Category Archives: Treats

Jan’s Chocolate Mousse, the Chris Variation

For me, Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. It has replaced cakes as the birthday treat in our house. Jan has spent years perfecting the techniques of making mousse, but it took her years before she dared to tinker with mom’s recipe. This weekend is Chris’ birthday dinner, so Jan decided she would create a variation just for him.

Jan’s Chocolate Mousse, the Chris Variation

Jan’s Chocolate Mousse, the Chris Variation

Continue reading

6 Comments

Filed under California Fusion, Desserts & Treats, Treats, Vegetarian

Karl’s Pomegranate Curd

Adapted from a Fine Cooking recipe

Jan loves lemon curd, so a while ago I made some with Meyer lemons. It worked out so well that I have made it a couple of times. It is really tasty, but it does not last or keep long.

Karl’s Pomegranate Curd

Karl’s Pomegranate Curd

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Breakfast, Treats, Vegetarian

Claudia’s French Toast

Fond memories of childhood. The occasional Saturday when my mother would make French toast. Soft, custardy bread dripping with butter and syrup.

Claudia’s French Toast

Claudia’s French Toast

Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under bread, Breakfast, Treats, Vegetarian

Karl’s Orange Curd

Adapted from a Fine Cooking recipe

Jan loves lemon curd, so a while ago I made some with Meyer lemons. It worked out so well that I have made it a couple of times. It is really tasty, but it does not last or keep long.

Karl’s Orange Curd

Karl’s Orange Curd

Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Desserts & Treats, Sauces and Spices, Treats, Vegetarian

Karl’s Meyer Lemon Curd

Adapted from a Fine Cooking recipe

Jan had a desire for lemon curd, so she bought some Meyer lemons. I decided I should make it before the lemons went bad. On-line the ingredient lists of the recipes were pretty much the same—butter, eggs, lemon juice, sugar, and lemon zest.

Karl’s Meyer Lemon Curd

Karl’s Meyer Lemon Curd

Continue reading

7 Comments

Filed under Desserts & Treats, Sauces and Spices, Treats, Vegetarian

Karl’s Roasted Pears with Caramel Sauce

We were planning to have Uncle Tom’s apricot pie for Christmas Eve dinner, but I forgot to defrost it. At the last minute I threw together this desert. I had a few pears and some leftover store-bought pear-caramel sauce from a previous dinner. Pears, butter, a bit of spice and whiskey and voilà.

Karl’s Roasted Pears with Caramel Sauce

Karl’s Roasted Pears with Caramel Sauce

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Karl’s Spiced Biscotti

Adapted from Joy of Cooking

Every year we make several Christmas give-aways—food treats to bring joy to our friends. Recently, I became allergic to tree nuts. Our usual biscotti recipe has almonds in it, so this year I am making a second batch of nut-free, spiced biscotti.

Karl’s Spiced Biscotti

Karl’s Spiced Biscotti

Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under Desserts & Treats, Holidays, italian, Treats, Vegetarian

Karl’s Almond Biscotti

Adapted from Joy of Cooking

Every year we make several Christmas give-aways—food treats to bring joy to our friends. It really started to get serious about 15 years ago when we moved a house with orange, lemon and grapefruit trees. I could not stand that the trees produced far more fruit than we could deal with, so I started making marmalade in bulk and giving it away at Christmas.

Karl’s Almond Biscotti

Karl’s Almond Biscotti

Continue reading

5 Comments

Filed under Desserts & Treats, italian, Treats

Karl’s Mission Fig Jam

Jan was given a large bag of very ripe Mission figs two days ago. It was far too many to eat before they went bad. I had to think of a way to preserve them.

Karl’s Mission Fig Jam

Karl’s Mission Fig Jam

Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under California Fusion, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Karl’s Orange Custard

I made Jan’s orange custard earlier this week and I decided to add some of my Ultimate Micro Orange Marmalade. While I thought it was perfect, Jan thought it was too sweet—Jan’s custard already had half of the sugar that most of the recipes on-line use. To please her I eliminated the Orange Infused Sugar entirely. This dish does not suffer for having only a small bit of sugar.

Karl’s Orange Custard

Karl’s Orange Custard

Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats, Vegetarian