I have always been a little wary of working with chocolate as a candy medium. I am never the one who tops cupcakes with beautiful candy molds or makes chocolate-coated truffles. I mean, I love those things, but I have had serious doubts that a normal person like me could pull them off successfully. But […]
I just had to share this dessert with you (even though I have posted nothing but sweets this whole month—I promise I’m not actually eating this much sugar all the time). Chocolate mousse is my all-time most craved dessert at this time of year. Yes, I know mousse is passé. No, a dessert practically named […]
It’s almost Valentine’s day. And if there were ever an occasion that just screamed for a delicious dessert, it’s a day centered around honoring your sweetie, right? (Not that we really need an excuse to want dessert…) Last week I was telling you about the valentine-themed cooking challenge I participated in. The mystery ingredient was […]
I have no idea how to start writing this post. I’ve put it off for two days. Do I remind you that I gave up sugar for the month of January? Do we talk about that soufflé I had in a fancy French restaurant at Valentine’s Day two years ago, the one that tasted like […]
If you had told me this time last year that I would be obsessed with desserts made out of dates, I would not have believed you. Maybe I would have made a quip about going out on dates. But probably I would just have looked at you like you were an alien. Oh, one-year-ago-Melissa, what […]
Let me give you a leg up on your New Year’s resolution. You know, the one where you vowed to eat healthy foods and give up refined sugar! No? Maybe that was just me. True story, I have resolved to give up refined sugar (and as much refined white flour as possible) for one whole […]
Guess what? Toffee is possibly the easiest Christmas treat ever. And it’s rather impressive, isn’t it? At least, I think so. (Warning: This candy does have enough sugar and butter to knock a week or two off the end of your life. But I think it’s worth it this Christmas!)
I have a theory that almost all Christmas cookies are really just sugar cookies at heart. Sugar cookies with nuts, sugar cookies with spices, sugar cookies shaped and/or frosted thematically… (Admit it, you know I’m right.) Here are some sugar cookies with chocolate! They are deeply chocolatey and a little dry and crispy. I find […]
Have you ever met someone who says they don’t bake because they don’t like to measure? (Are you that person?) I have several friends who have confessed that or similar hang-ups about baking. But here’s how I see it: it’s Christmas! Everyone deserves fresh baked cookies, whether or not they wake up in the morning […]