Simple Strawberry Tart

I celebrated my birthday this week and instead of the typical cake, I chose to make something a little different.  And surprisingly, it doesn't involve any chocolate.  This year, I decided to make myself a simple strawberry tart.

Pineapple Macapuno Pockets

I remember back in pastry school, we had this thing called "Mystery Basket Fridays." Basically, you walk into the kitchen and at your table, you'll find a tray of ingredients randomly selected by the chef. Your assignment for that day was to create a dessert using all the ingredients given to you. It's kind of nerve-racking actually. I remember the first time we had one, I was absolutely petrified.  All these thoughts start racing through my head. "I've never made anything with this before! What am I gonna do? How should I use this? Uh...should I put it in the dessert or use it as a sauce? How should I plate this? What if I don't finish? What if the chef hates it?!?! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!"

Coconut Palmier Hearts

On a previous post, I mentioned that I made these coconut palmiers for a family get-together and they absolutely loved it. Well, I'm finally sharing the quick and easy recipe with you.  And I'm also going to show you how to make them into these cute little hearts.  They're just perfect for Valentine's Day!

Deep Fried Apple Pies

Okay. I know what you're thinking. Deep fried apple pies? For Thanksgiving? Why....YES! Come to think of it, these are perfect for any time of the year.  I'm planning to make these next week and I'm sure they'll be a hit with everyone :-)

Puff Pastry Apple Tartlets with Salted Caramel Sauce

I'm having my family over for Thanksgiving this year so I'm gearing up to do some major cooking and baking in the kitchen.  I got my fridge stocked and ready to go.  I'm just a little nervous. I've only cooked a turkey once in my life and that was years ago.  It was the first time I hosted Thanksgiving.  I had everything planned and the food was gonna be awesome.  Well, it was almost awesome...I forgot to take the giblets out of the turkey. yeah. 

Cobblestone Fudge

Back in pastry school, I learned how to make cobblestone chocolates, which were little discs of chocolate topped with dried fruit and nuts. They were a bit tricky to make but they looked so amazing and they tasted absolutely divine.

Palmiers

I was rummaging through my freezer yesterday when I found a package of ready-made puff pastry, lost and forgotten in the back behind some frozen peas and carrots. Hmmmm... What to do? I was a little sleep deprived and in desperate need of a sugar fix, but I wanted something quick and easy to make. I ended up making these gorgeous little palmiers (also called palm leaves) which I happily nibbled while sipping my cup of coffee.

Fresh Fruit Strudel (with vegan alternative)

One of my fondest memories growing up was going to Hans and Harry's Bakery and picking up a fresh fruit strudel. The ride home was sheer torture because as soon as we got into the car, the sweet aroma of buttery pastry would swirl around me and make my mouth water. It took every bit of restraint for me not to open the box and pluck a strawberry right off. If you've ever tasted their fruit strudel, you know exactly how I feel (if you haven't, I strongly recommend that you do). Admit it, you've thought about taking a strawberry (or two) before making it home.

Good Morning Croissants!

These buttery, flakey, oh-so-good and crunchy almond croissants are, I think, the best way to start your day. Just imagine yourself sitting there, sipping some coffee and enjoying this heavenly pastry.  One bite, just one bite, and I know you'll be hooked.