5 French Desserts You Have to Try At Least Once

French cuisine has always been marveled at.  From Fois Gras to Beef Bourguignon, French cooking has always been something to aim for and their desserts are no different.  While many people know of the amazing thing called crepes many other simple desserts are left unnoticed and unloved.  These are my top five French desserts that everyone must try at least once in your life- only if you want to live a full and happy life of course :)

 

1. Chocolate Hazelnut Meringues

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Meringues are made with whipped egg whites and sugar, occasionally adding either lemon, vinegar, or cream.  They are light and sweet with a crispy exterior, and absolutely delicious.  While the originals are quite tasty, adding a chocolate hazelnut filling makes it crazy good.  There's only a few simple steps, and if you need a good recipe click here. 

2. Raspberry Crème Brulee

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The earliest reference to crème brulee appears in Francois Massialot's 1691 Cookbook: Cuisnier royal et bourgeois.  In the 1702 English translation the dessert was called "burnt cream".  Crème Brulees are a traditional French pastry with a vanilla custard base and a topping of crunchy caramel to offset it.  They are traditionally served one per person, and are quite scrumptious, and not too tricky to make if one is careful.  And, while the traditional dessert is definitely tempting it is always fun to add a thing or two.  If you're feeling adventurous try adding some fruit, I love a good raspberry crème brulee myself.  If you're in need of a good recipe click here, follow it and you should have no trouble whatsoever. 

3. Orange Bavarois

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Bavarois include whipped cream, crème anglaise, fruit puree, meringue, chocolate or liqueur.  They are usually served cold and are heavenly!  However, if you throw in some orange, you will not be disappointed.  Orange Bavarois are relatively easy to make, and pretty damn tasty if I do say so myself.  If you need a solid recipe to follow check out this one. 

4. Chocolate Éclair

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An Éclair is a French pastry made with a choux pastry, which is then filled with a cream or custard and then dipped in icing.  And while there are many different flavors the chocolate is possibly the best and the most well known.  Chocolate éclairs are classically mouth watering, and while they are a bit trickier to make they're well worth it.  Click here for an amazing recipe, guiding you step by step throughout the whole process. 

 

5. Madeleine

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Madeleines are small butter cakes that are simply to die for.  Delicious enough to have been a muse for the great Proust in his Remembrance of Things Past.  They're a small little treat, and simple enough to make at home, if one is feeling creative enough to do so.  For a great short read, and an original Julia Child recipe click here, the article is fun and informative and will leave you with some enticing mouth watering madelienes.   

 

 

6 Amazing and Easy Ice Cream Desserts that Anyone Can Make

Ice cream is honestly one of the best things ever.  Whoever invented ice cream is a mother f**king genius- they are my god.  Anyhoo, one of the best things about ice cream is that there are SO MANY flavors.  Ben and Jerry's alone has at least twenty... I think... anyhoo either way there's so much variety and truly something for everyone.  Keeping that in mind, you don't always just have to eat ice cream by itself.  You can make sundaes and a variety of other easy treats for yourself.  Here's a short list if you're looking for some new midnight munchies to try, or are flat out bored.  Either way good luck and may the force be with you!

 

1. Brownie Sundae

 

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An all time classic and possible my most favorite thing to eat ever, a brownie sundae is simple and delicious.  With only a few key ingredients, but with lots of room to spice things up, it's hard to go wrong with a brownie sundae.  I like to top mine with melted caramel and chocolate chips- that is in addition to the hot fudge and whipped cream that usually comes equipped :)

2. Ice Cream Parfait

 

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Looking to trick yourself into thinking that you're eating something healthy- why not try an ice cream parfait.  It's pretty straightforward- simply throw some ice cream into a cup and top with whatever assortment of fruits and nuts you desire.  I personally like strawberries, blueberries, with some crushed walnuts on top of vanilla ice cream. 

 

3. Ice Cream Cupcakes

 

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So most people over the age of eight have heard of ice cream cake- if you haven't I'm very sorry because you have been missing out.  To be frank ice cream cake is f**king delicious.  They're affordable, relatively easy to make, and impressive.  Also you can make like 12 at once so BONUS! 

 

4. Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches

 

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First things first, whip together a batch of seriously delicious peanut butter cookies.  If you need a good recipe click here.  Next take whatever flavor ice cream you think might taste good, I personally go for chocolate chip or some type of brownie flavored ice cream, but you should do whatever your heart desires. 

5. Ice Cream pie. 





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It's as simple and delicious as it sounds.  All you need is some pie crust, whatever flavor ice cream you're currently craving.  I personally like a thick pie crust with pistachio ice cream and crushed walnuts.  Or Maple Ice cream with crushed nuts and hot fudge- absolutely delicious. 

6. Ice Cream Cake

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Making a delicious ice cream cake is not as difficult as it sounds- you just need a shit ton of ice cream.  Make a few layers of cake (depending on just how big you want your finished product to be) and then in between the layers add whatever flavor you like.  Then add icing, or frosting, or pretty much whatever.  My suggestion is chocolate cake with vanilla chocolate chip ice cream, topped with cream cheese frosting and strawberries.  But that's just me.  Luckily these are pretty easy to make your own so you can really do whatever! 

What Slow Churned Really Means

If you're like me, and are currently attending ice cream fanatics anonymous meetings, then you've probably seen this weird thing called "slow churned ice cream".  It's apparently healthier and yet somehow seriously delicious at the same time.  And yes, that is definitely kind of true.  However, it is still definitely a treat and not a healthy snack. 



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Slow churned ice cream does have less calories.  It is made with a low temperature extrusion, a process that removes air bubbles in the cream which helps reduce the size of fat molecules.  The end result being an ice cream with significantly less calories.  As an added bonus the process makes a very nice creamy texture which is very similar to that of normal full fat ice cream- thus keeping it almost as good as the real stuff. 


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So yes slow churned technically has less calories, but that doesn't necessarily make it healthy.  And yes I understand that all ice cream has calcium- and that builds strong bones yada yada yada.  But like anything slow churned ice cream is something to be eaten in moderation.  I know it's annoying as hell, but it's true.  But if you're looking for a lower calorie option, you're could truly do worse. 



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Maple Sugar Cookies

Hey, been awhile :)

Anyhoo so school has begun again and that means that my free time has been greatly diminished, we will be having a memorial service if anyone would like to join, nonetheless I'm still trying to bake as much as possible.

A few days ago I made some very drunk, but very delicious brownies.  They really weren't all that special pretty much followed the directions on the box and then added some crushed up oreos on top- but to me and my drunk roommates they were delicious!!!

More recently I made some maple sugar cookies, adding on a simple cream cheese frosting (because it's official I am in LOVE with cream cheese frosting- and it will probably be the death of me via heart attack).  It all started due to some very stressful academic situations- I then decided that baking was the only real solution to such anxiety.  I went and picked up the most basic ingredients for sugar cookies- so pretty much some eggs, butter, and a betty crocker mix.  Sad but true.  Desperate times come for desperate measures (did I mention that like every other college student I'm borderline broke at all times-- I hope that acts as some sort of explanation).

 

But like always I didn't stick to the box rules.  I threw in some good ol' fashioned VT Maple syrup and some extra vanilla extract (because in my opinion they never have enough and the cookies don't really taste like anything often).  Also just a PINCH of salt- if you put in too much you may as well throw out the cookies now because salt is so overpowering that you only really need a tiny tiny bit to make a difference.  Also it's really not that good for you and you're already making cookies, so calm down.

 

From there I followed the regular cookie making format.  Roll up the dough, plop it on the already greased up pan, and then indent each cookie dough sphere with a fork to flatten it out a bit.

 

Throw each batch in the oven for 7-10 minutes and you've got the maple sugar cookies down.

 

For my cream cheese frosting I honestly just winged it.  I threw together about 14oz of plain cream cheese, purchased at the small market conveniently located a block away from my house, about two cups of sugar, a teaspoon and some of vanilla extract, a dash of milk, and just a hint of melted butter (but not too much).  Then I mixed them all together until smooth and delicious.

We weren't even drunk and they were pretty tasty!!!  Super easy, if I can do it anyone can!!!