It's getting to the time of year when I pretty much stop baking. We don't have AC, because for the most part, we don't really need it. Our summer temps do sometimes climb into the 90s and a couple years ago we had more than a week of over 100 temps, that is not common here. And usually, it cools down enough at night to get the house down to a comfy sleeping temperature - we have a few kind of miserable nights sometimes, but not enough to make us willing to invest in air conditioning. What ... Read More about Lime Butter Cookies
Baking
Molasses Spice Bars
You have GOT to make these. I know, I know - I always tell you that you ought to try my recipes, but this time, I really-really-REALLY mean that this is one recipe you have got to try! They are totally groan-worthy. In fact, if you live in an apartment, or have close neighbors, you should turn up some music or something before you start eating them, because otherwise people are going to think you are engaging in some kind of illicit activity, due to the uncontrollable sounds of pleasure ... Read More about Molasses Spice Bars
Chewy Coconut Almond Blondies
Life seems just a touch busy right now. As soon as I returned from the visit with my folks, I had to play catch-up on spring chores around here. I still hadn't planted all of the seedling trays for the veggie and herb gardens and the weeds definitely took advantage of my absence by trying to take over the perennial gardens, and I had absolutely no spare recipes on hand for the blog. Normally, I try to cook/shoot ahead a little, so that if I get behind, I still have something ready to go. And - ... Read More about Chewy Coconut Almond Blondies
Chewy Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
Why, I wonder do we associate lemons with spring? Like all citrus, lemons are freshest and most plentiful in the winter months, right? Not here of course - lemons are never fresh here, unless you own a greenhouse or have a conservatory or something. Here, all the lemons are in the grocery store. Boo! But, they are there all year long. Yay! 'Cause we love our lemons and even if they are grown very very far away and have to be carried to us on the backs of baby seals, we aren't giving them up. You ... Read More about Chewy Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Bourbon Pecan Pie - just the name sounds delicious, doesn't it? But, first things first. If you were a reader of my old blog, you have certainly heard me lament about my inability to produce a pie crust what was both edible and presentable. Despite years of living next door to one of the world's premier pie bakers - my grandmother - my pie crusts were pathetic affairs. In my memory, watching grandma roll out a pie crust was like those really old Warner's Brother's cartoons, where little ... Read More about Bourbon Pecan Pie
Clementine Crunch Cake
Aren't clementines like the best thing ever? Peeling requires so little effort, and yet it reveals so much delicious juicy flavor. It's hard to restrain yourself, and even buying a 5 pound box doesn't seem to make them stick around for long. I had plans to work on this cake and twice, when I was ready to begin, the clementines were all gone! That required an extra trip to town, and another 5 pound box. What a pity, huh? Which brings up the question of what to do with those little boxes, once ... Read More about Clementine Crunch Cake
Orange Coconut Slices
I spent the first 10 days of the new year at my sister and brother-in-laws house, because my sister had knee surgery and she needed a little help around the house during her recovery. I was glad that I was able to go lend a hand, and it was nice to get some extra time together, even if that time did consist of watching her grimace in pain as she worked to get used to her new knee, and trying to get 3 dogs to do I wanted them to, when they saw no reason whatsoever that they should have to listen ... Read More about Orange Coconut Slices
Peanut Butter and Jelly Kisses
I decided awhile ago that I was not going to buy regular peanut butter anymore - it is just the natural stuff for us now. No more Jif or Skippy around here I'm afraid. Since we are both inordinately fond of peanut butter cookies, this meant I had a few recipes to rework. For the most part, you can just equally substitute one for the other and that is the case with these. Natural peanut butter doesn't have as much sugar in it, which is really good here, because the jelly makes them sweet enough. ... Read More about Peanut Butter and Jelly Kisses
Winter Squash Sandwich Bread
This time of year, we always encounter the same problem - using up our winter squash before it goes bad. We don't have a root cellar, so once the weather gets below freezing for an extended amount of time, our storage spot in the garage gets cold enough to freeze the squash and once that happens, it is not salvageable. We often end up giving quite a bit to the chickens, but I try to make sure we get most of it, so I have made a couple batches of this bread and it is just too bad for the chickens ... Read More about Winter Squash Sandwich Bread
Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Pound cake - sometimes I think it exists just to prove that often, the simplest things are the very best of all. When it comes to making a cake, there are few that have more simple or humble ingredients than a pound cake. And, I would argue, there are none that taste better. A pound cake must have a few crucial requirements. Dense, but not heavy texture. A rich buttery flavor. A crisp, deeply colored exterior that retains a little bit of crunch, even after it cools. It also requires a finished ... Read More about Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Cinnamon Pecan Blondies
Is there anything more wonderful than Blondies? So easy, so packed with rich chewy flavor, and so variable that you never run out of the endless possibilities! And a twist that I love to use is baking them in brownie pans. Lauren gave me the ones I have for Christmas a couple years ago, and I'm not sure where she got them, but they are similar to this one: Brownie Pan. With a sectioned pan like this, every cookie has yummy, chewy edges and comes out looking all neat and beautiful, which makes ... Read More about Cinnamon Pecan Blondies
Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
We had a great Thanksgiving this year, all except the souvenirs we all seemed to have brought home with us. I estimate there were no fewer than 3 different colds kicking around among us, and the one that followed us home is just no fun at all. Sitting and staring vaguely into space between coughing fits is a singularly inefficient way to get any blogging done. But then, the fog lifted for a moment, and I realized that I can probably rely on my lack of organization and find a recipe that is all ... Read More about Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies