Thanks to one-too-many snow days, I was able to find enough time to make a batch of Valentine’s sugar cookies. I’ve been trying for a long long time to perfect the sugar cookie baking and decorating process, and I’ve spent way too much time collecting recipes, buying books and reading blog after blog for all […]
As the snow was falling from the sky yesterday, these gingerbread snowflakes were adorning my kitchen table. I sat there for hours, my pastry bag filled with royal icing, having too much fun decorating each and every one. I had baked the cookies a couple of weeks ago, and stored them (undecorated) in the freezer. […]
This is one of my all-time favorite holiday cookies. The recipe for this heavenly bar cookie comes from Land o Lakes. Seedless raspberry jam, white chips and a shortbread crumble are sprinkled atop a partially baked shortbread base, and then the pan is returned to the oven for final baking. The directions specify using […]
Here’s the story: 1. Went to a Baptism…party followed at the house. 2. After a delicious dinner…dessert time…HUGE tray of Italian cookies baked by “Grandma”. 3. Ate a half-dozen of these gems…TOTALLY needed the recipe. 4. Stalked “Grandma”. Got her alone (very important), complimented her gorgeous cookies, took a deep breath and asked for the recipe. […]
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 […]
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… […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
I thought I’d have some fun with my shamrock cookie cutter and wish a Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all! “May your blessings outnumber The Shamrocks that grow And may trouble avoid you Wherever you go.” “A” *Sugar cookie recipe courtesy of sweetsugarbelle.com!
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, […]
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 […]
UNdecorating after the holidays leaves me blue…so, before I begin dismantling, I thought I’d share a few of this year’s favorite things: Fresh tree for the living room (it smelled terrifc…for about 3 days). A pink tree for the dining room…decorated with Swarovski crystal snowflake ornaments! The kitchen tree makes me smile: The mantle: I’m […]
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 […]
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 […]