Poll: How often do you make dessert?

[michelern]

Growing up, we ate dessert after every meal. My DH has finally been able to steer me away from craving dessert every time we eat. I try not to buy anything sweet at the store anymore. Really, the only time we have dessert now is if we have company over. A very drastic change for someone who grew up in Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory.

[makedah]

Although I love to bake, before I started cooking more, I would only make dessert a few times a year (I bought cookies and ice cream instead). However, in the past month I have made 2 desserts (double chocolate chews, butter crunch lemon cheese bars). I don't plan on making dessert any more often than that. I live alone, so I have to be able to give a lot of my goodies away! I'm starting to run into trouble with these buttercrunch bars. I have half a pan left...

[Hoosier65]

I usually make a nice dessert once a week. And it's most often from CL. I have a real sweet tooth but I'm pickey about what sweet I eat. My DH is a chocolate addict so try to please him. Although he will eat anything I put in front of him. I thank him for that.
I made cookies today, Espresso Mocha Icebox Cookies and they are very good. Crispy, with a light coffee flavor. The recipe is in CL Complete.

[Donnalee]

I just love to bake! I usually bake a batch of cookies once a week. Then I bake to take different things to my work and for my husband to take to his work. I made two of the Blueberry Pound Cakes this month--one to take to a women's retreat and another for a staff meeting at my husband's work. I also bake cakes for birthdays at my work. I used to make lots of muffins but I have been trying to lose some weight, so if I make muffins, I'll make bran so at least it is healthy. I always make a dessert when we have company over for dinner.

[Curleytop]

My DH and I have dessert every day! Not a high calorie thing. I make baked apples, pears, canned fruit, fresh fruit in season like strawberries now. We ALWAYS have to have a sweet! I make lowfat low calorie cookies, biscotti etc. to go with the fruit.
Yesterday I made a lowfat lemon pound cake.
Part of it is going to my sons. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif. I always share the cookies I make. Guess you should know that I love to bake! I am going to make the following cookies!

* Exported from MasterCook *

ALMOND POPPY SEED COOKIES

Recipe By :KitchenAid.com (desserts)
Serving Size : 2 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Cookies Desserts
Low Fat Mixer
Nuts

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Dark brown sugar -- Firmly Packed
1/2 Cup Butter -- Softened
1 Whole Egg
1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract (or vanilla)
1 2/3 Cups Unbleached flour
2 Tablespoons Poppy Seeds
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Almonds -- Unblanched/Chopped

Place both sugars and butter in mixer bowl with flat beater. Turn to Speed 4 and beat 1 minute. Continuing on Speed 4. add egg and extract and beat 1 minute. Combine flour, poppy seeds, baking powder and salt. Turn to STIR Speed and add flour mixture, beating just until combined.

Shape into 1 inch balls, roll in chopped almonds and place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° (350° convection) for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

Yield:
"2 1/2 Dozen"

A keeper! Used vanilla instead of almond extract.

[emilycat]

Sadly, not very often. I love Edy's Whole Fruit sorbet, so I use that to satisfy my sweet tooth after dinner. I am an ardent fan of dessert, but I live by myself, so it would be extremely dangerous for me to have the Died and Gone to Heaven Chocolate Cake or the White Russian Tiramisu sitting around my house at the mercy of my dessert spoon. So alas, I only make dessert once in a great while (maybe once every 2 months or so) -- and only when I can easily halve the recipe http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[kjunkins]

I just wanted to tell everyone how much I am loving this board. I get so many ideas from you all and I only have been lurking for a few days! I love to make desserts but since I am trying to lose weight I usually limit it to once or twice a week. This usually includes cookies and such. Right now for this weekend I have planned to make the White Russian Tirimisu and the lemon crunch bars for some other time. I can't wait to try the tirimisu. It looks so yummy!!!

[Ohioan]

The only dessert I really like is fruit -- I can make a pig of myself on fresh fruit, but when I run out, even canned or frozen fruit will do.

When I eat out, I sometimes have a "made" dessert, but more and more I find myself asking, "Do you have any fruit?"

Do I get drummed off the board for this? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

Fruitily,
Phoebe

[emilycat]

Phoebe,

I feel compelled to ask -- is dessert one of those things you only think you don't like? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Just kidding; seriously though, you were in my dream the other night -- you know your addiction's bad when BB'ers start popping up in sleepland!

[hka]

Lately I've been making dessert a little more often and they're things from CL or Prevention. I'm also trying to lose a little weight so I'm counting calories. Usually though, I have enough left over at the end of the day to enjoy something sweet. I also have a sweet tooth and have had it for quite some time! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I do try to curb it though. I just made a recipe for something called a Sunshine Cake. It's a yellow cake mix with mandarine oranges in it. The frosting consists of one container of light coolwhip, a 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding and 15.5 oz of crushed pinapple in the juice. I don't have the whole recipe in front of me as I'm at work (shame on me) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif. Anyhow, it's wonderful and if any of you would like me to post the full recipe I'd be happy to later in the day.

[funnybone]

Fruit doesn't count, in my eyes, as dessert. If it did, I'd be considered eating dessert 3 or 4 times a day.

[Terrytx]

Dessert, as in cakes, brownies, pies, I make about 2 times a month. But I like to keep cookies around for the kids to have a quick snack. I also make muffins or coffeecake to have on hand for breakfast.

[lindrusso]

I bake quite a bit - mostly low-fat muffins and quick breads. True desserts I make probably 2 times a month. Cookies I try to bake only when a large portion will be going elsewhere - like a party or MOMS Club function. It really depends and I tend to bake in spurts. When I'm craving sweets, I like to have a low-fat CL dessert around so that at least I'm indulging myself more wisely. If left to my own devices to pick a treat at the store, it would definitely NOT be low-fat.....

[Saralee]

I always like to have a little treat at night, kind of a little reward for eating so well all day. Since I'm in school, though, I don't have the means to cook much.

But I LOVE chocolate, so I"m always looking for ways to have a little, especially if it can be in a low-fat way.

Sometimes I will buy a little box of chocolates, and have one or two a day. Or I'll have pudding with fat free whipped topping, or heck, a little bit of the real stuff. Lately though, I have been freezing Frappaccino's. The mocha is wonderful. Shake it up, freeze it and put some chocolate syrup on it when you eat it. Yum! It gets really slushy and tasty.

[Cindy Rafferty]

I bake alot: cookies two to three times a week, scones, muffins, quickbreads, and now I'm learning how to do breads with yeast (following the instructions in the complete CL Cookbook).

I don't do alot of other types of deserts, but will do a pie for my husband once in awhile. I'm with Funnybone on the metabolism situation, and I'd rather give up desert than bread at dinner.

I enjoy the CL deserts with my dinner group and when we go out to eat. I have to admit that those lemon (or orange) cheese bars in the Jan. '01 issue were very, very, good. Also, the Pecan Tasties. I'll make them when I have the opportunity to share so that I won't eat them all!

[Ohioan]

Originally posted by emilycat:
Phoebe,

I feel compelled to ask -- is dessert one of those things you only think you don't like? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Just kidding; seriously though, you were in my dream the other night -- you know your addiction's bad when BB'ers start popping up in sleepland!

Hee, hee, Emily - Actually, the secret is that no one asked what we eat for bedtime snacks. That's when I like my sweets! But usually it's something like a matzoh with spreadable fruit or a Ry-Krisp with a smear of honey -- or (gulp) a Stella d'Oro cookie.

And I'm afraid to ask what I was doing in that dream of yours! Cooking beans, maybe? (No, no, don't tell me!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif That's funny. See my post on the "how long have you been here" thread about how y'all have become so much like my family that my mother even asks about everyone.

Sweet toothily,
Phoebe

[JulieAnn]

EVERY DAY! It's shameful, but I love dessert! About every other day it's something really easy like s'mores, but I don't know if we can survive in our house without sugar at night. I love to munch on chocolate chips if I decide not to make any dessert.

[sundropdlc]

hka, I made that cake (sunshine cake)!!
It was excellent, only difference is mine was called Hawaiin Cake and I'm not even sure where the recipe came from. I had to send half home with my parents so I didn't eat the whole thing! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

As for how often I eat desserts... I try to limit to couple times a week, but it ends up being more like once a day. Try to choose lower cal, lower fat though if that counts!
Baked apples (microwaved) works pretty good for a sweet tooth.

[Linda in MO]

I make the "sunshine" cake too, but mine is called Pig Pickin' Cake! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Lynn B]

Fun thread!

Ahhhhh, dessert... one of my favorite topics!
I LOVE dessert! I LOVE chocolate! And I would love to eat it every day! BUUUUT... I can't! I would weigh 1,000 pounds if I did!

So, instead, I probably make dessert once a week... maybe twice if we are having guests. But I LOVE the variety of all the CL desserts, and wouldn't want any fewer of them in the magazine! Because, hey, you never know... a miracle may occur, my metabolism might suddenly go into hyperdrive, and I would be able to eat dessert everyday... (well, I can DREAM, can't I?!!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Lynnwhoisatrudessert-aholic.com!

[karole]

well--we are only two in my family. (used to be eight) but i do not feel secure if i don't have six or seven desserts in the freezer.I've gotta have variety. same way i gotta have my CD on shuffle. All my desserts are from CL. Has anyone tried the strawberry cake from the april issue?

[kima]

Since joining this BB I have found I am makind dessert more often just so I can try all the wonderful recipes posted here and in the magazine. I used to make dessert maybe 3-4 times a month- that does not include cookies and muffins but real desserts - pies, cakes etc. Now I am making dessert about once a week- usually on the weekends when I (supposedly) have more time. How about the rest of you??

[Jewel]

I tend to make desserts a bit more often when I'm trying to...um..."tempt" my husband. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

He's got more of a sweet tooth than I do, and I take full responsibility for the fact that I make sinful desserts when I want that extra bit of attention, adoration, praise, and general sucking up. In fact, I think it's time to try those Blueberry Turnovers...(hee!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[funnybone]

Not very often. If we have guests coming over, I will definitely include a dessert, but for us, maybe 2 times a month - and that would include muffins and breads. I used to bake all the time, but that is when I was in my 20's and my metabolism could handle it. Now in my late 30's, I really don't need those calories. My husband would rather eat dessert than the main course, but he also knows that he shouldn't. If I crave something sweet, I go and take a spoon of ice cream straight from the carton. It's usually enough to satisfy my sweet-tooth. I only keep ice cream around for the kids, so it's usually "Twix" or another rich flavour.

[shoyski]

We eat dessert every night so I usually make something on the weekend. If it doesn't last, then I dig into previously prepared, frozen desserts like individual cheesecakes.

I also make muffins on the weekend for a mid morning snack to go with yogurt and fruit during the week.

Of course right now we're trying to get through six boxes of Girl Scout cookies....not that it's hard to do. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Ohioan]

Omigosh, how could I have forgotten the one dessert I do make? Of course (she groans, grasping her Alzheimeric head in both hands), my famous ZABAGLIONE! I make this about once or twice a month.

Cheers,
Phoebe

[MelissaAS]

I make dessert only for special occasions- to bring with me to book club, a party or for a birthday, etc. Of course somehow these occasions seem to happen at least monthly! Thankfully (since I struggle to control my weight) I can usually resist my sweet tooth. On the other hand, my husband is a chocoholic so we almost always have something on hand for him (usually that doesn't appeal to me!).

[sherri]

My husband eat dessert now more than ever, there are so many recipes to try.
Of course, I need to start watching though, those calories, they sneak up on us!!
But, unlike me, my husband doesn't worry about that. Does anyone have this same issue??