professional tips to make your baking fabulous
It’s that time of year when many of us celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Here is a great recipe to help you get your green on. Best of all, this cake can be mixed up in the pan you melt the chocolate and butter in which keeps dishwashing to a minimum. Guinness chocolate cake with a Guinness glaze is a great way to celebrate your Irish heritage!
Making a parchment cone is one of the basic skills that every baker should master. By calling it a basic skill I don’t mean to imply that it is easy – it takes practice and patience. Perhaps foundation skill is a better term. Mastering a parchment cone and how to use it will elevate the level of your pastries whether you are drizzling icing, piping a fancy design, or writing on a cake. Cut some triangles, make some cones, and practice, practice, practice!
I love granola but find that too often it has way too much sugar to be a healthy start to the day. This granola provides the best of both worlds. It still contains some sugar but it is also sweetened with dried fruit rather than more of the white stuff! It also contains nuts and seeds that are packed with vitamins and minerals. This version happens to contain tropical fruits and nuts (we are in Vietnam, after all) but check the Alternatives section for other great additions to the basic recipe.
Improving as a baker takes time, effort, and patience! I have been a pastry chef for more than two decades and I am still learning each time I create something in my kitchen. Here are my top ten tips for honing your skills whether you are a beginner or have years of experience. Practice these and you are on your way to better baking!
Tropical islands are a wonderful, light, and simple to make dessert. Both components can be made in advance and the dessert just needs to be assembled before serving. So simple and so very delicious!
Continue reading “Tropical Islands (Meringue Islands With Lime Cream)”
Ca phe sua da is an iced coffee drink in Vietnam made with strong espresso and sweetened condensed milk and it is addictive! In that spirit, here is a French classic with a Vietnamese twist – Vietnamese coffee eclairs. They are almost as addictive as the drink!
We are in Hong Kong for Chinese New Year! Parades, light shows, and lots of great food are in store for these three days! Street food here is AMAZING and one of the most traditional street foods happens to be a dessert – egg custard tarts. Try these delectable treats when they are still warm from the oven!
Looking for a last minute little something for Valentine’s Day? Make these macaroon hearts. They are simple and quick, taste delicious, and look elegant. A lovely, sweet treat for your valentine!
This is a wonderful plated dessert and the first true, professional style plated dessert I have done for the blog. Why? Because it takes time to learn and basic skills need to be developed before attempting such a dessert. Plus, this basic plated dessert has seven components – seven! Yes, I realize thats quite a few but I will explain how make each one and provide a schedule to make a dessert like this.
It’s February and that means all things heart shaped, chocolate, and in varying shades of pink and red! Let’s kick off our Valentine’s Day desserts with these wonderful dacquoise hearts. They are light, delicious, and, most importantly, can be made in advance and then assembled just before serving.
