eat dessert first
The apple pie is practically a national treasure and for good reason, it is just about the perfect dessert. This time of year there are dozens of apples to choose from and I suggest you pick a variety for this pie. Having a mix of apples makes for a great […]
This weekend represents the transition between summer vacation and the start of the school year. It’s not the official change of seasons, but it might as well be. It is also when we switch from summer fruits to the fall harvest. Apples and pears are making their way onto the […]
Inspiration can come from the craziest of places, including a nail salon. My friend and I were having our nails done when a man carrying stacks and stacks of baskets filled with Rambutan, a tropical fruit related to Lychee, walked in to sell them. Apparently he drives in from Florida […]
Charlotte Royale is a gorgeous and regal dessert. The surprisingly simple recipe features a domed sponge cake with a filling. The classic version features Bavarian creme, but I added a strawberry coulis for extra flair! The truth is, the last time I made a Strawberry Charlotte Royale was in culinary […]
These peach scones with caramelized white chocolate are a perfect brunch recipe. I cut these into wedges, but you can also go with a biscuit cutter. Use fresh, juicy peaches for the best result! I rarely bake scones, since my son was deemed the scone expert in the family. But, […]
I love this crème brûlée with lavender, but it’s optional! If you’d rather, you can leave it out and it will be a delicious vanilla crème brûlée. Enjoy! Crème Brûlée was the first French dessert I’d ever had in a restaurant. When I was in junior high school, I’d take […]
There are few summer treats better than a late season peach pie made from fresh fruit. I call this my perfect peach pie and you can find out why below! Plus, you’ll find a little bonus in the form of an optional candied bacon crumble! When the peach season is […]
Looking for video tutorials? Check out my Cake Basics series on YouTube! You’ll learn how to trim and slice, how to fill a layer cake, how to crumb coat and how to decorate! An Easter Basket made from Red Velvet Cake with Buttercream Basket Weave and Roses is a decidedly […]
This ethereal crown of meringue, filled with cream and berries is a Pavlova. The name comes from Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who was performing around the world in 1926 and made a stop in the land down under. From there the details get a little fuzzy and no one is […]
Tuscan Ricotta Tart with Peaches. I’ve met so many incredibly talented and lovely people through Instagram. That’s where I first found Giulia Scarpaleggia (and her website Jul’s Kitchen), who lives and cooks in Tuscany. Her food is gorgeous and when she told me she had a cookbook coming out, I […]
A family friend is Greek and sent me honey from Ikaria. It is a little smoky and tastes of caramel. Bees never cease to amaze me in what they create. I wanted to bake it into a cake and decided to go with other flavors you might find on that […]
This is my homemade version of a 1960s dessert. The original strawberry cheesecake recipe could have been found on Strawberry Jell-O package or Cool Whip containers. This is a homemade version that is just five simple ingredients and requires no baking. I thought the packaged version was brilliant, despite the fact […]
I'm Zoë François and I love to bake. This is where I play with sugar and take the mystery out of baking everything from cookies to wedding cakes. More...
