Regardless of the season, my go-to dessert when people come over to visit has always been ice cream. However, I have a handful of friends who've recently gone dairy-free, so I've been creatively challenged when thinking about something other than sorbet, sherbet or fresh fruit to serve to my old ice cream homies when they stop by in the evening. Now I have a few new ideas.

Miso is often seen as more of a savory ingredient — mixed into salad dressings, rubbed on salmon or chicken, stirred into a soup, or used as a simple sandwich spread. But how about adding it to some of your favorite desserts instead? 

Q: I am baking some cakes, cupcakes, muffins, and brownies for an event. This is a 2-day event and I need to start baking in advance. How can I store the products if I start baking three days prior to the event? How long will frosted cupcakes and cakes stay for? I will be using whipped cream and buttercream frosting. 

Chocolate pudding is a classic, and I'm never one to mess with a good thing just for the sake of trying something new. But I've been to a few restaurants lately that are offering their own boozy versions of the popular dessert, and it's gotten me to rethink my position pretty quickly. More

Q: I am about to venture into making cupcakes! I must say I am a little worried. Is there a basic cake recipe I can build upon to my taste and the icings can I infuse flavors like key lime strawberry, peach etc. into it?

Sent by Juanita

Looking for edible wafer paper? A cookie cutter in the shape of an anchor? How about cute cupcake liners, or even just a basic frosting starter kit? These five online stores have everything you could ever possibly want for fancy baking and decorating!

I know, I know. This might not be you. It's certainly not me. But I hear rumors that there are non-chocolate folks are out there, and since we're all here a few days before Valentine's Day, I thought it was about time we brainstormed some decadent, festive desserts that don't contain chocolate. More

Truffles and chocolates are one of the traditional gifts folks buy for one another, but I love the idea of a DIY gift for Valentine's Day. Enter these great (and simple!) recipes for quick truffles that are bound to impress your sweetheart - or yourself, or your best friend! More

I don't spend a lot of time pointing out so-called "food holidays" that celebrate specific foods, like National Hot Chocolate Day, because they always seem a little fake and to be honest, they make me a little grumpy. But I can make an exception for one of my favorite treats: the creamy combination of chocolate and hazelnut, more popularly known as Nutella. 

Yes, it's World Nutella Day. How are you going to celebrate?

I was recently at a small Christmas gathering where the host served warm cocktails and homemade eggnog. Everyone was raving about the creamy, traditional nog so I tried a small glass and couldn't help but think that the carton I'd bought at the store was better. Sure, I doctor it up with a little fresh nutmeg and rum or brandy, but still, the store-bought version was smoother and had more nuanced, subtle flavors than this homemade version, which tasted quite eggy to me. So I wonder: is homemade eggnog worth the effort? More