When I first learned to make chocolate truffles thirty years ago I didn’t know I was learning the recipe originally conceived, or at least credited to, Fernand Point (1897-1955), one of the greatest French chefs. He trained or mentored such giants as Paul Bocuse, Alain Chapel, and Jean and Pierre Troisgros, which should give you [...]

Categories: chocolate, dessert, entertaining, gluten-free, mother recipe, vegetarian
Tagged: chocolate, dessert, entertaining, gluten-free, mother recipe, vegetarian

One of the more interesting Chinese cuisines is medicinal foods, foods that are designed specifically to aid in the correction of health problems while providing a nutritious and tasty meal. If you’d like an excellent introduction, I suggest Henry C. Lu, Chinese System Of Food Cures: Prevention & Remedies. Unlike the dietary “cures” often touted [...]

Categories: dairy-free, dessert, gluten-free, infusing, technique, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: dairy-free, dessert, gluten-free, technique, vegan, vegetarian

Now that Thanksgiving is out of the way it’s time to make holiday cookies for whatever holiday you might be celebrating. Angeletti are easy to make–kids can mix these successfully–and not too sweet.
Angeletti
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup sugar
¼ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 [...]

Categories: baking, cookie, dessert, entertaining
Tagged: baking, cookies, dessert, entertaining

No Thanksgiving feast is complete without at least one dessert, so I made individual Butternut Squash Cheesecakes. I used my mother recipes for the crust and filling.
Crust Mother Recipe
2 cups fine crumbs
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Mix the crumbs and melted butter in a bowl. Using a prepared pan, pat the mixture into place. [...]

Categories: baking, dessert, mother recipe
Tagged: baking, dessert, mother recipe

Back when I was a pastry chef I made this almost every day, frequently doing a double or even triple batch. It isn’t piped into individual serving bowls; it’s molded in a loaf pan. That makes for easier service and doesn’t require any special dishes. Typically, I served it on a bed of Crème Anglaise [...]

Categories: chocolate, dessert
Tagged: chocolate, dessert

If you only learn one dessert sauce, make it crème anglaise. You can alter the flavoring very easily and it goes well with virtually any dessert. It also makes what may be the very best vanilla ice cream ever! You’ll need three bowls to make this; stainless steel bowls are probably best.
Crème Anglaise
½ cup milk [...]

Categories: dessert, sauce
Tagged: dessert, sauce

Now that I have nearly 2 liters of cherry liqueur sitting around, I have to come up with excuses to use it. Yes, it makes a great Cherry Coke, but I can only drink so many of those. As it happens, I’m teaching a series of classes based on classic French cooking, so instead of [...]

Categories: dessert, entertaining, mother recipe
Tagged: dessert, entertaining, fruit, mother recipe

Mascarpone, the queen of dessert cheeses. At least it is when it’s freshly made. The mascarpone available in most stores is a little rubbery and a bit too citrusy. The real thing has a texture like whipped cream about to turn to butter and an ethereal, ever-so-slightly tart flavor.
To make mascarpone you’ll need tartaric acid. [...]

Categories: cheese, dessert, gluten-free, home creamery, vegetarian
Tagged: cheese, dessert, gluten-free, home creamery, vegetarian

Strawberries may well be my favorite food, and this is the time of year when Hood strawberries are just right! To celebrate my birthday I made strawberry tartlets.

Categories: baking, cheese, dessert, pastry, shortbread, vegetarian
Tagged: baking, dessert, fruit, shortbread, vegetarian

Gelato is the truly ethereal version of ice cream that originates in Italy. Most important to a gelato is to start with a good base and to finish with low-speed churning that incorporates as little air as possible.
There are two standard gelato bases, white and yellow. The white base is made without eggs, the yellow [...]

Categories: dessert, gelato, gluten-free, home creamery, mother recipe, mushroom, vegetarian
Tagged: dessert, gelato, gluten-free, home creamery, mother recipe, mushroom, vegetarian