Desserts

Caramelized Pear Upside Down Spice Cake

Caramelized Pear Upside Down Spice Cake

It’s a beauty! I shared this cake with my friend Gene. He was “baching it” while his wife, Sarah, was having surgery. Cooking is not his thing. Gardening is. The other day he confided in me that he portioned the cake out so that he…

Beyonce and Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Beyonce and Cream Cheese Banana Bread

We are enjoying the first glorious days of spring here in Southern California. Plants are budding and the sweet little birds are singing their sweet little songs. I have a Black Phoebe in my backyard who is entertaining me and Juliet with  swoops and other…

Bailey’s Irish Cream Poundcake

Bailey’s Irish Cream Poundcake

    May you have rye bread to do you good, Wheaten bread to sweeten your blood, Barley bread to do you no harm And oatmeal bread to strengthen your arm. …and a wee bit of Bailey’s Irish Cream.   Wishing you a happy St.…

Happy Valentine’s Day: Apple Pie and Roses

Happy Valentine’s Day: Apple Pie and Roses

Just in time for Valentine’s Day. Roses. These sweet little roses are made with apples, puff pastry, a wee bit of apricot jam and a smidge of creativity. Trust me. You can do this. Despite looking intricate, these apple roses are a cinch to make…

Oh My! Applesauce Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Oh My! Applesauce Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

You’ll want to treat yourself to this one! It’s decadently delicious. While applesauce cake has been around in America since colonial times, it became especially popular during WWI. In fact, it was considered downright patriotic to eat applesauce cake during the war. By foregoing the…

Small Sorrows and Chocolate-Hazelnut Banana Bread

Small Sorrows and Chocolate-Hazelnut Banana Bread

OK. It’s no polar vortex, but it is cold, dark and rainy here in SoCal—window-rattling thunder, too. My nerves are noticeably jangled. Sweet Juliet, with plaintive break-your-heart “Mom: Make it stop” eyes,  is hiding among the folds of her favorite blanket. No question. We’re quite…

Orange Chocolate Cookies: That Little Black Cookie You Need in Your Repertoire

Orange Chocolate Cookies: That Little Black Cookie You Need in Your Repertoire

    How do you define elegance? Audrey Hepburn? That exquisite little black dress at Nordstrom’s? Dinner at The French Laundry? Camilla Parker Bowles? (OK. Just kidding about that last one.) It may be time to revisit your definition and add this delightful cookie to…

Hated the Biscuits; Loved the Bread Pudding

Hated the Biscuits; Loved the Bread Pudding

  I made biscuits the other day. It sounded like a good idea but I ended up hating them. B-o-r-i-n-g.  Even a generous pat of Kerrygold butter couldn’t bring them to life. OK. I’ll admit that it may have been me. I am in my…

Happy New Year! Make A Resolution To Eat Swedish Shortbread Cookies

Happy New Year! Make A Resolution To Eat Swedish Shortbread Cookies

Make a resolution to eat more cookies in 2019. These Swedish Shortbread Cookies would be a good place to start. They are crazy delicious. They are beautiful. They are easy to bake. And…they passed a stringent taste test by my friends (and cookie aficionados) Carole…

Double Chocolate Banana Cakes

Double Chocolate Banana Cakes

  These sweet little cakes are perfect. They are single-portion size. They pair beautifully with homemade vanilla ice cream (See ice cream recipe here.) They are beautiful. And then, there is the combination of quality chocolate (Barry Callebaut chocolate)  and ripe bananas–a sure-fire winner on…