Chestnut Praline Topping Novels & Stories

"We're going to outsmart it. Fetch me those extra nuts and fruits we didn't use earlier. I'll prepare something irresistible." I pull the recipe from memory. "Nutty Trail." Ingredients for Nutty Trail: 1. Mixed nuts – a handful. 2. Dried fruits – a handful. 3. Crushed crackers or breadcrumbs (optional). 4. Honey – just a drizzle. I gather what we have left: a handful of nuts, some dried fruits, and a few crumbs George digs out from his pocket. "Watch this," I whisper, focusing. I sprinkle the nuts and fruits on the ground, drizzling the honey in a trail leading toward an open clearing.

Dr Boone nodded, pleased with her answer. The final course was an overly sculpted tower of raspberry mousse and pistachio brittle with a blood orange reduction. Veronica tilted her head. “Pretty. What’s the sugar ratio in the brittle?” Kimberly hesitated. “Equal parts sugar to nut.” Veronica gave her a slow blink. “Then it’s wrong. That’s a caramel ratio, not brittle. Which explains the texture.” I folded my hands. “Maybe next time they will let their chef speak.” Martin flushed. Kimberly opened her mouth but said nothing

heading for the nearest bodega. The flowers that normally colorfully lined the outside of the small neighborhood market were gone due to the late hour, and the place looked quiet and dark. She walked in and headed straight for the wall with the long freezer. Oh, the possibilities. Chocolate? Caramel chocolate? Caramel, chocolate, and cookies? Mint chocolate chip? Vanilla bean? Chunky Monkey? Cherry Garcia? She read the titles over and over before choosing the winner: Pralines and Cream. Doing a happy dance, she closed the freezer door, whispering to the frosty container, “You’re coming home with me, you lucky dog.”

"Chocolate mixed with Cherry Chocolate Chip for me and the Princess. Pineapple for Alexander, his favorite; and coffee for you, Prince." I raised a brow. "What? No vanilla?"

Getting up early on my day off to prepare the pastries I had promised Ruslan took enormous effort. But it was too late to back out now, so after downing two cups of very strong coffee, I got to work. While the tart shells browned in the oven, I dipped fruit into caramel. I popped a couple straight into my mouth and smiled in satisfaction. I decided not to overcomplicate the cream and simply whipped heavy cream with powdered sugar. Berry jam went onto the bottom of each shell, the cream followed, and caramelized fruit crowned the tops as decoration.

he inquired, stopping midway to look at me. Despite the confusion and questions that I had, I managed to shake my head for a no. "Well, it's bread that has been soaked in cinnamon-vanilla custard, pan-fried, topped with berries, bananas and maple syrup," As he was speaking, he had already served me a couple of slices, of which he was adding the toppings before pouring the maple syrup on top. Once he was done, he did the same to his plate as he took a sip of his juice.

“Last is deserts!” “There is a Chocolate Pistachio Dome. When you cut into it, there is German Chocolate mouse on a bed of brownie with Chocolate gnash. This is a Passionberry Parfait with a graham cracker crust. This is a Lemon Tart topped with raspberries. This last one is a Blueberry and Lemon Cake Shooter.” Alec cut the chocolate dome and fed me a bite. The chocolate melted in my mouth and made me moan in response. “This is so good.” I said with a mouth full of chocolate.

I hold up the small, gilded jug and they all follow suit. Then I pour the caramel over the sphere. They do the same. One by one, the chocolate melts, collapses, and reveals: A delicate, warm oat custard infused with vanilla, rippled with condensed milk caramel, and topped with cinnamon oat crumble and a crisp praline shard. On the side, a small quenelle of milk tea gelato and a laced oat tuile catch the light. Gasps go up and I sit. Even Margot and Charles are mesmerized.

Calvin replied, “Take it to Delicious Delight and have them study it—especially the chestnut flavor.” Kevin’s eyes widened, but he held back his curiosity. Since when did the president care about chestnut pastries? Didn’t he usually avoid anything with that doughy texture? ‘Oh right… Miss Adriana likes them.’ “Yes, I’ll take it after work.”

heading for the nearest bodega. The flowers that normally colorfully lined the outside of the small neighborhood market were gone due to the late hour, and the place looked quiet and dark. She walked in and headed straight for the wall with the long freezer. Oh, the possibilities. Chocolate? Caramel chocolate? Caramel, chocolate and cookies? Mint chocolate chip? Vanilla bean? Chunky Monkey? Cherry Garcia? She read the titles over and over before choosing the winner: Pralines and Cream. Doing a happy dance, she closed the freezer door, whispering to the frosty container, “You’re coming home with me, you lucky dog.”