Royal Icing
Making gingerbread houses–well, actually, graham cracker houses –is an annual holiday event in our house. The first year I thought of doing this, I offered to make enough “bases” for my son’s entire pre-school class. It was a bit overwhelming at first. I wondered what the heck I had gotten myself into! But once you…
White Chocolate Pecan Pie
White chocolate and a graham cracker crust take the classic pecan pie to new heights in this crowd-pleasing dessert that assembles in a mere minutes. While my husband, Jack, does not often cook, there are two or three dishes he prepares quite well. Baking, however, is unexplored territory. So, when he bought the ingredients…
So Easy Fresh Pumpkin Puree
Canned pumpkin isn’t the only game in town. It’s easy to make your own pumpkin puree, and the fresh flavor can’t be beat! As I was wrestling with this pumpkin, trying to cut through it — all the while thinking of several people who have commented that they enjoy winter squash recipes, except for…
Pumpkin Peanut Butter Skillet Cookie (grain and gluten free)
The last few days have proved to be quite exciting. My recipe for Crunchy Top Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal was in a national contest with Smart Balance and to, my great surprise, it won! The prize is an all expenses paid trip for two to Canyon Ranch Spa in Miami Beach. What’s more, I get to…
Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche
Irresistible dulce de leche is easy to make in your slow cooker. Plus you can control the consistency, making it soft set like pudding or drizzle-able for use as caramel sauce. Over the years, I read several times that simmering a can of sweetened condensed milk on the stovetop for several hours would magically transform…
Butterscotch Oatmeal Blondies
These Butterscotch Oatmeal Blondies are one of my husband’s favorite treats. So much so, I have actually wrapped a batch and given it to him as a Christmas or anniversary present over the years. He likes to freeze and eat them very cold. The rest of us enjoy them at room temperature－and…
Hot Fudge Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie
The winning combination of peanut butter and chocolate make this ice cream pie an instant crowdpleaser. Salted cashews, a drizzle of honey and make-ahead convenience add to the allure! When I come across a recipe that is tattered and food-splattered, I know it must be good! This ice cream pie recipe is one of…
Almond Crust (Gluten-Free Pie Crust)
Graham cracker crusts can be a crunchy, delicious part of an ice cream or pudding pie. But if you are gluten-intolerant, a graham crust can make those desserts off limits. For my father’s recent birthday, I created a version he could enjoy using almond meal. I think my kids loved the nutty, crunchy crust even…
Chocolate Mascarpone Spread
The past few weeks have been fun ones in the world of food! My friend Ann from Sumptuous Spoonfuls has been working her way through the alphabet. Logically, she began with A. Each day she chooses a food that begins with a new letter and shares all sorts of recipes from fellow foodies which include…
Whole Grain White Chocolate Zucchini Bread
We grow zucchini in our garden and, inevitably, we end up with more than we can use. One day, there may be two zucchini which are a bit too small to pick. The next thing you know, there are five the size of rolling pins! I often use the extra large zucchini for baking. While…
Mango Freeze
In my never-ending quest to satisfy my sweet tooth and provide a worthy alternative to my favorite indulgence, ice cream–not an easy task, mind you!–I hit upon this gem of a dessert. My kids started the mango craze in our house a couple of years ago. They consider mangoes a real treat…sweet like candy. Once…
Blueberry Crisp (A.K.A. Blueberry Jammie)
An irresistible dessert with a silly nickname, this classic crisp is easy to make and oh-so good to eat! When we visit my in-laws at their lake house every summer, one of our favorite activities is blueberry picking. We can literally walk out the door, empty pretzel tub in hand, and pick away. …
