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If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years of cooking, saving the best for last isn’t always a great idea. As a kid, I was told to eat everything on my plate before I could have dessert. And guess what, that always pissed me off. It taught me that if I was “good” or did the “right thing,” I’d be rewarded. All the while, the dessert would be taunting me from across the kitchen asking, “Well, are you good enough to have me? Huh…huh?” As I grew into the awesome adult that I am, I learned that I AM GOOD ENOUGH! Plus, I deserve to have dessert first! Alone or in good company, you deserve it too.
Why dessert first is a great idea:
You know what I’m going to say again, right? You deserve it! We should normalize having dessert in the appetizer section of all menus worldwide. Wouldn’t that be fabulous?
Throughout the history of food, dessert has been that one thing we all look forward to after a gorgeous dinner. But, oftentimes, we don’t have room for it after our savory feast. One of the most beautiful parts of dining in, out, and with friends is the aspect of enjoying yourself, not depriving yourself of a small slice of the good things in life. I have found that when I choose what I truly want right now (and I say that with my best Veruca Salt impression), I get my pleasure “fix,” AND I tend to eat a healthier savory meal. If I’m out with friends or family, we typically order and share the dessert, which ends up being just enough to satisfy. THEN, we order our meal. I have found that by taking this approach, I order less food. This is science, m’dear. If you think I’m pulling your chain, here’s a great article on the subject.
What if dessert isn’t your thang?
For whatever reason, some don’t enjoy sweets or indulgent desserts. I’m not really sure where they live, but I suspect we could never be friends. Kidding…
One of my favorite cookbooks is Anthony Bourdain’s Appetites: A Cookbook. When I first opened this gem, I immediately flipped to the back to check out the dessert section. Low and behold, there wasn’t one. Was Anthony fucking with me? I couldn’t believe my eyes. There WAS a dessert section… just one page that said, “Fuck dessert.” Although he didn’t really mean those words, he wrote that if he had to live without one course, it would be dessert. Blasphemy, Anthony! I had to step away and process the words I’d read.
After much deliberation and practice in calm, I understood where Anthony was coming from. If he didn’t have a bite of chocolate or something sugary, his go-to was a cheese course.
“Not just any cheese will do. What I want after a good meal is that king of cheeses: Stilton. And I would like some good Port with that.” I’ll meet you halfway, oh, wise one. But, in homage to you, I’ll at least have that cheese course BEFORE dinner.
My favorite desserts for the season.
Since we’re still in the winter season, let’s snuggle into warm desserts that scream “cozy!”
- Chocolate Fondue – whip up a batch to share at home using pretzel sticks, large marshmallows, halved strawberries, pineapple, or your favorite cookie.
- Cobbler or Bread Pudding – the beauty of these is that they make plenty for leftovers. Hell YEAH!
- Bubbly Fruit Crumble – blackberries, blueberries, or a mixture of both…whatever your poison with a healthy scoop of ice cream on top will deliver every time.
- Chocolate Pecan Skillet Cookie – Do I even need to explain this one to you? What are you waiting for? Google that shit and make it tonight!
- Small Sweet Bites – Any dessert that’s small enough to pop right in your mouth when your sweet tooth comes a knockin’. Try my Chocolate Cayenne Mini Tortes!
I’m not trying to create a diabetic beast out of you with this blog post. I’m simply letting you know that you have permission to have dessert first. So, the next time you’re out for dinner and find yourself debating whether to order dessert first or save it for last, just remember – science has your back. By ordering dessert first, you not only get to enjoy your sweet treat while it’s still fresh and delicious, but you also set yourself up for an excellent overall dining experience. Speaking of experiencing community over a lovely dessert, sign up for my upcoming course, “Cook Mindfully, Eat Artfully,” today. I’ll have a special module in there focusing on the art of gathering. I hope to see you there!
And as for Anthony and his love of a cheese course over dessert? Again, I’ll meet him halfway.
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Watermelon and Feta Dessert
I love making this dessert every single time because I get to play with shapes and composition. Spending a little time on plating gets you excited to eat the damn thing! Give it a try!
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
Ingredients
1 small seedless watermelon, cut into 1” thick slices
1 package of feta, block form
cinnamon for dusting
1– 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk (you will only use enough for drizzle)
1/4 cup chopped red onion (optional)
1 set of round cookie cutter tins
Instructions
Using the cookie-cutter tins, carefully cut the flesh from the watermelon slices into various rounds. Then, place them on a large platter in an asymmetrical way. You can lay the more stable pieces on their sides, standing upright to add aesthetic.
Slice the feta block into various sizes of squares. Place each square on top of or around the watermelon rounds.
Using a teaspoon, drizzle the condensed milk over the watermelon and feta, ending with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
*For a salad option, you can top with chopped red onion.
- Prep Time: 20
- Category: dessert
- Method: cold dish
- Cuisine: whimsical
