Sweet Treat

Even though it's summer, I still think longingly of baked goodies, especially cakes and cookies. Sometimes a good slice of cake is in order to help wipe out all the problems of the day. I'm not talking about emotional eating, here, I'm just saying that there are time when I can get lost in a good dessert. When it comes to repertoire, I don't have that many desserts under my belt. Christmastime I bake Clove Cookies, Snickerdoodles or Candy Cane Cookies. Thanksgiving and Easter I bake Carrot Cake, other times I bake Chocolate Cake. I made an Upside Down Pineapple Cake for my sister once - it came out beautifully but I've never attempted it again. I've even dabbled in the poached fruit department, but that's been ages ago. Perhaps it's because I simply don't eat dessert that often, at least not as the last note of a meal. I'm always too full, and I don't like the thought of leaving the table with my mouth tasting of sugar.

For me, the British have it right when it comes to sweets. Take them in the afternoon with a cup of strong tea. Savor the combination of sweet and bitter. How delicious. A treat like the one pictured above, Hazelnut Carrot Cake, goes perfectly with a cup of Earl Grey. Instead of a traditional cream cheese frosting, I topped this cake with Nutella, granola and lemon-soaked apples. The richness of the Nutella gives a deep, earthly note to the cake, and the crispness/tartness of the apples cuts through the sugar. I love playing with texture, and the granola adds just the right amount to this piece. I made this last spring for Palm Sunday and it was a big hit. I love Carrot Cake, but with my dairy allergies, I had to give up the frosting. I think I prefer this version, anyway. It's not as shockingly sweet, and the flavors of the cake are allowed to be more of the focus.

I picked up Gourmet Magazine's cookbook and have been flipping through it. I can't believe how many amazing recipes are in there! I'm very excited for the weather to cool down so that I can try out some of the cakes, especially the Shortbread. I love shortbread; it's great in summer topped with fruit and yogurt. And again, it makes a great tea-time dessert. I'd also like to try making some more traditional tea-time treats, like scones. I've never made them from scratch, and I'd love to actually have some scones that aren't as dense.