Dessert

BEAUTIFUL AND EASY PUFF PASTRY STRIPS

BEAUTIFUL AND EASY PUFF PASTRY STRIPS

This is one of those recipes that is deceptively simple and easy to make, but looks like something from the Food TV channel. I have to admit that it is best to keep these hidden away until company arrives, otherwise dessert starts disappearing before the main dish is...

QUICK APPLESAUCE CAKE WITH APPLE COMPOTE

QUICK APPLESAUCE CAKE WITH APPLE COMPOTE

When I was thinking about recipes for this week with St. Patrick's Day coming up, I realized that I don't have many traditional Irish recipes in my cooking repertoire. If anyone out there wants to share a favorite Irish recipe, please do so.  I would love to try...

SIMPLE STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD

SIMPLE STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD

Ha! I bet you didn't even know that there is a National Strawberry Day, did you? Well, there is, and it is today, February 27th. When I realized that I almost missed such an (ahem) important day, I decided I really needed to investigate further. Are there other food...

SUPER SIMPLE AND EASY BURIED CHERRIES CAKE

SUPER SIMPLE AND EASY BURIED CHERRIES CAKE

When I was thinking about what recipes to post related to tomorrow's President's Day Holiday, I immediately thought of Cherry Pie in honor of George Washington.  Yes, I know the old story about chopping down the cherry tree and "I cannot tell a lie" is a myth. When I...

MELT IN THE MOUTH MERINGUES

MELT IN THE MOUTH MERINGUES

When baked to perfection, these meringues are crisp, airy, sweet, and light.  The problem with that, is that you will be tempted to keep tossing them in your mouth like popcorn.    I started trying to perfect meringue kisses when I wanted a cookie that...

THE CREAMIEST AND BEST RICE PUDDING

THE CREAMIEST AND BEST RICE PUDDING

This is the quote from Gourmet Magazine, JANUARY 2002, that compelled me to make rice pudding like no other : Francoise Joiris of New York, New York writes: "In honor of our firefighters lost on September 11, could you please rerun the article and recipes you...

NOTHIN’ BETTER THAN STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!

NOTHIN’ BETTER THAN STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE Allen’s favorite summertime dessert was Strawberry Shortcake.  I learned early on in our marriage that he loved the biscuit type of shortcake much more than the yellow sponge cake version. Since I agreed wholeheartedly, I decided to develop a not...

THE ABSOLUTE EASIEST AND BEST DESSERT DIP

THE ABSOLUTE EASIEST AND BEST DESSERT DIP

As I mentioned in the last post, I am sorting and organizing many years' accumulation in order to sell my house and move to a new stage in life. Friends Judy and Mary Jo came over to help with weeding; they helped knock out 6 garden beds in record time! But we still...

CRAVE-WORTHY NUTMEG POUND CAKE

CRAVE-WORTHY NUTMEG POUND CAKE

NUTMEG POUND CAKE This pound cake recipe is such a favorite of my daughter, Erika, that I made it for one of the tiers of her wedding cake. The nutmeg flavor is nutty, slightly sweet, and just intense enough to create a warm spiciness.  Erika has always loved this and...

MOIST, BEAUTIFUL, MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH MINT BROWNIES

MOIST, BEAUTIFUL, MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH MINT BROWNIES

There was no way I could resist sharing a "bit o' the green", in brownie form, since St. Patrick's Day is coming up. I often took these mint brownies to potlucks at work, and they were always well received. But when I checked my bottle of mint extract, I realized it...

EASY, LUSCIOUS CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY FUDGE TORTE

EASY, LUSCIOUS CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY FUDGE TORTE

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY FUDGE TORTE The first time I made this dessert, I brought it to a friend’s annual Christmas party.  Another friend, Peggy, took a taste, turned to me, and simply said, “I want this for my birthday”.  Her birthday is in August, but you can...

PURE VANILLA TASTE IN THESE COOKIES

PURE VANILLA TASTE IN THESE COOKIES

My husband Allen and I often had opposite preferences when it came to food. I love chocolate desserts, he would always go for fruit pies.  I wanted fish, he preferred beef. My dressing on a salad was usually a vinaigrette. Allen loved creamy blue cheese dressing. I...