More often than not, after stuffing myself with my favorite main meal, the last thing on my mind is dessert. No meal is complete without desserts. A dessert is a type of food that gives the finishing touch to at the end of the meal to make it perfect. The origin of the term is really interesting. The term "desserts" has been derived from Old French term "desservir" which means cleaning the table. Normally the desserts are sweet food. Some desserts like types of cheese have different flavors. The trend to have desserts at the end of the meal is comparatively new in the western culture. If we look back in time, we can see there was always a custom to have nuts and fruits at the end of the meal. It gradually turned into desserts. But sweet dish was comparatively new addition in the list. Common types of deserts are custards, fruits, pudding, biscuits, cookies, cakes, pastries, ice creams, gelatin desserts, pies, sherbets, soufflés, meringues, petits fours and trifles and many more.
Before the development of the sugar industry in the 19th century, sweet used to be out of reach for the middle class. It was a rare holiday delicacy. A sweet dish in the meal was a note of aristocracy at that time. After the sugar industry was mechanized, sugar became cheaper. And, as a result, it gradually took a permanent place in the full course meal. In some cuisine, dessert is not used as a separate part at the end of the meal. In those cuisines, sweet dishes are eaten during the meal. In some cultures the dessert is not at all a part of the meal. They are especially reserved for some special occasions. Desserts are often eaten as separate meal sometime after the meal. But obviously it is done when the setting has a casual tone. In American concept, any sweet dish that follows a meal can be a dessert. Be it milkshake or other drinks, there are many restaurants that are specialized in the domain of desserts.
The myth of superwoman has hung on long after the media stopped airing fantasy-based commercials about working women’s lives: Here she comes, home from the office after 12 hours of high-powered negotiations in the executive suite. Her designer suit is still fresh and unwrinkled, her face radiant and unlined as she opens her arms to greet her two adorable children—and sends a seductive glance toward her handsome husband, beaming proudly in the background. Watch her as, with one smooth motion, she slips off her jacket and into a dainty apron as she glides toward the spotless kitchen to create a three-course meal for her beloved family. After dinner she will check the children’s French homework and read them a chapter of Jane Eyre before tucking the little cherubs into bed. While her husband watches the late-night news, she will disappear into the den to make an overseas call that will clinch a multinational deal for her company.
—Deborah J. Swiss (20th century)
Cooks Central was founded in early 2006. We wanted to build a community where fellow home-chefs can share and discuss all sorts of recipes. As opposed to traditional cookbooks or sites with published recipes, Cooks Central gives you a more diverse array of recipes.
We realized there were way too many sites that just published their own standard recipes, without any input from you. So, we built this site where our members run the show and decide what gets on here. To be more helpful, we added a review box, so now you can review any recipes that are here. Read reviews to see what others thought and if perhaps someone else came up with an even better way! We also have a glossary of cooking terms, a kitchen safety section, a measurement guide, a nutrition section, as well as a virtual recipe box, where you can add all of your favorite recipes!
A good meal can somewhat repair
The eatings of slight love....
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)
We are currently in the process of building an interactive member forum, where members will be able to discuss anything from topics regarding food, to anything else under the sun! Our mission is to build an interactive community for our members where you can drop in at anytime, share information, get recipes, and chat about anything and everything!
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