cinnamon & citrus almond cigars
A delicious dessert that is easier to make than it looks, and definitely a different type of flavors. Working with phyllo can often be fussy,...
Black pepper chocolate cake
It is almost like a blank canvas because though the recipe here is with black pepper, you can also substitute many different ingredients and spices.
chocolate almond and amaretti custards
I’ve never been big on pudding but for these little custard pots, I’ll make an exception.
baked pears with mascarpone cream & granola
Baking pears is a super easy dessert that is best right when all the luscious variety of pears are in season
Yotam Ottolenghi’s no churn raspberry ice cream
An ice cream that does not need to be mixed in an ice cream maker-- and you can use frozen raspberries!
lemon almond butter cake
This cake had me at lemon and almond but then add the word "butter" and you have a dream dessert.
brown sugar layer cake with cranberry buttercream
This recipe looks so delicious and it takes advantage of the fresh cranberries that are still in season. If you are feeling ambitious, try to make the sugared cranberry for...
easy to make homemade granola- you’ll never buy it again
You’ll never make granola again after realizing how easy it is to create a delicious mix. You can even experiment with different spices, nuts or sweeteners. I make this every...
raspberry crostata
Do you like a slightly crispy crust that is not too rich and not too thick? Here you go, this recipe is just right for...
frozen mexican hot chocolate
This is not the most traditional of recipes but just an easy, fun way to end any dinner– whether a Mexican feast or otherwise. More traditional Mexican hot chocolates are...
orange lime olive oil cake
Any cake using olive oil rather than butter creates a dessert that feels more decadent.
Julia Child’s Berry Clafoutis
Is it a pancake, a crepe, a cake? Clafoutis, pronounce klafuti, is delicious and a welcome change to other desserts.
Buttermilk marble cake
Can't decide between a vanilla or chocolate cake then this is the choice for you. I adapted the recipe slightly from The New York Time's cooking website.
Vanilla sheet cake with orange cream cheese frosting
Sheet cake is often thought of for a big party, birthday or otherwise. But why? It is really no different than a regular layer cake though maybe not as elegant...
Orange cream crêpe cake
Making a crêpe cake requires a bit of time and patience (and now I understand their high prices in retail). But if you break the...
Lemon olive oil cake with blueberries and almonds
The bright beautiful fruit brings sunshine inside -whether you squeeze their juice into a cake, make a lemon sorbet or fill large bowls and vases to adorn tables.
strawberry cheesecake cupcakes
The "cheesecake" in the recipe is nothing more than cream cheese icing. Rich and delicious icing that sits atop a fluffy vanilla cake containing fresh strawberries.
lemon tea loaf
I started making this cake many years ago for weekends in the English countryside. Making the cake using grams as the form of measure assures...
Viennese crescent cookies
Another of my mother’s “famous” Christmas cookies. These are melt-in-your mouth delicious because they are rather delicate. I love the flavor of almonds with the dusting of confectioner’s sugar with...
Christmas tree pressed cookies
The Christmas season begins when my mother makes her “famous” Christmas cookies. As our family has grown, her quantities have increased and she freezes the cookies as they are prepared...
Peppermint meringues
I love making meringues and these are ideal for the holiday season. The little mouthfuls of sugar, egg white and a hint of peppermint are...
vanilla coconut panna cotta with persimmons, oranges and pomegranates
I developed this recipe for an Indian dinner where I thought a creamy dessert with some type of coconut base would balance the spiciness of the main meal. The topping...
Pumpkin roulade with mascarpone and chocolate chip cream
I have been making this recipe for years, first finding the idea from Ina Garten's cookbook, Back to Basics. I have adapted slightly with the...
Pumpkin bread with cinnamon crumble topping
When the weather begins to cool down, and the leaves are changing color, I start to crave anything pumpkin. Pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin bread are all such wonderful...
Apple crisp bars
Apples are good anytime of the year and this dessert is great anytime of the day- including as a morning treat. Given the crumble topping, you can think of it...
Portuguese Pastéis de Nata
These creamy little custard tarts can be eaten in two bites should you choose, but they are best slowly savored. A quintessential Portuguese sweet, I...
chocolate fudge brownies with white chocolate chips
Delicious fudge-y brownies with the just the right amount of white chocolate chips.
A Pavlova topped with Cream and Fresh Fruit
I was introduced to this recipe at a friend's house by her 11-year old son! He made the dessert and finished it off table side for the adult guest. How...
A tale of three summer fruits in pastry
Stone fruit is in its glory at the end of the summer….along with fresh figs. When I see these fruits in the market my mind...
luscious lemon olive oil ice cream
Lemon ice cream...it does not curdle, and it does not disappoint.
Sliced oranges with cinnamon
I was first served this for dessert at a restaurant in Portugal. At the time to me it was pure genius. So simple and bringing two delicious flavors together in...
Oh my, lemon & basil sorbet
When lemons are ripe in California, my friends know I love using them and send me dozens straight from their gardens – my sister Joanna’s...
The perfect, classic chocolate layer cake
To end a meal with any type of chocolate creation – whether a cake, a mousse or some other treat – is heavenly. This chocolate cake recipe is just right...
torta caprese – chocolate almond tart with orange whipped cream
What I love about a Torta Caprese, is that like so many Italian desserts, it is not too sweet, and the consistency of the cake is not overly dense or...
a trio of mini desserts – ode to the sweet tooth
A super simple dessert that requires just a bit of imagination and some small size portions! I think of this dessert for all those cooks...
the best ever key lime pie
Ahhhh….key lime pie is creamy and tart and creamy and delicious, and the recipe is a real showstopper. Making the pie could not be more simple, and the cookie crust...
apple of my pie – caramel apple pie
The first time I made this caramel apple pie was for an Easter lunch with my then boyfriend, and now husband, and his family. I was so nervous that when...
tres leches cake
Three milk cake, or Pastel de Tres Leches, is one of the most common cakes in Latin American. Similar to mole, the cake recipe differs...
rich vanilla bean ice cream with pistachios & honey
For this recipe you need an ice cream maker and must follow the directions for how to use the machine. I love making ice cream. There is something so satisfying...
butterscotch pot de creme
I’ll admit this recipe sounds complicated and rather fancy but despite the French sounding name, these “puddings” are relatively simple to make and delightful to taste. Your biggest challenge for...
let it crumble crumb coffee cake
Who doesn’t love crumb cake? Maybe it is a little old fashioned but that’s what makes it even more wonderful and heartwarming. The crumbly sugar,...
matcha cake with buttercream icing
I love the color and texture of this cake. The recipe is straight from Real Simple without any modifications because it is perfect.
bright burst meyer lemon tart
I love baking but given the chemistry in the process, I rarely change a recipe I find. Yes, I may add or change a spice, but the measurements and types...
tiramisu di Alessandra
My very good friend Alessandra is from Padua, Italy and a fantastic cook. Actually, both she and her husband, Luigi, are incredible hosts. An invitation...
all american chocolate chip cookies
To make this ordinary little cookie into something more exciting, I serve them homemade, out of the oven, piping hot and gooey -- maybe with some vanilla (!) ice cream...
meringues with fresh cream and seasonal fruit
Meringues are always a crowd pleaser for adults and children alike. Meringues can be made with relative ease though many people feel they are complex
