King Cake

For Mardi Gras! Complete with baked-in baby figurine.

Chocolate Raspberry Genoise

Another heavenly recipe from Rose Leve Beranbaum, this cake was made for my friend (Blade's) 40th birthday.  His party theme was "Around the World," and the final destination was "The Future"... hence the stars and rocket ship.

Chocolate Banana Cake

Birthday cake for my brother, which we shared with him right after he ran a 1/2 marathon!  The recipe comes from Rose's Heavenly Cakes.

Cranberry Crown Cheesecake

Creamy cheesecake surrounded by lady fingers and topped with a bright cranberry compote. Recipe From Rose's Heavenly Cakes.

Crispy Rice Treats

Made for a holiday cookie swap party, these bar cookies are made with brown butter and vanilla beans.

Lemon-Ginger Scones

Rich, buttery, lemony, and filled with ground ginger and crystallized ginger.

Raspberry Tart

Raspberry jam in a hazelnut pastry with a lattice top.

Christmas cookies

Chocolate chip cookies.  And a Christmas tree.

Pumpkin Pie Souffle

Todd English's Olives Dessert Table cookbook provided this recipe-- Pumpkin Pie Souffle with Honey Lace, Cinnamon Anglaise, and spiced hazelnuts.

Blueberry pie

A la Joanne Chang, to share with the neighbors in my building tonight so they can't complain when we have parties.

Tomato sorbet with Garlic Tuiles

Leave it to Thomas Keller to come up with this one.  The sorbet, made from vine-ripe tomatoes, is perched on top of fresh tomato tartare, which sits in a leisurely pool of chive oil, surrounded by dots of balsamic glaze.

Raspberry Crumb Bars

Melt-in-your-mouth shortbread topped with raspberry jam and confectioners' sugar.

Croissants

Part of 'breakfast for dinner'... these took the anticipated 3 days (including early mornings!) to make.

Almond Macaroons

With bittersweet chocolate ganache filling.

Cornmeal Lime Cookies

A grainy, cakey cornmeal cookie with lime glaze.

Caramel cake

Made in an angel food cake pan, doused with caramel, and sprinkled with toasted almonds. Perfect wintery day dessert.

Pear Croustade

Rustic pear tart with lemon pastry and toasted almonds.  Followed pork ala Apiscius.

Coffee chocolate layer cake

Three layers of cake with mocha mascarpone frosting and white and dark chocolate curls.

Mini pies and cookies

Mini pecan pie, mini apple pie, and three almond butter cookies.  To accompany an osso bucco dinner.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

One for me, and one for everyone else.