Dessert Staples

I always want dessert. Always.

I keep these things on hand in my cupboard so that If I ever fancy something, I'll have most of what I need:

• Unbleached All-purpose Flour
• Baking Powder (MUST)
• Fast Rise Yeast
• Shortening or Margarine
• Brown Sugar
• Confectioners Sugar
• Nufachatel Cheese or Cream Cheese
• Honey
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter
• Cream Cheese
• Eggs or Egg Substitute
• Powdered Mill or Almond Milk
• Graham Crackers
• Vegetable Oil
• Vanilla extract
• Nut Assortment 

Using the above ingredients, you can make almost any desert:

Doughnuts

Cake

Cheese Cake

Pie

Muffins

Cookies

Brittle

Crepes

Souffle

French Vanilla Souffle

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/3 cups whole milk, divided
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs, separated
• Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preparation:

How to make vanilla soufflé:

Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a large soufflé dish and roll 1/4 cup of granulated sugar throughout the dish, making sure to cover all the interior surfaces. Set aside the prepared soufflé dish.

Bring 1 cup of the milk to just steaming in a medium saucepan set over low-medium heat. Stir together 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, and the remaining 1/3 cup milk until it forms a smooth batter.

Slowly whisk half of the hot milk into the batter, making sure to combine the ingredients until they are completely smooth. Add the tempered batter back to the hot milk in the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly. Stir and cook the mixture until it has thickened, for about 1 minute. Stir the butter into the mixture and allow it to cool at room temperature for 10 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites on medium high speed until they become foamy, and then add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Continue beating the egg whites on high speed until they hold stiff glossy peaks.

Gently stir 1/3 of the egg whites into the vanilla mixture, then carefully fold in the remaining whipped egg whites. The vanilla mixture should be evenly colored and light and bubbly, without egg white streaks or marbling.

Spoon the soufflé mixture into the prepared dish and allow it to rest, covered, for up to 30 minutes or bake right away for 25 to 30 minutes (slightly longer at high altitudes) until the soufflé has risen with a crusty exterior. Serve the soufflé with a dusting powdered sugar and a few plump berries, if desired.

This vanilla soufflé recipe makes 6 servings.