This is a busy time of year in downtown Portsmouth. Many of us will spend a little extra time perusing the shops around Market Square, hoping to find something special for those we love, something unique, something memorable.
I’d been walking around for a while when I needed to make another kind of purchase. I needed to get something special…for my stomach.
Popovers popped into view, and I wondered what kinds of holiday-inspired treats might be lurking within.
Not surprisingly, there were some very enticing options. I first asked if they offered eggnog. They did – not made in house, but still a great choice: Hatchland Farms eggnog.
I almost bought one of the single-serving size bottles when I noticed something else: eggnog cheesecake. It seemed a bit much to have both, so I went with the cheesecake.
The eggnog flavor was subtle. That was probably for the best, given the rich nature of both eggnog and cheesecake. It had a thick texture – there was a lot more to it than the mass-produced cheesecakes available in grocery stores.
The crust was just right, too. It was thick enough to support the cheesecake and complemented its flavor.
I decided it was worth writing about. Then, I thought, “Well, it might be tough to write a whole story on one slice of cheesecake. I’d better try something else.”
Selflessly, I walked back to the dessert case, and, for the sake of my beloved readers, searched for another confection. There were cupcakes with green and red sprinkles and eclairs with Christmasy frosting.
One dessert stood out: the mint brownie.
This hefty variation on the classic came with a fudge-like frosting on top and a layer of white frosting with candy cane bits between the fudge and the brownie itself. Like the cheesecake, the brownie had a solid, thick texture.
It was delicious.
Of the two, I decided the brownie had more Christmas spirit baked into it. An odd thing to say, perhaps, but that’s what I thought.
Perhaps it was because the peppermint taste of the brownie reminded me so much of a mint brownie my mother often served with Christmas dinner. I’m sure nostalgia had something to do with it.
I don’t think eggnog or eggnog-flavored desserts have the same effect on me. When I was five or six years old, I drank so much eggnog that I got sick. Really sick.
I’ll spare you the details, since they do not belong in a story about food. Anyway, I found that the mint brownie brought back memories of my mother’s cooking and the candy canes we got on Christmas morning.
Drop by Popovers in Market Square and decide for yourself what puts you in the Christmas spirit. For hours and more information, please see Popovers on the Square Portsmouth
Source Featured Image: Popoversonthesquare.com
