What's for Dessert?

[cynsaligia]

in the great gastronomical tradition of "what's for breakfast," "what's for lunch," and "what's for dinner," let me open "what's for dessert?" i feel that everyone must indulge a little bit sometimes, and even the simplest, healthiest desserts are as wonderful as the most decadent, fat- & calorie-ridden ones.

last night, eric made dessert for us to share. he halved and seeded a bosc pear, doused it in jack daniels & cinnamon, then baked it. when he took it out, he added a small dollop of ben & jerry's stephen colbert's americone dream (http://www.benjerry.com/features/americone_dream_index.cfm) ice cream. mmmmm!!! :p it was like he took his love for me and baked it into a yummy dessert then plopped some ice cream on it. :D

[glossyp]

I LOVE dessert! My current infatuation in the restaurant world is the snow meringue eggs in Tahitian vanilla sauce at 'Elua. At home, we just wrapped up the summer splurge of homemade ice cream sandwiches and are moving onto the baked fruit genre. We will certainly try Eric's luscious sounding pear creation.

[Mike_Lowery]

The epicurean gods smile upon me thrice weekly. :)

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups after dinner.

[scrivener]

I am soooooo not into dessert. If I've still got an appetite after a meal, I'd much rather have more of what I just had. Seldom does dessert elevate the dining experience for me unless I'm just cruising at home and it's been a few hours since I've eaten.

My friends and I are regulars at Cafe Laufer, where we will usually find ourselves after dining out. I usually just have a cup of coffee, but will sometimes punctuate it with something simple, such as a bread pudding. Laufer is my favorite place to grab dessert, with Bubbies a close second.

At home, I usually have some home-made nonfat (or lowfat) frozen yogurt in the freezer, but a little tightening of the purse-strings lately has made even that a luxury. So far, in my kitchen experimentation with frozen yogurts, my favorite has been pumpkin pie frozen yogurt. Yum. I've also had lots of success with frozen berries, as cliche as that may be.

They are opening a Cold Stone right next to my local grocery store, which as a single guy I find myself at a few times per week. This is going to be a good thing AND a bad thing.

There are a few places to get bubble tea near my house, but I am quite fussy and only like it when it's made with fresh-brewed tea, as it is at Bibbitea Bobbitea Brew (or whatever it's called) in the 99 Ranch Market. If that was closer to home, it would be probably a near-daily dessert for me. I despise those powdered bubble drinks.

I don't know why I don't make strawberry Jell-O more often. It's so easy, and when I do make it, I can't believe how pleasurable such a simple dessert is.

[cynsaligia]

I am soooooo not into dessert.

and then you list seven desserts you do like. :D

eric and i shared a mango for dessert. so nice to have something so light and refreshing after a very heavy dinner of whole wheat mac and cheese with turkey taco filling.

[nikki]

Last night I had Halloween candy... probably have it tonight, too.

[SusieMisajon]

Home canned Braeburn apples, canned with sugar syrup and imported-from-the-US cinnamon redhots, served with hot Bird's Custard.

[Pomai]

I am soooooo not into dessert. If I've still got an appetite after a meal, I'd much rather have more of what I just had. Seldom does dessert elevate the dining experience for me unless I'm just cruising at home and it's been a few hours since I've eaten.I second what Scriv' just said.

Even if it's part of a prix fixe menu, you'll often find me offering my dessert to a fellow diner, just because I'm basically FULL, or simply not in the mood for it.

Not to say I don't occasionally crave something sweet. Sometimes late at night I'll binge an entire quart of ice cream (often something with nuts like pecans in it). But that's not "dessert", that's just snacking.

Then of course, you know how I feel about PIE vs. CAKE (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13769)!

But hey, in spirit of this thread, next time I enjoy a nice dessert as part of a meal, I'll post it here (with a picture, of course)!

[Leo Lakio]

We made brownies (with diced-up candied ginger) for a couple Hawaiian musicians who were visiting us earlier this week. Served 'em up with vanilla gelato.

[kanahina]

I love dessert! It's the best part of a meal! I must have dessert if we go out to eat at a restaurant. At home, I do like to have something sweet and chocolatey after my meal. Usually it is something like one chocolate covered macadamia nut, or one snack size candy. But, tonight the hubby and I halved a piece of Triple Chocolate Cheesecake! :eek: Yummy!

If I never lose another pound, it may be because of this dessert (and the chocolate molten lava cake that is also in my freezer)!

[CranBeree]

i miss Hoku's white chocolate desert thingy they used to feature back in 99.

ate at Just Tacos in Mililani last week and i said where's the desert menu? their reply to me was Flan, end of menu :D

[cynsaligia]

more mango for dessert, followed by a glass of gouveia's orange juice. both eric and i are feeling not quite a hundred percent. i know there's a weird bug going around which involves head & body ache plus sore throat. it's not enough to make people call in sick, but enough to annoy & wear people down.

glossyp, let us know how your version of the baked pear goes. eric's tickled pink that you're going to try it!

[SusieMisajon]

I made an apple tart for dessert, today.

One piecrust, topped with sweetened thick prune and apple pulp leftover from juice-making, and then topped with thin apple slices, cinnamon sugar, and quince jelly thinned with hot water and brushed over the top. Into the oven it went....there's none left, it was too good.

[kanahina]

dang! we did it again - the hubby and I halved a piece of Triple Chocolate Cheesecake!

no triple chocolate cheesecake tomorrow - i promise!

[cynsaligia]

iced skinny venti latte w/sugar free cinnamon dolce. i know most people would count this as "coffee" but i count it as dessert since it's so yummy, plus anything caffeinated is a treat to me bcs i'm sensitive to it (i get very chatty on more than a cup of drip, which is why i can't really have gourmet coffee drinks during the workweek). the whole milk version of my latte is 210 calories, 90 of which are fat, plus if i get the regular flavored syrup, it's 20 cals a pump (and i think they usually do 4 pumps--a whopping 80 cals in addition to the drink itself). the version i get is about 130 cals, 0 fat cals, and 40% of my RDA of calcium. not a bad trade-off!

[lavagal]

iced skinny venti latte w/sugar free cinnamon dolce. i know most people would count this as "coffee" but i count it as dessert since it's so yummy, plus anything caffeinated is a treat to me bcs i'm sensitive to it (i get very chatty on more than a cup of drip, which is why i can't really have gourmet coffee drinks during the workweek). the whole milk version of my latte is 210 calories, 90 of which are fat, plus if i get the regular flavored syrup, it's 20 cals a pump (and i think they usually do 4 pumps--a whopping 80 cals in addition to the drink itself). the version i get is about 130 cals, 0 fat cals, and 40% of my RDA of calcium. not a bad trade-off!

Ericncyn:
I wonder about the fat content of my morning habit: Grande nonfat, sugar-free vanilla, green-tea-latte with lite whipped. It is but a shadow of my former habit, venti nonfat peppermint mocha with lite whipped: I believe that one was like 600 calories. Blessed be the gracious soul who created sugar-free syrups. Bless them!

[cynsaligia]

Ericncyn:
I wonder about the fat content of my morning habit: Grande nonfat, sugar-free vanilla, green-tea-latte with lite whipped. It is but a shadow of my former habit, venti nonfat peppermint mocha with lite whipped: I believe that one was like 600 calories. Blessed be the gracious soul who created sugar-free syrups. Bless them!

here ya go (you can go to the nutrition page on starbucks):


Serving Size 16 fl. oz.

Amt Per Serving
Calories 200
Fat Calories 5
Total Fat (g) 0
Saturated Fat (g) 0
Trans Fat (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg) 5
Sodium (mg) 85
Total Carbohydrates (g) 42
Fiber (g) 1
Sugars (g) 41
Protein (g) 8
Vitamin A 10%
Vitamin C 15%
Calcium 25%
Iron 4%
Caffeine (mg) 80


200 cals is definitely a lot less than 600! :)

[lavagal]

Aha! Mahalo! And by the way, I am a 24HF devotee, thanks to you and your card. I've been every day except Sundays since early September. It's paying off!

[SusieMisajon]

Dried bread pudding.

You see, I have this great collection of dried foods (dehydrators are wonderful things), being that I am a firm believer in being prepared for any emergency. So...

Fill a greased baking dish with dried bread cubes or chunks or slices, beat half a dozen eggs with a pint or two of milk and some cinnamon sugar, and pour this over the bread and leave to sit for a few hours or overnight (you might need to add more egg and milk mixture as the bread soaks it up). Pour over lots of melted butter, sprinkle with more sugar, and bake at about 325 or 350 til golden brown and puffy. Good hot, cold, or warm, with or without cream or custard. Sometimes I add dried banana or orange slices or raisins or apples or berries or jam or coconut or chocolate chips or...

[kanahina]

Moose Tracks Dippin' Dots at the Stan Sheriff Center while I watched the UH Rainbow Wahine volleyball game

[SusieMisajon]

Moose Tracks Dippin' Dots at the Stan Sheriff Center while I watched the UH Rainbow Wahine volleyball game
What are the dots made of and what is it that you dip them in?

[kanahina]

Dippin' Dots is "the ice cream of the future"

http://www.dippindots.com/

[cynsaligia]

more like my afternoon stress-relief snack than dessert, but i had a fudge-filled nestle drumstick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drumstick_(ice_cream)). mmm! as i ate it in all its chocolately, sugary-vanilla goodness, i took in the views from the lanai of my work building. made the rest of the afternoon progress much more smoothly than if i hadn't eaten it.

[Leo Lakio]

At the Greek restaurant I mention often (in the dinner thread), we go there so regularly that the owner/chef usually surprises us with a dessert of some kind that he has created. He doesn't list any desserts on the menu aside from baklava - he just makes a few treats for certain customers. (It probably doesn't hurt that we always bring him treats every time we go to Hawai`i, and so do the AF's parents when they come here.)

My mother's in town today and tomorrow, so we took her to dinner there tonight. We got a "mixed plate" of desserts this time, including a spice cup-cake kinda thing with an orange marmalade on it and a touch of whipped cream; a little scoop of a chocolate-hazelnut mousse, and the oddest one of all (though absolutely delicious) - a little poached eggplant in a citrus/ouzo syrup. Looks like a fig, but it's eggplant.

[SusieMisajon]

I stuck a popsicle stick into a yoghurt and froze it, then peeled off the package and ate it.

[cezanne]

Don't usually do dessert regularly but... two strawberry Poptarts with a couple scoops of french vanilla ice cream... spur of the moment dessert idea.

[Leo Lakio]

Trader Joe's new seasonal specialty Candy Cane Joe-Joe cookies.

Think of an Oreo. Now, take the creamy white center filling, and crush up hard peppermint candies into that filling.

I have decided to limit myself to only three cookies at a time.

[shaveice]

at a dinner last night, i selfishly bought a grasshopper cake (chocolate and mint) cuz i wanted to try it and it was so ono.... thank goodness i left it there cuz i'd eat the whole thing if it were in my fridge!

[SusieMisajon]

Hot pancakes, smeared with strawberry jam.

Mix together 2 1/2 cups flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt. In another bowl, mix 2 rggs, 1 1/2 cups milk, and 1/2 cup oil. Dump the egg and milk mixture into the dry stuff and stir just til moistened. Have a hot griddle ready and put the batter in blobs into the pan, turn when the bubbles appear.

[Bob P]

Bananas Foster - YUM

2 bananas, 1/2 stick butter, cup brown sugar and about 3 - 4 shots of dark rum.

Melt the butter, add the sugar and stir to a paste. Let carmalize for about 5 minutes, add the 'nanas (cut into coins) and the rum, stir gently to coat the bananas. Let warm and then light the rum on fire (stand by with a pan lid just in case). Agitate to keep it going and let the fire burn itself out. Serve over vanilla ice cream

MMMMMM MMMMMMM!

[SusieMisajon]

Apple and yoghurt cake. Nice, moist, and a good keeper.

Mix together one pot of yoghurt, three pots of flour, two of sugar, one of oil, three teaspoons baking powder, two eggs, a splash of vanilla, and two small chopped apples. Bake at 350°f (175°c) for about twentyfive minutes, or til brown and done.

Any flavour of yoghurt can be used for this recipe, and one yoghurt pot is 125 grams or 1/2 cup. It can be made with or without the apples.

[kanahina]

http://chilis.com/images/menu_images/category_items/Popup_image/lg_dessert_moltenchoc.jpg

We went to dinner at Chili's, and of course, had to have this for dessert after. Our family of four devoured it very quickly!

[SusieMisajon]

http://chilis.com/images/menu_images/category_items/Popup_image/lg_dessert_moltenchoc.jpg

We went to dinner at Chili's, and of course, had to have this for dessert after. Our family of four devoured it very quickly!
What is it?

[kanahina]

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE
Warm chocolate cake with chocolate fudge filling. Topped with vanilla ice cream under a crunchy chocolate shell.

from chilis.com

[SusieMisajon]

Chocolate cake

2 eggs
1/4 cup vinegar
2 cups water
1 cup oil
spalash of vanilla
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

Mix it all together and bake in a biggish pan (13x9) for about 45 minutes at 375°f (190°c).

Melt a bar or two of dark chocolate with a glug of cream or evaporated milk for the frosting...microwave a bit, and stir, stir, and stir.

[cynsaligia]

eric and i shared small slices of marie callendar's fresh apple & fresh blueberry pie, as well as a gingerbread donut from krispy kreme's. when i'm in portland, gotta go krispy kreme at least once...their glazed donut (which i had for afternoon snack in the van driving from one mall to another) is a piece of devilish heaven! :p

[cynsaligia]

as i've mentioned elsewhere, eric and i are spending the holidays with my mom in portland. for our late afternoon snack, eric and i went to voodoo doughnut (http://voodoodoughnut.com/menu.html) and stumptown coffee (http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/).

technically, it's not dessert, but...

here's a pic of the most beautiful (visually and taste-wise) latte we've ever had. stumptown makes starbucks look like a bunch of chumps. also in the pic is the mostly eaten "old dirty bastard" donut from voodoo--it's got peanut butter, chocolate, and oreo cookie bits. :eek: voodoo makes krispy kreme look like hostess cupcake donuts, and i LOVE me some krispy kreme.

between the caffeine and sugar, eric and i will have no problem staying up late for the new year celebration.

i'd have taken a pic of my "el diablo" donut (chocolate donut with what seemed to be a fudgey center with chocolate glaze and chocolate chips) but we scarfed that one down walking the block and a half from voodoo to stumptown. we also picked up a pound each of the ethiopia hache and hair blender coffees to bring home. they also threw in a quarter pound of sumatra lake tawar for free because that was originally what we wanted instead of the hache and they only had the quarter pound left. sweet!