Category Archives: Baking

Spritz

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This is my mom’s grandmother’s recipe for Spritz. I have fantastic memories of my mom whipping out her electric cookie press and having dozens of little tree cookies all over the kitchen. They are buttery goodness at it’s finest. Make sure you beat the egg yolks well…they should be frothy and light-colored. I also sometimes have trouble with these flattening out a little (keepin it real). But I love the flavor so much that I deal with it…and, I’m the fourth generation to make these cookies. I can’t really mess with the recipe. Can I? My general solution is to press the cookies out and then refrigerate them for about a half hour before baking. Continue reading →

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Russian Tea Cakes

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These cookies have many names. People call them Mexican Wedding Cakes, Italian Butter Nut, Southern Pecan Butterballs, Snowdrops, Viennese Sugar Balls and Snowballs. They are pretty much the same thing. Nuts and butter…with a little sugar and flour to hold them together. You can make these delights with any nut you like, I prefer the slightly bitter walnuts as an offset to the richness of the butter and sweetness of the sugar. Whatever nut you use,  the key is to grind up the nuts as finely as possible. The bigger your nut chunks, the harder it will be to get the dough to hold together. Pulse them in the food processor until they are about the size of couscous. Maybe just a wee-bit smaller. Like this: Continue reading →

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

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This recipe started with a Baileys and Chocolate Cheesecake recipe I found. I have never made a no bake cheesecake because I very much enjoy the baked kind – and I’ve heard all kinds of stories about no-bakes not setting up right. Anyway, I thought I’d give it a try. I intended to make it as the recipe stated, but got sidetracked when looking for chocolate to shave up for it. I found a bag of peanut butter cups in my baking cupboard and was suddenly fascinated by the idea of modifying the recipe to include a chocolate crust and peanut butter cups chopped up into the batter. Continue reading →

Double Chocolate Orange Truffles

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When I was working my first job at a local Hallmark store, my biggest temptation were the bags of White Chocolate Orange Truffles at the front of the store. They were made by Seattle Chocolates, and they were fantastic. Creamy white chocolate with a hint of orange flavoring. Mmmmmm. I’m making little treats for a ladies luncheon at my church this weekend and decided to do my best recreation of the truffles I adore. But, since I didn’t want to hand dip over 100 truffles, I shaved a Terry’s Chocolate Orange with my microplane zester (one of my most favorite kitchen tools) and rolled the truffles in that. Viola. Double Chocolate Orange Truffles.
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Dad’s Birthday Dinner Recap

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Here’s a little recap of my dad’s special birthday dinner. It was awesome. I loved the time with family, and that all the food came out perfectly! Here’s the menu, and all the links for the items on it:

Birthday Menu

Pear and Feta Salad
Baked Chicken Kiev
Gourmet Red “Smashed” Potatoes
Banana Cream Pie

Not “Doren” – Banana Cream Pie

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My dad is the best in the world. You only think yours is, because you didn’t have mine. I love him and he’s amazing. We had a special time together as a family tonight to celebrate my dad’s birthday. Instead of cake, I made him his favorite – Banana Cream Pie. I was going to name this pie “Doren” after my dad, but he doesn’t have much in common with a banana cream pie. Aside from it being his favorite – I can’t really come up with great comparisons or interesting observations about my dad and a cream pie. So, he’ll have to wait for his signature dish for the bakery. Maybe I’m just too exhausted right now to do justice for my dad’s pie — I mean, he’s kind of goofy like a monkey, and they like bananas too. Perhaps I shall revisit the possibility of this being the “Doren” tomorrow. For now, Happy Birthday Dad. I love you.

Birthday Banana Cream Pie

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“Jessicas” – Meringue Mushrooms

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Ok, I know – the title of this post made you go “WHAT?!”. I’ll totally admit that I never would have tried this recipe on a title only description. A unique set of circumstances led me to make these – and I’m really glad I did.

Today I made some banana cream pies and as a result of using 10 egg yolks, had a TON of egg whites to get rid of. My family is coming over tomorrow for a birthday dinner for my Dad – and my sister Jessica has Celiac Disease. Which means a whole lot of lousy stuff for her, but the biggest impact for me is that she cannot eat gluten. That stuff is in EVERYTHING! She doesn’t get to eat the pies because of the crust. Sadness. Obviously I can’t leave her out in no-dessert land all alone. So I decided to make her favorite, meringues. While looking up recipes for the little puffs of sugar and egg whites, I found this odd little recipe title. It intrigued me. Then I saw a photo of a completed “mushroom” and I was sold. I decided to name them after my sister because it combines two of her most favorite foods in the entire world. Mushrooms, and meringues. Go figure that I’d be able to make them together! Maybe I’ll tie them in to my dad’s party tomorrow with a little note next to them that says “Dad is sure a fun guy”. Get it? I know, I will never make it in life as a comedian. Continue reading →

Coming Soon – Doren

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It’s been a few days since I’ve posted anything…but never fear. More deliciousness is coming.

I’ve been enjoying some family time over the Thanksgiving weekend and prepping for my dad’s birthday dinner tomorrow. I’m making Chicken Kiev, Gourmet Red Mashed Potatoes and a delightful Pear and Feta Salad (with homemade dressing…sooooo good!). For dessert, my dad’s favorite – to be called “Doren” – Banana Cream Pie. I’ve been prepping food all day today, and I must say – tomorrow’s dinner is going to be absolutely awesome. I can’t wait. My immediate family is 20 people…and I’m having a sit-down dinner complete with two forks at each place setting. Woo-hoo!

So there’s your teaser…the recipes and photos will be posted by Monday morning. Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

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I know pumpkin pie is traditional for Thanksgiving, but every year I make this divine pumpkin cheesecake instead for our intimate family dinner. By “intimate”, I mean we only invite my mom’s immediate family, and their immediate families. Which comes to between 40 and 50 people. This year I believe the magic number is 45. We would have topped the big 5-0 if it weren’t for my sister going to her in-laws…and taking her “plus 6″ with her. We watch football and enjoy each other’s company for a few hours while the dinner fixin’s get situated on many many many tables. And then we sit. It’s pretty much just like a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Except we generally eat a lot better than toast and popcorn.

 

Thanksgiving Table

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Molasses Sugar Cookies

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It’s a sugar cookie. No, it’s a molasses cookie. Whatever it is, it is dee-licious! I love the crinkle tops and rich flavor of these cookies! If you let them cook a little longer – they’ll get to be a nice crispy ginger snap. I prefer mine soft, so they come out when the cracks still look moist and the edges are set. For a Christmas-y version, roll dough balls in red and green decorating sugar. Continue reading →