Reading Room Blog
Dessert
Featured Post: Recipes
Recipe: Paczki or Polish Donuts
In between the rolling hills of Sierockie, Poland, Grandma Zoisa lives quietly in a tiny village with a population of around 500 residents. The Tatra Mountains watch over her small...Read More »
Recipes
Franzbrötchen
I am beside myself with excitement about our new cycling tour that goes from Copenhagen to Berlin! One reason is a food item you will undoubtedly encounter along the way...Read More »
Recipes
Melon with Black Pepper and Mint
Melone Ghiacciato con Menta or Melon with Black Pepper and Mint This refreshing dish comes to us from Bea Tassinari, our Country Coordinator in Italy, who also helps coordinate lunches...Read More »
Recipes
Chocolate Guinness, Bailey’s, and Whiskey Cupcakes
Looking for an inspired Valentine’s Day gift for the love of your life? We have the perfect idea – A bicycling tour of Ireland presented with this decadent and delicious...Read More »
Recipes
Tarte Tatin
Two sisters, Carolina (1847-1911) and Stéphine Tatin (1838-1917), from Lamotte-Beuvron, a small village in the Loire Valley of France, are considered the creators of this wonderful tart. The sisters owned and...Read More »
Recipes
Panna Cotta
Panna Cotta Travelers on the recent Bicycling Sardinia – Alghero to Cagliari trip devoured a wonderful Panna Cotta which inspired Italian tour leader Lisa Merighi to share her grandmother’s recipe...Read More »
Recipes
Sachertorte
Some would argue that Sachertorte is THE dessert one thinks of when you think of Vienna and we agree it is hard to go wrong when you combine butter, chocolate,...Read More »
Recipes
Apple Spice Cake: Modern Pain d’Epices
History of Pain d’Epices (Spiced Bread) According to the World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting by Eva Crane, spiced bread originates from honey cakes from Ancient Egypt. The middle...Read More »
Recipes
Scottish Cranachan
Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert and we are fortunate that our Scottish coordinators are willing to share their favorite recipe with us. Nowadays, Cranachan is typically made from a...Read More »
Recipes
Provençal Melon with Beaumes de Venise Muscat
The ExperiencePlus! Bicycling through the Best of Provence Plus! the Luberon and Aix-en-Provence tour now goes through Beaumes de Venise. A lot of France’s melons grow nearby around Cavaillon, and...Read More »
Recipes
Crème Brûlée
When you travel to France, chances are you’ve got some culinary must-tastes on your list. While crepes and the delicately-crafted pastries in the corner patisseries are delightful, one dessert you...Read More »
News, Recipes
Dordogne Hazelnut Cake
I, like most of you, find myself excited by local specialties while I’m traveling and I often come home with flavored oils, spices or syrups that then sit in my...Read More »
Recipes
Panpepato or Pepper Bread
Though the origins of Panpepato aren’t certain one theory is that Sister Berta adapted a Panforte recipe when Siena was under siege and instead of using fresh fruit, she used...Read More »
Recipes
Josette’s Cherry Clafoutis
Josette’s Cherry Clafoutis Preheat oven to 400F Ingredients: 1/2 pounds pitted Cherries 3/4 cup flour 2/3 cup sugar 3 eggs 1 cup milk or light cream 1/3 cup melted butter...Read More »
Recipes
Strawberry Lasagna with Cream
Serves Four Sponge Cake: 3 egg yolks 1/3 cup sugar pinch of salt 3 egg whites 3/4 cup flour Zest from half an orange The Filling: 1 cup of fresh...Read More »
Recipes
Panforte with Hazelnut & Almonds
“Panforte” means “tough bread” in Italian. It is somewhat similar to a Christmas fruit cake, American-style. Panforte and Panettone are the ultimate Christmas or holiday Italian dessert. Panforte is originally...Read More »
Recipes
Baked Lemon Almond Tart
The past several years, Rick and I have discovered the joys and benefits of almonds. We eat them as a snack, put them in our oatmeal or granola, and add...Read More »
Recipes
Salame al Cioccolato
(literally translated as Chocolate Salami) ExperiencePlus! is proud to share this recipe from the Agriturismo il Rigo located in Val d’Orcia near San Quirico d’Orcia. ExperiencePlus! stopped there for dinner...Read More »
Recipes
Bavarian Apple Torte
Bavarian Apple Torte ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours has a tradition of celebrating birthdays with a dessert from an area that one of our bicycle tours travels through. This month we sampled...Read More »
Recipes
Panettone, Italian Christmas Bread
Panettone, Italian Christmas Bread My father would bring home at least two or three brightly colored boxes -the color blue dominated – inside a delicious, rounded mound of a cake-like,...Read More »
