Apple Crostata Recipe

I really enjoy baking apple desserts. There is something so enticing about the smell of fresh baked apple goods that I just can’t get enough of. Today, I made an apple crostata, which is not your average apple pie.

First, I made an apple pie filling flavored with raisins, cinnamon and vanilla. Unlike last time for my blueberry crostata, I didn't use polenta for the dough, but instead I used regular all-purpose flour, cold butter and ice water. Once the dough rounds are formed, I nested a little of the pie filling in the center, then folded each edge inward. The finishing touch is a brush of egg wash along with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

I usually serve apple desserts with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to top them off. I think the warm apples and cold ice cream complement each other so well. Next time you're planning a tea party or a get-together with your friends or family, serve these apple crostatas and your guests will be in for a treat.

Note: The first picture is when the crostata is formed, right before going into the oven.

Blueberry Crepe Recipe

As I told you yesterday, I made crêpes as an experiment to see how well they keep in the freezer. Unfortunately, the crêpes haven’t been able to make it to leftover status, and here's a big part of  the reason why. After making savory crêpes filled with beets and goat cheese, we filled the remaining crêpes with blueberries, vanilla whipped cream and guava sauce. Needless to say, they went fast!

Crêpes are a quick and easy dessert if you can manage to store some in the freezer. If you are looking for a sweet way to end dinner, just pair crêpes with fresh fruits, chocolate sauce, other fruit preserves and whipped cream (or yogurt). You just can’t go wrong.

Clementine Chocolate Parfait Recipe

I made clementine mousse using fruits from our garden. The zest is amazingly fragrant. The exterior has such a deep orange color, I thought it would be perfect dressed as a parfait paired with French chocolate cookies we bought in Normandy.

My husband Lulu and I brought a lot of delicious French food back home from our recent trip to Europe. The cookies in the dish are called "La Mère Poulard" chocolatine cookies. They are specialty cookies from the Mont Saint Michel region of France. My parents took us there on New Year's Day. It's a rocky tidal island located in Normandy, topped with beautiful shops and a church. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

While we were there, we had the region’s typical crêpes and of course brought back a few packs of cookies. If you’re in France and you have time, I recommend taking a visit.

Almond Chocolate Cake Recipe (Moelleux au Chocolat)

Almond chocolate cake is a decadent chocolate dessert. The moist cake is made with blanched, ground almonds, semi-sweet chocolate and very little flour.

It's my best friend Alexia's favorite dessert. I remember one time visiting her in Düsseldorf, Germany, while she was finishing her masters. She picked me up at the train station and I surprised her with a still-warm almond cake. No joke, she finished the whole cake before we got back to her apartment; that's how scrumptious this cake is! Now that I'm back in Paris for the holidays, I can't wait to bake her favorite cake for her again. We haven't seen each other in almost two and a half years and she's getting married soon. While she's eating it again, I might try to embarrass her by re-telling the story to her fiancé. Am I not a wonderful friend?

Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Recipe

I love the combination of chocolate and raspberries. I've paired them in multiple desserts such as trifles, tiramisu and custards. But raspberry chocolate mousse was missing from the list of desserts I've shared so far.

The last time, I made an eggless mousse, but this time, I decided to add eggs. To ensure an airy, fluffy consistency, the eggs should be beaten for a very long time, then gently folded in melted chocolate and whipped cream. I flavored the mousse with raspberry extract and repeated the same flavor by adding chopped fresh  raspberries to the whipped cream.

The dessert can be prepared two days in advance, which is ideal when we host dinner parties. Raspberry chocolate mousse never fails to satisfy the sweet tooth of my guests. No chocolate addict can resist!