Sweet Sista'

Making a move...

2009-09-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking this one over for a while. My sweet sista-in-law Annie started this blog as a way for us sistas to share what we've been baking. We bake more than we post, that's for sure. Life is just busy. I still plan on making occasional appearances here at Sweet Sista, but I'd like to invite you to my very own, fresh out of the oven, baking blog:www.doublebatch.wordpress.comIn the

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

2009-09-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Fall,I baked a little something in honor of your arrival this week. I've been waiting for you and your entourage of colorful leaves, abundant harvests and decor...and, most of all, your recipes. But it's getting a little crowded around here, because your dear friend, Summer has not packed up and left yet. Frankly I think she's overstaying her welcome. 100 degrees and Fall just don't go

there's a cookie IN my cookie!

2009-09-12T16:49:00.001-07:00

Yum. That's what these are. Just yum. I was a bit doubtful that mixing Oreos into a cookie could result in something to rave and blog about. I just didn't know how those precious Oreos, so good on their own, would hold up in the oven. Uh, they did great.This is a really good recipe and it's got me thinking of a few variations already. I wonder how the Halloween Oreos would do. Would the

that's a BIG cookie!

2009-09-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

O.k. so it's not a cookie. It's a blondie. And, it must be a 'keeper' because I've made it twice in the past two weeks when treats were needed. I like the simplicity of this one. Sometimes I don't have time or just don't feel like dropping cookie dough onto pans. It's got basic ingredients that I typically have in the pantry, and you can substitute ingredients in or out like crazy if you

THESE are a keeper!

2009-08-28T17:52:00.000-07:00

I try a lot of recipes (no surprise there, right?), but I don't repeat a lot of them. For one, there's just too many new ones to try, and often I like the finished product, but I'm content to leave it in the past and search for the next great thing. It happens with dinner and dessert recipes alike. Thank goodness for an in house taste tester (i.e. that very easy-to-please husband of mine) who

Garlic (or Not) Knots

2009-08-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

I say 'or Not' because I was bringing these to a fabulous dinner my mom made, and, while I'll never understand it, she's not a huge fan of garlic. So for her, no garlic. For the rest of us -- plenty. That's one of the great pieces of kitchen creativity. You can make adjustments to fit what works for you.I have done rolls before using a number of recipes and 'styles' : Parker House, as

Have S'more!

2009-08-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

I just got back from seven days in paradise. No, not Hawaii, this heavenly little place called Sea Ranch. Pure heaven I tell you. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I packed up my KitchenAid and took it with me. More on that on the family page at some point, but for now a new recipe.Did you know today is National S'mores Day? I for one think a declaration such as this is pretty silly, but I'm

Mom's Picnic Brownies

2009-07-28T12:24:00.001-07:00

This is one of my mom's classics. Growing up whenever we'd have a picnic, camping trip or day at the beach she made these brownies. The smell of opening up the tupperware container of brownies is definitely one of my favorites. Oh, and these are good if you need something for a crowd. You could make them in a 9 x 13 pan, but my mom has always done it in a 10 x 15 pan. You can serve quite a

Adding a little flavor...

2009-07-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

It's pretty warm around here. What am I saying? It's ridiculously hot. No baking for me the past few days, but our grill is getting some use. It would be so nice if the contents ON the grill would cook, turn over and deliver themselves to my kitchen so I didn't have to go out IN the heat at all to check up on the stuff. No luck there. If you're wanting to use your oven a little less, your

Checca Sauce

2009-07-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

Despite what I may blog about, we really do eat real food -- not just dessert for every meal. Here's proof:I didn't really care much about tomatoes until a few years ago when I was in Zambia and one of our very talented volunteers made me a tomato sandwich. No turkey, no lettuce... just bread, a little mayo and lots of sliced tomatoes. Loving and devouring it probably had a little something to

A little festive for the Fourth

2009-07-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

I made this recipe a while back and thought I'd try it again for tonight's family barbecue. Again, not the fastest, but definitely worth the work. I'm no perfect star maker...it took a few tries, but I think as a finished product this little sweetie will make for a suitable decoration AND dessert. I made a few alterations to the recipe, mostly in the amount of ganache to use (and some

Can I make a suggestion?

2009-07-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

So Fourth of July is just days away. Chances are your having a little barbecue with family or friends. If you're bringing dessert, might I recommend this easy, almost no-bake, tasty treat?My mom has been making this for years -- long before I was born. The story goes that she and some friends once called it 'Better than Robert Redford,' but she decided once she had kids it needed a more

Peanut Butter Candy Bars - YUM!

2009-06-30T16:45:00.001-07:00

Here's one you're going to like -- I promise. I made this for some good friends and it got great reviews. A few of them are antsy for the recipe, so here you go:I think you could probably come up with all kinds of variations of this just by changing up the type of candy used. But the peanut theme going on in this recipe makes for a pretty great finished product.Maybe bookmark this one and

Chipster Topped Brownies

2009-06-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

There's a BIG group of baking bloggers out there who are part of a group called 'Tuesdays with Dorie'. One of them chooses a recipe and every Tuesday they post their own version of the recipe by well-known and very talented baker Dorie Greenspan. Maybe one day I'll be a Dorie devotee, but committing to doing it every week is tricky these days. But, I have definitely gotten some great recipes

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

2009-06-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a quick bread, something that doesn't take a lot of time and is so reminiscent of coffee cake, and a little bit of cinnamon roll too, give this a try. I love to make it in little loaves. They make such great gifts for friends!Ingredients: * 1/3 cup sugar * 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted * 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon * 1 cup sugar * 2 cups all-purpose flour *

Strawberry Buttermilk Sherbet

2009-06-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

A kitchen confession: Our ice cream maker is not being used to it's potential. Every time I use it I think, "Why don't I do this more often?" The answer usually has something do with lack of planning because I haven't frozen the inner canister ahead of time. But I'm hoping to change that. That silly canister is in the freezer right now, because next time I want to be ready. In fact, did you

'Tis the season!

2009-05-26T17:07:00.002-07:00

No, not the Christmas season...it's berry season! Strawberries first and before too long I'll be off picking blackberries...I just love it. The sweet treat possibilities are practically endless. I've been stopping at the little berry farm sandwiched in a little field near my parent's house every few days for strawberries. Cheap, perfectly ripe and so delicious!Break from the berries for just

Cinnamon Rolls

2009-05-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

This was my first attempt at cinnamon rolls. Sure they take a while from start to finish, but that's just because of two rise times. The actual work is really nothing. On a Saturday when I'm home cleaning and being otherwise domestic, it's easy to get these made. I just have to stop what I'm doing and move on to the next step when it's time. Of course, if you're just dying to have warm rolls

Marshmallow Crunch Brownie Bars

2009-04-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

I enjoy a baking challenge, but I'm also a huge fan of some of the most simple sweets, one of those being rice krispy treats. Is there anything better you can make with four basic ingredients? (I'd love some feedback on that, by the way!) I say four instead of three, because as with pretty much everything else I make, adding in a little vanilla makes them even better! I think it's also a bit

Aloha Chip Cookies!

2009-04-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago my long-time friend Terra knocked on the door. Since she lives in frigid North Dakota I was pretty surprised to see her. And, I was even MORE surprised with the treats she was delivering: a perfectly ripe Dole pineapple (YUM!) and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. In North Dakota???No, you see a few days earlier Terra and her Air Force pilot husband caught a plane to Hawaii

Easter Bunnies

2009-04-11T19:21:00.001-07:00

I love having a week off of work. In addition to getting our house cleaned, laundry done and groceries bought (and NOT being stressed out about getting it all done) I really got to do some fun things. Our house is accessorized with a few new things AND I had a chance to make these.Oh, I LOVE spring break! Instead of all of those "must do's" that usually fill my Saturday, after some major hedge

Easter Basket Cupcakes

2009-04-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

Every year I get excited to make Easter Basket Cupcakes ALMOST like we did as a kid. Back then there weren't giant muffin tins and the only egg shaped candies besides a Cadbury Creme Egg were jelly beans. Times sure have changed. The Easter candy section at Target alone is out of control with WAY too many choices, which made it hard to decide just how to top this year's cupcakes. In the end,

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

2009-04-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

I know a thing or two about cheesecakes and cookies. I've definitely given myself a lot of experience and, truth be told, made some pretty tasty versions of both. So why not put them together and create an over the top, rich chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars?I typically like my cookies, alone (um, sometimes even frozen!), dunked a time or two in milk, but nothing else. Cookie dough

Thick Mint Brownies

2009-03-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why, but I'm not one for baking with mint very often...although after seeing so many mint/green St. Patrick's Day treats on other blogs I might change that. But, these were requested by some friends of mine, so I gave it a shot. Once again, another King Arthur Flour recipe comes through again.This is not a quick recipe, but it's worth the time and a little extra work. I read the

Chocolate Caramel Cookies

2009-03-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hands down, these are some of the best cookies I've made. The secret? Rolos hidden inside! They remind me of Annie's Magic in the Middles, but instead of peanut butter, there's caramel packed inside of the chocolatey goodness. Definitely give these a try...and SHARE!Chocolate Caramel Cookies2 1/2 cups flour3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa1 teaspoon baking soda1 cup sugar1 cup brown sugar1 cup butter

Pink Slip Sugar Cookie Bars

2009-03-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

So I got a layoff notice today. You'd think after 8 years of teaching I'd have enough seniority to not be bothered by these kinds of shenanigans. No such luck. Realistically, I think I'm probably going to be fine. This is just a preliminary notice, but, don't get me wrong, it's STILL lame.This notice, commonly referred to as a 'pink slip,' inspired these cute treats. No, I'm not celebrating

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

2009-03-04T18:48:00.000-08:00

I'm the cake baker when it comes to coworkers birthdays. I always ask for a flavor preference, so I can narrow down from the many recipes that I want to try. Just last week we celebrated a birthday and, even though I did ask, I knew what the answer would be from Meg: anything peanut butter and chocolate. It's the same answer every year!I spotted this recipe a while ago during an afternoon of

O-R-E-O

2009-02-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize when I made these homemade Oreos that Annie had already made and blogged them too! Let me just be a second witness that they are delicious. I think they're even better than Nabisco.I guess I just couldn't get enough of Oreos though because I also recently made these:Make them, try them and I dare you to just eat one. They are so rich, so chocolatey, and SO easy! This is a new

Coming back!

2009-02-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I hope. Annie's got her hands full with 2 kids and another on the way. Becky and I are teachers with busy lives who are beat at the end of a teaching day and Brittany is trying to get graduated. So, we've been busy. I can't promise I'll be consistent, but I feel pretty lame that I bake as much as I do and still don't share, at least not on the blog. For all that I bake, I definitely do

Rocky Ledge Bars

2008-08-26T20:24:00.001-07:00

I love that Annie uses marshmallows in a number of her confectionery treats. I'm a BIG fan of marshmallows. So, when I saw this Martha Stewart recipe recently, I thought I'd give it a try. I'm not a big butterscotch fan so I substituted milk chocolate chips, but I bet peanut butter chips would be good too. There's all kinds of possibilities! If you can find Kraft's new caramel bits, use

S'mores Bars

2008-08-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

I've been camping a few times this summer. What to do with all those leftover s'mores goodies... This recipe was a hit with its consumers. I made them ahead of time before I served them, but they really need to be eaten warm so I put them in the microwave for a few seconds before serving otherwise the marshmallow comes off in one bite. Not so good. These are simple to make with the help of

Blackberry Buttermilk Sherbet

2008-07-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

Alright Sistas, it's been a while, but here's something truly sweet and not ridiculously unhealthy! Despite what you may think, buttermilk is NOT full of the fat that actual butter has. It's pretty good for you. Love that!Blackberry Buttermilk SherbetOriginally from Cooking LightStraining the blackberry mixture is optional but worth the effort for the smoothest, creamiest texture.

Easy Vanilla Ice Cream

2008-04-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

It's starting to get warm again. It's supposed to be about 90 degrees on Sunday, but today is absolutely beautiful. So warmer weather means...HOMEMADE ICE CREAM! I love homemade ice cream because it gets all melty really fast. Some require making a custard first, but the reason that I love this recipe is that you can have homemade ice cream in literally minutes. There is no cooking and no

Craisin and White Chocolate Blondies

2008-04-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

When my friend first tried these she took a bite and said, "Oh, I don't like peanut butter." I told her, "Ummmm...they don't have peanut butter in them." "I swear I tasted peanut butter." She tried another bite. "Why on earth did I taste peanut butter?"Answer: I have no idea.Some possibilities could be that it has a chewy texture that some peanut butter bar cookies have or it has a TON of brown

Surprise Cookies

2008-04-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

I had some leftover marshmallows from my husband's campout hanging around in the pantry. I'm always looking for recipes that use up something in the cupboard that would otherwise have gone to waste. Marshmallows would definitely go to waste. I don't really just sit down with a bag of them and chow down. I guess I could, but I don't. Once I made a mini batch of rice krispy treats with some

Bacon and Leek Tart

2008-03-31T13:09:00.001-07:00

I found this recipe in my Real Simple Magazine. It looks gourmet but was super easy to throw together. I was headed out to a baby shower that day and I decided to bring this along. I must say that it is perfect baby shower food or brunch food too. It was devoured quickly, but was ever so delicate looking, even though I'm sure it is loaded with fat. If you have never tried leeks I suggest that you

Two Bit Wonders

2008-03-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have to make all of my new cookie recipes from the King Arthur Cookie Companion because there is a seemingly endless amount of cookie recipes. This one was so easy and I have some friends that love coconut. If you love coconut MAKE THESE. Three words, SUPER SWEET CHEWY. I happen to love coconut and I am restraining myself to not eat every single one of these. It's very hard. They

Magic in the Middles

2008-03-06T18:14:00.000-08:00

Can I say RICH? Another success from the King Arthur Cookie Companion. These are a definite must for the peanut butter-chocolate lovers. They are incredibly chocolatey and the peanut butter filling is soft and perfect. I don't know if I didn't cream them long enough because the dough was pretty dry and dense. They were a little tricky to shape around the peanut butter filling, but I just sort of

Chocolate Chunk Ranger Cookies

2008-03-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

I took an incredible recipe and made it even more incredible, these were probably the best cookies I had ever made so they're definately worth trying!CHOCOLATE CHUNK RANGER COOKIESPrep: 25 minutesBake: 8 minutesOven: 375 degrees FMakes: 48 cookies1/2 c butter, softened1/2 c granulated sugar (I used splenda)1/2 c packed brown sugar1/2 tsp baking powder1/4 tsp baking soda1 egg1 tsp vanilla3/4 c

Raspberry Strips

2008-02-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

I have been completely neglecting my little baking blog. The things I have been baking have just been some old favorites and a few new things. I also have some recipes saved up so I think I will start there. With Valentine's Day fast approaching I thought these would make a great treat. These were really good and not too sweet either. You can't pass on the glaze though or they will be nothing

KA Flour Essential Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-01-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in awhile. I was in the post-Christmas baking exhaustion. I know that I have posted so many chocolate chip cookie recipes, but they are all so different. These are wonderful. For Christmas I got the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion. I love the book because it has "essential recipes" for making chewy, crunchy, cakey, etc. baked goods. They also have instructional reads for

English Toffee

2007-12-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

This is my mom's recipe that she has made for years. She makes it every Christmas and gives and it is just a part of my childhood. I love English Toffee because it has that almost burnt flavor and it is crisp and just slightly sticks in your teeth (if you make it right). Candy can be tricky because you have to know about the different stages. Soft ball, hard ball, hard crack, etc. A good

Homemade Oreos

2007-12-17T06:48:00.000-08:00

Now how can you replicate an Oreo? When I was first married we used to buy Oreos and the entire bag would be gone in two days. They have that delicious crunchy chocolate cookie on the outside and the super fattening and sugar filled frosting in the center. I am a twist and lick person myself, but I also love dunking them in an ice cold glass of milk and then you get to drink the milk when you are

Caramel Candy Bars

2007-12-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

I have been baking, just nothing new. I have a few favorites that people request which also make great holiday cookies. I came across this recipe because I was looking for a way to use up a 14oz bag of Kraft Caramels that I had in the cupboard. This was easy to make and was very delicious. I didn't use the nuts because not everyone likes nuts and I was sending these off to school with my husband.

Giant Ultra Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2007-12-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

When my husband took a bite of these he immediately said, "Mmmm. These-are-so-good," with extreme empahasis on each word. I really think these are his new favorite. Even though chocolate chip cookies are such a basic kind of a cookie, it is still fun to try new recipes because they all come out so different. The special little addition in these is an extra egg yolk. The added fat gives them a

Lemon Bars

2007-11-30T13:36:00.001-08:00

I love lemon bars. Desserts with citrus in them have the illusion of tasting like a "light" dessert. I think this is finally the lemon bar recipe that I will return to whenever I decide to make them. This is one of those things that I always try a new recipe for, but I have no complaints with how these turned out, except that I ate too many of them.Lemon BarsCrust:1/2 c butter, room temperature1/

Incredible Brownies

2007-11-30T13:19:00.000-08:00

These brownies were one of the best that I have ever made. They were so rich and very moist and ever so chocolately. I made them awhile ago and I know I haven't posted any baking delights of late, so I will make two posts today. Again, I know everyone has a preference for the "perfect brownie," but I happen to really like these. The cake flour makes them a little lighter and not quite as dense

Yummy Turkey Treat

2007-11-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

I found this at familyfun .com. It was so easy to put together and I loved how it turned out and the preschool kids loved it at our Thanksgiving feast. RECIPE INGREDIENTS:Bosc pear (head)Melon (body)Cheese (beak and tail feathers)Red pepper (snood, feet and side feathers)Raisins (eyes)Grapes (tail feathers)Mini Marshmellows (Tail feathers)Bamboo skewersToothpicks1. Stabilize the melon body by

Pumpkin Crumble Bars

2007-11-08T13:41:00.000-08:00

Here is my other pumpkin recipe and I'm sure that more will follow. I still haven't made pumpkin bread yet this year and it is one of my husband's favorites. These were de-licious. The filling is moist and custard-like, like a pumpkin pie, but I didn't think they were as spicy as the pumpkin pie that I make. Once again a crumble topping which I love. I think that I mostly love crumble toppings

Pumpkin Cookies

2007-11-05T17:55:00.000-08:00

I love making things with pumpkin. Last year I went crazy making things with pumpkin in them. This year I think I will back off a little. It's just that when you buy one of those big cans of pumpkin it can make 2 recipes of something. So I have made pumpkin cookies already and some pumpkin pie crumble bars (that I will post later). After making one recipe I then think, "What else can I make with

Witch Fingers

2007-10-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

I made these to go along with our pasta dinner on Sunday night. I saw Martha Stewart do something like it with pretzel dough, but I wasn't up to venturing into the unknown so I used my pizza crust recipe. They turned out fabulous and even look a little bit gruesome. The almonds make disgusting looking fungus fingernails.I made my regular pizza crust, but cut off bits of the dough and rolled them

Gingerbread Mummies

2007-10-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

I've been baking, just not posting...busy I guess. I have a few things saved up though. These little treats are from my mom's gingerbread cookie recipe. I love this recipe because it is soft and I really love a soft gingerbread cookie and the spices are the perfect combination. You can adjust the amount of ginger to how spicy you want them. And the secret ingredient is vinegar. Seems a little

Molasses-And-Buttermilk Gingerbread Squares

2007-10-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

I made these for the boy that mows our lawn for us. He does a really good job and as a result receives really yummy trats. Actually, we have a gardener do the front lawn and this nice young friend of ours does the back. We do this because we don't want all of the nutgrass from the front yard to spread the to the back because of using the same mower. And we also don't want to pay a gardner to do

Barefoot Contessa's PB&J Bars

2007-10-13T14:40:00.001-07:00

I have had this recipe for probably over a year and I have always wanted to try them. Actually I have always wanted to try some of the Barefoot Contessa's recipes, but never have. I love peanut butter. I love peanut butter. I love peanut butter. You get the idea. Sadly I did not get a picture before they were all eaten, so here are a couple of links with pictures. I've noticed that lots of fellow

New Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies

2007-10-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

While sorting through some old magazines, I came across this recipe from Cottage Living. It looked good and I wanted to make something new and I had all of the ingredients. This was a really great cookie. At first I thought they were going to be dry, but I was careful not to over bake them and they turned out soft. The cookies themselves are not overly sweet which is great because they are

Apple Muffins

2007-09-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

Another delicious apple recipe...well, it is that time of year. I haven't tasted these yet but they smell delicious and who doesn't love a streusel topping?Apple MuffinsStreusel Topping:1/4 c flour1/4 brown sugar, firmly packed1/4 tsp cinnamon2 Tbls firm butterMuffins:1 c plus 2 Tbls flour1/2 c sugar2 tsp baking powderpinch of salt1 large egg1/2 milk5 Tbls butter, melted1 large apple (such as

Caramel Sauce

2007-09-20T14:25:00.001-07:00

If I had known making caramel sauce was this easy I would be 5 times heavier. This tasted great with vanilla ice cream served over apple cake. It got reallr firm when it cooled on the ice cream, but was so good to bite into and it stuck in your teeth. You have to work quick and have the ingredients on hand so that they are ready to go. Caramel Sauce1 c sugar6 Tbls butter (I used salted)1/2 c

Apple Cake

2007-09-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

I love apple desserts; apple pie, apple crisp, apple cobbler, baked apples, and apple cake. The weather has been turning more fall like and this seemed like the perfect thing to bake. It has been awhile since I have baked with nutmeg because it just seems to go along with fall and winter. When I was little we used to go to Apple Hill in northern California and buy apples and apple sweets and

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

2007-09-16T08:38:00.001-07:00

This is one of the easiest loaves of bread to make and it is so super tasty that you might just eat the entire loaf in one sitting. The bread flour gives it a great chew. I have a hard time making bread entirely out of whole wheat four. I just find it too dense for me. I like a combination of whole wheat and white flours better so that it is a little more fluffy. I made this loaf last week, but

Blondies with Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips

2007-09-07T11:34:00.001-07:00

I like bar cookies because I can just put all the dough in one pan and then is goes right into the oven where it is not touched until it comes out resulting in less eating of the dough. Whenever I make cookies I am tempted to eat all of the dough while putting the cookies on the cookie sheet. It goes something like this. A mound for the pan, a mound in my mouth, a mound on the pan, a mound in my

Mmm...Brownies

2007-08-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

I was talking on the phone to my mom the other day and she asked if I knew of a brownie recipe that required only cocoa and not melting chocolate. I thought it was funny how quickly I knew of a recipe and where she could find it online because I was out shopping and couldn't look for it at home. I guess this really is one of my hobbies. This recipe is the Hershey's Best Brownies recipe that is

Snickerdoodles

2007-08-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

Whenever Joey asks me to make cookies he is really asking for a snickerdoodle. He never has to say it, but I always know. I love snickerdoodles. My mom was always really good at making them when I was growing up. The cream of tartar gives them this great tangy taste. They are kind of a tricky cookie. Sometimes they turn out just right and other times they are completely flat. I prefer to use all

World Peace Cookies

2007-08-08T18:37:00.001-07:00

I don't know what to say about these cookies except that they are probably the best cookie I have ever eaten. They are not your typical chewy, crispy, or cakey cookie. They are a sable which is a French cookie and the name means sandy. They are crumbly, yet chewy at the same time and you slice and bake them. This gives them that uniform quality. The recipe comes from Dorie Greenspan and I am

Folsom Brambleberry Pie

2007-08-05T19:41:00.001-07:00

Found 'em.Picked 'em.Baked 'em.In a tiny little kitchen nestled in the rolling hills of Folsom, California, the now famous Anniebannie had her first lessons in the art of baking. She watched and learned as her mother masterfully concocted batch after batch of cookies, pies and other delectable delights. If you think Anniebannie is good, wait till you try my Folsom Brambleberry Pie!Brambleberry

Chewy "Aloha" Coconut Cookies

2007-08-03T11:42:00.001-07:00

After a wonderful trip to Hawaii, I have decided to make some coconut cookies. These were delicious. They are buttery, crispy, and chewy, which is my favorite kind of cookie. The dough base is similar to that of a chocolate chip cookie. They would be great with chocolate chips or nuts added to them as well...if only I had had some macadamia nuts. I always love a super simple cookie recipe with

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

2007-07-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

This cake looks richer than it actually tasted. It was very good and perfect for a Fourth of July celebration. It requires no baking, one of those semi-homemade tricks, which is a major plus for the summertime. It went together fast, the ingredients are simple, and when it was all done it had a certain "wow" factor about it. I impressed people with something that required absolutely no effort.

Raspberry Breakfast Granola Bake

2007-07-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

When I first read this recipe it was pictureless and I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. I thought it was a great recipe. Everything bakes together to make a solid and chewy dish. It's not too sweet because you can top it with maple syrup or honey. I served it plain and received rave reviews at a big picnic breakfast on the 4th of July. It went together in a cinch. It would also be good

Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

2007-07-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Another great winner of a cookie recipe. These are ultra chewy, which I LOVE! The honey adds such a great flavor. I didn't have any regular honey, but I had honey with orange oil in it. It the gave the cookies the yummiest orange flavor. I'm sure they would be great with regular honey as well, because that is what the recipe calls for. Make these cookies...they are sooo good.Cherry Oatmeal

Basic Focaccia Bread

2007-06-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

This bread was really easy to make and it is a basic recipe that you can really do anything to. I added my own topping of garlic and parmesean cheese. It had a nice texture, soft and a little chewy. I didn't think it was very salty, so you may want to add more, depending on what kind of topping you like on your focaccia. The parmesean added more salt to my bread and it was delicious dipped in

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

2007-06-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

With summer here it is most definitely ice cream season. Especially since we have already had some 100 degree days. Yikes! This recipe is so good, but be patient when making a custard based ice cream. Eventually it will be ready. The trick is tempering the eggs so that they do not curdle. A few weeks ago I was impatient and not paying attention and, oops, I had srambled eggs. This recipe tastes

Zambian Chocolate Chip Cookies

2007-06-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

O.k., they're not really Zambian, but since I'm here in Africa, they can be! I actually carried all of the ingredients over here with me because chocolate chips are no where to be found here. This is a new favorite though. I think they baked better here than in my own oven at our apartment!Here's the recipe, complete with metric measurements for all those Zambian bakers! :-)1/2 cup (100 grams)

White Chocolate Chip Craisin Cookies

2007-06-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

My sister discovered this recipe last Christmas and it has become one of my favorites. I have never been much of a white chocolate fan. I guess I am a dark chocolate snob, but after making these cookies I have completely change my ways and I now love white chocolate. It just hast to be paired with the right ingredients. It goes so well with the pecans and the craisins in these cookies. Instead

Pasta with Bolognese Sauce

2007-06-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

This recipe was tough to come up with, but I think this is the closest I could get to how we make it. We've made it a lot and it had always turned out slightly different until we finally starting paying attention to how much of each ingredient we were putting in. This is one of my favorite sauces and it can be used in different ways. It makes a great lasagna or any baked pasta dish. It is a

Very Yummy Guacamole

2007-06-13T21:26:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love guacamole and there are always an abundance of deliciously ripe avacados in Bakersfield. I have found a recipe that I love and makes the best quacamole. It's simple and you can spice it up as much as you want. Be careful when dicing the serrano chiles. You may want to put plastic baggies over your hands and DON'T touch your eyes. I like guacamole that is a little chunky so I try

Butter Cake

2007-06-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

I made this recipe awhile ago, but I've been out of town and not baking. This made a killer strawberry shortcake. It was moist and just dense enough. The recipe would actually make two 9" round cakes or one 9x13" cake, but it was for a small dinner party. I halved the recipe and made one 9" round cake. It is so easy and incredibly delicious and you could do so much with it. I will absolutely make

Cranberry Orange (Almond) Cookies

2007-05-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

Another fabulous cookie recipe. I actually think these would be a great flavor at Christmas time. (A little hard to think about Christmas when it is only May). The orange zest adds just the right amount of orange flavoring. They are nice and buttery and just a little crumbly. The almonds were my own addition to the recipe because I have a friend who gave me a bunch. The toasted flavor gets spread

Caribbean Lime Coolers

2007-05-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have been eyeing this recipe for some time and I just wanted to try it. I love lime in cookies. It adds this yummy zing that makes me want to keep eating them. Betty Crocker makes these premade cookie mixes in bags. I like to do things all from sratch, but when I just dumped all of the ingredients together and mixed I thought, "Wow, this was so easy and I only have to clean up one bowl. No

Banana Cake

2007-05-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one who always has tons of rotten bananas laying around? In an effort to get out of the banana bread rut (not that it is a bad thing) I looked for something new. Ok, so this cake was so good! I only got to taste a little bite, but I definitely wanted more. It is very moist and tastes like banana bread, but it is a cake. The recipe was accompanied with a cream cheese frosting recipe,

Jam Thumbprints

2007-05-22T11:43:00.001-07:00

I love these cookies. My mom always made them at Christmas time, but they would taste great any time of year. Last February I went to Washington, DC and I bought some plum jam at Mt. Vernon. When I got home I was trying to think about what to make and I thought, "This would taste great in jam thumbprints." I actually made these cookies a while ago before this blog was going, but I happened to

Pasta con tonno

2007-05-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

We make some really delicious pasta dishes at our house and I thought I would share some. It is a little difficult to come up with a recipe, because we don't really use one. Joey is the one that usually makes these meals, but I am learning and becoming almost just as good. This is a great recipe and so simple. Whenever we serve it to friends they can never guess the secret ingredient, tuna. Tuna

Brown Sugar Chcolate Chip Cookies

2007-05-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

I am having a baby sitter over tonight and she always does it for free, as long as I supply homemade cookies. These are what I decided to make because I was all out of white sugar. This recipe uses only brown sugar and is very chewy. I had bought some m&ms because they were on sale. I didn't realize that they were "ogre" sized Shrek M&Ms. They make a nice addition to the cookie. I would have

Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns

2007-05-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

Since I was trying to save money on groceries I decided to make my own hamburger buns because I already had all of the ingredients. It was actually pretty easy and they tasted so good. I only wish that I would have had a little bit more time for them to rise before I baked them, but we had to leave for church. I actually left the wheat bran out because that I did not have any.Whole Wheat

Cheesecake Cookies

2007-05-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

When I found this recipe I thought...hmmm, sounds good, but these are incredibly delicious. There really isn't much to them. The dough is very sticky and the cookies spread alot, but they are so chewy and sort of taste like cheesecake. They are definitely addictive. I tried putting a strawberry slice on the tops of a few before baking. It was a very yummy addition. Don't bake them too long. They

Pizza Crust

2007-05-03T18:42:00.000-07:00

This crust is so good....it was really hard not to pig out on the pizza. It is incredibly easy and pretty much foolproof. Once I tried to use bread flour in pizza crust--not a good idea, actually a horrible one. It made the crust tough because there was too much protein in the flour. I found a little tip about making pizza crust in a regular oven and having it turn out light and crisp. Use cake

Banana Bread

2007-05-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love banana bread? Well, there's Olivia, but she doesn't count because she is really picky. Once again I had some rotten bananas so last night I decided to whip up my favorite banana bread recipe. This is a great tasting bread and holds together very well. Make sure the dry and wet ingredients are folded carefully in and not overmixed. I just used a rubber spatula--there's no need for

Black-Bottom Coconut Bars

2007-04-29T18:26:00.000-07:00

These are awesome. They don't taste too sweet, which I like. There is just enough chocolate and they aren't super gooey. They are the perfect little bite of chocolate and coconut. They are easy to make too. I found this recipe from the Martha Stewart website. A lot of the cookie recipes on there are great.Black-Bottom Coconut BarsFor the Chocolate Base1/2 c unsalted butter1/2 c sugar1/4 tsp salt1

Sweet Dinner Rolls

2007-04-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

These are our little family's favorite dinner rolls. As I made them this morning Olivia was waiting in the kitchen salivating. She kept coming in to see if they were done. Finally she got to take a bite and she told me how good they were. They are pretty simple too and the recipe makes just 16 good sized rolls, again not too many. Joey will have most of them eaten before he goes to bed tonight. I

Mintyyyy . . . Yummyyyyy. . .

2007-04-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's a fabulous addition to the Soft Chewy Chocolate Cookies previously posted: Andies Mints! Just chop them up and add them instead of chocolate chips. They are amazing! This really is such a great recipe. They turn out perfect every time.

Homemade Graham Crackers

2007-04-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

I have never even considered the thought of making a cracker. Isn't that something that comes in a box? Graham crackers are a comfort food for me. We would eat them all soggy in milk when we were kids. You either love this or think it is disgusting. I remember one bowl never being enough. My grandma always had graham crackers at her house and they will always remind me of being a kid. This recipe

Peanut Butter Cookies

2007-04-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

There is something so cozy about Peanut Butter Cookies. It has been a long time since I have made them and I was browsing some recipes and found a new one from the Land-O-Lakes web site. Joey loves peanut butter cookies as long as they are not too peanut buttery. This is a very good recipe for that. They are soft and chewy too, which is a major bonus.Classic Peanut Butter CookiesFrom Land-0-

Oatmeal Bread

2007-04-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

Another yeast bread success, what can I say?! This bread was soooo good. It is sweet, light, and just delicious. I was surprised by the texture. For some reason I expected it to be heavier. I assume that since the oatmeal is cooked before it is put in the dough, it creates a softer bread. This was simple to make and I liked the fact that it is a small recipe. I didn't have rolls and loaves

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Cookies

2007-04-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

I can't remember where I got this recipe from, but I love it. I made these for Joey's students. They are testing this week and we thought it would be fun to have a little homemade "brain food." One student commented, "Your wife needs to open her own bakery. Her cookies are so good." Too much work. Making cookies in mass quantities just doesn't really appeal to me. These are a very good chocolate

Lime Meltaways

2007-04-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

I know. Enough with the citrus themed desserts! Don't be fooled by the humble appearance of these little cookies. They have become one of Joey's favorites. They are just small enough to pop in your mouth and they sort of melt. They are not a soft, chewy cookie--more flakey I guess you could say. The lime gives them a little zip. I think they make a perfect little cookie when you are in the mood

Cowboy Cookies

2007-04-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

Finally I have something to post! I've been baking as much as a full-time teacher possibly can, but I never seem to take a picture. So, I enlisted Nate and his growing photography talent to take a picture of what I consider to be one of the most perfect chocolate chip cookies I've found so far. I'm always on a quest for a better something: a better sugar cookie or better lemon bar (I can't wait

Macadamia Nut Lemon Bars

2007-04-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

I really love lemon bars and in my quest to find a way to use my last bit of macadamia nuts I found this recipe. I don't think I am all that great at making lemon bars, but they still taste good. I think they turned out sort of gummy. The macadamia nuts add just the right touch to the recipe and the flavor goes well with the lemon. All in all, not a bad recipe.Macdamia Nut Lemon BarsCRUST1 c all

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

2007-04-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

What do you do with leftover Easter candy? Find something to bake them in. These are by far my favorite oatmeal cookies. The dough is extremely dangerous. I could eat the whole thing. Pair it with m&m's, my favorite little chocolate candies, and you have a stomach ache waiting to happen. Today I resisted. It was not easy, but just a couple of tastes of dough and one cookie didn't completely

Sugar Cookies on a Stick

2007-04-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

In order for sugar cookies to stay on a cookie stick, it has to be a more dense cookie. I have made cookies on sticks every Easter for the past 3 or 4 years and I have used a different recipe every year. This time I found a really good one that I will use from now on. The cookie has a great buttery flavor, is dense enough to hold up on a stick and still soft.Sugar Cookies for Sticks3 c all

Lime Macadamia Nut Cookies

2007-04-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

These cookies are my first attempt at creating my own cookie recipe. I only made a small batch in case they turned out horribly. I must say that they weren't bad. Not the taste I was going for. I wanted more lime and less macadamia nuts and I wanted them chewier. I don't have that science down yet. But, they were a good cookie. Almost like shortbread, but a little softer.Lime Macadamia Nut

Chubby Bunny Buns

2007-04-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

I added the "Chubby" to the name of these buns because 1. Mine turned out chubby and 2. If I eat more than one I will be chubby. These were a fun Easter treat that I made last night and then baked them this morning. I used an orange roll recipe, but any sweet roll recipe would work. They are pretty simple to shape.Bunny Buns(I halved the recipe and made BIG buns)2 1/2 c Scalded milk1 c butter2/3

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip!

2007-03-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to find a cookie that had banana in it that had the texture of a cookie and not banana bread. Once I made banana bread cookies and they were just that--banana bread in the shape of a little cookie mound. It was sort of like how pumpkin cookies are like pumpkin bread. I stumbled across this recipe and had to try it, partly because I had one rotting banana on my counter and I