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Dessert Recipes
The origin of desserts has been lost in the confines of time, but the tradition of eating something sweet at the end of a meal has been going on for a very long time. When we have to go on a diet for example, the thing we miss the most are our delicious sweets and desserts. Let’s face it, pleasure isn’t exactly found in foods that are low in energy. A lot of us do not eat desserts every day, but when we do, it really has to be something good and special. Desserts, more than any other food, unleashes our imagination and our creativity in the kitchen. A homemade cake is always an honor for our guests since it shows that it is a special occasion. And desserts that are already bought prepared, don’t have exactly the same taste. The truth of the matter is that the most exquisite and fine things in life cannot be bought. All of this does not mean though that in order to be able to enjoy of a good dessert, we all of a sudden have to become kitchen slaves. All of the recipes that we have in this site are very easy to make, and you don’t have to be a professional chef in order to make them. A homemade dessert doesn’t have to look the way a chef would do it in a restaurant, but this special look can be obtained if you so wish without an excessive amount of work; it’s all about tricks and creativity. The authentic attractiveness of desserts is in that it is homemade; it brings back memories of our childhood remembering about all the sweets we used to eat.
In the year XVIII in France, desserts were served after the people already eaten four other dishes, and it was always served after cheese. These desserts were of course served in extraordinary styles. At the beginning of a meal, they placed on the table big decorative sculptures that were pastry base made, along with baskets of fruit distributed in pyramid shapes. These sculptures could not be picked at or eaten from by any means. When dessert time came around a myriad of desserts, which had been planned out in detail, was spread out elegantly and was in complete harmony with the gold and crystal tableware.
The presentation of a dessert has not stopped being an important thing. During holidays it is nice to serve the dessert out on the table, since this makes it more impacting. Once done with the main meal, the plates that were used are taken off the table and the flower decorations are then set back on the table to make it look as decorative as possible. Nowadays dessert can be served before or after cheese. In some cases (if the dessert is not hot or can melt easily), two dishes can be served simultaneously, and this way the guests can decide which one they want first. If you intend to serve out chocolate or cookies with the coffee, this is also a good moment to do this. In this way the effect can be very impressive while at the same time elegant. As far as drinks are concerned, you can continue serving what was previously being served or serve a sweet wine to accompany the dessert. Remember though that red wine and chocolate are not compatible. Although, for most of us dessert is the most culminating point of the meal, this does not mean that it doesn’t have to fit in with the rest of the meal. Each element that is placed on the table should serve as a complement to the rest.
Remember to not stick only to one type of dish. If you have eaten a creamy meal, it would not be ideal to bring out a creamy dessert. Or if you eat melon with ham first, the dessert should not be made out of fruit. A dessert that has a coconut base can be the perfect end for a meal that has an Asian touch, but never if you have used coconut cream to elaborate the meal. If the second dish is light and simple, for example, based on seafood and salad; you can end the meal with a more generous dessert. It is important to follow a heavy meal with a lighter dessert. The weather is also another factor to keep in mind: cold fruit desserts are delicious in summer, but are not adequate for a cold night. Cakes and puddings might be better accepted in the winter seasons and some chocolate desserts cannot be served in summer because of their tendency to melt. Desserts sweeten our lives. There are many trends that come and go, but the tradition of ending our meals with a sweet dessert, is a trend that does not have any intention of leaving us.
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