PrintMenu Planning Challenge...Impressive, yet Kid-Friendly Dessert!
This weekend I'll be visiting the fam. As has become the custom, I'll cook lunch on Sunday for three adults and four children, ages 6-17, who are somewhat picky eaters. On the menu are fancy grilled chicken burgers with all the fixings, roasted yam fries (some russet fries for the pickies) and a veggie/salad.
My challenge is a tasty, not-too-calorie-laden dessert that will wow the adults and satisfy the kids' palate, that also matches the "Burgers and Fries" theme. Any ideas?
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18 Comments:
I'd make big buttery semi-flat chocolate chip cookies and make ice cream sandwiches. You could have several flavors of store-bought or homemade ice cream.
PerkyMac at 3:01PM on 02/28/08
Ice cream sandwiches. Chocalate chip or peanut butter cookies. Frozen Yogurt instead of Ice cream. You can make them beforehand and freeze them or have everyone build their own
nelson5757 at 3:19PM on 02/28/08
If you have enough blenders, you could do parfait-style "milkshakes", but use smoothie ingredients to make it lower cal (e.g., a layer of strawberry, layer of peach, layer of blueberry).
Gourmet featured a "sundae" done a la Francaise... a scoop of ice cream in a profiterole, topped with good melted chocolate. Use "grown-up" flavor ice cream for the adults, and 'nilla for the kiddos. Use gelato or sorbet to keep the calories a bit lower.
Cobbler topped with mascarpone creme.
Chocolate fondue with fruit for dipping.
LoCo at 3:34PM on 02/28/08
The first strawberries are coming into season (depending on where you are). You could make strawberry shortcakes.
beth1 at 3:45PM on 02/28/08
Have you ever tried a Pavlova? It has a certain visual appeal as it's so billowy and airy. The whipped cream can be kept to a minimum or you can sub some Greek yogurt dollopped on at the last minute. Beautiful strawbs and blueberries, maybe some freshly sliced bananas, will appeal to all. It looks so great and it's tasty.
chiff0nade at 3:47PM on 02/28/08
I'd go for a fruit crisp and vanilla ice cream. You could do them in individual ramekins instead of one big dish. This recipe starts with frozen fruit if you want the convenience:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/101940
Black and white brownies might also impress.
Otabenga at 3:52PM on 02/28/08
I vote for apple crisps - kinda like apple pie, but a little easier to make and still pretty if you make them nicely.
charm city cupcake at 3:54PM on 02/28/08
Love the apple crisp idea! Or you could do a pudding parfait -- make vanilla and chocolate puddings (or pick 2 other flavors) and layer in glasses. Or just make 1 flavor and layer it with crushed cookies and/or fruit. It's always surprising to me how many people have never tasted homemade pudding -- and it is SOOOO much better than the boxed stuff!
CookiePie at 3:59PM on 02/28/08
I also second the profiteroles! Just the other night I guess I served what I guess Gourmet is calling Sundaes a la Francaise! My version included homemade blood orange ice cream with candied kumquats and chocolate sauce. The candied kumquats are SO EASY! Just melt one cup of sugar in two cups of boiling water. Simmer 8 ounces of kumquats in the sugar syrup for 25-30 minutes. Drain and reserve the sugar syrup for tea or lemonade. You could also make crepes instead as they're a bit easier than profiteroles, though both can easily be made ahead before you hit the road.
Otabenga at 4:04PM on 02/28/08
Chiffonade beat me to it: I also recommend the pavlova. I like a variation of a Nigella recipe, with a chocolate meringue base and a berry mixture for the fruit.
renzata at 4:07PM on 02/28/08
"My challenge is a tasty, not-too-calorie-laden dessert that will wow the adults and satisfy the kids' palate, that also matches the "Burgers and Fries" theme. Any ideas"
I don't think my daughter (7) has every met a dessert she wouldn't eat.
jcrisco at 4:15PM on 02/28/08
My grandmother used to make for us mini pies. Apple, berry, whatever you got. Sometimes pudding pies. She would let us decorate them. With whatever we wanted. Jimmies, whipped cream, cherries on top.
Might be fun.
JerzeeTomato at 4:55PM on 02/28/08
How about Chocolate Mousse? You can make it in advance and in either individual portions or one big serving bowl. Not sure if it qualifies as low-cal, but I'd bet that adults and children alike would oooh and ahhh over it.
missus_p at 5:40PM on 02/28/08
I think a simple apple tart will suffice. It's like an apple pie, but easier to make and more kid friendly.
PumpkinBear at 8:04PM on 02/28/08
What about a sugar cookie bar? I have done this with adult/kid parties. You can offer 2 simple frostings with kid-friendly like sprinkles, sugars, & candies. For the adults, candied nuts, citrus zest & preserves. Half the fun is muching on the toppings.
kiki_tx at 8:40PM on 02/28/08
I haven't made this yet but it sounds fabulous and would appeal to kids and adults. It is Melissa Clark's recipe for Triple Chocolate Trifle With Raspberries.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E6DD163BF93AA25751C1A9619C8B63&scp=2&sq=triple+chocolate+trifle+with+raspberries&st=nyt
izzy's mama at 9:50PM on 02/28/08
Pavlovas are nice and impressive and relatively low-cal! Fruit tarts are a good call, too, I think, maybe like a galette. Yum. :)
Christina at 12:14AM on 02/29/08
Profiteroles.
They're on the cover of Gourmet and my husband, sick with bronchitis, has asked for the profiteroles. Didn't feel like messing around with pate choux, so I did what I used to do in college:
Store-bought croissants, split in half, toast both sides til golden brown and crisp, don't walk away, it happens real fast.
Use the toasted croissants to make an ice cream sandwich using really good vanilla ice cream, top with hot fudge sauce or strawberries in syrup, whipped cream & cherry.
Might sound weird, but it is sooo good...
wookie at 1:18AM on 02/29/08