Mango Mousse

After making mango lassi, I add some leftover mango pulp and I had a tin full of ginger snaps from yesterday. I knew I was onto something decadent. I ran to the grocery store and got some heavy cream and some white chocolate. At the store, it occurred to me that the lemon apeels (lemon-flavored chocolate chips) would give the dessert more flavor than plain white chocolate.

So what could I make with all these lovely ingredients? The answer is an egg-free mango mousse flavored with lemon apeels and garnished with homemade ginger snap cookies.

Lemon and Chocolate Filled Cardamom Thumbprints

With Halloween right around the corner, I thought I'd prepare some ghoulishly delicious thumbprint cookies. I know, I'm a dork...

I flavored the cookie dough with cardamom. Cardamom is a very versatile spice that goes well with just about everything. For the filling, I used lemon apeels and swirled in a little dark chocolate for contrast. If you're artististically inclined, you could try to draw little bats or scary faces.  No matter what you do, I guarantee it'll be terrifying how fast these cookies disappear!

Sweet Mascarpone and Berries with Lemon Ganache

If you're looking for a fast and easy yet elegant dessert recipe, this one is for you. I usually make this dessert to please my little 9-year-old sister-in-law who is allergic to eggs.

The rich cinnamon-flavored mascarpone mixture with the refreshing combination of blackberries and blueberries makes a very festive sweet treat for little kids and big kids as well.

To give more body to the dessert, I sprinkle a layer of coarsely-crumbled Italian puff pastry and top with a layer of lemon ganache. The result is to die for!

Lemon Creme Brulee

The creme brulee is a classic French dessert. The base is just your average  custard, but you can add your own twist to it by using different chocolate chips  (milk, dark, white, butterscotch, peanut butter, lemon, mint) or by adding an  extract to the vanilla chips (rose, pandan, peppermint, mocha). It is a true  culinary chameleon.  

What really sets the creme brulee apart though is the crunch when you break  through the burnt sugar crust. I think that's what truly gives it its status and  sophistication. It somehow brings a smile to your face, no matter how old you  are. It reminds me of the scene in Amelie when she breaks through the crust and grins.