Frosted Pumpkin Cookies

The nip of fall in the air today brought to mind these delectable cookies!  A quick scan of the pantry to check for some canned pumpkin (yep!) and, before long…… These cookies are soft, fluffy and cake-like, with a mild “pumpkin pie” flavor. FROSTED PUMPKIN COOKIES 1 cup sugar 1 egg (room temp.) 2 cups […]

Esther’s Mandelbrot

I’m fully aware that it was a little too hot outside today to crank up the oven, but I couldn’t resist the temptation to make some delicious mandelbrot.  The literal translation of mandelbrot is “almond bread”.  It is similar to biscotti in that it is twice-baked, but it is made using oil instead of butter. […]

Valentine’s Cookies – Lovin’ from the Oven

I thought that Valentine’s Day would be the perfect time to say “thanks” to those special people who, without always knowing it, make some days a little brighter through their caring and kindness.  I’m thinking about the school bus driver who patiently waits for my daycare kindergartener as he makes an urgent trip to the […]

Yes, little a baked Christmas cookies too.

I’m not going to lie – baking doesn’t really appeal to me. I love baked goods. Love, love, LOVE to eat them. Look at those? How could you not love those cookies? And trust me – they taste just as good as they look. I should know. I ate enough of them in the past […]

Annual Christmas Cookie-Baking Marathon

Includes recipes for Snowflake cutouts, Butter Crisp spritz, Molasses sugar cookies, Italian Christmas Cookies, Nutella Sandwiches, Almond Macaroons, Cappucino Crinkles, Almond Drop, Cranberry, White Chocolate, Pistachio Biscotti, Almond Crescent Cookies, Apricot-Orange Shortbread Bars.

Molasses Sugar Cookies & Nutella Sandwiches

My “Christmas Baking Extravaganza” is this Saturday.  You’ll hear all about this wonderful tradition, complete with photos and recipes, in my next post.  In the meantime, I’ve been busy baking these: Print Nutella Sandwiches Ingredients 1 and 2/3 cups all purpose flour 1 cup butter 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/3 cup blanched almonds 1 tbsp. […]

Italian Christmas Cookies

No.  The stockings are not hung by the chimney with care.  Nor is my tree decorated.  And the presents remain unwrapped.  But I’m having fun baking holiday cookies!  And this is probably my all-time favorite Christmas cookie, as it was one of two recipes that my mom would make to kick-off the holiday season.  The […]

Christmas Cookies – Snowflake Cutouts

Today was our first “snow day”!  School was closed and all my daycare children spent the day at home with their moms.  With Christmas only 16 days away, I wondered how best to spend this precious day off.  Write Christmas cards?  Wrap gifts?  Decorate the tree?  All VIP, but not nearly as important as baking […]

Christmas Cookie Preview

I decided to test new recipes for my “Christmas Cookie Day Marathon”. (There’ll be lots more about this annual event in upcoming posts). As if I don’t already have enough cookie books and holiday baking magazines, I went ahead and purchased the Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications “Christmas Cookies”. Lots of different recipes! […]

The Maine Event

For the past four years, three special friends and I have headed to Ogunquit, Maine, for an October weekend at the Anchorage by the Sea.  This is a year-round resort with spectacular views of the ocean and access to Marginal Way; a cliffwalk along the rocky coast that leads to a neat little tourist area […]

Grandma’s Raspberry Jam Sticks

I’m heading to Rhode Island tomorrow to do some clamming and have a little fun in the sun.  Actually, I will not do any clamming at all.  I’ll sit on a little strip of “beach” with my sister-in-law and watch as our husbands disappear into the horizon, rake and net in hand, to search with […]