For me Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. Jan usually makes it only once a year on my birthday. Jan spent years perfecting the techniques of making mousse, but she has not dared to tinker with mom’s recipe. For this year’s birthday dinner, she made some variations to make it her own. I may just have a new favorite.
Jan’s Chocolate Mousse
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
Jan had oral surgery yesterday so she is on a soft food diet for the next few days. She decided to make herself some custard. She decided that she totally disagreed with the one she found in Bittman’s, so she made it from the memory from what her mother taught her fifty years ago. She did make one major change from her mother’s recipe, which was to use my orange infused sugar.
Jan’s Orange Custard
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
Adapted from Joy of Cooking
Every Christmas Jan, Myr and Eilene make Rum Balls as give-aways to our friends. Originally they followed the recipe in Joy of Cooking, but a few years ago they started to make changes (adding a little instant coffee, rolling them in cocoa powder rather than sugar, using other liquors rather than rum).
Jan’s Christmas Rum Balls
Chai Rum Balls
Chocolate Chip Grand Marnier Balls
Coffee Rum Balls
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
Adapted from an Anne Burrell recipe
We used to live in the house across the street. The son of the people who moved in suddenly died this week. Jan wanted to bake them some muffins as a mitzvah.
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
Adapted from SJ Mercury News – originally from Emily and Melissa Elsen, “The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book”
Jan usually makes the desserts at our Sunday meals. Sometimes these desserts are within the theme of the meal. Other times they are just whatever strikes her fancy on the day. Either way, she will find a recipe that is close to what she wants and then she will adapt it “on the fly.”
Jan’s Brown Butter Pumpkin Pie
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Pies & Tarts
I saw some pears in the market today. Although I usually do not make desserts, I thought about my mother, Claudia, and her baked apple crumbles. She would slice apples and spread a oatmeal mixture on top and then bake it to sweet, gooey/crunchy delight. I decided to adapt her recipe to pears.
Karl’s Baked Pear Crumble
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
This is one of those more of a technique than a recipe. We have friends coming over for a last minute BBQ. Jan decided to make this as a Fourth of July dessert.
Jan’ Red, White, and Blueberries
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
My neighbors know that I make jam. As a result, they occasionally show up on my door step with boxes of fruit. They buy more then they eat and then give it to me before it goes bad. Yesterday it was apricots.
Karl’s Apricot Quick Jam
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
Adapted from Obsidian Stout Brownies
Backstory: Charles Worstell, who recently passed away, loved to hold court in his local cafe. When I knew him in the 1970’s it was at the Cafe Midi. More recently it was at the Revue in the Tower District in Fresno. He would frequently bring brownies, since he loved to drink beer and eat brownies. This recipe was adapted to honor him.
Jan’s Stalwart Brownies
for Charlie the Barbarian
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
Adapted from a recipe by Robyn Stone
Eilene had a few friends over to celebrate graduating from high school. Jan decided to make cupcakes to celebrate. Jan thinks the coffee enhances the flavor of the chocolate, so she will frequently add some to her chocolate cakes. It was a very hot day so the buttercream frosting suffered a bit.
Jan’s Celebratory Mocha Cupcakes
with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Filed under Cake, Desserts & Treats
karllueck
Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 