Blueberry Pie, Deep Dish

Like many lovers of pie, my favorite part of a pie, is its crust, followed closely by a gratuitous amount of filling. With that in mind, this Deep Dish Blueberry Pie easily becomes the ideal ratio for enjoyment. Its flaky lard and butter crust is pressed across a springform pan for easy handling and filled to its brim with a freshly made blueberry filling. A very small part of me thought bringing this recipe to a barbecue with only a few people would leave a few slices to be eaten (by me) later ... but I underestimated how much people love their pie. Enjoy!!

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Corn Cakes, gluten-free

Can't eat gluten but love cornbread? These gluten-free Corn Cakes rely on a cauliflower puree to complete this pancake version of the delicious treat. A shallow fry completes the fluffy corn cake, which pairs as a great side with dinner or on its own as a warm buttery snack. Enjoy!!

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Coconut Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Whether you're craving a tropical flavor or decadent dessert, even if you don't yet know you have such a craving, this three-layered Coconut Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream is sure to satisfy! The simple white cake stacked on heaping layers of 'fancy frosting' remains light and fluffy with each bite. The sweetened flakes within the batter suggests what its coconut flaked exterior provides: a deliciously classic coconut cake. This was another dessert eaten up in less than 24 hours, so be sure to save a slice for later if you want seconds! Enjoy!!

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Chocolate Stuffed Pound Cake Bites

If you loved the Cream Cheese Pound Cake, then you may love this one a bit more. This alteration takes the same recipe and repackages it for a tasty morsel of sweet. The miniaturized Chocolate Stuffed Pound Cakes are baked in a miniature muffin tin, with a piece of chocolate placed into the center of each. It makes for a  great bite-sized surprise for those not wanting to commit to a full slice of a cake. Enjoy!!

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Cream Cheese Pound Cake

When I was growing up, Cream Cheese Pound Cake was a family favorite for a smidgeon of sweetness to go with a warm cup of (decaffeinated) coffee. Dense by nature, the cake is also soft, moist, with a nice spring in its form. It bakes into a soft buttery yellow and hits the right spot(s) each and every time! Enjoy!! 

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Chocolate Drop Peanut Butter Cookies, Salted

I wanted to stray from the cookie tray, but these Salted Chocolate Drop Peanut Butter Cookies kept calling me back! This classic cookie was not laden with peanut butter, but rather teased the tastebuds with only a hint. Don't worry! The peanut butter does permeate, in the subtlest fashion, its cake-like container under a drop of dark chocolate and sprinkle of coarse sea salt to finish. A variation on a traditional treat, but for me, far more preferable to eat. Enjoy!!

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Classic Cinnamon Rolls, revisited

Lately, I have been thinking about how I could simplify dough-making for a comparable, but faster, treat. I revisited my Classic Cinnamon Roll (See Recipe) to remove the wait time of a traditional yeast rise. In less than 25 minutes, I had a workable dough, layered and rolled with cinnamon-sugar, sliced and baking in the oven. While still warm, I glazed the rolls with a sweetened thick, creamy frosting, oozing down the sides of the hot pastry. Now how did the golden sweet rolls compare? Well, in less than 24 hours, ALL of the cinnamon rolls were consumed! Enjoy!!

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Homestyle Hamburger Buns

If you were ever wondering how to make Homestyle Hamburger Buns to serve with a juicy barbecued burger, you’re in luck: I wondered the same thing! Playing with dough can be instructive: some tinkering with egg led me to forming these buns, readily mistaken for a bag of freshly baked buns at a local bakery. The buns were light and fluffy with a sprinkle of sesame seeds sealing the look and eliciting the doubt-laden question: “Wait, you made these?!" Bake to impress. Enjoy!!

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