Today’s recipe combines one of my recipes and one by my friend Inger, who writes The Art of Natural Living. She posted a pear frangipane tart sometime before Christmas, and I had been tasked with finding a Christmas dessert with a 1999 Château d’Yquem Sauternes (thanks, Lee!). Such a problem …

I love this tart, it might seem daunting, but I’ve broken it down into three parts, so open a bottle of rosé and have fun with it. You’ll be really happy with the results, I promise! I’ve made the pastry, but feel free to buy it. There are some amazing …

This chocolate and pear tart is a perfect dessert for autumn. Chocolate and pears are a magnificent marriage of flavour and texture. For this dessert, I also created a leaf design with raspberry coulis and caramel on a white plate (using squeeze bottles) and blended the colours with a synthetic …

Sweet and earthy, the fragrance of a fig tree full of almost ripe fruit is like standing in a pot of jam. The fig tree is known as the Common Fig. It grows both cultivated and wild in most countries that are close to the Mediterranean and in many parts …

Helen of Troy was known for her great beauty. In Greek mythology, she was Zeus and Leda’s daughter and was said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She wasn’t without her issues, though. Just read up on her, and you will be glad she wasn’t your …

Scones began as a Scottish quickbread and have evolved into a teatime staple that is easy to make and sure to impress. However, plain scones (although delicious) can be just that, a bit plain. When the sun starts to shine, and flowers begin to bloom, lavender is a herb that …

Perfect to use as an ice cream garnish, enjoy with your coffee and a café gourmand, or as a snack. Tuiles aux amandes are a fun and creative way to add a little sweetness to your day. Named after the shape of roof tiles that they resemble, the crunchy texture …

Clafoutis aux Cerises is a classic French recipe that is easy to make and a delicious choice for cherry season. Some versions call for whole cherries, which ensures a juicy Clafoutis. However, you want to warn your guests that they need to be careful of the pits! I used California …

Mille-feuille (pronounced meal foy), or thousand layers, is a rich dessert of several layers of crispy crunchy puff pastry layered with a pastry cream filling and/or fruit. In my version, I layered lemon curd, whipped cream, and ripe strawberries. If you do not have strawberries use other berries or even …

The following recipe for lavender shortbread is my Provencal take on the Scottish classic. However, let’s start with an introduction to baking with fresh lavender. I love nothing more than throwing a handful of fresh lavender or any other herb into my baking. It takes me to simpler times with …