Category Archives: Desserts

‘Tis the season for… Cookies!

Posted on by

Christmassy Seven Layer Cookies

It’s December first, and oh what a glorious day! The first thing I did upon getting to my desk was fire up iTunes, play A Charlie Brown Christmas, and discover Gourmet’s Favorite Cookies.

Shown here are the apricot scented Seven-Layer Cookies. With a name like that, you just know it’s the holidays.

When I was in high school, my mom gave me a copy of Rose’s Christmas Cookies- definitely one of my favorite presents of all time, because it’s what really got me baking. I’ve known many cookbooks, and tried many cookie recipes, since then- but I won’t hesitate to say that this one is the best.

Rose is Rose Levy Beranbaum of The Cake Bible fame. Oh, and she blogs!

A Smokin’ Thanksgiving

Posted on by

So my husband and I have decided to serve smoked turkey on Christmas Eve- which will take us ten hours but promises to be a delicious deviation from the usual roast. Because we don’t want to be slaving away for ten hours cluelessly, we’ve decided to do a trial run this Thanksgiving.

As it is, I’ve been obsessed with figuring out which side dishes go well with a smoked turkey. A good candied yams dish is a given, and I’m considering trying out Meg’s Brown Buttered Brussel Sprouts as well. For dessert, a classic pumpkin pie- which I’ve never made before. Any more ideas, anyone?

Baking Weekend

Posted on by

I’m all set to do some “heavy baking” this weekend. Two days ago, the husband and I went on a shopping spree of sorts for baking pans, accessories and ingredients (new wooden spoons! loose-bottomed tart pans!)

This weekend, in practice for the coming Christmas baking rush, I’ll be tackling the following recipes:

1. David Lebovitz’ Chocolate-Almond Buttercrunch Toffee. Just look at the photos.

2. The Amateur Gourmet’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie. I mean, how can I not?

3. My own recipes for: Butterscotch Brownies and Chocolate Brownies, and

4. Graham Cracker Brownies. Smores, anyone?

Scoops of cherry-flavoured heaven

Posted on by

Okay, so I’ve been on an ice cream kick lately. I, who’ve never been an ice cream person, now find myself a little bit obsessed with these “premium” ice cream brands- specifically, Haagen-Dazs and now, Ben & Jerry’s.

Tonight, it was two scoops of cold, creamy, sinfully rich Cherry Garcia, the most delicious tribute to Grateful Dead ever. Its official description is:

Cherry Ice Cream with Cherries & Fudge Flakes

But it just tastes like so much more.

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is available at all Rustan’s Supermarkets in Manila- we got ours at the tiny Alabang “express” supermarket.