A different kind of chocolate muffin
This recipe comes from The Newlyweds' Cookbook. It was a recipe that I've been wanting to try ever since we received the book, but I would always forget about two key ingredients that aren't on hand in the condo: chocolate (specifically, dark chocolate) and orange. If you like Terry's Chocolate Orange, you will love these tasty little muffins. It is a lovely balance between the dark chocolate and the freshly squeezed juice along with the zest. I had difficulties getting them out of the muffin tin, despite greasing, so I will probably use paper liners next time (which will probably end up being a double recipe, as they disappeared very quickly!). Enjoy!
Bitter chocolate and orange muffins
Bitter chocolate and orange muffins
Yummy peach cobbler
I have been looking for the perfect peach cobbler for a while, and this recipe from Tyler Florence fit the bill perfectly. The bourbon gives an extra little spicy kick to the peaches, and unlike a few of the reviewers online, I quite liked the dough to fruit ratio. I used fresh peaches, as I felt that I wouldn't be doing the recipe justice if I used canned peaches. It took me a while to get into the groove of pitting and peeling the peaches, but it was so worth it in the end. Enjoy!
Bourbon peach cobbler
Bourbon peach cobbler
Perfect little scones
I've always loved scones, but have found that most store-bought versions are very dry. This recipe makes very light and fluffy scones that taste just as great a few days later. The recipe comes from 300 Best Comfort Foods, and it is one that I have been wanting to try for a while. The recipe calls for buttermilk, which I thought was quite unusual, as the resulting scones were quite buttery (which is certainly not a bad thing). I may have to experiment with different liquids to see what kind of scones I get. Try them for yourself!
Tea time scones
Tea time scones
The best cake EVER
Red velvet cake is my favorite cake out of all the flavors. I blame Ellen DeGeneres for going on and on about it on her show, and thus getting me curious enough to try it and find out what the fuss is all about. This recipe is from Cupcakes Galore by Gail Wagman and the frosting recipe included is from Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. The moistness is due to the buttermilk and the slight tartness due to vinegar. The red? It's just food coloring. Enjoy!
Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
Yummy cinnamon buns
These delicious buns are fantastic! They come from 300 Best Comfort Foods. The secret ingredient is the mashed potatoes, which makes the rolls super chewy and moist. The combination of the pecans and raisins in the filling and topping are a nice touch too. Try them for yourself!
Sticky cinnamon buns
Sticky cinnamon buns
My favorite chocolate chip cookies
This is my stand by chocolate chip cookie recipe. It comes from my 300 Best Comfort Foods recipe book. I like doing a mix of chocolate chips (I usually substitute the remaining half cup with peanut butter chips or mint chocolate chips, whichever I feel like using) whenever I make them, and I recently discovered the importance of cooking them one tray at a time. I found the baking more even and I ended up with chewy cookies all around. Enjoy!
Classic chocolate chip cookies
Classic chocolate chip cookies
Cheater apple pie
I have made this recipe a few times now, and it is defintely far less demanding compared to a true apple pie. It comes from 300 Best Comfort Foods. To cut and core the apples, I use an apple slicer and corer; it makes it much faster and easier to get the apples more or less uniform. I prefer using Granny Smith apples, but there are other choices provided as well. Enjoy!
Farmhouse Apple Pie
Farmhouse Apple Pie
The best brownies
I love, love, LOVE making these brownies. It comes from my Cooking: a commonsense guide. They are ridiculously easy to make (I've made them on weeknights before to bring to work for my co-workers), and they come out nice and dense and chocolately. Enjoy!
Chocolate brownies
Chocolate brownies
Yummy lemon squares
This is easily hubby's FAVORITE dessert, and I have been neglecting making it for him. It comes from 300 Best Comfort Foods. I first made it when we were still living in our own places, and I was pretty good about making it for him frequently, but haven't been doing as good a job lately. Full-time teaching does that. ;) Enjoy!
Luscious lemon squares
Luscious lemon squares
Yummy banana muffins
I found this recipe in my 300 Best Comfort Food book when I realized that I had quite the collection of frozen bananas in our freezer, and needed to use them. Or, more like hubby was getting annoyed with the growing collection of frozen bananas in the freezer, you take your pick. ;-) It's easy to make on a Saturday or Sunday morning for breakfast, and the spices give it that extra kick. Enjoy!
Banana Spice Muffins
Banana Spice Muffins
Minty cupcakes
This cupcake recipe is from Cupcakes Galore. The peppermint flavor practically screams Christmas, so it made perfect sense to give them a try. Be prepared to use a few bowls to make the batter, as I did (three bowls). I made the peppermint candies in the frosting optional, as I knew that at least one cupcake would be consummed by my grandfather-in-law, so go ahead and add it if you wish. The frosting recipe originally calls for a few drops of mint extract, but I put an approximate measured amount that I used. Just make sure to taste as you add, since extract doesn't need a lot to make a difference. Enjoy!
Peppermint chocolate cupcakes
Peppermint chocolate cupcakes
A variant on meringue cookies
This is a brand new recipe from my The Christmas Table cookbook by Diane Morgan. The cookies are pretty easy to make, and it's difficult to only have one! The recipe originally calls for using a stand-mixer, but I used my hand mixer with no problems at all (save for a slightly sore arm from holding it up for so long). Not sure how much of a difference it makes to use superfine sugar versus regular sugar, but I did use the superfine nonetheless. Enjoy!
Cocoa clouds
Cocoa clouds
Light coconut cookies
This is a brand new recipe from my The Christmas Table cookbook by Diane Morgan. The cookies are surprisingly light and not too sweet with very delicated flavors of the coconut and orange. I used desicated coconut, as it tends to be finer in comparison to the coconut flakes. Though the recipe calls for the powdered sugar to be sifted, I don't bother with that step. Enjoy!
Coconut-orange snowballs
Coconut-orange snowballs
Yummy apple muffins
I LOVE these little muffins; they have become an occasional Sunday breakfast when I feel like having muffins fresh from the oven. It comes from 300 Comfort Foods. The maple syrup gives it a nice sweetness that is surprisingly not too overpowering. I like using my apple corer and slicer prior to grating the apple; I find it makes the job a bit easier. Use whatever kind of apple you like; I prefer to use Granny Smith, as the tartness mellows with everything else it is combined with. Enjoy!
Maple apple walnut muffins
Maple apple walnut muffins
Peanut butter + chocolate = HEAVEN
My favorite candy? Reese's Peanut Butter cups. These cupcakes are the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter, from Cupcakes Galore. Nothing more to be said, try them for yourself and enjoy!
Chocolate peanut butter cupcakes
Chocolate peanut butter cupcakes
Soda bread
After trying this bread at Raglan Road in Orlando, I decided that I wanted to try and make my own. This recipe comes from 300 Best Comfort Foods. I'm hoping this recipe will result in more or less the same taste that we experience with the soda bread we had tried. Enjoy!
Whole-grain Irish soda bread
Whole-grain Irish soda bread
The easiest little cakes
The first time I made this dish was on Valentine's, the one and only time (so far) where we decided not to go out for dinner. I still can't believe that I found this recipe in a Cosmopolitan magazine! I think it was even part of a Valentine's feature. The cakes are quite decadent and are almost like lava cakes, as the insides are very gooey and chocolatey. Enjoy!
Mini-fudgey chocolate cakes
Mini-fudgey chocolate cakes