Dessert

Xooro...  premium Spanish fritters?  Sorry, but I disagree.  This little shop recently opened at the Westfield Shopping Center in Mission Valley.  While I was looking at their "products" on their website, I wanted to try one of their treats.  Each looked delicious.  When we got to their store, we discovered that some of the treats were already made.  I was expecting them to make it when I placed my order.  To me, it should have been warm, but instead, I got a cold Xooro.  The Triple Chocolate ($4.40) consisted of a chocolate filled regular fritter dipped in chocolate with ch

While standing in line for Lestat's last month, I noticed Viva Pops across the street and wondered if they were any good.  So I was quite excited to find out that they were part of Taste of Adams Avenue.  Lavender Lemonade sounded different and it certainly was...  a little funky.  Strawberry Basil was absolutely delicious!  Even though I didn't really notice the basil, this treat was full of strawberries and is a must try!  Their pops are $2.50 each (I think we received smaller sized pops to try), are organic, and come in a variety of unique flavors.  Check out their w

Have a special occasion coming up?  Then you need to make Dave's Super Special Brownies!  Read ALL of the steps first before trying (so you'll know what you might need to buy).

Step 1 - Buy a box of brownie mix (we like Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines).  Bake according to the instructions on the box.   You'll probably need water, oil, and eggs.

Step 2 - After they have cooled, use a circular cookie cutter to shape and remove the brownies from the pan.

Crepe World has been open since August of 2009 and I was finally able to try them out this past week.  It was, well...  a little disappointing.  The service was very slow.  It was Saturday afternoon and there was only one worker bee responsible for taking orders, cashiering, AND making the food.  There were about a dozen people who arrived after us and several of them left due to the long wait time.

I'm a member of a monthly cooking club.  Last month's theme was Country French.
I had fruit tartlets in mind, but since I was semi-winging it, this is what I 
ended up with... 

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PART 1 - WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM
From The Essential Cake Decorating Guide

Ingredients / Materials:
125 g (4 oz) white chocolate buttons (melts)
60 ml (2 fl oz) cream
small heatproof bowl
small pan
water

Directions:

Need to make favors?  Or just want to learn how to use chocolate molds?  These directions are pretty easy, but keep in mind there are other more complicated molds (such as peanut butter cups).

Materials needed:
- candy mold ($2-3 at Michael's)
- candy melts / chocolate buttons (any color or flavor - $3 at Michael's)
- small glass bowl
- teaspoon

One bag of Wilton's Candy Melts will make about 100 hearts.

Directions:
Step 1 - Place about 25 melts into the glass bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.

Makes about 14 1/2-cup servings

Ingredients:
3/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 cups lowfat vanilla yogurt
18 ounces frozen mixed berries, thawed, pureed and strained to remove seeds
1 teaspoon pure vanilla, almond, or lemon extract

Description

Original post: March 4, 2007
 
Continuing the Santa Barbara adventure… Andersen’s is a Danish restaurant and bakery, which has been serving Santa Barbara for over 30 years. We were walking down State Street looking for a place to have dinner. A waiter came out with a dessert tray and he was presenting it to some customers who were seated outside. Right then and there, I knew we had to come back for dessert!
 

Original post: May 20, 2007
 
This review is long over due. I think I went several months ago. This is the second Extraordinary Desserts. It is located in Little Italy and is larger than the Hillcrest location. There is a different feel. The atmosphere is more contemporary. The menu offers a wider selection than just desserts.
 
Kiwi Lemonade ($4) - Dave says, “No big surprise. Pretty much lemonade with chunks of kiwi in it. Nothing spectacular.”