Valerie

Banana Walnut Bread

By: Valerie December 21, 2017December 3, 2020

Breads, Muffins and Sconesbanana, dairy-free, egg-free, walnuts2 Comments

With a lot of time suddenly freed up after being done teaching a lab course, I took the opportunity during the weekend to bake a couple of things. It had been a while! Since I had some very ripe bananas in my fridge that needed to be used, I started with this vegan banana and walnut bread. It was simple to make, but the first time that I tasted it I wasn’t too impressed. I found it a bit too salty and not sweet enough. I thought that it was perhaps because my bananas were beyond saving.

Pecan-Topped Applesauce Coffee Cake

By: Valerie October 28, 2017December 3, 2020

Cakes and Cupcakesapple, applesauce, pecans1 Comment

I have always loved Fall since I can remember. The beautiful leaves changing colours, the cooler weather, the sweaters, comforting soups and hot chocolates. But most of all, I love the apple season, especially apple-picking. For a record this year we went apple-picking three times! We probably picked a total of 50 pounds of apples, so needless to say I had plenty of apples to choose from to make a nice apple recipe. I thought that this apple and pecan cake recipe looked perfect to use some nice apples that were going soft.

European Lemon Cheesecake

By: Valerie August 9, 2017December 3, 2020

Cakes and Cupcakescheesecake, lemonLeave a Comment

For the second cake that I had to (I don’t like baking at all, I was almost tortured!) make for my boyfriend since I lost a bet, he requested this European lemon cheesecake because, quite simply, he loves lemon and cheesecake, so the combination could only be delicious. The theory proved to be true!

Raspberry Pecan Tart

By: Valerie July 26, 2017December 3, 2020

Pies and Tartscoconut, pecans, raspberry, tart1 Comment

After several months of not posting any new recipes from Anna’s cookbook, I decided that it was time to remedy this! I “owed” my boyfriend two cakes due to two lost bets, and as per his request I made this delicious-looking raspberry and pecan tart, two of his favourite foods. I was happy to finally have a recipe to do and a dessert to make, and it was no trouble at all to do. I am typically not a fantastic dough maker, but since I had already made the nut-crust tart shell required for this recipe, I new what to improve.

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

By: Valerie December 30, 2016December 3, 2020

Cakes and Cupcakescupcake, lemon, meringue1 Comment

The holiday period is an excellent time to have company over, and indeed within two days we were having two different groups of friends over. I thought I would make some nice lemon cupcakes for the occasion, as there were several lemon dessert lovers amongst the guests. These cupcakes have a little something special since they are topped with a meringue that is hiding a delicious lemon curd filling. This recipe was straightforward and incredibly tasty.

Maple Gingerbread Cutout Cookies

By: Valerie December 27, 2016December 3, 2020

Cookies, Bars and Biscottiginger, gingerbread, maple4 Comments

I have actually (and surprisingly!) never made gingerbread cookies, so I thought that there would be no better dessert to bring at work for the last day before the holidays than these cute gingerbread cookies. The recipe was easy to follow and I took pleasure in rolling out the dough and cutting out cute shapes to make the cookies – I had gingerbread man, tree and snowman cookie cutters.

Vanilla Cornmeal Wedges

By: Valerie December 22, 2016December 4, 2020

Cookies, Bars and Biscotticornmeal, shortbread, vanillaLeave a Comment

Two weeks ago I realized that I had no dessert or snacks at home, so I decided to make these vanilla cornmeal wedges to have something to munch on. This recipe was easy to do and although simple these wedges taste very good.

Coconut Cake with Seven-Minute Frosting

By: Valerie November 30, 2016December 4, 2020

Cakes and Cupcakescake, coconut, lemon3 Comments

I enjoy coconut desserts as much as the next girl, and since it had been quite some time I decided to make a nice big cake – for no occasion at all other than pure enjoyment. Simply put, the cake is delicious. The coconut flavour is subtle, but the coconut flakes mixed in the batter give the cake a very nice texture. The cake is dense but still moist, as it should. Coupled with the heavenly and beautiful glossy-white seven-minute frosting, the cake looks superb.

Seven-Minute Frosting

By: Valerie November 27, 2016December 4, 2020

Frosting, sauces and garnishesdairy-free, frosting1 Comment

The next cake I planned to make was the delicious-looking coconut cake, so of course I had to make this seven-minute frosting to accompany it. I whisked the frosting by hand (but barely made it!) and was surprised by how well it all came together. I am usually not quite successful with egg whites, but this frosting recipe turned out marvellous.

Two-Crust Caramel Apple Pie

By: Valerie October 13, 2016December 4, 2020

Pies and Tartsapple, caramel, pie2 Comments

For my birthday we went apple picking as per my request since it is my favorite fall activity, and thus we had a ton of apples chilling in the fridge. The most normal thing to do with so many apples was to make an apple pie. My boyfriend loves caramel even more than he does apples I think, so I decided to try making this caramel apple pie recipe. It is a traditional apple pie but with a caramel flavor.