In our house dessert is a huge treat. Possibly because we all seem to be so busy, but getting one course on the table is enough and it's rare that we take time to provide dessert as well. However, as you can see from these recent photos, dessert holds a special place for me. And before you wonder, no, I didn't eat all of these. And no, I didn't order the decadent chocolate cake in this picture. Mine was one of the much healthier lemon tarts in the background. Of course it was healthy - it had fruit in it!
Lately though we've been trying some quite wicked desserts for special occasions at home. These have included chocolate hazelnut self sauced puddings in individual ramekins. As well as being full of chocolate and hazelnuts, they have a dash of Frangelico liqueur and are so rich you really need to eat them with ice cream so they're not too much!
Then they're maple pecan cake - delicious when warm, with cream. Sigh. In summer I like to make (as a treat) lime souffle with strawberry coulis which looks fabbo and is really easy. Did I mention I'm a lazy cook?
Another favourite has to be Tart au Citron - lemon tart which is finished off with segments of lemon artfully (!) arranged on top, sprinkled with icing sugar and then caramelised under the grill.
Or perhaps a nice fruit salad? Great on a summer's day. Fruit kebabs are good too. At Christmas it's rich fruit pudding, hot and tasty. Or, if you don't want to finish with sweets, how about a nice cheese plate? I've got a weakness for lovely cheese (so many weaknesses and so many of them connected to food!).
How about you? Are you a fan of desserts? Do you have a favourite you want to share? Something you make or you've tasted or maybe one you've just heard about and want to try?
Speaking of sweet things, I'm savouring the pleasure of knowing Declan and Chloe's story - aka UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH is on sale this month in North America. I hope some of you see it on shelves and maybe even grab a copy. This is my first beauty and the beast story and was a real treat to write. Romantic Times have given it a 4 star review and said
‘…West’s twist on the Beauty and the Beast is an emotionally compelling read.’
To read an excerpt of the book pop by my website and to buy it you can go to Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Harlequin.
25 comments:
Oh, man, now I'm hungry! Undone by your pictures - that's what you should call this blog. Actually I have to put my hand up. The chocolate mousse cake was mine. And very nice it was too! Annie, huge congratulations on the release of UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH. It's a fabbo story and even more delicious than chocolate mousse cake! How's that for a compliment? Snort!
When I was growing up, my Mother made a dessert, from scratch, for us to have after the mains. This was every day. No one would think of doing that now. Who has the time for one? My absolute favourite, was & is, Port Wine Trifle.
Anna, that cake did look fantastic. I'm not sure I'd have the stamina to tackle it tough. Hm, I'm impressed - if you like UNDONE even more than that - what a compliment! Thank you.
Hi Marybelle,
My mum was the same. Every day she'd make something yum for the end of the meal. I still salivate thinking of her chocolate self saucing pudding. She made some amazing things. Love the sound of Port Wine Trifle. I haven't had a trifle in years. There's something wonderful about the things your mum used to cook, don't you find?
Am I a fan of dessert? Oh, Annie, I'm obsessed! Thank you for posting pics of such scrumptious delights. I have a very sore throat and now I'm just wishing I could self-medicate with some of your chocolate hazelnut pudding.
Congrats on the US release of Undone By His Touch! I hope your day got better.
i love desert especially avocado chocolate cake :)
I love a tarte au citron, lemon or lime, generally without the merengue, by preference. But my favourite things are anything involving confectioner's custard. Tarte aux fraises, or fruit of any kind, real French eclairs, au cafe or pistachio for preference, religieuses, creme brulee (I make that) or panna cotta...
But probably my favourite, to the point that I eat them all over the place, to compare, is proper vanilla slice - mille feuille. I have been known to go out of my way to go back to a good one.
And this, from someone who doesn't eat dessert much! Ha!
Oh, Annie, I love desserts and find them irresistible. Your pictures are mouthwatering!
Baked cheesecake is my current favorite--in the past weeks I have sampled the most amazing chocolate/white chocolate one and another heavenly lemon one.
I am reading such wonderful things about UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH--wonderful that it is now in the US.
I love desserts.. and this is my second blog today that talked about desserts..
Some of mine include, Key Lime Pie, and anything with Strawberries, Peaches or Chocloate. And one of my fav ice creams is Butter Pecan..
MMM this is making me crave some right now.
I love desserts, the fancier, the better. I'm also a fan of America's Test Kitchen TV program on PBS. Recently, they did a recipe for a Chocolate-Raspberry Torte that looks out of the world. Here's a link to the webpage with a picture if you all want to take a look and drool along with me! http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/detail.php?docid=26328
Of course, if I can't have a piece of this torte, then any of the desserts you're showing in your post will do nicely!
I love desserts. Depending on my mood I may crave a gooey dark chocolate, or a cinnammony apple pie (warm with vanilla ice cream), or a custardy trifle, or a creme brulee or a fresh strawberry shortcake or peach/blueberry cobbler. But it's best if I have a lighter dinner if I'm have a scrumptious sweet dessert so I can eally enjoy it.
Hi Vanessa. Thanks for the good wishes. It was a memorably bad day but they pass, don't they?
Ii had to smile when I saw you'd commented here as I associate you with chocolate and all things sweet. Oh, you'd LOVE the choc hazelnut pudding. It's the most decadent thing I've tasted in years and utterly gorgeous. I'm sure it would be great for a sore throat. Hope you feel better soon.
Eli, is there really such a thing as avocado chocolate cake? I can't imagine it! I'm intrigued now.
Imelda, I'm drooling over your post. Everything you've mentioned (except meringue that you're not keen on either) is right up there on my 'delicious' list. I'm just realising I had some marvellous pics from a trip to France of delicious fruit-topped treats. I'll have to share them another time. I'm salivating here and I haven't even had breakfast! Thanks for posting.
Kandy, the men in my family are enormous fans of baked cheesecake. I'll have to give it a go myself. I admit that if it's on the menu I always seem to get distracted by other things. The tw you mention sound so tempting.
Hey, nice to know you're hearing good things about UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH!
I'm a huge fan of desserts and if I had my way that's all I'd eat :)
And I love to bake. Pastries, cookies, and cakes are tops on my list. They're cute and taste great.
Kathleen, there are two blogs today about desserts? There must be something in the air. Something good, obviously.
Butter Pecan ice creams sounds amazing. Actually last night it was so cold and we were so in the need of a sustaining warm dessert (it's winter here) that I made apple crumble and topped mine off with pecan butterscotch ice cream. So sustaining!
Karen, I love the sound of your chocolate raspberry torte. Chocolate and raspberries go so well together. In fact there's a place I know that sells (usually warm because they con't last long) raspberry and white chocolate muffins with the white chocolate still just melting inside. Yum! I'm looking forward to checking out your link. Thanks for sharing!
Di, you sound like a woman who really appreciates a good dessert. I can't choose a fave out of the ones you've mentioned. They all sound fantastic. Yes, I've learned too, that if there's dessert on offer I need to eat less before hand. Planning ahead...
Hi Leni, there's something so soothing about backing, don't you find? And I love the smell when something's in the oven or just out of it. It makes the kitchen seem so welcoming. I bet visitors love coming to your place.
Annie, I'm a real fan of desserts... sadly they're often not a fan of me! So I have them very rarely... which means my poor dh doesn't get them very often either! LOL But when I do indulge, I'm a huge fan of something (ANYTHING!) chocolately - but with NO dried fruit! Actually, something mud-cakey with a lovely warm fudgy sauce really takes my fancy this morning!
:)
Hi Sharon. What a shame that you can't indulge in desserts so often. But at least it must help you stay trim?
I love the sound of chocolate mud cake with warm fudge sauce. How deliciously tempting. So much more fun than my usual breakfast! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, Annie, what a wicked post! It's only 9:30 in the morning here...is that too early for dessert? :-)
We have dessert on Sunday nights. Don't know why -- perhaps it's to lift us for the working week ahead. My current favourite is lemon self-saucing pudding, served with lots of cream. The smell, the texture, the taste... Yum!
I have Undone By His Touch sitting on my desk at the moment. It's my promised treat for when I finish my wip. Can't wait!
Hi Michelle,
Your comment is bringing back memories. Lemon self-saucing pud used to be another staple in our house when I was young. I've made it once or twice but not in a while. This is just the right weather to enjoy it too!
So glad you've got Undone to read. I hope you enjoy Declan and Chloe's story!
hi Annie,
i ever shared the cake at my FB, i got from my friend for my birthday cake :)
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