Although I am not a die-hard chocolate fanatic, many I know are. This recipe is for them. Chocolate can make many wonderful things, pudding is one of them. Chocolate pudding was a childhood treat that sometimes appeared in my school lunch box. But the kind I ate was not the homemade kind, it came in […]

Chia pudding has been an Instagram favorite for years now with no signs of slowing down, and I totally get why. The luster of the presentation is intoxicating. Beautiful works of art, served in overflowing, handmade earthenware, or in adorable petite glass jars, all highlighting those gorgeous gray chia seeds. Seriously, what’s not to love? […]

It’s remarkable to think that bread pudding, something that originated in the 11th century, has risen its way up the ranks to become a “trendy dessert” around the world. In the early 11th and 12th centuries frugal cooks began making bread pudding to use leftover bread and eliminate waste. By the 13th century, the English […]

Rice pudding is something my mother loves. Although she never made it from scratch, I have always associated rice pudding with her. My mother did not teach me how to make this classic comfort food, ironically I learned how to make it at my first job out of culinary school. Although hired as a saucier, […]

Sometimes you can’t beat a simple dessert. Panna cotta is just that. Considered a traditional Italian dessert, panna cotta, (which means “cooked cream” in Italian) is a well-known and incredibly popular dessert made of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin and molded.  Panna cotta, often referred to as a “sweet custard dessert“, because it’s made from cream, […]

Pot de crème is a simple baked custard I have blogged about before.  Last time it was a classic chocolate pot de creme, an old favorite, this time I’m talking rich creamy butterscotch. Both of my pot de creme are delicious, but very different. Butterscotch has always fascinated me. I have loved the flavor since […]

A frozen Grand Marnier soufflé is a thoroughly elegant dessert.  It is also one of the tastiest. Some say it’s similar to ice cream. But not in my book. Frozen soufflés are rich and heavenly. They are light, but luxurious. Back in my restaurant days, I made them almost daily.   Regular diners loved them, and […]

I don’t make bread pudding often, but it used to be part of my daily routine. When I worked as a chef, bread pudding was a very popular item on the menu, and I was tasked with preparing it.  There are endless variations of this classic dessert, and I have had some great ones over […]

There’s no hiding it, I love French food.  I’ve taken three trips to Paris in my life.  And I can tell you I ate my way through the city, always leaving wanting more.  The last two trips came after I studied at the French Culinary Institute, now known as The International Culinary Center, which left me […]

Although it feels odd to say it, my history with rice pudding is a complicated one. My mom ate it often when I was a kid. Not the homemade kind, but the kind that came in a small individual package with a pullback foil top. I had no major objections to it.  But this was […]

It’s almost Memorial Day–a holiday honoring those who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces.  It is a patriotic day for those in the United States.  But Memorial Day has also come to represent the unofficial start of the summer season.  With this you have vacations, family gatherings, camping adventures, pool parties, and BBQ’s often […]