The Origins of Desserts
It’s okay to indulge in desserts once in awhile – especially mookies. Just keep the portions to a reasonable size and throw in a little extra exercise. Where did the idea of ending a meal with a sweet treat originate anyway?
The word “dessert” comes from the French language as dessert and this from Old French desservir, "to clear the table" and "to serve."
The first desserts were candies, made from raw honeycomb and dried dates. It was not until the Middle Ages, when sugar was manufactured, that people began to enjoy more sweets but even then sugar was so expensive that it was only for the wealthy on special occasions.
Early origins of popular frozen desserts, such as ice cream, trace back to the Middle Ages when royalty would request fresh ice flavored with honey or fruit syrup.
WHY DOES SUGAR SEEM TO MAKE US HAPPY? IT’S SIMPLE CHEMISTRY.
Sugar contains serotonin, which is a brain chemical that makes you feel content and happy. Eating sugar increases the absorption of an amino acid called tryptophan, which your body uses to make serotonin, so eating something sweet may make you feel happy and avoiding sweets may make you feel grumpy.
And now for something incredibly sweet…
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Ingredients
CAKE:
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, softened
1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons ginger
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¾ cups chopped sweetened dried cranberries
4 ounces white chocolate chips
FROSTING:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
¼ cup chopped sweetened dried cranberries
DRIZZLED ICING:
½ cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
FOR CAKE:
Beat butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth.
Add eggs, ginger, vanilla and salt. Beat well.
Gradually mix in flour and baking powder until batter is smooth.
Mix in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips by hand.
Pour batter into 9 X 13 baking dish. Spread batter evenly.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake is lightly browned on top.
Cool cake completely.
FOR FROSTING:
Combine softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth.
When cake is cool, spread frosting evenly over cake.
Sprinkle ¼ cup chopped dried cranberries on top of frosted cake.
DRIZZLED ICING:
Whisk together powdered sugar, cream and shortening.
Drizzle icing over cranberries on top of frosted cake with a sweeping motion.
Slice and serve with a smile. Makes 16 small bliss bars. Be happy!
It’s okay to indulge in desserts once in awhile – especially mookies. Just keep the portions to a reasonable size and throw in a little extra exercise. Where did the idea of ending a meal with a sweet treat originate anyway?
The word “dessert” comes from the French language as dessert and this from Old French desservir, "to clear the table" and "to serve."
The first desserts were candies, made from raw honeycomb and dried dates. It was not until the Middle Ages, when sugar was manufactured, that people began to enjoy more sweets but even then sugar was so expensive that it was only for the wealthy on special occasions.
Early origins of popular frozen desserts, such as ice cream, trace back to the Middle Ages when royalty would request fresh ice flavored with honey or fruit syrup.
WHY DOES SUGAR SEEM TO MAKE US HAPPY? IT’S SIMPLE CHEMISTRY.
Sugar contains serotonin, which is a brain chemical that makes you feel content and happy. Eating sugar increases the absorption of an amino acid called tryptophan, which your body uses to make serotonin, so eating something sweet may make you feel happy and avoiding sweets may make you feel grumpy.
And now for something incredibly sweet…
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Ingredients
CAKE:
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, softened
1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons ginger
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¾ cups chopped sweetened dried cranberries
4 ounces white chocolate chips
FROSTING:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
¼ cup chopped sweetened dried cranberries
DRIZZLED ICING:
½ cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
FOR CAKE:
Beat butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth.
Add eggs, ginger, vanilla and salt. Beat well.
Gradually mix in flour and baking powder until batter is smooth.
Mix in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips by hand.
Pour batter into 9 X 13 baking dish. Spread batter evenly.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake is lightly browned on top.
Cool cake completely.
FOR FROSTING:
Combine softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth.
When cake is cool, spread frosting evenly over cake.
Sprinkle ¼ cup chopped dried cranberries on top of frosted cake.
DRIZZLED ICING:
Whisk together powdered sugar, cream and shortening.
Drizzle icing over cranberries on top of frosted cake with a sweeping motion.
Slice and serve with a smile. Makes 16 small bliss bars. Be happy!
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