From the monthly archives:

August 2008

Youneeda Peach Sorbita

August 20, 2008 Desserts & Ice Creams

In the dead of summer, when you don’t have air conditioning, when the cats are sprawling out under the ceiling fan and begging you to unzip their coats… this girl has no problems with granitas.

2 comments Read more...

Strawberry-Balsamic Rhapsody, Part Two

August 20, 2008 Desserts & Ice Creams

I don’t actually eat that much ice cream, but boy-oh-boy do I love to make it. I love that magical instant, somewhere around 15 minutes in the machine, when it goes from liquid to creamy-fluff-goodness. I love the variety of textures that fresh-made ice cream and sorbet might carry. And I love saying “I made ice cream.” It just sounds awesome.

4 comments Read more...

Strawberry-Balsamic Rhapsody, Part One*

August 16, 2008 Pies, Tarts and Cakes

If you take too few of these cupcakes to a party, fights could very well break out. These beauties combine two of my favorite ideas, cake and the tangy, assertive blend of ripe summer strawberries and sweet balsamic vinegar. I don’t think there’s any better way to bring out the flavor of the berry than this particular combination.

6 comments Read more...

Mixer = Meringue = Perfect Pavlovas

August 4, 2008 Desserts & Ice Creams

After 6 mixerless months, what prompted me to bite the bullet and set down $35 at Target for a stainless-steel, jet-engine shaped hand mixer* with its own storage stand? Easy: I had no fewer than 5 tupperwares of egg whites in my freezer. It’s a well-known fact that the only thing to do with this much egg white is make meringues. It’s an equally well-known fact that and making meringue without a mixer is borderline masochistic, and that’s just not my bag.

1 comment Read more...