Valerie

Chocolate Shavings

By: Valerie November 5, 2023November 6, 2023

Frosting, sauces and garnisheschocolate, garnish1 Comment

Simple but effective garnish for various desserts such as cakes, tarts or cupcakes.

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

By: Valerie August 5, 2023

Cakes and Cupcakescream cheese, cupcake, shortcake, strawberry, vanillaLeave a Comment

These strawberry shortcake cupcakes are perfect for a summer treat. Apart from being lovely, they are fresh, fluffy, not too sweet and taste exactly like a shortcake.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

By: Valerie July 22, 2023August 4, 2023

Cakes and Cupcakescake, cream cheese, pecans, strawberry1 Comment

This strawberry cream cheese coffee cake is more intricate to make due to its multiple layers. However, the flavours of the sweet strawberries marry very well with the cream cheese layer, and combined with the different textures present in this cake, makes for a lovely dessert.

Chocolate Chiffon Cake

By: Valerie July 7, 2023July 9, 2023

Cakes and Cupcakescake, chiffon, chocolate, dairy-freeLeave a Comment

This chocolate chiffon cake is fabulous. Not too sweet with a nice chocolate flavour enhanced by a coffee undertone. It feels airy and light to eat, which is different than your typical cake and very enjoyable.

Chantilly Cream

By: Valerie July 1, 2023July 1, 2023

Frosting, sauces and garnishesChantilly, cream, sauce1 Comment

This Chantilly cream is light and airy, and not overly sweet – perfect to accompany subtly desserts or sit atop a nice hot chocolate.

Demerara Shortbread Wedges

By: Valerie June 19, 2023June 21, 2023

Cookies, Bars and BiscottishortbreadLeave a Comment

This recipe for demerara shortbread cookies was simple to make which is always a bonus and a good way to get back into it. I’m not sure I’ve ever used demerara sugar in baking so I wasn’t sure how the texture of this coarser sugar would be, especially in a shortbread, but I was curious.

Caramel Soufflés

By: Valerie February 28, 2023March 5, 2023

Custards, Puddings and Souffléscaramel, gluten-free, soufflé4 Comments

This caramel soufflé tastes as I imagine a soufflé should taste: airy and light, with a subtle caramel flavour. It’s so airy it feels healthy. I think that should be the soufflé’s motto. The caramel aroma was lovely while eating this dessert.

Chocolate Peanut Pretzel Squares

By: Valerie April 19, 2022April 21, 2022

Cookies, Bars and Biscottibars, chocolate, peanuts, pretzel3 Comments

These chocolate peanut pretzel squares are very scrumptious, the perfect combination of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy. I had actually made it more than a month ago, but never got around to posting it. It was so good, however, that I had to make it again. Definitely a favourite.

Apple Cannoli Tart

By: Valerie October 14, 2021October 22, 2021

Pies and Tartsapples, cannoli, ricotta, tartLeave a Comment

I tried making this tart again after having failed the first time, and wasn’t sure what to think about it. I think I am not convinced by the combination of cheese, chocolate and apples, and did not find it sweet enough for my taste.

Morning Glory Yogurt Loaf

By: Valerie August 21, 2021October 2, 2021

Breads, Muffins and Sconescoconut, loaf, pineapple, raisins, yogurtLeave a Comment

I scoured through the cookbook to find a recipe that uses yogourt, and thus came upon this breakfast loaf. I had some reservations because of the raisins, as always, but was willing to try. I do like loaves because they’re so friendly to make.