and we weren’t sure if our meal qualified as a late lunch or early dinner, we eventually settled down with a glass of rosé at Restauracja Szara.

We may have been the only table in the restaurant given our unusual time of arrival, but we thoroughly enjoyed our meal with a bread basket followed by a salad with goat cheese and a perfectly tender chicken dish. This food soothed our empty and queasy souls after a long day of travel.

2. La Campana

Our second recommendation goes to La Campana, a whimsical Italian restaurant tucked on a quiet, picturesque street. We were nestled in a downstairs room wine cellar with brick exposed walls and a soothing ambiance. It was about an hour past noon and we were ready for pasta and red wine. La Campana exceeded our expectations with quite possibly the most delicious Pasta Carbonara we have ever eaten accompanied by an atmosphere that felt like Tuscany.

3. Restauraja AWIW

Right outside our hotel in the Jewish district was a slew of restaurants with patio seating and colored umbrellas, after a long decision process, we finally settled on a restaurant that appeared to offer classic Polish cuisine, pierogis and all. Restauracja AWIW was the perfect location for a relaxed Polish meal. We chose to be seated outside on the street and were given wool blankets to place over our laps after the sun went down. We shared everything we ordered, including pierogis with cheese, potato, and onion as well as a rich bailey’s ice cream sundae and a slice of the house cheesecake all downed with a few glasses of red wine.

4. Paprycyki

After going on an excursion to see Niedzica Castle, our tour bus dropped us off in the center of Krakow exhausted and hungry. Pizza was the move, so we found a nearby Italian restaurant that filled our every need. Paprycyzki Pizzeria won over our hearts and appetites with its laid back atmosphere and tasty food. I ordered a tasty lasagna made with asparagus, ham, and ricotta while Millie ordered a vegetable and cheese pizza that was both easy on the eyes and freshly flavored.

5. Manzana

By our last night in Krakow, we wanted a taste of home and found a Tex-Mex inspired restaurant, which offered comforting flavors, but with an added twist of sophisticated Eastern European style. We were seated on their peaceful Spanish-style patio in the back with beautiful mosaic tables and ivy covered walls. It was a warmer day outside so we ordered margaritas and a carafe of refreshing lemon and mint water. We indulged in the chips with salsa and guacamole for our appetizer before diving into a black bean quesadilla and fajitas. Before we could order dessert, it started pouring down rain and we moved inside where we finished our meal with mouth-watering chocolate covered cheesecake lollipops.

If you have a sweet tooth like we do, we suggest a few dessert spots as well.

6. Arlekin Cafe

Arlekin Cafe was a colorful escape from the world with a diverse array of delectable desserts and coffee. Once we saw their specialty ice cream sundaes being brought to a table beside us, we couldn’t resist and ordered a one for ourselves along with a few pieces of cake because it was impossible to pick just one thing.

7. Cupcake Corner Bakery & Cafe

We always like to try cupcakes everywhere we go for a little pick-me-up if we are in particularly grouchy moods. Luckily, the Cupcake Corner in Krakow gave us the sugar rush we needed to cheer us up. We tried the carrot cake, peanut butter cup, brownie obsession and my favorite, the caramel apple. It’s just a few blocks away from Wawel Castle if you feel the need to treat yo self, and we strongly suggest that you do.

https://www.mapcustomizer.com/map/Best%20Restaurants%20in%20Krakow

Click the link above for a map of these delicious locations.

If you have any other suggestions of delicious food in Krakow, feel free to comment and share!

❤ Natalie

Author: C'est le Brie

Caramel Toffee Crunch Cheesecake with Dark Chocolate and Graham Cracker Crust

Best Restaurants in Krakow, Poland