Dessert

Let’s Get Real Okay, friends—let’s get something straight right off the bat: I absolutely hated Tanghulu as a kid. I know, I know, you may be shaking your head in disbelief right now, but hear me out. As a teenager, I was all about the chocolate-drizzled, gooey, decadent treats. Then came this shiny, crazy sweet concept that felt like eating a piece of forbidden fruit destined for a Pinterest fail. I admired its gleaming outer layer and vibrant colors but was still like, “Why would I want my sweet strawberries to be trapped in a hard candy shell?” I felt … Read more

Let’s Get Real Okay, let’s talk about this thing called weather. I don’t know where you are, but here it’s oscillating between really cold and oddly warm, like Mother Nature is experiencing some sort of existential crisis. One minute I’m bundled like a burrito in my oversized sweater, and the next, I’m questioning every life choice I’ve ever made that led to me agreeing to step foot outside. The only thing that consistently brings joy during these bizarre climate swings? Cake pops. Not just any cake pops—but the kind that glistens with bright red velvet allure. I used to kind … Read more

Let’s Get Real Oh, banoffee pie! Where have you been all my life? I’ve always had a complicated relationship with desserts. As a kid, I was a full-on chocolate addict – a Twix bar in each hand was my idea of a balanced diet (don’t judge, you know you’ve been there). But then came this delectable dessert, and suddenly I was hooked. It was almost like breaking up with chocolate and finding out that maybe, just maybe, caramel and banana could fill that sweet void. I mean, what is there not to love about layers of gooey caramel, perfectly ripe … Read more

Let’s get real. Have you ever had one of those days where the universe just seems to be conspiring against you? Like, it’s raining on your parade while you’re very much trying to get your life together, one dessert at a time? Enter: my love-hate relationship with vanilla macarons. Picture this: I was convinced I’d become a brilliant pastry chef one sunny afternoon, so I scrambled to the kitchen, ready to whip up a batch of these delicate delights. Long story short, I ended up with a heap of failure that looked more like sad pancakes than the crisp, dainty … Read more

Let’s face it, if you’re not a chocolate lover, are you even human? Chocolate has this magical ability to transform a bad day into a bearable one, and let’s be real, ganache takes chocolate to an entirely different level. If you’ve never tasted chocolate ganache, spare yourself the agony and go make a batch right now. Seriously, like, stop reading—go grab some chocolate! But if you want to stick around, I’ll take you on a sweet journey of decadence and delight with a recipe that’s as easy as pie (or should I say, as easy as ganache). The weather here … Read more

Let’s Get Real Okay, friends. Let’s just put it out there: I am officially obsessed with flaky sweet almond pastries. I mean, who wouldn’t be? These little pockets of joy just explode with flavor and texture, and honestly, they have the audacity to make everything else seem boring. Remember that crumbly, dry dessert you’d begrudgingly eat at your grandmother’s house, trying to make it look like you were enjoying yourself? Yeah, not happening with these. I’ll admit, the first time I tried a flaky sweet almond pastry, I was skeptical. “Almonds, shm-almonds,” I thought. But one bite into that heap … Read more

Let’s Get Real Let me just start by saying that there are few things in the culinary world that can conjure up the kind of nostalgia I feel about vanilla custard. It’s like the classic movie of desserts; everyone has seen it, but not everyone has enjoyed it at its finest. Just the word “custard” takes me back to my childhood, sitting at my grandma’s kitchen table, her apron-covered belly sticking out like a well-fed cat, ready to serve the creamiest, dreamiest bowl of vanilla custard known to mankind. Somehow, as I grew up, vanilla custard became synonymous with my … Read more

Let’s Get Real So, here we are, knee-deep in life’s ongoing rollercoaster ride. One minute it’s sunny and bright, the next we’re caught in a downpour that feels like Mother Nature is having a good old-fashioned tantrum. I’m just trying to live my best life here, people! And what’s my favorite way to cope with ever-changing weather? Baking. That’s right, there’s nothing quite like the scent of something sweet wafting through my home to combat the existential dread brought on by unpredictable seasonal shifts. Enter the star of today’s kitchen drama: the Lemon Blossoms Cake. I’ll admit, I wasn’t always … Read more

Let’s Get Real Okay, folks, we need to talk about something that’s both whimsical and deeply satisfying: the Rainbow Sherbet Piña Colada. Just hearing those words takes me on a sun-soaked vacation in my mind to a beach with swaying palm trees, fluffy clouds, and the sound of waves gently lapping at the shore. But let’s be honest; the reality is I’m probably sipping this dreamy concoction while standing in my kitchen, debating whether or not to call it a “working from home” perk. Why… why do I have to live in a world where it’s cold and gloomy outside? … Read more

Let’s be honest. Alright, let’s take a moment to discuss cake mixes. For example, who do they believe they are? These tiny boxes of pre-mixed powder are essentially the fast food of baking: tasty, practical, and occasionally they’ll make you reevaluate your decisions. But to be honest, I find myself drawn to the kitchen like a moth to a flame as I stare out my window, fighting the gloomy weather that is about as exciting as watching paint dry (really, it has been raining nonstop for three days over here). I therefore get bakin’ when the sky becomes moody. And … Read more