Deep in the heart of summer, and we can’t get enough of sweet ripe fruit around here. My daughter Isabelle would live on fruit if she could; it’s been a trial to coax her to eat her dinner when she keeps insisting that she only wants to eat blueberries and strawberries and mango. How can […]...
Caramel, Lavender, and Fleur de Sel Lollipops
Dear readers, I’m so happy to announce that my newest cookbook, Lollipop Love: Sweet Indulgence with Chocolate, Caramel, and Sugar, is about to be published! I’ve spent so much of the last couple years dreaming about, researching, and testing out lollipops, so I’m very glad to finally be able to share it all with […]...
Black Sesame Ice Cream with White Miso Caramel
I’m continuing my streak of Asian desserts by looking back at one of my favorite Asian flavors: black sesame. It’s still kind of a niche flavor over here but in Hong Kong (or Japan) it’s a near-staple of any bakery menu. Interestingly, while both white and black sesame seeds are common in Asia, I […]...
Homemade Halloween: Making “Twix” Bars
With Halloween coming up next week. I’m finishing all my preparations, which mostly involve putting together Isabelle’s costume and moving all the pumpkins in the house back to their designated places, after she’s moved them all again for the twentieth time. Apparently pumpkins are way more fun than her regular toys – who knew? […]...
Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel Buttercream and Apples
Indian summer continues on in full swelter here in the bay area. It’s honestly the hottest it’s been here for the last six months: the mornings start out promisingly grey and overcast, and then by mid-morning it’s just cloudless sky and shimmering heat. Not-so-little-Isabelle is growing out of her summer t-shirts and shorts, clothes […]...
A Tribute to the Queen of the Daring Bakers
The Chocolate Caramel Tart, from Daring Bakers August 2007 I’ve been busy for weeks with pre-trip madness, but on Tuesday I got a sudden, sad reminder of how fragile and precious life is. Lisa, the blogger behind La Mia Cucina and one of the founders of the Daring Bakers, unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind a […]...
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. 
