Crumbly, buttery shortbread. Three key ingredients. Baking doesn’t get much more simple – or crowd-pleasing. Whole wheat flour, the subtle caramel of brown sugar, and hints of vanilla and almond make it special. It also has the distinction of surviving a kitchen disaster, and thus I am certain that it is resilient enough so that all…
Category: Desserts
Wedel chocolate cafe: Polish confections for a chocoholic
Women and chocolate. Few food stereotypes are more appropriate – at least in my case. I am someone constantly in search of my next chocolate fix. In Krakow, Poland, I did not have to look too hard to find Wedel, a chain of chocolate cafes that feel like the perfect spot to celebrate girls’ day…
Bourbon Brown Sugar Caramel Ice Cream
Looking to America for culinary inspiration, I bring you an ice cream to wow your friends or guests. Brown sugar, caramel, and cream accentuate the Southern charm of bourbon. Crumbled caramel-cashew cookies add buttery sweetness and crunchy texture to this grown-up dessert. I wrote my first blog post several months before the launch of The…
Omani Halwa-Inspired Cardamom-Pistachio Gelato
Cardamom, nutmeg, and pistachios bring the exotic taste of Arabia to your kitchen and guests in this sophisticated, refreshing gelato, perfect for spring and summer. Many kabobs and savory dishes in Middle Eastern cuisine are subtly spiced; the desserts not so much. Spicy cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, rose water, and lavender are a few unmistakeably exotic…
Belgian-inspired Speculoos cookie ice cream
Winter and ice cream certainly aren’t synonymous, but this ice cream, inspired by a house-made ice cream at one of Brussels’ trendiest restaurants, is perfect for a cozy winter dinner party or indulgent treat. When I created this recipe, I was surprised at how well the flavors and textures melded together; I would count this…
The CD’s oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies with vodka-spiked mandarins
I got my start in adapting recipes and baking at the age of eight, when I realized I loved cookie dough, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the alternating result of either spongy, cake-like biscuits or flat and crispy baked cookies my mother turned out. So I took it upon myself to read, learn,…
You, too, can make French macarons – trois façons
In honor of Chocolate Month and Valentine’s Day, I’m sharing a recipe for an exotic flavor trio of the romantic French macaron – a rich, sensual chocolate with rum ganache filling; a tropical basil-lime; and a buttery dulce de leche peanut. All three variations – the trois façons – are certain to impress. I have…
“Old-Fashioned” Truffle Brownies with whiskey cherries
Who can resist this dark, rich brownie with a hint of a classic cocktail: The Old Fashioned. Really? Just in time for Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite chocolate recipes to share with your Valentine; they will appreciate the homemade decadence much more than a box of chocolate covered cherries, believe me! Whiskey-accented cherry…
Healthy Diplomat: Vegan, no sugar added hot cocoa that actually tastes good!
If you were either intrigued or not scared off by the title of this post, thank you for taking a peek! In my last post, I offered a simple recipe for indulgent spiked hot chocolate. While one could easily make it vegan by substituting a non-dairy milk – such as almond, soy, or coconut –…
Warm up with spiked hot chocolate
This time of year, the cold air and brisk wind makes it hard to stay warm. Hot beverages really help do the trick; add some booze and you’ll forget you just came in from the cold…well, almost. A steaming nightcap of spiked hot chocolate is even better; it’s a simple and satisfying indulgence to end…
The Culinary Diplomat 