The February 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mallory from A Sofa in the Kitchen. She chose to challenge everyone to make Panna Cotta from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe and Nestle Florentine Cookies.

I love love love Panna Cotta and I love love love Florentine biscuits so I was over the moon when I saw the challenge this month. Thanks Mallory!

Task 1 = The Panna Cotta

I've made quite a bit of panna cotta over time (yes says my butt jiggling in agreement), so am always happy to try different recipes and this one didn't disappoint.

It was creamy, smooth and soooo bloody good I almost licked the ramekin clean.

To go with the smoothy creaminess, I made a spicy pear syrup (care of Karen Martini) which involved simmering red wine, sugar, cloves, vanilla, cinnamon and orange zest in a pot, then adding some peeled and sliced firm pears to steep.

O.M.G!

Toot toot goes my horn.

You couldn't have wished for a more perfect combination.

Task 2 - Florentine Cookies

First of all, here in Australia we call them biscuits (a fact that has been drilled into me over time by my big brother whenever I've used the word 'cookie').

Once past this fact, these little bikkies were a delight to make.

So simple and quick.

In no time at all they had been made, baked, and cooled ready for the chocolate to be smeared upon them, and that's exactly what I did.

Being a warmish day here in Melbourne when I made these, the chocolate took quite a while to harden but I found them too irrisistable not to try and ended up with chocolate everywhere.

 All I can say is thank God for friends who like to eat as I took all these goodies with me as dessert for a night of home-made pizza, delicious Yarra Valley wine and So You Think You Can Dance.

Perfect!

To see my other challengers and to view the recipes, click here

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