Mini Lemon Cheesecakes

Bryan and I love cheesecakes. But for the two of us, making a 9-inch full size cheesecake means endless eating. It is not only too much for us. It is also very unhealthy. Therefore, I love this mini version. These mini lemon cheesecakes are perfect little bites. The ratio between the cheese filling and the crust is just right. I also love the hint of tartness and the fragrant from the lemon. It tasted lighter than regular cheesecake.

I originally wanted to make these cheesecakes with Meyer lemons. However I couldn’t find any in store, I used regular lemons this time. I have tried both lemons. Meyer lemon ones were more fragrant and less tart. But they were both fantastic. Use whatever you can find.

These cheesecakes are good for parties. They are pretty looking and easy to eat. And they travel really well.

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Apple Crumbles

A couple of years ago, we went to an apple farm to pick apples. It was tons of fun and we picked many apples. With that amount of apples, it was hard to eat them all raw. So I found this crumbles recipe from Ina Garten and turned it into apple crumbles.

Today, I am finally posting this recipe. The apples were tender with a little bite. It was warm and tart with the crispy topping. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it was like apple a la mode. It is a very easy dessert with little work to do. If you still need a dessert for the holiday party, this would be a winner. Light and comforting. Great flavors to end a feast!

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a blast with your families and friends! Eat more!

Tiramisu

I made this Tiramisu to celebrate two things. First, this blog has reached its 3rd year! Happy Anniversary! Woo hoo! I can’t believe I have been writing for 3 years. It has been an incredible journey. I have met a group of bloggers through blogging and learned tons of things from them. Also, I have explored a lot of new recipes and food that I have never tried before, like brussels sprouts, veal, fennel, and beet. It has been a really fun experience. I can’t wait for many more years to come. I will keep working hard and share more great recipes with you all.

Second, it was my birthday on Sunday. I didn’t want to buy a cake this year, so I made myself one of my favorite dessert, Tiramisu. About 15 years ago in Hong Kong, my family and I went to a Spanish restaurant with some friends. At the end of the meal, we had Tiramisu. To this day, I still remember how amazing that Tiramisu was. It was moist, creamy, sweet with a hint of coffee and rum. It was more like a mousse/pudding than cake. That was unforgettable. Every since then, I always search for Tiramisu like that. Until recent years, I tasted the Tiramisu in CPK (California Pizza Kitchen). It was creamy and moist which reminds me so much of the one I like. This Tiramisu recipe is kind of like that. The mascarpone cream is smooth and creamy like a zabaglione. With the marsala wine and rum, the Tiramisu was perfect. If I would never gain weight, I really would eat this everyday.

Yogurt Popsicles

Summer is almost over, but it is nowhere near the ending for frozen treats. I eat them all year round. 😛 During winter time, I would turn on the heater to eat ice cream or popsicle. Haha… Pretty ridiculous, right? But those treats are so hard to resist!

Last year, Bryan bought me a popsicle mold. We tried making some pineapple and coconut popsicles, but they were too icy. We didn’t like them. Ever since then, the popsicle mold had been sitting in a lonely corner and collecting dust.

Last week, I finally decided to make some popsicles. I made these yogurt popsicles, and they turned out perfect. They were not overly sweet with a hint of tangy flavor from the yogurt. They tasted like sweet lassi in Indian restaurant or plain frozen yogurt (like Pinkberry). They were pretty creamy and unbelievably easy to make. These are the treats that everyone will love!

On a side note, I LOVE Fage yogurt!!! It is so thick and creamy. No other brand can compare with them. My favorite is the Total 0% with honey. If you haven’t tried it, go and get it!

Double Crunch Banana Split

I am sure most of you have had a banana split when you are little. Who can forget that creamy ice cream, ripe banana, sweetened whipped cream and chocolate sauce? It was always a delight to get that special treat.

Let me show you my twist on the classic banana split. It is a double crunch banana split. The first crunch is the caramelized sugar on top of the banana. It is like a cream brulee without the custard, but with a banana. It is light and you still get that incredible sugar crust! The second crunch is the chocolate magic shell. The smooth chocolate sauce turns into a hard shell when pour over cold ice cream. Combining both of these things with some creamy vanilla ice cream, this sure is a wonderful dessert to end a meal.

Apple Pie Cupcakes

Before I get into the cupcakes, I have an announcement to make. Last week, I took my oath in the Naturalization Oath Ceremony. I am a United States citizen finally! Woo hoo!!! (Doing the happy dance!)

After being in the US for 11 years, I am finally a citizen. It really has been a long journey. I have to say that I never thought I would be a US citizen. When I first got to the US, I just thought to complete school and go back to Hong Kong. But then I met Bryan, we fall in love and we got married. And here I am. I am so honor and proud to be a US citizen. Now, I can really call the US home. 🙂

When I was in the process of getting my citizenship, I wanted to make some food and write a post in here to celebrate my love of this country. What food is a good representation of America? It definitely has to be apple pie. But I think apple pie is too classic. Therefore, I present you these apple pie cupcakes! They are light and sweet with some slighty-tart apple bites. Great for any occasions. Hope you will enjoy them!

Individual Strawberry Pavlova

Continue with the strawberry theme this week! I have some leftover roasted strawberry puree and strawberries from the Roasted Strawberry and Buttermilk Ice Cream, so I thought what I can do. And yes, pavlova is the winner. I first learned about pavlova from watching Barefoot Contessa on Food Network. Ina made a beautiful mixed berry pavlova. I have been wanting to try it, and finally I did. I made individual ones, so it is easier to serve and Bryan and I do not have to eat the 7-inch cake by ourselves.

As far as I know, Pavlova is from Australia. It is a really popular dish in Australia and New Zealand. No matter where it is from. It is truly an amazing dessert to present and serve at a dinner party. It is light and it has fresh ingredients. It also highlights the berries during the spring season. The meringue is light and crisp on the outside and slightly gooey on the inside. With the fresh strawberry, strawberry puree and whipped cream, every bite is the perfect bite. You may think 3½-inch is a lot, but that is not true. It is a great serving size for one person. If you haven’t tried pavlova before, I urge you to make them today. You will not be disappointed!

Roasted Strawberry and Buttermilk Ice Cream

Two weeks ago, I finally got a copy of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home. I should have got this two years ago. It is a bit late, but better late than never. I am so happy I got it. This is a cookbook for all ice cream lovers. The recipe steps are easy to follow. Not only there are 100 recipes, there are also all kinds of condiments recipes, like cake, brittle, ice cream cone, candy, and sauces. You can really make any ice cream you want with the help of this book. It is a must-have for ice cream fanatics! Buy it if you still haven’t got one!

I read through the whole book once I got it. And the one that screamed to me most was this roasted strawberry and buttermilk recipe. Strawberry season has just arrived. Nothing beat to have sweet and ripe strawberries to cook with. The roasted strawberries smelled and tasted amazing. I thought I would have eaten everything before I added them to the ice cream base. The ice cream came out very thick and creamy. The strawberry can be tasted and I really like the hint of tanginess from the buttermilk. What a perfect scoop of ice cream! I am sure you will like this too!

Molten Chocolate Cakes with Raspberry Filling

No matter it is Valentine’s Day or not, these molten chocolate cakes are luscious and tempting during any time of the year. Steaming hot thick and creamy chocolate oozing out with tangy raspberries filling is just irresistible  And the great news is that these cakes can be made a few hours ahead. No need to rush at the last-minute. This is a perfect fitting dessert for Bryan and I. Since Bryan loves fresh and tangy finish to his meal and I like something chocolatety and creamy, these little cakes made both of us very happy. Enjoy a sweet Valentine’s Day with your loved one!

Lemon Angel Food Cake with Strawberry Sauce

I made this lemon angel food cake with strawberry sauce for my in-laws Thanksgiving lunch. Since angel food cake doesn’t have any cream or butter, it is a pretty healthy dessert. Who doesn’t want dessert that is healthy? This cake was light and fluffy with the amazing lemon flavor. Serving the cake with a sweet and tart strawberry sauce can bring some moisture, balance and color. It is delicious and so good to look at! Enjoy!