Do Moms still do this? Bake a batch of cookies while the kids are at school so that the house smells amazing when they walk through the door? Our weather seems to be making an early turn toward fall, which has me thinking about those first days of school every year, both from my own childhood, as well as the girls'. The anticipation, mingled with a bit of dread - seeing friends again, will the outfit I pick get me off to the right start, will someone be mean to them on the bus, will their ... Read More about Brown Butter Pecan Cookies
Nuts
Chili Toasted Almonds
So, in my last post, I mentioned that Larry is not the world's biggest fan of chocolate. He is, on the other hand, rather fond of treats like these Chili Toasted Almonds. I can't say that I blame him, because they are awfully good. Maybe you want to whip up a Valentine's treat for someone in your life who likes things more spicy than sweet? I think these almonds would be a perfect fit for that kind of thinking. Almonds are also very good for you, so you will also be sharing some health benefits, ... Read More about Chili Toasted Almonds
Almond Brownies
Brownies. Really, there are few things in life that are more sublime than a really nice batch of fudgy, rich brownies. it is one of the first things I ever remember baking on my own, using my Mom's stained recipe card to guide me. Mom was a bit of a chocolate freak, so this recipe had been used many times. This was quite a long time ago, when box mixes were in their infancy, and pretty terrible. Mom held them in very low esteem, and I have to say that I agree with her about that. Particularly ... Read More about Almond Brownies
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
Coconut Toffee Squares
Is there a better flavor combo? Coconut, toffee, almonds, chocolate? Chewy, rich, with a little crunch? A little snap when you bite through the chocolate? Oh golly… See – if I had my way, we would eat a lot more chocolate. But Larry thinks it is actually possible for something to have too much chocolate! Have you ever heard anything so crazy? Still, I love him anyway, so when I come up with a recipe that has chocolate, most of the time, I make sure that there are some things in there that Larry ... Read More about Coconut Toffee Squares