Sunday, November 28, 2010

Enjoy Gourmet Strawberries In These Desserts

By Mike Smith


Nearly every region and ethnic group has their own idea of what is considered to be a gourmet dessert in their circles. Really, gourmet is in the eye of the beholder, but there are a few things that rank universally as gourmet desserts, no matter where you are.

Among those things which rank as gourmet are typically some which take a great deal of time, effort or skill to cook and to serve, but surprisingly many are not so difficult as you might think that they are. Trifles are far more easily cooked and served than you might think they are, while baked Alaska and a meringue or the much loved crme brulee', along with a perfect Baklava may be more difficult to accomplish and take more time than you'd care to expend.

The Baked Alaska is one gourmet dessert that's a little tough to prepare. This delicious dessert is a rich concoction of egg whites, ground hazelnuts, and fresh fruits like blueberries and strawberries.

Other prevalent gourmet dessert recipes also include the many different mousse recipes. Mousse is light and fluffy, but is often higher in calories than heavier desserts. However, mousse desserts leave room to breathe after a large meal. Mouse recipes can include bittersweet chocolate, egg whites, heavy cream, sugar, and run or other liquors. Mousse desserts have a rich taste and are very satisfying, but aren't nearly as filling as some of the other dessert options.

Petit Fours is another gourmet dessert that doesn't take much time to prepare. With fruit like strawberries on the inside, they are lower in calories that many of the other gourmet desserts.

Strawberry and Trifle desserts are usually considered to be gourmet desserts even though most of them require little time to prepare. Strawberry desserts can be something as elegant as strawberries dipped in chocolate or as simple as strawberry shortcake.

Trifle is considered to be a traditional gourmet dessert. Trifle can be prepared differently in different regions of the world. For example, a traditional British trifle recipe may include home cooked custard, fresh whipping cream, raspberries, and pound cake, while the Americanized version of trifle calls for custard topping, whipped topping, raspberry pie filling, and angel food cake. In many regions, dark chocolate shavings are added for flavor and texture.

Gourmet depends on who you are and where you are-- as well as what you like, but whether it is considered gourmet in your neck of the world or not, desert is always the favorite part of the meal.




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