LOOK AT THE PICTURES

Nutmeg maple cream tart. Reduced maple syrup custard with fresh nutmeg. Adapted from NYT via Smitten Kitchen, Nov. 2007.

Brownie mosaic cheesecake. Cheesecake with chocolate crust, embedded fudge brownie cubes, and dark ganache. Adapted from Smitten Kitchen, Aug. 2007.

Chocolate cake with peanut butter cream cheese icing and semi-sweet peanut butter ganache. 8" triple layer. Adapted from Smitten Kitchen, Aug. 2008.

Apple pie with all-butter crust and homemade whipped cream. Adapted from the one and only Mom.

Pumpkin cupcake with maple cream cheese frosting. Adapted from Smitten Kitchen, Sept. 2008.

Quiche with shiitakes, shallots, gruyere and thyme. Adapted from Madame Quiche's Quiche au Fromage, Epicurious, Jan. 1999.

Pear-almond tart. Bosc pears poached in vanilla-ginger syrup, frangipane filling. Adapted from Smitten Kitchen, Feb. 2008.

On my wish-list: Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes, Martha Stewart's Cupcakes, those fancy white cupcake liners and brown mini-loaf liners for gifted banana breads. On deck: any excuse to make eclairs.