Fancy Gourmet Dessert Cakes

This spring the best selling desserts are pastries. Cream Puffs are very popular; they are really effective for Garden Parties or informal Get-togethers. They are light but very flavorful and have a nice combination of bakers’ ingredients. Light cream custard inside choux pastry, brushed along the top with dark chocolate.

But one dessert that has been around for awhile is finally coming into its own. Shot Glass desserts are fun and multi purpose. After the desserts are consumed, the shot glasses can be used for beverages. A couple of flavors commonly included in the desserts are; Chocolate Mousse and Tiramisu. They are great for late night parties, but can really brighten up a “Farewell” or “Get Well” party.

Upon review, I found them both to be a safe choice for gatherings of five people or more. 

They are light but satisfy the desire for something sweet at the same time. Full tasting desserts do not have to contain bulk to do the job. Endorphins are triggered in combination with the taste buds for that fully satisfied feeling.

Spring is the ideal time for Garden Parties. The weather is such that a hot cup of coffee is perfect with a cool dessert. Some typical desserts are Napoleons and Mini Cheesecakes. Napoleons are classic sweets and almost always please everyone but Mini Cheesecakes are favored among women because they can be split down the middle and shared for a reduction in calories. Whatever the new season brings, may your gatherings taste wonderful.

Written by Delightful Biteful

The lines of distinction are sometimes a little fine when telling one dessert from another; for instance, the difference between a pie and a tart or the similarities of a cream puff and an éclair. How about the identity crises of a torte when compared to a common cake?

It’s time for cupid’s sweet expression again; the exclamation point on the winter holidays. Those tasty sweets in their colorful packaging are being displayed along with the sad looking teddy bears and goofy key chains. It makes me think of the beauty of American culture. In America, we really know how to have a good time, and we know how to dress it up just right. Good food alone can lift us up out of any miserable feeling; at least for awhile and celebrating a holiday that calls for enjoying a fancy snack makes this indulgence convenient and lots of fun. On this day of affection, we get the opportunity to say; Hey! I really like you and I am giving you something sweet to prove it.

I have saved my Valentines boxes from the last ten years. Yes, my house is cluttered, but that is what comes from being a sentimentalist. I use them to save some of the cards and letters that mean the most from throughout the year. When Valentines Day rolls around again, I remind myself that the box of chocolates before me is instrumental in the storage of some important items, but the box must be empty to have its full effect. I inevitably rise to the task at hand and consume those troublesome sweets. Ummm!

The delicate texture and gourmet taste of a fancy piece of chocolate can last in a person’s mind due to the quality and the fact that the special treat is an expression of how special one is considered to be; and the memory starts there.

Enjoy your chocolates and don’t let anyone tell you that your enjoyment is irresponsible or frivolous. Calories can always be lost but memories can not always be gained.

Written by Delightful Biteful

Well, I have learned that I’ll never know everything and the things that I do know will always be expanded upon in a way that I did not think of before. How frustrating!

Some of the latest tips I’ve learned for making something good even better are as follows:

Stained Glass - Crown with a matching antique velvet bow and it looks quite unique. Silicone Caulk does the job.

Soft Sculpture – Look online for dolls or animals. The pieces are not only fun and interesting; they make great conversation pieces as well.

Written by Delightful Biteful - Enjoy Gourmet Dessert!

We are already nearing the end of another holiday year. It seems that Christmas week comes and everything is a blur until the 3^rd or 4^th of January. I wanted to pass on a few little tips for a quick holiday recovery. They are simple, but tried and true. 

3 – Try to take some extra cat naps whenever you can to make up for the extra merry making. 

4 – Take some extra vitamin C, it will help your immune system keep up its strength after expending the extra holiday energy.  

If you’re like me, you do not like the empty look around the house after taking down those cheerful decorations.

5 – Put up some new decorations for every day use, a couple of colorful prints and seasonal flowers will make the transition from holiday hype a little smoother.  

Remember the dreaded fruit cake, that tough old spice cake with the stale tasting glazed fruit? I do and try to forget. These past years gourmet celebration desserts have greatly improved. Chocolate cake has even been added to the seasonal sweet arsenal. When I was growing up, chocolate cake was not a very popular dessert for the holidays, not compared to carrot cake, which granted is still a very popular seasonal sweet.

I’ve also noticed gourmet chocolates and truffles are being put out for holiday snacking right next to the nuts and dried fruit. I do believe that chocolate has become much more popular after discovering its ability to increase the level of endorphins into the brain, creating an instant loving sensation. I say, every little bit of cheer enhances the spirit of the day, so rock on. I just prepare for the extra five pounds that I know I will put on during the holidays by dieting before hand, and celebrate victory over my weight loss in time for eating those fabulous desserts and confections. It’s a tradition for me.

Other newly added treats are festive candies like bark and chocolate covered toffee. A lot of these confections are originally from Europe but since we have become more culturally conscious these last years, many of these sweets have become popular at holiday time. I have just begun to appreciate these selections and like the increased variety of snacks. I can add all sorts of new noshables to the party table. It’s nice to see all of the progress we’ve made since the time of the fruit cake. Albeit, my weight loss target has increased from five pounds to seven and I have to start off a little earlier but if you’re like me, you know it’s worth the extra work. View this link for some tasty gift ideas. Happy snacking!

Written by Delightful Biteful 

Watching the news and hearing about stampedes for x-men and all of the high profile toys made me remember the truly wonderful holidays I was fortunate enough to enjoy. Presents like the Rocking Horse, Holly Hobby, the Doll House and Raggedy Anne were thoughtfully placed under the tree to remind us that we were children and that our innocence and imaginations were something to be protected and preserved for as long as possible. I remember feeling safe and happy, only concerned with arranging my new miniature house.

I try to recapture that spirit each year. I believe that the holiday spirit is attained by bringing out the child in me and everyone around me. I take what extra time I can for holiday celebrating and get-togethers. Spreading cheer is easy to do; I just buy some holiday greeting cards and hand them out with seasonal stickers enclosed as a little gift and tape a candy cane across the top of each card. I hand them out to as many people I can to try and include everyone around.

Some gourmet treats I like to bring to the holiday to keep the traditional spirit alive are Linzer Tarts and Holiday Cheesecake. For beverages, I enjoy a nice hot cider. I learned to mix about 1 tsp. of maple syrup per serving of apple cider and heat it with cloves, orange peels and cinnamon sticks and carefully strain after about 10 minutes. So here’s to holiday cheer.

Seasons Greetings to all!

Delightful Biteful

http://www.delightfulbiteful.com

Decorating is one of life’s hidden pleasures. I love to take on the challenge of coordinating colors to create a striking and tasteful effect. Sometimes “simple”, is the most effective method of successful decorating. For instance, last year’s Christmas tree adorned red velvet ribbons with white luminescent decorative balls hung alternately and evenly around the tree. The top of the tree held a big floppy red velvet ribbon crowned with a white starlit angel. Everyone loved it and it was actually quick and easy to decorate.

Tree skirts present an opportunity for the perfect decorative finish. I’ve just secured a large piece of thick blue velvet, to wrap around this year’s tree. My color combination is going to be blue and gold. I found some beautiful decorative balls made in Poland. They are dark blue with gold sparkling patterns blended throughout. I am going to add dark blue and gold soldiers and light blue and gold Christmas stockings. To avoid monotony, I intend to add a few decorations with the colors of red and gold. I’ve noticed that clear lighting is the fashion this year. Personally, I don’t like the stark illumination. I will have clear lighting but will include a string of blue lights placed further back on the branches to add more flare yet remain inconspicuous. HA!

The first step for engaging in this project is to find a way to make it fun and rewarding. My holiday decorating has become something of a ritual over the years. First, I brew a pot of hazelnut coffee; lay out a tray of rainbow cookies, and very likely a cheesecake sampler. I put on Christmas music and light the holiday candles. It makes the decorating process more pleasant and taking breaks from the tree dressing more frequent.

Don’t forget the Christmas music! If the snow is coming down you can think about how cold it is outside and of how warm you are inside. That’s a fine feeling to start the season off with.
Written by Delightful Biteful

The small wonders that make a holiday complete are so under spoken and yet so powerful. I was looking around the room the other evening and took note of all the little decorative touches I’ve added for the holidays. I suddenly realized, colorful and joyful surroundings can lift the spirit no matter how difficult life can get, and it does it, so subtly, that sometimes I don’t even notice my cares lessening.

As a teen, my Mom told me that if things got tough and I couldn’t change them, then I should change something in my environment and add something nice to look at. I of course shrugged it off, but now as an adult, I see that once again, she was right.  

What I do is simple stuff. For instance, I try not to hang the same holiday pieces in the same places every year and I always try to use different methods of decorating. This year I am using sheer ribbon with a glittering gold finish, and draping it along the walls with grand bows to accent the main points of the room. I am also hanging clear lights along the walls to pick up the colors of the glittering ribbon. It adds a very magical holiday feeling to the house.

For relaxing enjoyment, I sit back with a nice cheesecake sampler; cut up a few bite size pieces and turn up the holiday music. I focus on one of the nice decorations poised in my living room and poof; my worries vanish for a minute or two. For me, one minute makes a big difference.

Our society celebrates lots of holidays. Each season provides an opportunity for honoring, celebrating and decorating. There is always some way to brighten up our surroundings and distract ourselves from the every day grind.

In my opinion, we should give ourselves the best chance that we can to enjoy our moments. There really is nothing to lose but monotony and sadness.

Written by Delightful Biteful

I was sitting back with my cup of coffee, planning the events of the season. We have a globe of people in one country and so much has combined to create some neat holiday traditions. In review, I notice the activities throughout the years have had some variations but always with the same goal in mind; to build up the human spirit and reflect on our humanity. At least this is what I hope for.