I really ate way too many Christmas cookies. Way, WAY too many. (Popped them into my mouth like mini-m&m’s, and now there are clothes that don’t fit.) Since I’m still craving a cookie fix, I thought I’d try a lighter alternative as Step 1 in my 12-step “Lay off all those sweets” program. I found […]
11
Dec
Dec
Next up for the Christmas cookie tray? These pretty little mocha-yummy bites. They’re loaded with flavor, and they are so easy to put together! I bought these dark chocolate nonpareil candies at my local Stop & Shop. They are not quite the gourmet chocolate candies that you’d find at a fancy-pants candy shop, but they […]
09
Dec
Dec
The holiday cookie blitz is on, and I’m loving these little bars! Lots of great chocolatey taste, and the soft walnuts, along with the buttery crust, add wonderful texture. I omitted the rum because I’m not a huge fan, and I cut them into two-bite pieces. If you like the chocolate/walnut combo, you’ll really enjoy […]
08
Dec
Dec
It is holiday cookie time, for sure, and these spritz-like cookies are a delicious addition to my cookie tray this year. They have a tender crumb and deep almond flavor, and they are piped rather than pressed. Here’s the recipe: Print Buttery Bakery Spritz Ingredients 1 lb . butter (4 sticks) 3/4 cup almond paste […]
02
Dec
Dec
I totally love baking cookies year round, but there is something special and magical about baking cookies for Christmas. Happy childhood memories of holiday baking with my mom and sister, and visions of the cookie feasts that my aunts presented to their guests, flood my soul and warm my heart. I always try to add […]
25
Nov
Nov
Raise your hand if you have never had a cookie from Levain Bakery. Well, if you raised your hand and you’re ever in New York City, you’ve got to pay them a visit. There is some kind of cookie magic going on there, and the cookies are seriously incredible. First, they are huge. And when […]
12
Nov
Nov
All I can say about these cookies is that they are completely and totally DELICIOUS. I was going to a friend’s house for the weekend and thought these would be the perfect seasonal, spicy cookies to go along with a hot cup of coffee or a steaming cup of tea. (or to munch on during […]
08
Nov
Nov
In honor of the 6″ of snow that fell yesterday, I baked a batch of snowflake-stamped shortbread cookies. How thrilling it was to see this much snow in the first week of November…and oh SO soon after Hurricane Sandy. Joy. I purchased this Rycraft cookie stamp quite a while ago and became totally discouraged […]
31
Oct
Oct
One of my lovely nieces is expecting a baby in December, and her mom asked me to bake a special cookie that we could present to the shower guests as a little thank you. After looking at (and buying) too many adorable cookie cutters, the bib was the winner. I liked the size, shape and […]
03
Jul
Jul
Yes. It is 100 degrees outside and I’m still baking. (Isn’t EVERY baker inspired when the thermostat rises past 90 degrees??) Well, if you love coconut like I love coconut, you’ll crank up your oven and give these macaroons a go. They are SO moist and delectable, and the finishing dip into melted chocolate puts […]
22
May
May
The thin glaze on these tasty biscotti pushes them way over the top into extreme deliciousness. Light toasting keeps them firm, but the crumb remains soft and tender. I am not a huge fan of the super-crunchy-break-your-teeth versions of biscotti, which are great for dunking if you’re the type who likes to drench your cookies […]
16
May
May
Little a and I broke from our past tradition of going to the Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT, on Mother’s Day, and opted to spend the day together in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. First up, brunch with the family at this wonderful little eatery called Anella. The weather was sunny and warm, with […]
02
May
May
Okay. We’ve all seen Jennifer Hudson and have heard her pitch the new Weight Watchers Points Plus program. So maybe I’ve eaten one too many cookies, or maybe one too many slices of cake (just one, mind you), but she looks so terrific that I thought I’d give the program a try. Truth be known, […]
03
Apr
Apr
M&M’s makes these “speck-tacular” peanut butter eggs, and I couldn’t resist baking up a batch of peanut butter cookies and topping each with a yummy candy. I used this Classic Peanut Butter Cookie recipe, but I substituted 1/2 cup Crisco for one stick of butter, and I increased the flour from 2 1/2 cups to […]
01
Apr
Apr
Here’s a small sampling of the Easter cutout cookies that took me 10 hours to decorate yesterday. There were 54. When all was said and done, I did a little internet research to look for any shortcuts that would help get me out of the kitchen sooner. Turns out, Sweetopia offers some sample schedules to […]