Author: chefalice

Pumpkin puree is sometimes hard to find, but it is easy to make your own. It takes a little time, but is worth the effort. Remember that the pumpkin’s shell weighs a lot. For this recipe, you will need 450 g (1 lb) pumpkin without shell and seeds.

For this cake, use chocolate with cocoa solids of less than 60 percent or else it will be too bitter. The flavour is wonderfully chocolatey without being too sweet.

Mascarpone is a creamy Italian dessert cheese, and is widely available these days. This cheesecake is fantastically tasty and simple to make. It looks especially attractive if you make it in a fluted tin, but any loose-bottomed tin will do. You can replace the figs with another fruit or berry if figs are not in season.