sweets

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 […]

I think my little one is addicted to Nutella. Seriously, he would eat it every day if I allowed it. For the record, I don’t, it’s a treat.  I can’t blame him.  Who does not love this chocolatey hazelnut spread inside a warm crepe?  It’s my fault, I introduced him to this dessert spread years […]

Rich brown butter bourbon blondies, seriously need I say more?!?!? I do a lot of things for my kids, probably too much, but I’m still in denial about that. If you have kids, you may agree, you do the same.  Parenting, as wonderful as it is, is also utterly exhausting.  Almost 15 years in, it has […]

If there is one culinary trend from the last year that I kept spotting, it is the popularity of power snacks. Easy, small, no-bake, healthful bites, balls, bars, and chunks of food for quick snacking.  My good friend from college introduced me to these tasty treats, and I’ve been gobbling them ever since.  I’ve developed […]

This is a favorite of mine, and not just for Passover. If you like almonds and chocolate, this will soon become a favorite of yours.  Made without flour, this is a great dessert option for those who are gluten-free.  It is also a great option for Passover, the Jewish holiday that celebrates the deliverance of the […]

Easter and chocolate just go together.  The chocolate egg in an Easter basket is often the first reach, at least it was for me growing up.  Chocolate eggs are a great invention.  Solid or filled, they are decadent little treats that most people only eat around Easter time.  And so I had to.  I had […]

Tomorrow is a special day.  Tomorrow marks my first anniversary of blogging.  I have published 177 posts, drafted an additional 144 that I may or may not publish, taken approximately 8,000 photographs, and have had about 36,000 visitors view my site.  I am humbled by the support my blog has received from friends, family, and […]

When I was a kid, I wanted to be the President, a lawyer, and Martha Stewart–in that order.  I gave up on the Presidency once I learned the odds.  I remained focused on law school until I worked as a paralegal and married a lawyer instead.  I ended up in culinary school and although I […]

A Tarte Aux Pommes, or apple tart as Americans call it, is the quintessential French dessert to me.  This is one of the first sweet pastries I learned to make in culinary school and I still remember how excited I was to learn it.  I also remember how hard it was to master at first. The […]

Oven s’mores are my new thing. S’mores make me happy in the summer; toasting marshmallows on long skewers brings me joy (all except the part when my boys start sparring with the utensils). National S’mores Day is not till August 10th, but who can wait that long?  Having a skillet version any time of year […]

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 […]

A moist, fluffy, sweet caramel apple upside-down cake is simple but delicious.  It’s also the perfect treat to make on a cold winter weekend. Some things in life need little explaining; this is one of them. My preference for cake over pie is no secret. But this is a nice mix of the two. Sweet, […]

Madeleine is the name of my niece whom I adore. It is also the name of one of my favorite French sweet treats.  By definition, a Madeleine (or petite Madeleine) is a traditional small cake from the northeast region of France.  Often referred to as a cookie in the United States, Madeleines are very small […]

I love blondies. There, I’ve said it. Blondies are awesome and no, I’m not just saying that because I’m blonde.  Similar to a cookie, but softer and even more irresistible, if it’s a really good one. Trust me, these blondies are really good ones and have proven that tinkering in the kitchen can sometimes lead […]

[Updated Recipe] Dessert bars, or simply “bars” and “squares,” are an American creation.  Bars are sweet snacks with a cake or a cookie-like texture, made in one pan, and enjoyed any time of the day.  Staples of neighborhood bake sales, class parties, and picnics, bars are great any time of the year. I make my […]