Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sink Your Teeth Into The Most Popular European Desserts

By Mike Smith

Dessert is the part of the meal that many people absolutely like best. That comment holds true whether you are having dessert after a big meal, a special meal, or simply a small, at-home family dinner.

Dessert is a special part of any meal. That is especially true for the Europeans. French, German and Italian desserts tend to have a very special place in the hearts of those who eat and appreciate them.

Cultures from Europe tend to favor heavier desserts that sit down on the stomach and make you feel full. It is the exact opposite when eating desserts in hotter, Mediterranean climates where fruity flavors and light cakes are preferred. This may reflect the type of food eaten in these different cultures. Lighter meals can accommodate a heavy dessert much better than a meal that is already heavy to begin with.

The French do tend to create desserts that are lighter in nature, but for the most part German and Italian desserts are heavy. The Italians and Germans tend to pack more sugar, fat and calories into their desserts and they tend to be a lot heavier than want is enjoyed in other parts of the world.

French Desserts- Very tyically lighter and with fruity overtones to most of them, you may find cheese and wine, crepes, or other items being served as sweet endings to a French meal. In the case of French country cookery however far more rich and full flavored desserts will result.

The puffed pastry called Apple Tart Tatin is one very well known dessert often served in the French country regions. This is completely mouthwatering and delicious! It is a puffed pastry made from real butter, vanilla bean, green apples, and French brandy.

Italian desserts do tend to be heavier and are usually consumed after the evening meal, but there are some lighter Italian desserts that can be enjoyed at any time of the day or night. Two of the more popular desserts from Italy include Tiramisu and Affogato. Tiramisu incorporates pound cake in layers with mascarpone and cream while Affogato (meaning drowned) is Italian ice or dessert topped with warm espresso. Both of these desserts are simply amazing on the taste buds and incorporate flavors that are very Italian at heart.

There are a few features that tend to bind most German desserts together: super sweet tastes, rich flavors, and a filling, heavy feeling on the stomach. The great thing about the Germans is they like their desserts to be fast and easy to make yet very filling and satisfying on the stomach. For instance, consider Kuchen, which simply means "cake" in German. Some people may make this cake with a filling of cinnamon and sugar while others only fill with sugar and then put a very sweet custard sauce over the top. The intense sweetness tends to be a trademark of German desserts.

Do any of these desserts sound like what you would enjoy? You can find Italian, French and German dessert recipes online and many are completely free. Experiment with the different flavors and you will find many recipes worth keeping in your family recipe box.

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