When it’s full-on summer and the air is redolent of ripe fruit and full blooms, why not combine both in a dessert? Seriously, I just wanted to make a peach tart out of some peaches before they got gobbled up by other, more impatient members in my household. Ironic then that I ended up making […]...
Alphabet Cranberry Linzer Cookies
Alphabet cranberry linzer cookies – the classic holiday cookie updated with a spiced cranberry filling and letter cutouts to spell your warmest holiday wishes. Cookie swaps are one of my favorite parts of the holiday season: since I never have enough time to make all the different cookies I’ve been dreaming of, going to parties […]...
Dessert First + Alessi: Roasted Strawberry and Marshmallow Ice Cream
Strawberry and Marshmallow Ice Cream in Alessi Big Love Hello! I’m excited to announce a collaboration between Dessert First and Alessi for the month of May: four recipes by me, photographed in some of Alessi’s beautiful and distinctive pieces. This partnership came about a couple months when I was invited to preview some of Alessi’s […]...
A Valentine from Me and Driscoll’s
Three weeks into motherhood and I’ve noticed how time has taken on a particularly elastic quality. I spend literally the entire day at home: I’ll go through several rinse-and-repeat cycles of feeding, changing, and lulling baby to sleep, and yet somehow it’s always a surprise to look outside and see the sky darkening already. Has […]...
Sated is Ready! and an Almond and Chocolate Frangipane Tart
Well, it’s finished! Stephanie and I have officially sent off the first issue of sated magazine to the printers! I can’t tell you what a big sigh of happiness we heaved when we finally reached that milestone. After months of long nights, intense work (and re-work), we can say we accomplished the first step of […]...
A Plum (or Dog) By Any Other Name
Taking a brief break from vacation recapping…just a few more stops left to cover! I swear I’ll finish my vacation scrapbook before summer is over! I couldn’t not post about stone fruit season and the sunset-hued wave of fruits enveloping farmers’ markets right now. If you haven’t bitten into a ripe, outrageously fragrant autumn plum […]...
Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, and dog Max. 
