Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos
You are here: Home / Events / Sugar High Fridays / Little bites of delight – SHF #24

Little bites of delight – SHF #24

by Jeanne Horak on October 11, 2006 31 Comments in Sugar High Fridays

I have been known to mention that I am more of a fan of canapes or hors d’ouevres than I am of proper main courses.  There is nothing I like more than a succession of little nibbles, each carefully constructed and intensely flavoured – far more so than you could get away with in the case of a big plate of food.  And if I am a fan of little savoury nibbles, it should come as no surprise that I am also a fan of little sweet nibbles.  I don’t have a sweet tooth as such and I’m the kind of weirdo that can quite easily be satisfied with 2 squares of chocolate – there is no way I’ll eat the whole bar!  Rather give me a bite-sized but intriguing sweet morsel.  Rather let me have the cheese course and bring me little macarons with my coffee.  Bliss.

Last week I was minding my own business, trying to finish my mammoth post on our Mexican cooking day, when out of the blue, an offer landed in my lap – an offer to host Sugar High Friday!  Seeing as I haven’t participated since April 2005 (!!) I was surprised that anybody would entrust this fine event to me – but entrust it they have, bless them 🙂  For those of you who still don’t know, Sugar High Friday is the brainchild of the lovely Jennifer over at The Domestic Goddess who started this event way back in October 2004.  The idea was to have a monthly cooking event where bloggers would all make something sweet in line with the host’s chosen theme that month.  Past themes have included things like puff pastry, coffee, caramel, tarts and a holiday cookie swap.  Something for everyone, really!

Which brings me back to my first paragraph and this month’s theme.  I have nothing against great big steaming bowls of bread and butter pudding, or chocolate souffles, or pears poached in red wine.  But there is something about petits fours (or mignardises or friandises) that simply enchants me.  So much effort and attention to detail going into something so small and so delicate; so much flavour packed into a little parcel.  What’s not to like?  They are the dessert equivalent of a canape – small and perfectly formed, and they always leave their audience panting for more.  Kind of like Dita von Teese, with frosting :o)  So I hereby declare this month’s theme to be Little Bites of Delight, because good things come in small packages.

So what do you need to do?

1.  Find or create a recipe for petits fours, mignardises or friandises and make some.  Just two a words of warning here:  1) please do NOT make chocolate truffles – these will soon form the theme of their very own event, and we don’t want you to be all truffled out before then; and 2) please do NOT make cookies as there is another cookie swap planned and we don’t want you to use up all your good ideas yet! [apparently not true – so bring on the florentines and financiers! – Ed.]

2.  Write up your beautiful little bites of delight on your blog.  A photo would be lovely too 🙂 If you do not have a blog, don’t worry – you too can now participate in Sugar High Friday!  Alanna has set up a special site where non-bloggers can be bloggers-for-a-day and see their sugary creations on the net.  Follow the simple instructions on the site and I will make sure your contribution appears both on the site and in the SHF roundup.

3.  Once you have posted your little treasures (and this is important, folks), send me an e-mail including a link to your post.  If you don’t let me know about your creation, I can’t include it in the roundup!

4.  The deadline for all of this is Friday 27 October.  Anything I receive by the time I wake up on Saturday 28 October (about 9 GMT) will be included in the round-up.  Anything after that is on shaky ground.

Easy enough?  So off you go and find your own personal bites of delight.

[If it’s inspiration you are after, try Petit Fours’ phenomenally lovely website (from which the gorgeous photo was borrowed); or this guy’s site; or Sam’s recent slide show about making mignardises.]

***STOP PRESS***  If you want to see how everybody interpreted this theme, check out my SHF#24 roundup – over 40 petit four inspirations!

More deliciousness for you!

  • A Meat Porter supperclub with Simon HulstoneA Meat Porter supperclub with Simon Hulstone
  • Ping Pong – a dim sum feastPing Pong – a dim sum feast
  • USA day 6 – Fall colours and Monte Cristo sandwichesUSA day 6 – Fall colours and Monte Cristo sandwiches
  • LQ Foodings – a Chateau Marmot pop-up restaurant in LondonLQ Foodings – a Chateau Marmot pop-up restaurant in London

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« In a New York state of mind
Fire and Stone »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. sam says

    October 11, 2006 at 8:12 pm

    as you might imagine i am totally all over this idea

    Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    October 11, 2006 at 8:33 pm

    It’s as if you picked this theme just for me!! Count me in.

    Reply
  3. Anne says

    October 11, 2006 at 10:04 pm

    Ooh, very cool! I don’t think I’ve ever really made something like that. I’m intrigued!

    Reply
  4. Ivonne says

    October 12, 2006 at 3:00 am

    Wonderful choice for SHF #24!!!
    I’m cracking open my cookbooks right away!

    Reply
  5. Jeanne says

    October 12, 2006 at 11:58 am

    Hi Sam
    As well you should be – it was your slide show that jogged my memory of when I made caramel-dipped fruit friandises for 30 people at my 30th birthday party. Siiiiigh. Good times, good times!
    Hi Stephanie
    Thrilled that you like the theme so much! I did think of your blogparty when I was doing the announcement. Maybe my good choice of theme will go some way to earning forgiveness for being such an infrequent participant??
    Hi Anne
    I haven’t either – not for a few years anyway. I usually like other people to make them and I just sit and nibble! Can’t wait to see what you come up with 🙂
    Hi Ivonne
    Glad you like it!! Lots of agonising went into it, but it looks as if I made the right choice 🙂

    Reply
  6. Libby says

    October 12, 2006 at 5:14 pm

    Hmmm…I’ve been delinquent in the kitchen for too long – this exquisite challenge will be tough. But I’m going to start looking for remedial-level options. Great theme. BTW – I saw Miss Dita von Teese in person a few months ago at a high tea in honor of her new book, and she is truly teenie, tiny in person – and absolutely perfect to behold!

    Reply
  7. Gitit says

    October 14, 2006 at 9:11 pm

    Cool!!
    I have my idea – I might come up with more ideas!!! Gonna make some “Chocolate Sushi” (this is how we call this petit four in my house, easy to make, very very yummy and good looking 😉 will write about it in my blog! My first SHF I am excited!

    Reply
  8. Isis says

    October 16, 2006 at 12:35 pm

    I have never participated, but this one sounds just like me: after the cheese I don’t have space left for sweets, and I love baking, but don’t really like eating it. But little bites ….. good idea. Now all I need to do is put a reminder in my brain, and I participate 🙂

    Reply
  9. Bonnie says

    October 16, 2006 at 7:43 pm

    Sign me up for this one! I’ve been thinking about what to make ever since you posted! What a great challange!!!

    Reply
  10. Bron says

    October 17, 2006 at 1:00 am

    I’m totally up for it…
    I have a million and one ideas as I adore little bites!
    How to narrow it down to one or find the right amount of time are my only hurdles.

    Reply
  11. jenjen says

    October 17, 2006 at 1:22 pm

    Awesome idea, I also love bite-sized treats as you can either do lots or less depending on your sweet tooth.
    Count me in!

    Reply
  12. ilingc says

    October 18, 2006 at 1:01 pm

    Oh.. I love petit fours!
    *panics* need.. more time.. argh.. so many things happening..
    *takes deep breath* ok, I’m in!

    Reply
  13. Karen says

    October 19, 2006 at 2:49 am

    Not being a sweet tooth myself, I find this quite a ‘comfortable’ theme, hehe!
    My first and last SHF entry was ages ago but I might just have something for you Jeanne! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Yorkshire Soul says

    October 19, 2006 at 11:19 pm

    Now I’ve got this image in my head of Dita von Teese covered in chocolate, off for a cold shower then…..

    Reply
  15. Jeanne says

    October 25, 2006 at 3:08 pm

    Hi Libby
    You saw Dita?? Lucky you! She is just uber- fabulous and I was thrilled to find a cunning way to mention her on a foodblog 😉 And yes – I find the theme pretty challenging myself – far more used to eating petit fours made by other people!
    Hi Gitit
    Thrilled to have you joining in so enthusiastically! And chocolate sushi sounds perfectly divine…
    Hi Isis
    I’m so with you – I peak too early on the cheese and after than although the spirit is willing I have no more capacity for dessert… except in exquisite little morsels. Can’t wait to see what you come up with 🙂
    Hi Bonnie
    Glad to have piqued your interest & look forward to your creation!
    Hi Bron
    Mmmmm, a million ideas for petit fours sounds fab! And of course, I can’t wait to see your gorgeous photos.
    Hi JenJen
    My point exactly! And as somebody without much of a sweeet tooth, I’d rather have one small but outstanding bite than a big bowl…
    Hi Ilingc
    I know how you feel… But just take a deep breath and everything will fall into place! Or fall apart. But don’t forget to breathe!!
    Hi Karen
    You and me both – I have been very slack about participating. But I’m thinking that hosting might get me back into the habit!
    Hi Yorkshire Soul
    Sorry, did’t mean to totally distract you….! Hope the cold shower wasn’t too chilly :o)

    Reply
  16. Julianne says

    October 25, 2006 at 10:04 pm

    Now THIS was a bunch of fun! I simply can’t wait to see what folks have come up with…

    Reply
  17. La tartine gourmande says

    October 27, 2006 at 12:19 pm

    A Whole World of Sweet Mini-Bites Tout un monde de petites bouchées sucrées

    A world offered on a plate, made of sweet one-bite delicacies, little nibbles of pleasure delicately prepared.
    Preparing these little treats allowed me to revisit the memory and experience of the kid playing with some pâte à modeler (modeling past…

    Reply
  18. Jen says

    October 27, 2006 at 2:31 pm

    Thanks for hosting this – it was fun! The people at my office are eating the results today. It’s only 9:30am, and 1/2 the plate is gone, so I guess that’s a good thing!

    Reply
  19. spittoonextra says

    October 27, 2006 at 4:33 pm

    Non-dainty Chocolate Mini Things for Sugar High Friday

    I mean, it’s not like slapping the dough or yanking a leg off a carcass. You know, manly things. I just don’t ‘do’ dainty. All the piping of cream, of micro-thin layers, of tweezer place granules – it just ain’t…

    Reply
  20. barbie2be says

    October 27, 2006 at 5:52 pm

    Here’s my contribution!
    http://barbie2be.blogspot.com/2006/10/sugar-high-friday-24-little-bites-of.html

    Reply
  21. Marie-Laure says

    October 27, 2006 at 8:54 pm

    Here is my recipe : http://www.odelices.com/recette_gb.php?num=626

    Reply
  22. mekuno cooking says

    October 28, 2006 at 1:24 am

    SHF: Chocolate Caramel Banana Bites

    A rather complicated dessert for Sugar High Friday 24 – little banana cake squares, layered with spiced caramel pastry cream and glazed with chocolate and burnt caramel. Worth the work!

    Reply
  23. Pti bouchon says

    October 28, 2006 at 7:36 am

    it’s too late??? pour mes “délices citron et chocolat”…
    http://ptibouchon.canalblog.com/archives/2006/10/22/2916292.html
    …!!!

    Reply
  24. Pille says

    October 28, 2006 at 7:37 am

    Here’s my entry, Jeanne – forgot to email it to you last night!
    http://nami-nami.blogspot.com/2006/10/shf24-little-bites-of-delight.html

    Reply
  25. Dessert By Candy says

    October 28, 2006 at 8:01 am

    SHF 24: Tiny Mousse and Tiny Clafoutis

    How to make an irresistable dessert more appealing? Make a miniature version! I’m thrilled about this month’s theme, Little Bits Of Delight, for Sugar High Friday. In fact, this topic is quite familiar for me as it is something that

    Reply
  26. Bron says

    October 28, 2006 at 8:50 am

    Not going to make your deadline I’m afraid, camera card is full!
    Pastry is resting in the fridge, un-baked! Sigh… next time perhaps!

    Reply
  27. Karen says

    October 28, 2006 at 11:25 am

    Yikes! My glacé fruit didn’t photograph well. I’ll just post something in the spirit of fun.

    Reply
  28. The Pilgrim's Pots and Pans says

    October 28, 2006 at 12:45 pm

    Non-traditional empanaditas

    If youre wondering what sort of picture composition is that and what kind of unidentified globule is that in the middle of the plate, well, just read on.
    Still reeling from my meringue-custard disaster, what was I doing carving limes and think …

    Reply
  29. Boxcar Kitchen says

    October 29, 2006 at 8:10 pm

    Little bites of delight- SHF hits a home run

    Mini pumpkin mousse in caramel verrines

    Reply
  30. Dest says

    March 1, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    Excuse my for a such a late comment. But who has won the competition?

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Get my latest recipes delivered by e-mail!

Search over 500 recipes

Recently on Cooksister

  • Perfect broccoli and Stilton soup [keto, low carb, GF]
  • Masalchi by Atul Kochhar – Indian street food in Wembley
  • Barbecued salmon with blood oranges and capers
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta, pomegranate and pine nuts [GF, V]
  • Love Yourself healthy meal delivery [Review]
  • Antillean
  • Festive roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
  • Rustic blood orange and pistachio galettes

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Oxtail and red wine potjie
Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Nigella's Bakewell slices & the Big Bakewell Taste-off
Jan Ellis pudding - a classic South African dessert
My big, fat South African potato bake
Roosterkoek - a South African braai essential

Featured on

Also available on

[Ad/Press sample] Love beer? Love peaty Islay whis [Ad/Press sample] Love beer? Love peaty Islay whisky? Then you need to get your hands on this delightful collaboration between @innisandgunn (their original beer is billed as a beer for wine drinkers and is one of my all-time favourites) and @laphroaig (makers of one of my favourite super peaty whiskies). 

Innis & Gunn’s limited edition Islay whisky cask beer is a Scottish red beer which is double matured - first in used Laphroaig whisky casks and then in used port casks. The result is a deeply smoky beer with notes of coffee, dark chocolate, malt and rich toffee, all balanced by a clean and almost saline finish, much like Laphroaig whisky itself.  It comes in a limited edition gift box with beautiful artwork by @scottnaismithartist and is available from the Innis & Gunn website for £6,00 for a 330ml bottle while stocks last (it’s also vegan!). 

I paired it with crostini topped with cream cheese and smoked oysters - the salty, smoky, creamy oysters complemented the flavours of the beer very well. I can also imagine it working well with green olives or smoked almonds. A perfect gift for the beer or whisky lover in your life!

What do you think of combining the flavours of beer and peaty whisky? Let me know in the comments 🍺

#innisandgunn #laphroaig #islaywhisky #beerlove #beerloversofinstagram
This week I made a flying visit to the RHS Chelsea This week I made a flying visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in  London’s leafy Chelsea, courtesy of @babylonstoren and @thenewtinsomerset [INVITED] I was fortunate to have an early morning tour of the beautiful show gardens and by far the most inspiring was the Best in Show winner, Horatio’s Garden, designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg. Horatio’s Garden is an initiative to provide spinal injury patients in NHS hospitals with an accessible garden and private respite rooms within the garden. There are 8 across the UK and the design we saw at the show will be rolled out in Sheffield once the remaining funds needed are raised. Have you visited the Chelsea Flower Show? Let me know in the comments 🌺🌷🪷🪻🌼🌸 #rhschelseaflowershow2023 #rhschelsea #horatiosgarden #horatiosgardenchelsea
Today is the official coronation of King Charles I Today is the official coronation of King Charles III and London is literally awash with red, white and blue flags, bunting and souvenirs. I don’t have bunting… but in celebration I can offer you this plate of red, white and blue deliciousness that is sticky toffee pudding with berries! I had this last weekend at the @bristolbarbrighton - the pudding alone makes the trip from London worthwhile 😍👑🇬🇧 Long live sticky toffee pudding!!
Happy Easter to everyone celebrating! My Easter ch Happy Easter to everyone celebrating! My Easter chocolates are from Ukrainian chocolate producer @roshen_ukraine - gorgeous hazelnut praline-filled dark chocolates, and how beautiful is the packaging? #easter2023 #easterchocolate #easterchocolates #roshen #ukrainiantraditions #roshenchocolate
Great exhibition on at the V&A Museum in London ri Great exhibition on at the V&A Museum in London right now for anybody interested in textiles, fashion or Africa. Such fascinating info about the cultural significance of various traditional African cloths (kente, kuba, bògòlanfini and many more) and a great display of modern African designers from around the continent. It’s on till 16 April so catch it if you can! #africafashion #thingstodoinlondon #londonexhibitions #londontourist #londonbylondoners #kentecloth #kubacloth #bogolanfini #chrisseydou #ladumangxokolo
The wonderful Museum of the Moon installation - a The wonderful Museum of the Moon installation - a 7 metre diameter scale model of the moon suspended in the Painted Hall at the  @oldroyalnavalcollege in Greenwich this week, by @lukejerramartist. A surreal and fabulous sight!
Do you enjoy free art installations? Then you need Do you enjoy free art installations? Then you need to get down to @canarywharflondon between now and Saturday 28 Jan to catch the free Winter Lights 2023 event, back for the seventh year.

My favourites include @lukejerramartist ‘s Floating Earth; Tom Lambert’s Out of the Dark; Fluorescent Firs; Toroid by This is Loop; and the surreal and mesmerising Anima by MEATS - a tunnel filled with hundreds of thin optical fibre lights that change colour and move in the breeze 😍 

Have you been to Winter Lights? What was your favourite?
“When we look down at the Earth from space, we s “When we look down at the Earth from space, we see this amazing, indescribably beautiful planet. It looks like a living, breathing organism. But it also, at the same time, looks extremely fragile.” - International Space Station astronaut Ron Garamond

To experience the “overview effect” (a phenomenon experienced by astronauts viewing the earth from space), head down to Canary Wharf in the London docklands this week where you can see @lukejerramartist ‘s beautiful Floating Earth installation as part of the Winter Lights event. 

This giant 10m diameter installation is created using high resolution NASA images to create a floating scale model of the Earth, lit from within so that it glows from its current home on the Middle Dock, surrounded by the headquarters of international banking and finance corporations.

The artist hopes that viewed in this context, the installation will make visitors and the bankers working in surrounding buildings question how their money in savings and pensions is invested, and whether investments can be greener.

Aside from being a thought provoking piece, it is also mesmerising and surreally beautiful, so make sure you visit the free Winter Lights event before ends on Saturday 28 Jan.
Happy lunar new year! [Invited] To celebrate the Happy lunar new year! 

[Invited] To celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit, why not head over to @mamachensdumplings currently doing a residence at the @thegantrylondon in #stratford where you can feast on prawn & chive dumplings; pork, Chinese cabbage and shiitake mushroom dumplings; pork & prawn wontons with Mama Chen’s chilli oil; vegetable dumplings; smacked cucumber salad; and spicy noodles coated in garlic and Szechuan pepper oil.

And afterwards, make sure you head up to the @unionsocialoc bar for a cocktail - I loved the Moreish Fashion with bourbon, PX sherry, chestnuts and mandarin orange bitters!
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

Cooksister

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Bowls of broccoli and Stilton soup
Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2023 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2023 · Cooksister on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT