Just Baking

Pie Crusts . . . some cooks swear that lard is the secret key ingredient. Others swear that the secret ingredient that makes their pie crust outstanding is vodka. Me? I just swear . . . not just a little swearing. A big bunch of drunken-sailor swear words come out of my mouth each and […]

I am very fond of entertaining, and hosting parties or gatherings is one of my favorite hobbies. An appealing feature is that I get to try different food, especially appetizers and hors d’oeuvres that we don’t usually cook in our day-to-day lives.
Though I’m not a great cook, I believe that presentation is as important as […]

When I was well into my third trimester with my daughter Violet, I recall snarfing down a batch of these cookies. Lord help me, they tasted just as good, if not better, by the second and third day.
Paula’s Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies were a hit. They are moist, tangy (why hello, cream cheese!) and delicious.
It […]

You know that heavenly aroma, the one that grabs you by the nostrils and drags you senselessly over obstacles like potted plants and fellow theater-goers to the vendor selling those paper cones of sugar-roasted nuts, rendering you powerless to resist its hypnotic charm? Well, now you can dabble in a little self-hypnosis!
Almonds are a good source […]

If I ever have my own bakery, this recipe is going on the menu. Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe it. Moist and spicy with the pleasant tang of whipped cream cheese frosting. This recipe is from 1910 and from the amazing cookbook, Heirloom Baking with the Brass Sisters.
Cold Tea Gingerbread with Whipped Cream Cheese […]

I like to keep a package or two of frozen puff pastry in my freezer.  The possibilities are endless for making quick appetizers such as Brie and Apricot Mini Tarts, entrees like Salmon Wellington, and one of my favorite desserts Apple Turnovers with Spiced Cream Cheese.  A quick-to-make treat for the kids after school or […]

This is a lightly sweet tea bread with a moist, dense crumb. It works equally well in loaf form and as jumbo muffins. If desired, you can add a teaspoon or two of orange zest for a bright citrusy note, but it’s not necessary. If you’re making muffins, you can sprinkle the tops with sliced […]

Warning:
You shouldn’t make or even read this recipe if you are a Vampire, a mosquito, a dog or a cat (garlic apparently causes anemia in cats and dogs), Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, Silvio Berlusconi, or if you are on your way to a job interview, a meeting or a club.
Side effects may include: dependence, happiness, […]

Roasting vegetables isn’t nearly so scary, and it’s a great technique for coming up with a quick side dish or using up something that might otherwise go bad. The trick is to use a vegetable that’s not going to dry out, and has enough natural sugar to aid in the caramelization process. Following these steps […]

Miss Martha. I know I am not alone in experiencing the unreliability of her recipes. One minute you are celebrating a culinary success, and the next, you are cursing her name when a recipe (or two… or three) lets you down.
I turned to a recipe for Baby Bluebird Cupcakes for my nephew’s baby shower a […]