baking

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 […]

Almond Creme Macarons

Thanks to my friend, Teresa, I learned how to bake up a macaron that looks, well…, like a macaron!  These French cookie gems have become wildly popular in the past few years and they have a well-earned reputation of being delicate and finicky to bake.  Much has been written about them, and expert bakers everywhere […]

Communion Cookies: For Celia

Celia is a beautiful, little, 7 year-old girl who warmed my heart with her “ooooooh’s” and “aaaaaaah’s” when she came to my house and saw Daniel’s Communion Cookies.  (“You should have a bakery!!” she exclaimed.*)  And…she just couldn’t wait to share that she, TOO, was receiving her first holy communion on May 11!!  Of course… […]

Daniel’s Communion Cookies

My exceedingly handsome nephew, Daniel, received his First Holy Communion last Sunday, and this was my contribution to his party celebration. I am having SO much fun with my new textured rolling pins…they make the sugar-cookie-decorating process much easier for me.  Don’t get me wrong.  I still love the look, taste and feel of royal […]

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 […]

The Nieman Marcus $250 Cookie Recipe

Raise your hand if you remember the ages-old urban legend about the woman who, while dining at the Nieman Marcus Cafe, asked to purchase the recipe for the cookies she was enjoying for dessert.  (ME!!!)  I have to admit that, not having been a Nieman Marcus shopper, then or now, I honestly believed it, along […]

Wedding Dress Cookies / Ring Bearer Pillow

I am SO excited to share these cookies with you because I tried a new technique and I was totally thrilled with the results!! My goal has always been to perfect the piping, coloring and flooding of royal icing onto sugar cookies.  With each new attempt, I felt I was one step closer to getting […]

Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’ve been sticking with your New Year’s resolution to diet, exercise and avoid decadent sweets, then read no further.  These irresistible peanut butter cookies are sure to derail your efforts and lead you astray.  But, if you’re a bit like me and believe that there’s still plenty of time to whip into bathing-suit shape, […]

Valentine’s Blondies

I just love all of the holiday colors that M&M’s puts together, and who could resist this pink, white, and red Valentine’s combo?  Obviously, not me.  Since blondies don’t seem to get nearly as much press as brownies, I thought I’d give them a shout-out and top them with all that pretty candy. I used […]

Sweet Memories: A trip to Chocolate World

I spent this past weekend in Hershey, PA, attending the 2012 Season NHRA Northeast Division Awards Banquet, where my brother received the 1st Place trophy in the Top Sportsman category.  Wooohooo, Tony!! Of course, no trip to Hershey is complete without a visit to Chocolate World, where chocolate heaven awaits.  UN-believable.  I never fancied myself […]

Black Cherry Chip Meringue Cookies

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 […]

Mocha Nonpareil Cookies

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 […]

Chocolate Walnut Truffle Bars

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 […]