The inspiration came from all of the holiday parties we’ve been attending.  My husband’s been hitting the “nog” pretty hard since the day after Thanksgiving.  So, when requested to make an eggnog custard for Christmas and a cheesecake by my father-in-law, I decided to put the two together!  Oh, and what a perfect pair they are!

I love the looks of this cheesecake so much, I think it will become a new decadent holiday tradition for our family!  If you’d like to add it to your repertoire for the holidays here is the recipe: (note: the baking time may vary a bit based on your oven)

Eggnog Cheesecake

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup gingersnaps

1/2 cup sesame cookies (if you have them, if not just use the gingersnaps)

2 Tbs of white granulated sugar

3 Tbs of unsalted butter

Step 1:  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees

Step 2:  In a food processor or medium bowl combine gingersnaps (and sesame cookies), granulated sugar, and melted butter. Process until all the cookies are completely crushed into crumbs.  Press into the bottom of a 9″ spring form pan.  K.I.S.S. Tip:  Use a juice glass to press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan evenly.

Step 3:  Bake for 10 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool completely.

Cheesecake Ingredients:

3 (8oz) packages of cream cheese

1 cup white granulated sugar

3 Tbs all-purpose flour

3/4 fluid cup eggnog

2 large eggs

1 Tbs spiced rum

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp cloves

1/8 tsp salt

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Step 2:  In a food processor combine softened cream cheese, sugar, flour and spices; process until completely smooth

Step 3:  Blend in eggnog, eggs, rum and vanilla until combined

Step 4:  Pour batter onto the crust and bake for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Turn oven down to 250 degrees, turn the spring form pan 180 degrees and bake for 25 minutes

Step 6: Turn another 180 degrees and bake for another 25 minutes

Step 7: Cool on a wire rack and use a pairing knife to loosen the edge of the cake while cooling. Let cake cool before removing the rim

Serves approximately 16 slices- enjoy with the whole family!

Happy Holidays from Treet!

Sweetery NYC bring whoopie pies to NYC streets

I’m thrilled to annouce that this very verbal baker has been selected as a NY Bakery Examiner for Examiner.com! My first order of journalism business: Whoopie on the streets of New York City .  Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Up next for this NY Bakery Examiner:  The best holiday cookies in New York

It has truly been a treat to provide you with sweets over the past year!  Thank you for welcoming our baked goods into your businesses, special occasions and homes.  It is with a very heavy heart that this very grateful baker must say good-bye for now.  Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances and the unexpected doubling of our kitchen rent, we must pack up our mixers, box up our “treets” and wave our farmers, friends, and customers farewell. 

Your favorite Treet baked goods will be available for delivery until October 31^st.  The last day to order online at www.treetshop.com or via phone at 202-997-3057, will be Thursday, October 28^th (before 4pm).  After the 31^st, you may still be able to temporarily enjoy some “treets” around town at shops that currently carry Treet’s products until mid-November.

We are moving to the Big Apple to see if we can make it – please wish us luck, continue with your support, tell your New York family, friends and contacts about us, and look us up the next time you are in the New York area – we’d love a DC visit!

Thank you for your support and we hope our “sweet tooth’s” will cross paths again in the future!

Sweet Regards,

Theresa Pinelli

Chief Sweetness Officer

www.TreetShop.com

Recently, the Treet family had the pleasure of traveling through parts of Italy and Greece- wait did I say traveling?  I meant, recently the Treet family had the pleasure of eating our way through parts of Italy and Greece!  Honestly, the complexity of the local honey alone is worth a trip! Then when this honey is caramelized over roasted peanuts and then rolled in toasted sesame seeds it makes it very tempting to just drop everything and move to Santorini!  I wish more of our delicious sweet bounty had made it back to the states with us, but an 8 hour plane ride is a long time to go with out a Mediterranean snack fix!  I think my favorite part of the trip was stopping in a Corfu pastry shop (pictured).  It looked like Willy Wonka had just dropped off some supplies!  From mini handmade ice cream bars to sandwich cookies that resembled our very own whoopie pies, everything was as delightful to the belly as it was on the eyes! If you are a sweetie (dessert version of foodie), I highly recommend visiting the Greek isles and Italy- from hand-picked red pistachios to baklava- it’s a tasty adventure! Yumm..until we meet again, Ciao!

Corfu's Version of Willy Wonka

Custom Petit Four Wedding Favors

How many times have you received jordan almonds at a wedding and feared the loss of a tooth upon consumption? There are only so many knick knacks a couple can offer their guests before every little thing becomes “same ol’”. Perhaps consider going the “Castanza” route, and give donations to the “Human Fund” (aka nadda)?  However, I think that may seriously increase the chance of a rock being exchanged for bird seed as you exit that evening. Instead of “things” consider something incredible (custom, artistic, unique) and edible (petit fours, mini cupcakes, cookies)!

Today, Treet was honored to provide a lovely couple their wedding favors- two monogrammed petit fours, in their wedding colors, placed in an environmentally friendly kraft box, and adorned with a matching raffia bow. Simple, elegant, custom and a sweet bite after a great night of dancing!

For more favor pics checkout our Facebook Fan Page.

Strawberry Shortcake Approved!

Welcome to Stawberryland where the berries & their pals are soaking up Mr. Sun and smelling super sweet! 

If you’re new to the area, I’d skip the visit to Angel Cake she is a bit airy, and Lemon Meringue has been tart ever since Huckleberry Pie wouldn’t let her pet Pupcake.  Blueberry Muffin isn’t quite ripe for conversation, and Apple Dumplin is napping for the next couple of months.

My recommendation is to head straight to the namesake berry of the land, because today she is holding a press conference to announce her endorsement of her new favorite cupcake (in just her size) at Treet! 

Strawberry Shortcake:  “Today is a big day in Strawberryland because today is the day that strawberries were treated equally!  That’s right in Treet’s new Strawberry Shortcake (named after your’s truly) there is a perfect blend of fresh picked strawberries from our neighbors at Westmoreland Farm.  These fresh berries did not have to choose between being blended into the cake or mixed into the frosting.  These fresh berries were gentely folded into both to make an equal berry opportunity mini cupcake for all!  Stawberrilicious!  We will now take a question from our sworn enemies.”

Purple Pie Man:  “If I’m the berry best baker than why did you let Treet use the freshest strawberries?”

Strawberry Shortcake:  “Because we can’t stand the ‘Ratta Ta Ta Tat Tah’!  Who has their own theme song anyways?  Plus we knew that Treet would combine the fresh picked berries with the best local grass-fed cream and sweet Tahitian vanilla to make the yummiest cupcake we’ve seen in Strawberry land since Lime Chiffon visited Key West and things got a little crazy with a Key Lime Pie ”

We hope you’ve enjoyed your visit to Strawberry land!  Don’t forget to purchase our Strawberry Shortcake endorsed mini cupcake for only $1 at treetshop.com!

Photo taken by Jenna Huntsberger of The ModernDomestic

I love a good guest in the Treet  kitchen! 

For the past few weeks we have been practically hosting our own baking club.  I’ve truly enjoyed all the positive baking enthusiasm amidst the ovens! 

First, our beloved intern from Field School spent 2 weeks learning the tricks of Treet!  If you have never asked a 16 year old their insight on your business, you are missing out!  Yes, what they have to say may have you wishing you could revert back to high school and stuff yourself in a locker. However in the end their youth, social “in-ness”, and honest point of view is completely refreshing.  My intern was particularly brilliant, and I believe you will all soon be catching a glimpse of some of her thoughtfulness on our website. 

Next, we were visited by a very talented blogger from The ModernDomestic.  Not only could she whip up some sweet brownie bites; she was a pleasure to chat “shop” with.  She was also kind enough to post about our visit, “Theresa Luongo Pineilli Serves Up Some Tasty Treats at Treet“!

Ya’ll come back soon now ya hear!

From the perfect Valentine Card verbaige to the color and length of the roses, Valentine’s Day can really pull at the heart strings and stress levels.  This year Park Florist and it’s partners like Treet, are making it fun to shop for your sweetheart! 

Starting February 8th from 5-7pm Park Florist, it’s time for all you hopeless Valentine’s to “smell the roses” (literally) and get your Valentine the perfect gift.  Between romantic flower arrangements, divine chocolates, and irresistible Treets, everyone is sure to make-out (literally and figuratively) great!  Not to mention there will be beer & sweets sampling while you shop!

For more details on the February 8th through February 10th event click here.

"I Heart You!" Treet Box Brownies

“They sure don’t make’em like they used to”- came to mind when I opened my first box of Sweethearts Conversational Hearts this Valentines Day season.  I wanted to make my VDAY “I Heart You!” Treet Box speak the words of love via the little chatty candies.  I was seriously disappointed at my options!  The hearts were just not “speaking my language”!  They had comments on them like “text me” & “hey you”.  What happened to the classics?  I wanted the “love you”, “say yes”, “xoxo”.  Which they did have, but few and far between.  Which leads me to my next gripe- I think the machine that is printing onto the little hearts has a drinking problem.  A very serious one that probably involves bourbon of some sort- judging from the slurred angle of the lettering.  Most of the hearts in my boxes either had NO words at all (what kinda conversational heart is that), the words were barely legible, or the lettering was falling off the heart.  Sweethearts…I hate for it to get to this point, but I think it’s time we see other candies.  It’s not you, it’s me…really.

Mini Pecan Pies

Happy 2010 Everybody!  I had the pleasure of starting the New Year off on a very positive note with my first wedding of 2010!  What a perfect way to “ring” in the New Year with a brand new lovey-dovey beginning!  Plus, kudos to 2010 wedding couples for choosing such an easy year for remembering your anniversary (tip:  in 2020 you will be recieving a china or platinum themed gift).

This very chill bride and groom wanted Southern Bell & Crem Della Crem Mini’s for their “big” day, but they also requested a yummy seasonal twist- bite-sized pecan pies!