dessert – Page 2 – Ruth E. Hendricks

Final Fruitcake Slice of the Season

While visiting friends in New England, the night before departure I was served this homemade fruitcake slice. I’m a fan. Many are not. It was a generous serving.

The fruitcake recipe is from a Yankee Magazine article from the 1980’s. I saw the multipage article, preserved in a plastic page protector, telling you what to do on Day one, Day two, Day three etc to make the cakes. It’s an involved process that takes time. Weeks!

This year they baked fourteen cakes! And started in late October. The loaves are wrapped in rum soaked muslin to ripen. Thank you Linda and Eileen.

They shipped me my own fruitcake before Christmas but with my sister’s help when she visited, that had been consumed. You may have seen the post of fruitcake reveal or Love it or Not post to see it wrapped in the muslin .

I felt fortunate to get another wonderful taste – until next season.

Moist, rich and flavorful, filled with dried fruit and nuts.

February 9, 2024 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: dessert, food, friendship, fruitcake, New England, photography, postaday, travel, Yankee Magazine 10 Comments

A Winter Meal Finish

Italian Amaretti cookies are gluten and dairy free.

And delicious if you like almond flavor. These are store bought Amaretti but I found a recipe to try with just four ingredients- almond flour, sugar, egg whites and almond extract.

January 26, 2024 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: almond, amaretti, cookie, dessert, food, fruit, mandarin, photography, postaday, recipe 4 Comments

Frozen Wind Cake Vincek Bakery

Frozen Wind Cake from Vincek Bakery in Zagreb. Almost every visit I’ve indulged in this treat. The box with six pieces was shared with the family, not just myself.

A Croatian speciality Icy Wind Cake

My 2015 visit photo Frozen Wind/Icy Wind on the left (and a recipe for icy wind cake I found for it online)

Vincek Bakery in City Center January 2024

January 15, 2024 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: bakery, cake, dessert, family, frozen wind, icy wind, photography, postaday, travel, vincek, Zagreb 12 Comments

Makovnjaca /Poppy Seeds

Poppy seed cake/sweet bread. This delicious one photographed now is from Bread Club in Zagreb.

Here’s a Croatian recipe (in English) for Makovnjaca.

In 2011 I posted about Povitica. A loaf that reveals a swirl of poppy seed filling or walnuts when sliced and is found in many different countries. I can’t distinguish the two names except the one we ate with tea was moist and flavorful.

Do you like poppy seeds?

January 6, 2024 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: bakery, Bread Club, Croatia, dessert, food, Makovnjaca, photography, poppy seed, poppy seed bread, poppy seed cake, postaday, povitica, recipes, travel, Zagreb 5 Comments

A Decadent Dessert

Creme Brûlée with fresh berries and a mint leaf garnish. You break the sugar crust with a spoon and find the vanilla bean flavored rich custard underneath. So rich and silky. Makes everything feel like a celebration. A mouthful of Creme brûlée with a fresh berry is satisfying delicious! Thanks for a treating me, V. What a finish.

Happy 43rd Birthday Dear Matthew 11-20-23

November 19, 2023November 20, 2023 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: berries, celebration, creme brulee, dessert, dinner, food, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday 10 Comments

New York Cheesecake – Yes or No?

New York Cheesecake. Yes or no?

**Pasticceria Rocco’s**
**Bleecker Street NYC**

Movie Clip from Guys and Dolls Watch Frank Sinatra eat a piece of cheesecake and invite Marlon Brando to have a piece- and place a bet?

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 by Ruth Categories: Baking, Cooking and Eating, PhotographyTags: Bleecker Street, cheesecake, dessert, family, food, Guys and Dolls, New York cheesecake, New York City, pastry, photography, postaday, travel 17 Comments

Tapioca Pudding Yes or No?

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava root and formed into little pearls that gives tapioca pudding its signature texture and is naturally gluten-free”

Tiny pearls of tapioca starch, milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla are the ingredients. Little containers of half and half are served with the Tapioca Pudding at Grant Bar in Millvale PA. Fortunately my friend V, who was treating Steve and me to a lovely dinner, suggested we order dessert. And she reminded me of the Tapioca Pudding they feature on the menu. Being a blog follower V has read my questions about different foods and flavors. (Mushrooms, rhubarb, licorice etc) “It would make a good blog” she said. I couldn’t remember if I’d blogged it before. Tapioca reminds me of childhood. Puddings and custards don’t seem to be as popular these days .

Want to make it at home? Here’s a recipe

April 2, 2023 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: childhood, dessert, eating, flavors, food, Grant Bar, Millvale, photography, postaday, pudding, tapioca, Textures 20 Comments

First Time Using a Cherry Pitter

James brought home a slice of cheesecake for each of us. He’d gone to Weiland’s Market. My flavor was plain New York Cheesecake. I saw the fresh cherries on the counter and thought they would make a nice addition to the dessert. Laura said “use the Cherry pitter”. It was out on the cutting board. How do I do it? “Like a stapler” she said. So easy. So fun. The juicy fresh fruit was a wonderful contrast to the rich cheesecake.

I ate half. Saved some for tomorrow.