When it's so hot your pores are like a swimming pool, you can barely sleep and stepping outside feels like you've been hit in the face with a sauna, it's time for trifle. The light-as-air dessert is served cold and combines sponge cake, custard, fruit, whipped cream and a hit of … [Read more...] about Nothing to Trifle With: Strawberries, Blueberries, Custard and Cream Make the Perfect Summer Dessert
Desserts
Flashback Friday: Strawberry-Rhubarb Pudding Cake and Maple-Pecan and Arugula Salad
Last year, I wrote a recipe for a gooey strawberry-rhubarb pudding cake. And two years ago it was a maple pecan salad with raw sheep's milk cheese and arugula that's still killer. ...I'd like to have both of those in front of me right now... … [Read more...] about Flashback Friday: Strawberry-Rhubarb Pudding Cake and Maple-Pecan and Arugula Salad
Old-Fashioned Creamy Rice Pudding
I once requested rice pudding in place of birthday cake. My aunt had asked me what kind of cake I wanted her to make for my birthday, and not wanting her to bother making me a gluten-free, dairy-free cake, I asked for the most comforting, easy-to-make dessert I knew — rice … [Read more...] about Old-Fashioned Creamy Rice Pudding
Strawberry-Blueberry Dessert and Wrecking Family Tradition
Growing up, my family had a repertoire of two special occasion desserts. There was my mom's blueberry pie and then there was the ambiguously named "strawberry dessert." I waffled between preferring one or the other from year to year. Whether for Christmas, Thanksgiving or a … [Read more...] about Strawberry-Blueberry Dessert and Wrecking Family Tradition
Easy Lavender-Chai and Sweet-Spiced Vanilla-Pear Ice Creams
When I got an ice cream maker, my world changed. Not just because now I could make dairy-free versions of frozen deliciousness. But because I could make any flavour of frozen deliciousness I wanted. I could also play with the sweetness and the texture and control the quality of … [Read more...] about Easy Lavender-Chai and Sweet-Spiced Vanilla-Pear Ice Creams
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
If you think this is a cake only your grandmother would make, you have the world's best grandmother. Do you know what happens when you put a base of sugar below sweet, juicy fruit and bake it? It browns at the edges, so you get that chewier, almost crispy in places, caramel-y … [Read more...] about Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Pillows of Sugar and Vanilla Meringues
Can pillows be crunchy? If so, these deceptively brittle, melt-in-your-mouth treats are the most breakable sleeping accessory I've ever baked. They look like pillows—or clouds or hills or pudding—but they're crunchy and soft and creamy all at the same time. It's the miracle of … [Read more...] about Pillows of Sugar and Vanilla Meringues
Flan Soup and Averting Dessert Disaster
There's no such dessert called flan soup in any recipe book I know. But some of the best foods in the world are mistakes. Popsicles, deep-fried ravioli, potato chips. To that list, I now add flan soup. Tastes just like flan, but you bake it forever and it never solidifies into … [Read more...] about Flan Soup and Averting Dessert Disaster
Mexican Double Chocolate Cookies
Whether you're looking for an end-of-the-week treat, a night in with friends or a weekend indoor activity (because goodness knows it's not worth going outside when it's -27ºC...), this is your recipe. It's your sweet treat. Your indulgence. And, heck, chocolate's supposed to be … [Read more...] about Mexican Double Chocolate Cookies
7th Annual Volk/Watson Extravaganza: The Pictures
My family's annual Christmas party happened yesterday. As usual, it was ridiculous: There were the beef tacos. And the chicken tacos. And the shredded chicken with Mexican rice, black beans and aioli crema. Since the party was tex-mex themed, there was a table with … [Read more...] about 7th Annual Volk/Watson Extravaganza: The Pictures