Desserts

During the week, dessert in our house is most often ice cream spooned straight from the carton or a plain piece of fresh fruit from the fridge, so that when I do go to the trouble of making a dessert Monday to Friday, I want it to be gussied up—just enough to make me feel pampered.

Some of my desserts, like the fruit ones, are healthy; while others, like the whipped cream and chocolate cookie cake, are outrageously caloric. And whereas a daily dose of thick hot fudge or a brownie topped with whipped cream is a bit extreme, I think everyone needs and deserves the occasional indulgence.