consciouseating
Good Humor
“L
ife is uncertain. Eat
dessert first,” counseled
Foods That Make Us Smile
As the late humorist
writer Ernestine Ulmer Erma Bombeck reminds us,
in her now famous bon mot. “Seize the moment.
What is it about
by Judith Fertig
Remember all those
desserts that can women on the Titanic
bring a smile to even who waved off the
the grumpiest adult? dessert cart.”
Woody Allen has even
compared comedy to des-
sert, commenting that it is
Chocolate Crostini
“a bit like meringue.”
So simple, yet so good.
Desserts are meant to
The final sprinkle of salt
be lighthearted. The very
makes all the difference.
word, after all, is the exact
reverse of stressed.
Makes 16 crostini.
More than any other
One 10-inch baguette
part of the meal, a favorite
6 to 8 ounces good-quality
dessert instantly takes
dark chocolate, in bar or
us back to treasured
block form, cut into 16
moments in our childhood—to a more uncomplicated time
pieces
in our lives—if only momentarily. “Oreo cookies make me
Extra-virgin olive oil for brushing Coarse kosher or sea salt
very happy,” confesses
for sprinkling
columnist Craig Wilson
“Research tells us
of USA Today. “I can
1. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
eat a sleeve of them so
that 14 out of any 2. Slice off the ends of the bread and then slice the bread
quickly it even embar- 10 individuals
on the diagonal, ½-inch thick, to get 16 slices. Arrange
rasses me. Add a glass
the bread on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil.
like chocolate.”
of milk, and I’m giddy.”
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
Dessert encourages
3. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully
us to engage our playful
~ Sandra Boynton, author of place a piece of chocolate on each slice of bread. Re-
side, especially true if
Chocolate: The Consuming Passion turn to the oven and warm for two minutes or until the
we are indulging in a
chocolate begins to melt. Sprinkle with a tiny bit of salt
familiar confection with
and devour while warm.
a new twist: a carrot cake cupcake; miniature ice cream
sodas; a flight of tiny snow cones, each drizzled with home- Cookie Brittle
made syrup; or a chocolate chip cookie you break apart like Like a chocolate chip cookie, but without any leavening,
peanut brittle. (See accompanying recipes.) this dough, mixed with desired flavorings, just presses into
Maybe what brings out our inner smile is the story as- the pan. After it bakes, break off the pieces. A shorter bak-
sociated with a treat. Perhaps it’s a baked apple Grandma ing time produces a chewier cookie; a longer baking time
used to make when you and your cousins visited her and delivers a crisper cookie.
managed to get into all kinds of scrapes. Most of us admit
to having a sweet tooth; chocolate is such a universal crav- Makes about 3 dozen pieces.
ing that it’s a laughable legend. 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted organic butter, softened
24 Phoenix
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