Silvana Nardone

Earlier today, I told you about how I accidentally passed out before dessert at a dinner party I was hosting. Embarrassment aside, the worst part was not being able to taste the dulce de leche cheesecake I made! What was left of it is pictured at left.

When I saw the recipe in the current issue of Everyday With Rachael Ray, I knew I had to make it. The crust is a mixture of crushed shortbread cookies, almonds, and brown sugar. The smooth and creamy filling is a perfect blend of luscious cream cheese and sweet caramel. To take a look at the recipe please read more

I eat a banana for breakfast every morning, so I almost always have them on hand. They're my secret weapon for an easy, fast dessert: chocolate-banana bread pudding. I've made this dessert tons of times and it's a real crowd pleaser. The bananas are lightly caramelized before they're added and the puddings are cooked in a muffin tin making for fun, individual portions. The final dessert is comforting and each bite melts in your mouth. For the delightful recipe, read more

I didn't realize the importance of having an excellent pumpkin cake recipe until last year. I had to make a dessert for a potluck, and was told it couldn't be a pie or cheesecake. The solution to my problem was a delicious pumpkin spice layer cake with whipped cream cheese frosting. If you enjoy baking for the holidays, you must add a pumpkin cake to your arsenal of recipes. It's a surprising alternative to pumpkin pie and perfectly highlights the flavors of Fall. While I prefer to make the cake from scratch, you can always jazz up a boxed mix and call it your own. To take a look at two tasty recipes, read more

Sometimes I crave a delicious dessert that doesn't involve a bunch of elaborate steps and expensive ingredients. I know that I could just have vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, but it's winter and I'd rather have something that is warm gooey goodness. When a craving like this strikes, I make chocolate banana bread pudding. Since I always have bananas, chocolate and sliced bread on hand, it comes together so quickly (35 minutes). If you're having a sweet attack and want something homemade fast, read more