This is the third soufflé recipe I will include. The apple soufflé is the one my daughter always ordered at the restaurant in Jerusalem that only served soufflés. Jerusalem is one of the most unique cities in the world, such a blend of the Jewish, Christian, and Arab cultures and beliefs. We loved to explore the old walled section of the city. Warning: if you are not on a tour, beware of locals offering tours. They will steer you to certain shops to buy souvenirs and are difficult to dismiss.

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This is the chocolate soufflé that my son Eli enjoyed at the restaurant in Jerusalem that only served soufflés. I wonder if it is still there after all these years. He had this all 3 times we went there. He could not believe I would let him order something that is really a dessert for his lunch or dinner entrée. What are holidays for? We stayed a few nights in Tel Aviv. We spent our days at the beach at our hotel. The Mediterranean sun is like nothing I've ever experienced. Did we burn!!

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The biggest hit of the entire eleven-course French meal I made for the Irish wake was the chocolate mousse so I will include it here. As I noted in my first post, I packed but one cookbook for our trip to Ireland so I borrowed many recipe books from the local library. All the recipes for the French meal I took from one of these borrowed books on French cuisine. The mousse recipe was very simple and very rich. I have never found a recipe I like better and still use it today.

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I had a version of this at the Haven Hotel in Dunmore East, County Waterford. I think this is my favourite fun hotel in Ireland. It is a beautiful, family-owned inn situated in a picturesque fishing village on the Waterford Harbour. A stay is a must for any tourist or just enjoy dinner. Renowned worldwide for its beauty and tranquillity, Dunmore East has it all, whether you want to fish, angle, golf, surf, ride, sail or just sunbathe and relax on one of Dunmore East's many sandy beaches.

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Hurling is older than recorded Irish history. It is thought to predate Christianity, having come to Eire with the Celts. It has been a distinct Irish pastime for at least 2000 years. Every boy in Ireland learns hurling and boxing. My son Eli, who was nine when we moved to Ireland, was no exception. He wanted to see a championship hurling match so we drove to County Kilkenny. When we stopped for dinner, we had the most incredible chocolate cake. Still, whenever I visit, I make this cake for him.

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When we lived in Ireland in the mid-eighties, desserts fell into the same category as beef: they both looked wonderful in the cases, but left much to be desired by an American's palate. The sweets were rarely sweet enough. The bakery items were beautifully presented but just needed some more sugar. I remember on a day trip we took when my parents were visiting, we stopped at a pastry shop, and my mom picked out what we thought were pastry-wrapped figs. It turned out they contained Irish sausage.

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There are things that leave a strong and lasting visual memory: like the Asian art of folding towels into animal shapes adorning your hotel or cruise bed each night. These mints made a definite impression on me. They were presented beautifully on an after-dinner plate and on my pillow at bedtime at a hard-to-find bed and breakfast in County Carlow. The owner of the B&B was a wonderful lady who had perfected this art. They were so elegant, I thought it must be difficult to do. Not so.

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We had this delicious dessert at the restaurant in The Abbey Hotel on Galway Road in Roscommon, County Roscommon. It was not on the menu, but the chef cordially indulged our whim for an afternoon snack. Roscommon is a county of fertile land and beautiful lakes and bogs. Lough Key in north Roscommon is noted for having thirty-two islands. The museum at Strokestown Park House gives a unique insight into the effects of the Great Irish Famine. County Roscommon is twinned with Tuscon, Arizona.

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This is my Special Agent Dale Cooper's (Kyle MacLachlan in Twin Peaks) pie. Do you remember the episode in the coffee shop in which he said how important it is to just take a moment during each day to relax, have a piece of pie and coffee to make that moment in time special? It may just end up being the best part of the day. Surreal like all of Twin Peaks but something that has stuck with me for all these years. This dessert shared with friends ended up being the best part of that day in 1985!

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