Category Archives: Dessert and Pastry
The Best Person I Know
Written on May 12, 2013 at 8:02 am, by admin
My mom is the best person I know. She is everything to me and even though we’re very different and we sometimes butt heads, she is my hero in every way. For those that know my mom, they’ll know that she is a white chocolate fiend. For real. She’ll steal your white chocolate from you Continue Reading »
I Say Doughnut.
Written on April 20, 2013 at 5:08 pm, by admin
I say doughnut. Sounds just like donut. Except with three more letters. I love all things sweet but I have my favourites and doughnuts know that there is a special, happy spot in my stomach that is reserved just for them. That special, happy spot made my buy the March 2013 issue of Saveur based Continue Reading »
A Carnevale Ogni Scherzo Vale
Written on February 9, 2013 at 6:47 pm, by admin
When I was just a baby Cream Puff, I remember that I was never really into Halloween. I suspect that part of this was due to the fact that Halloween was scary for me, but also because Halloween was not a holiday with which my family was very familiar. Putting on costumes and eating lots Continue Reading »
Keep the (Oven) Light On.
Written on January 20, 2013 at 9:28 am, by admin
It’s the darkness. The lack of light. That’s the worst part of winter. And this from a girl who likes winter. I like the blustery cold (even when it feels like my face is freezing off) and the snowy piles (even though shovelling that stuff is darn hard work) and the icy surfaces (even though Continue Reading »
Because Everyone Could Use More Doughnuts
Written on November 17, 2012 at 7:02 pm, by admin
Disagree with me if you like, but I think we all need more doughnuts in our lives. While I love cupcakes, I never fully understood the craze and am ever-so-happy to see that people are now giving doughnuts the respect and reverent attention they deserve. I am a doughnut fiend. A fiend. I will do Continue Reading »
Patience
Written on May 22, 2012 at 7:26 pm, by admin
I am being patient. Or at least I’m trying. I am surrounded by new food magazines and new cookbooks literally begging me to start using all the fresh berries and vegetables growing in abundance everywhere I turn. Oh. Wait. There are no berries and vegetables growing in abundance everywhere I turn. Here in Ontario, we Continue Reading »
Magazine Mondays: Paris Brest
Written on March 19, 2012 at 7:17 pm, by admin
The very first time I heard about Paris Brest, I had no idea what it was or that it was called Paris Brest. Some very good friends of mine were waxing poetic about a dessert that their aunt would make for holidays. It consisted of cream puff dough, piped into a around and baked. The Continue Reading »
Buon Compleanno to me!
Written on October 23, 2011 at 8:02 am, by admin
Each and every single one of us is such a special gift. So when it’s your special day, I believe that you should take some time to celebrate. Today is my special day and I’m seizing the opportunity to have a lovely meal with my family followed by what I can only describe as a Continue Reading »
Fool Me Once
Written on July 31, 2011 at 7:34 am, by admin
Dear Blog, My my, it has been a long time. If blog neglect were a crime then I would be guilty as charged. Although I suspect you can’t really call it “neglect” as you have never been far from my mind. I think about you all the time, little blog. It’s just that sometimes there Continue Reading »
Magazine Mondays: Tapioca!
Written on April 18, 2011 at 5:46 pm, by admin
Have you ever looked at a dish of lovely sweetness and known, beyond a doubt, that you would love it even before it touched your lips? This is how I feel about tapioca pudding. I only recently had it for the first time despite knowing for eons that I would love it. And I did. Continue Reading »
The Daring Bakers: Panna Cotta
Written on February 27, 2011 at 10:21 am, by admin
The February 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mallory from A Sofa in the Kitchen. She chose to challenge everyone to make Panna Cotta from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe and Nestle Florentine Cookies. Daring Bakers! How are you?! It has been awhile, my goodness. I am attempting to correct my wayward Daring Baker Continue Reading »
Magazine Mondays: Nigella Lawson
Written on December 20, 2010 at 12:30 am, by admin
I love Nigella. Like I really really love her. I love her food and her attitude and her eyebrows. I love her eyebrows. I wish she would publish a new cookbook every week because I would totally buy it. And I wish she would be on television more, not less. More. Just sayin’. Naturally I Continue Reading »
SHF #72: A Trifle for the Holidays
Written on November 30, 2010 at 12:30 am, by admin
It’s hard to believe, but this December I will celebrate five years of blogging. That’s five years of some pretty amazing food adventures. I will certainly always remember one of the very first food events that I took part in: Sugar High Fridays. Created by Jennifer of The Domestic Goddess, SHF is a celebration of Continue Reading »
Okay. I Get It.
Written on July 2, 2010 at 7:41 pm, by admin
Have you ever had the experience where a million people will come and ask you if you’ve seen a movie that you haven’t seen and then they will proceed to tell you why you should see it? Everyone around you is talking about the movie, raving about the movie, asking you why in the world Continue Reading »
Magazine Mondays: Cherries!
Written on June 21, 2010 at 7:08 pm, by admin
Cherries. How I love thee, let me count the ways! Of all the stone fruits, cherries are my absolute favourite. One of my dreams is to have a house with a beautiful cherry tree (or two) in the backyard. Growing up, we had a beautiful cherry tree but eventually my father had to take it Continue Reading »
“Pick-Me-Up” … The Daring Bakers’ Way
Written on April 10, 2010 at 8:58 am, by admin
The February 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen and Deeba of Passionate About Baking. They chose Tiramisu as the challenge for the month. Their challenge recipe is based on recipes from The Washington Post, Cordon Bleu at Home and Baking Obsession. In my ongoing and valiant efforts to catch Continue Reading »
Colour The Daring Bakers Orange
Written on March 30, 2010 at 6:55 pm, by admin
The 2010 March Daring Baker’s challenge was hosted by Jennifer of Chocolate Shavings. She chose Orange Tian as the challenge for this month, a dessert based on a recipe from Alain Ducasse’s Cooking School in Paris. The busy past few months have meant that I haven’t been able to fully participate in the Daring Bakers’ Continue Reading »
Magazine Mondays: Coconut!
Written on February 22, 2010 at 12:30 am, by admin
For Valentine’s Day, I made a really nice lunch for Mamma Cream Puff and Brother Cream Puff and instead of ending with a chocolate dessert, I ended with a coconut one. I’d had my eye on this pretty little thing for awhile and decided to finally try it: Coconut Rice Puddings with Crispy Coconut. Needless Continue Reading »
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Written on February 14, 2010 at 11:57 am, by admin
You know Cream Puff loves you! Just to be sure, I’m saying it with sweet crepes covered in Nutella. And a few candied hearts, too! Happy Love Day! Ciao! Crepes with Nutella Inspired by Valvona & Crolla: A Year at an Italian Table. This is a very easy recipe. For the crepes, I use like Continue Reading »
I Am Canadian.
Written on February 13, 2010 at 2:45 pm, by admin
Last night, in Vancouver, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games had their ceremonial opening with the lighting of a torch inside B.C. Stadium and another outside, by Vancouver’s waterfront. I am an Olympics fanatic, regardless of where they’re held, but put them in my country, Canada, and it just adds a whole new meaning for me. Continue Reading »
The 12 Days of Cookbooks: Day 9
Written on December 9, 2009 at 12:30 am, by admin
And on the ninth day of the 12 Days of Cookbooks, I give you A Year in Lucy’s Kitchen by Lucy Waverman. I’m not sure how well Lucy Waverman is known outside of Canada (hopefully very well). She’s a very well-respected food writer and cookbook author. Her most recent book is yet another winner. In Continue Reading »
Cooking Italy: Marcella Hazan’s Italian Chocolate Mousse
Written on September 30, 2009 at 12:30 am, by admin
As much as I love being busy with my blog, Magazine Mondays and The Daring Kitchen, there is a downside. Unfortunately, I don’t often have a lot of time to read other blogs and that is a shame because I know I’m missing a lot. When I do have some time to visit other blogs, Continue Reading »
Something about Flying and the Wind
Written on September 27, 2009 at 10:15 am, by admin
The September 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Steph of A Whisk and a Spoon. She chose the French treat, Vols-au-Vent based on the Puff Pastry recipe by Michel Richard from the cookbook Baking with Julia by Dorie Greenspan. Before I left for Italy, I knew that Steph of A Whisk and a Spoon Continue Reading »
Seulement Pour Moi
Written on June 16, 2009 at 6:29 pm, by admin
I’m feeling a bit ragged these days. It’s not one thing in particular, it’s just a combination of things. Nothing bad, mind you, just a lot of things going on at the same time and as usual, it’s always what you love most that tends to suffer most. So while I deal with work and Continue Reading »
Strudel, Strudel, Strudel …
Written on June 1, 2009 at 6:22 pm, by admin
I just love saying the word strudel. It brings out my inner Austrian and brings back many happy memories of four precious days spent in Vienna, in December 2006. I was so happy when Linda of make like sweeter! and Courtney of Coco Cooks announced that they would choose Apple Strudel as the May 2009 Continue Reading »
Just a Little Tease …
Written on May 27, 2009 at 4:47 pm, by admin
The May Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Linda of make life sweeter! and Courtney of Coco Cooks. They chose Apple Strudel from the recipe book Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Cafés of Vienna, Budapest, and Pragueby Rick Rodgers. In case you hadn’t noticed and just thought that everyone in the foodblog world suddenly Continue Reading »
Honey, Sorry I Missed Your Anniversary!
Written on February 9, 2009 at 1:01 am, by admin
It seems I missed the anniversary of one of my life’s great loves: Nutella. I don’t know when exactly I became so clueless when it comes to blog events, but it seems I find out about them usually anywhere from two days to four months after they’ve happened. I realied that I missed World Nutella Continue Reading »
The Thrill of the Tuile
Written on January 29, 2009 at 1:01 am, by admin
How many ways can you pronounce the word “tuile”? As it turns out, many ways. Fortunately, the pronunciation is about all I struggled with when it comes to the January 2009 Daring Bakers‘ challenge. This month’s challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. Continue Reading »
Go Big or Go Home!
Written on December 28, 2008 at 3:17 pm, by admin
If I had to pick one thing to say to sum up the December 2008 Daring Bakers’ challenge, not to mention all the other challenges that we faced this year, it would be go big or go home! Our lovely hostesses Hilda of Saffron & Blueberry and Marion of Il en Faut Peu Pour Etre Continue Reading »
Joy!
Written on December 24, 2008 at 10:45 pm, by admin
I wish you every joy and happiness on this special day! Wherever you are, I hope there is light and warmth and much good food and company. Buone feste! Happy Holidays! Ciao! For one of the desserts that I prepared this Christmas, I tried Fabio Trabocchi’s Italian Trifle from Food & Wine. I did not Continue Reading »
My Top Five
Written on December 16, 2008 at 8:02 pm, by admin
If you’re like me and haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet … yes … it’s true … and I’m not ashamed of it either … then here’s the post that might help you figure out how to begin. In past years, many bloggers have summarized their favourite cookbooks of the year and last year I Continue Reading »
Home
Written on August 31, 2008 at 1:01 am, by admin
Home is many things. Home is where you make chocolate éclairs thanks to Meeta and Tony. Home is talking to Lis. Home is saying hello again to all of you after a long absence. Home is the Daring Bakers. It’s good to be home. Ciao!
Taking Solace in the Garden
Written on July 26, 2008 at 8:06 pm, by admin
There are many reasons to grow your own food. Some people do it as a hobby, some people do it for a living and some people do it because they believe it is the best way to ensure that the food they’re eating is the freshest and healthiest food available. But I also happen to Continue Reading »
Happy Birthday, Canada!
Written on July 1, 2008 at 1:14 pm, by admin
My country turns 141 years old today! And I can’t think of a better way of celebrating than submitting an entry to an event hosted by my sweetie Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Jennifer of The Domestic Goddess: Mmmmmm … Canada! As is often the case when the Cream Puff embarks on Continue Reading »
Daring Bakers Make Your Home Smell Nice!
Written on June 29, 2008 at 1:01 am, by admin
There are numerous advantages to being a Daring Baker. You get to meet new people and visit new blogs. Once a month you get to try a recipe you might not normally try. But the one advantage to being a Daring Baker that most people might not be aware of is that being a Daring Continue Reading »
Is There A Maestro in the House?
Written on May 28, 2008 at 1:01 am, by admin
If you hear music in the air it’s because Daring Bakers the world around are posting their tribute to one of the world’s great confections: Opéra Cake or L’Opéra as they would say in France. For the May 2008 Daring Bakers‘ challenge, I have the privilege of hosting with my incredible co-founder Lis and with Continue Reading »
Paris on My Mind
Written on May 13, 2008 at 5:38 pm, by admin
I’ve had Paris on my mind of late. I suspect part of it is that I recently finished reading this lovely book. Not to mention that I kept seeing this other pretty little tome pop up all over the food blog world (who wouldn’t want to go to Paris after seeing that?). But part of Continue Reading »
Cruller is Cooler
Written on February 12, 2008 at 1:01 am, by admin
I love crullers. I have been known to eat … ummm … quite a few in a row without stopping or even taking a breath. I love their glazed exterior and sweetly soft interior. I love the way they melt in your mouth and slide down your throat in a rush of fried dough bliss. Continue Reading »
Cleaning Up (Part 2)
Written on December 28, 2007 at 1:27 pm, by admin
Yesterday, I wrote about the start of my annual attempt to tidy up and organize myself for the coming year. I’ve continued that project today by going through the hundreds of food photos stored on my computer. I have a tendency to download photos and then just forget about them. Many of the photos aren’t Continue Reading »
‘Tis the Season!
Written on December 22, 2007 at 2:24 pm, by admin
‘Tis the season to enjoying the best things in life: family, friends, lots of baking and of course, the Daring Bakers! We come to you a bit earlier than usual this December on account of the fact that in another day or so most of us will be busy celebrating with family. For the December Continue Reading »
Dress Rehearsals
Written on December 17, 2007 at 4:57 pm, by admin
While I will very likely be making this showstopper as the grande finale of holiday desserts, it certainly doesn’t hurt to give other desserts the opportunity to show their sweet stuff. I like to call this the Cream Puff version of holiday dress rehearsals. For this edition of Magazine Mondays, I decided to try a Continue Reading »
I’m Back … And a Little Embarrassed!
Written on December 16, 2007 at 8:35 am, by admin
The Cream Puff is back! I had a lovely week in Florida where I spent a few days in Miami followed by a cruise that took me to Key West, Cozumel and then back to Miami. Towards the end of it, though, all I could think about was coming home and baking! Let the Christmas Continue Reading »
Cream Puff Hands Out Homework … Again!
Written on December 6, 2007 at 11:05 pm, by admin
The Cream Puff is taking a short break in the form of one week in a warmer climate. I’ll be back refreshed and ready to begin the two-week baking marathon that is my lead-up to Christmas. For those of you that have been around this blog long enough, you’ll remember that last year I took Continue Reading »
Bostini – The Capital of Daring Baker Hearts!
Written on October 28, 2007 at 9:01 pm, by admin
No. Don’t worry. It’s not a typo. Bostini (not Boston) is, in fact, the capital of Daring Bakersville. As the month of October arrived, Mary of Alpineberry let us know that our challenge for the month would be our very first plated dessert, one called the Bostini Cream Pie. The dessert is a take on Continue Reading »
The Cake in the Mirror
Written on July 30, 2007 at 3:00 pm, by admin
Mirror mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest of all? Hmmm … good question. This is the question that all Daring Bakers attempted to answer this month as we tackled our latest challenge: Strawberry Mirror Cake. Our host for the month is the prolific, brilliant and talented Peabody of Culinary Concoctions by Peabody. Not Continue Reading »
Putting it All Together
Written on June 29, 2007 at 6:11 pm, by admin
When I made the beautiful lavender loaves using the lavender buds that Jasmine so graciously sent to me, I found myself in the strange position of not having anyone to share them with. It was a Saturday, no one was home, the neighbours had already been the beneficiaries of other baked goods from me earlier Continue Reading »
The Real Crepe Cake
Written on June 17, 2007 at 7:37 am, by admin
You may recall that a few months ago, the fearless Daring Bakers scaled Martha Stewart’s Crepe Cake Mountain. We tamed the beast. But having tamed it, a number of us decided that perhaps the beast wasn’t that scary after all. The general consensus at the time being that Martha’s cake was a tad disappointing. For Continue Reading »
On Airports and Puffy White Clouds
Written on June 6, 2007 at 9:37 pm, by admin
When I was a very little girl, I had a fascination with the airport. My parents would take me to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and park on the top level so that I could watch the planes take off. Maybe it’s because our house is so close to the airport, but I always loved looking Continue Reading »
For Dorie
Written on June 3, 2007 at 6:01 pm, by admin
After the excitement of baking for a bridal shower at the beginning of May, I could not have possibly imagined what was to happen next. I was barely over the high of baking (and being paid for it) when I had what I consider to be an opportunity of a lifetime. I had lunch with Continue Reading »
The Patron Saint of all Daring Bakers
Written on May 27, 2007 at 5:26 pm, by admin
It was bound to happen. It was only a matter of time before the Daring Bakers adopted a patron saint. Saint Honoratus of Amiens was a bishop of the town of Amiens, located in the North of France. He is believed to have died on May 16th, 600 A.D. While it doesn’t appear that Saint Continue Reading »
The Daring Bakers Strike Again!
Written on April 29, 2007 at 8:29 pm, by Ivonne
Move over, Martha. The Daring Bakers are claiming your territory! Well, perhaps we’re not quite claiming your territory but we are all over a dessert you showcased. And it’s a good thing too as judging by my own experience and that of most of the other Daring Bakers, your recipe could do with a bit Continue Reading »
Eat Your Heart Out!
Written on February 8, 2007 at 8:42 pm, by Ivonne
What is this blog about if not the love of all things sweet? This would explain the warming of my Cream Puff heart when Meeta announced that the theme for her popular Monthly Mingle (round 7!) was Sweet Love. Ah, yes. Bring on the sweets. It’s almost unseemly that so soon after the holidays I Continue Reading »
World Nutella Day: Cheese-Filled Tuiles with Nutella Drizzles
Written on February 7, 2007 at 12:05 pm, by Ivonne
One of the (few) advantages of being late for a food blog event is that you get to enjoy the efforts of other food bloggers long before you have to worry about your own post. I am glad to see that the world is indeed in love with what I like to refer to as Continue Reading »
The Croissants Quest
Written on January 30, 2007 at 7:54 pm, by Ivonne
I’ve always counted myself lucky that I grew up in a family of passionate home bakers. As far back as I can remember, I’ve been acquainted with the rituals of turning out cookies, cakes and various other sweets for all sorts of holidays and special occasions, or simply for a special treat to enjoy with Continue Reading »
Sugar High Friday #23: The Surprise Inside
Written on September 22, 2006 at 4:53 pm, by Ivonne
I just love surprises! The thrill. The anticipation. The agony of wanting to know. When Alanna of A Veggie Venture announced that the theme for SHF #23 would be "The Surprise Inside", I smiled. I smiled a secret, Mona Lisa smile. And then I began to plan. This particular SHF was most challenging for me Continue Reading »
Making Sense in the Kitchen
Written on July 11, 2006 at 8:09 pm, by Ivonne
One of the main reasons why I decided to start a food blog was so that I could finally get around to cracking the spines on all those cookbooks that were weighing down the Overburdened Bookshelf. Needless to say, the burden on the bookshelf has increased significantly over the past seven months as I’ve added Continue Reading »
The Strawberry Blessing
Written on July 5, 2006 at 9:14 am, by Ivonne
Recently, I contemplated the merits of a religion based on the worship of fried dough. I am still of the opinion that such a faith would be advantageous to all who believed. And now that I’ve been eating fresh strawberries for over a week, I believe that this religion should also include the worship of Continue Reading »
Jam Crostata
Written on June 12, 2006 at 10:54 pm, by Ivonne
After testing the recipe for crêpes Suzette for Mrs. B of Eating Suburbia, the next recipe on my list was crostata. Now I should tell you that crostata is a type of pastry that is near and dear to my heart. My father’s family, who hail from Le Marche in Italy, are master crostata makers. Continue Reading »
Crêpes Suzette
Written on June 7, 2006 at 11:09 pm, by Ivonne
I am constantly amazed at the quantity and quality of food blogs populating the Blogosphere. Not a day goes by where I don’t discover a new friend waxing poetic about food. Each day I find myself falling in love with blogs I don’t know and falling in love all over again with the blogs I Continue Reading »
“Enjoy With Reckless Abandon!”
Written on May 31, 2006 at 12:24 am, by Ivonne
"Enjoy with reckless abandon …" These are the words that are written on the first page of my copy of Donna Dooher and Claire Stubb’s Out to Brunch, the Cream Puffs in Venice Flavour of the Month for May 2006. How did I come by this autographed copy of such a wonderful book? Let me Continue Reading »
Hey! What’s for Pud?!
Written on April 23, 2006 at 11:00 am, by Ivonne
You may be wondering what that oozy, creamy blob is pictured above? It’s sticky toffee pudding and it’s an oozy, creamy dish of yumminess that never fails to make Cream Puff feel good! Being Canadian, I have always had a certain affinity for all things English. Canada, you see, was once an English colony. In Continue Reading »
SHF #18: Open, Sesamé!
Written on April 21, 2006 at 5:44 pm, by Ivonne
I already know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Why did she make a dessert with rum when Chandra of Lick the Spoon, who’s hosting SHF#18, mentioned avoiding the ubiquitous rum cake?†In my defence, I had not planned on making a dessert for SHF#18 that had rum in it. I had been planning something with Continue Reading »
