Perfectly Chocolate Cake

Baking cakes from scratch is not usually a process I embrace, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve baked some pretty tasty cakes by “doctoring” a Duncan Hines mix.  So why did I decide to give this recipe a try?  Pinterest (where I spend waaay too much time).  I saw it there and, since […]

Black Magic (has me in its spell)

The recipe for Black Magic cake has been around forever and is, understandably, favored by many.  It is incredibly moist and soft, has a deep, rich chocolate taste and is nearly impossible (at least for me) to resist. The recipe I use comes from Allrecipes, where  lots of folks have LOTS to say, so the […]

Cake Pops (the VERY easy way)

I’ve pretty much steered clear of the cake pop craze, mostly because of all the fussy work that cake pops require.  I know that there are electric cake pop makers and special two-part pans to help make the job easier, but they weren’t enough to lure me. Then…a friend told me about using already-made donut […]

Lemon Heaven (Ina Garten’s Lemon Cake Recipe)

I am a Starbucks Iced-Lemon-Pound-Cake addict.  I just can’t seem to get enough of that delectably moist, lemony tangy, sweetly delicious pound cake.  I’ve tried to replicate it once before…you can read about it here…but it wasn’t quite the same as the one I crave from Starbucks. Second attempt:  Ina Garten’s Lemon Cake Recipe.  Oh…..this […]

Golden Butter Crumb Cake

The rainy day blahs hit hard today, but comfort was just a cup of coffee and a crumb cake square away!  This has been my all-time-favorite, go-to coffee cake for years, and I’ve yet to find another recipe for a cake that’s as soft, moist, and tender. Print GOLDEN BUTTER CRUMB CAKE IMPORTANT NOTE:  DO […]

Heritage Bundt Cake

This post has less to do about this scrumptious yellow cake, and more to do about the newest addition to my bundt pan collection.  I am completely and totally in love with this Nordic Ware Heritage Bundt Pan: It was love at first sight…however, I gazed at it with utmost caution.  Wouldn’t it be tough […]

Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream Tart

  I was trying to make this Chocolate Caramel Tart I had once eaten at Marlow & Sons : I’ve made it before using this adaptation of the recipe by Lottie + Doof, and while it is really awesome, it requires a lot of time and energy. I didn’t really have either, or even the right […]

Cherry Vanilla Glazed Pound Cake

As I was thumbing through some old recipes recently, I came across this recipe that a friend had shared many years ago.  I sort of gasped when I looked at the ingredients (one package cream cheese, 1/2 lb. butter, 4 eggs…), but that certainly didn’t stop me from making it!  My father-in-law’s all-time favorite ice […]

Frosted Pumpkin Squares

An early nip of fall in the air got me thinking “pumpkin squares” and, next thing you know, I was cranking up the oven and zipping open a can of Libby’s 100% pure pumpkin.  And, honest and truly, these are 100% scrumptious.  They are incredibly moist and flavorful, but the spices are not at all […]

Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes

This recipe has been around forever, but I haven’t whipped up a batch in quite a long time.  I made them by “special request” for my son’s birthday, and they disappeared quicker than a bowl of peanut m & m’s.  There is something about that soft, cream-cheesy, chocolate-chippy center that makes these cupcakes positively addictive […]

ISO: Delicious Crumb Cake

As I walked past the Entenmann’s display at the grocery store yesterday, I fought the urge to pick up the Ultimate Crumb Cake, and reminded myself that I’m supposed to be counting Weight Watchers points.  But the taste of soft, buttery crumb cake, alongside a hot cup of coffee, flooded my thoughts and set me […]

Buttermilk Blueberry Cake

While at the hairdresser recently, I was perusing through a copy of Woman’s Day magazine and came across this recipe from Valerie Bertinelli.  As a svelte Jenny Craig spokesperson, I was hoping that Valerie would offer up a tasty,  healthy and satisfying dessert, and she did not disappoint. This cake is not too sweet, has […]

Jake and the Neverland Pirates: Party- time

The little mateys that I care for during the school year know that June signals party time, and this year’s theme was Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  It’s a great animated Disney show that the kids enjoy tremendously, complete with catchy sing-along tunes. I thought about making “Jake” cupcakes but when my friend, Jen, suggested […]

(My Bad) Ricotta Cheesecake

It looks pretty tasty.  Right?  Nice texture.  Creamy.  Well, this slice of ricotta cheesecake proves the point that looks can be deceiving.  VERY deceiving. I served this as a dessert to my Bunco group (12 in all) on Tuesday night.  I made it as a special request for our dear friend, Lisa, who is relocating […]

Mom’s 86th Birthday Celebration

My very spry and youthful mom turned 86 on Sunday, and here’s the cake I baked to celebrate.  It was made with four layers of Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge, and the filling was a combo of chocolate bavarian cream and buttercream (the Magnolia Bakery recipe).  You can check here for the particulars, as I […]