It’s best we try no to be too hard on ourselves. We really try to be good watching what we eat. How many of us count calories, and then go through self punishment in the form of some kind of exercise to burn off those extra bits we ate in a moment of weakness?

We drink the standard 8 glasses of water a day, try to reduce our sugar intake, eat more fiber, watch our carbs, and make the effort to eat our 9th vegetable of the day. No eating after 8pm, lights out at 11, because 8 hours of sleep is good for you. We’re so proud of ourselves when we’re good and fought another daily battle against foods that are so tempting. We wake up the next day to do it all over again.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to just give in once in a while? To cut ourselves some slack and reward our good behavior with something truly decadent, something that is sooo not fat, calorie or sugar reduced? Something that is so ultimately satisfying that it has the power to brighten your day and put a smile on your face?

For me, that could be a piece of fudgy chocolate cake, still warm apple betty (using fresh apples of course) or a piece of dark chocolate with a glass of ruby port. As a pastry chef, I have certainly fallen under the dessert spell and had my own moments of weakness (freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with a fresh cup of coffee) I’m no different. Like mac n’ cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and meatloaf, dessert is my ultimate comfort food. Hell I like it so much, I owned a business where I made and sold the stuff.

I’ve had my share of blame from people who have fallen for dessert temptation. I’ve been told that I’m evil. I’ve also been questioned as to whether dessert will ever die off as a result of people eating healthier (Gawd, I hope not as my profession relies on it) And just like I tell people who ask, the answer is no and here’s why.

I’m very much aware that people are making healthier choices when it comes to what they consume.  We’re getting better with reading food labels, understanding the difference between saturated and non-saturated fat and being more open to non-dairy, non-meat, non-egg, non-sugar, non-flavour eating styles then ever before. We’re human and what is an enjoyed life if we can’t indulge from time to time? That’s where dessert fits in.

Because our standards have risen the bar on the whole outlook of food and eating, when it’s time to indulge, we want to indulge in the real thing.  Or at least, try not to feel guilty when we do indulge. We don’t want the oily substance they call cream, we want the 36% or better yet, the clotted cream.  We don’t want the fake maple glaze on our doughnuts, instead we want real Canadian maple syrup drenching our pastry, better yet, add a piece of bacon to that doughnut.  We will not be satisfied with cafe’s whose shtick is to serve huge pieces of pie (Food cost! Food cost!) that are “suppose” to taste like coconut cream but all one can taste is gelatin. And stop trying to satisfy us with hemp-oatmeal, omega 3, sesame, seaweed granola bars!  And no, they don’t taste just like chocolate chip cookies!

In other words, when we decide we want to indulge, half-assed will just not do. In for a penny, in for a pound!

I have a hard time believing anybody who tells me they don’t have a sweet tooth. I call bull#%%&amp. Everybody has a sweet tooth although I will give in and say some are bigger then others.  If you enjoy a cookie, an Oh Henry Bar, or a pint of Haagen Daz Rocky Road ice cream (mmmm Haagen Daz….) you my friend have a sweet tooth.

For those people who think they are righteous because they went up to the dessert buffet and cut a piece of dessert in half and left the other half there, I’m calling you out as a phony.  We all know that as soon as you get home, your going to down that box of Oreo’s.  I’ve got my beady eye on you.

I also find the idea of diet desserts quite humorous. There is no such thing. If you remove an ingredient, it has to be replaced with something that will act the same way as the original ingredient or the dessert won’t work or taste good. I’m not referring to those who have serious diet restrictions (diabetics, gluten intolerant or celiacs etc) This is for people who want their dessert without the calories (half the taste) In this case, you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Dessert is not meant to take off pounds, but to take off years, so get over it. Take a chance!  Live a little! It’s okay to give into that craving once in a while.  It will go a long way in satisfying that need then say a calorie friendly, cardboard tasting, sawdust drying food particle that someone is trying to pass off as a dessert “that’s good for you”

Dessert is many things. It’s that late night treat stolen in the dark of your kitchen when everyone is asleep. It’s that simple pleasure halfway through your work day. It’s that satisfying accompaniment to a great cup of coffee or that chocolate cake your sharing with your friends. It can be overly complicated on a restaurant menu, or simple on a Sunday.  It’s a lot of things but boring it never is.

To help everybody get into the holiday spirit, I ask you to join me in my next segment; my adventures in Christmas baking and why pastry chefs have the best liquor cabinets!