2009

Honey-Roasted Lamb Salad

December 26, 2009

Sliced lamb is presented atop a simple, elegant salad. A perfect first course or a light main course. This salad has become our family’s traditional Christmas Day meal. We love it and are ready for something delicious but simple to prepare. I ‘used to’ not care for lamb but this salad changed everything. Maybe it’s [...]

Peppermint Meringue Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

December 26, 2009

This recipe was featured on the December 2009 cover of Bon Appetit magazine. Looked both beautiful and festive and I love cakes with layers of meringue so this one was calling my name for our holiday dessert. Special thanks to Abby Dodge who created the recipe for Bon Appetit; she gave me some great tips [...]

Maple Bacon Biscuits

December 24, 2009

This recipe comes from The Los Angeles Times. I have a friend who continues to get her local paper and I was lucky enough that she saved this recipe for me.I love maple and bacon, especially together, so just had to try them.

Salted Chocolate and Caramel Shortbread Bars

December 16, 2009

I saw a photo of a dessert like this as part of a Bakeoff held by Bon Appetit; the photo was an inspiration but the recipe not so much! First, it was in metric and called for store bought elements to complete, so thought I would take it on to make my own version..the year [...]

Cranberry Liqueur

December 16, 2009

I always make my Christmas gifts; well, except for my kids who would just die if I gave them a basket of homemade goodies! Each year is a greater challenge to make something more unique than the last and this year I wanted to make my own liqueur. The photo is not the greatest either [...]

Molasses Cookies

December 15, 2009

I love these cookies! Someone might call them Gingersnaps but they aren’t…the molasses is distinct in their flavor and does compliment the ginger perfectly. They are something we make in the fall and serve with apples but also a stable of our Christmas cookie jar. They are best if they aren’t allowed to completely dry [...]

Last Minute Fruitcake; It’s Not What You’re Thinking!

December 13, 2009

I know, I know…fruitcake? There has to be a better name for it because for many it just sends a message of hard citrus thingys I can’t even call candy or heavily sauced (and I mean sauced, you know, as in having had too much to drink!) pieces of brick. Another food blogger, EvilShenanigans and [...]

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

December 13, 2009

As I make cookies this holiday season and post them to this blog, it’s clear I like making some very traditional cookies; cookies I never make any other time of the year. These recipes are all borne from traditions started when I first starting baking with my Grandmother to making cookies that my children have [...]

Spritz Butter Cookies

December 12, 2009

This is a classic Spritz cookie, all butter and almond and such a sweet reminder of years of holiday baking. Although I did another post today about the importance of making Pecan Butter Balls every Christmas season, these are not far behind. My mother and I used to make these by the hundreds it seemed! [...]

Pecan Squares

December 12, 2009

I thought these looked delectable when I saw them posted by a fellow blogger I’ve come to know on Twitter, @BarbaraBakes (maybe it was the BEAUTIFUL name!). I’ve asked Barbara to guest post here so that we can all enjoy her bringing a recipe from Martha (yes, THAT Martha) to life. See more of Barbara’s [...]