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Almond Joy Bars
I’m pretty much tired of summer. I’m not sure I’ve ever said those words before. I usually love summer. I usually love the sunshine, swimming, gardening, long days…but this year, summer has been more about heat. Drought. More heat. My poor garden has long ago shriveled up, and even the weeds are unhappy. We haven’t mowed our lawn in six weeks, because the grass hasn’t grown at all. For the first time ever, I’m counting the days until fall arrives. Normally, I ease up on…
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Apple Frangipane Tart
I’m so fancy. Ok, not really. Not at all, actually. But if I was, this is tart that would prove it. Guys, this tart is amazing. Apples, almond filling, shortbread crust. So, so good. The apples are juicy and sweet, the frangipane apple custard is firm and creamy, and the crust is thick and soft. I’m not sure how it gets any better. Frangipane is a baked almond cream. It’s much like a custard – maybe a bit more firm, but it has that lovely…
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Pumpkin Kisses Muffins
I’ve had an extra box of spice cake mix in my pantry since last winter. I used it to make pumpkin cake balls, and it’s just been staring at me, taking up space since then. I had a vague recollection of a Pinterest recipe floating around the inter-webs that claimed to be the best ever pumpkin muffins, using just cake mix and pumpkin puree. So, I thought today would be a great time to try it out! Of course, a two-ingredient recipe wouldn’t cut it…
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Yellow Cake with Fudge Frosting
I almost titled this post something like, “Back to Basics: Yellow Cake with Fudge Frosting,” but then I thought that it’s not really back to basics here. Good yellow cake is not an easy thing to accomplish, so while it is a bit of a basic cake, it’s definitely not an easy one. I’ve made a hundred different recipes and varieties of yellow cake over the years, some great, some not so much. It’s been a good lesson in the science behind baking for me,…
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Chocolate Layer Cake
This is a variation of the very first layer cake I ever made. I got the itch to make it yesterday, after doing a little bit of maintenance on my site. I’m in the process of updating all of the recipes on all of Lemon Sugar to make them printable and more functional for everyone, and oh holy cow – I came across some cringe-worthy photos and blog posts from my early days. Case in point: This cake. I’m totally blushing right now. I’m so…
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Strawberry Cupcakes with Ice Cream Buttercream
Hold. The. Phone. Did I really just make ICE CREAM BUTTERCREAM? Um, yes. Yes I did. And know what it tastes like on top of a strawberry cupcake? Yep, just like you think it would taste, only better. Kind of like strawberry ice cream, but without the brain-freeze. And, it’s only four ingredients, and it’s E.A.S.Y. So, strawberry cupcakes, buttercream that tastes EXACTLY like ice-cream, and no brain freeze. Best cupcake ever, right? I’ve been on a bit of a strawberry cupcake kick lately –…
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Slow Cooker Apple-Cinnamon Steel-Cut Oatmeal
If there’s one meal of the day that I’m really bad at, it’s breakfast. For one, I’m not a morning person at all. I like to sip on my coffee for at least an hour before I eat breakfast, but on weekday mornings, that’s just not an option. The first-grader has to eat breakfast just 20 minutes after she rolls out of bed, and she never, ever wants anything easy – she always wants pancakes, waffles, french toast…cereal is always frowned upon, as are toast,…
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Cookies for Kids’ Cancer & A Giveaway!
For me, there is little worse than being sick over the holidays – especially baking holidays like Thanksgiving. I started feeling like I was coming down with something the day before Thanksgiving, and by the weekend I was completely down and out with Bronchitis. Needless to say, I didn’t do nearly the amount of baking I wanted to over the holiday – and I certainly didn’t eat as much as I wanted to – although I suppose maybe that’s a good thing. Now that I’m feeling…
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Turtle Cupcakes
So, first things first, what do you think of the new look here at Lemon Sugar? I’ve been working tirelessly with Cory at Zesty Blog Consulting for months now, trying to make my ideas come to life. I have to say that Cory has done a great job, and I would highly recommend his work to any of you working on a blog or website. He’s patient, quick and can make just about anything happen! There are a few changes to the blog as you can…
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Um…about those cupcakes…
Those (Lemon Drop Cupcakes)? Apparently, they work. Less than 12 hours after eating two of them, my sister was in labor! Welcome to the world, Baby Evan! And many, many congratulations to my sister and brother-in-law. I’m a proud sister and a proud aunt today!
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Baby Shower Cupcakes
I’m making cupcakes tomorrow for my dear sister-in-law, who’s hosting a baby shower on Friday night. I still haven’t decided what I want to make yet, so tonight I thought I’d play around with some fondant and try to get some good ideas. Instead, I came up with these. I also discovered that fondant and I don’t play well together. I think I’m going to need a lot more practice before I am good enough to make anything fancy. Plus, I totally hate the taste…
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Almond Snowball Cookies
I’m back! It’s been a long couple of weeks, starting with my daughter’s 7th birthday party, then Thanksgiving, then a week of refreshing the look here at Lemon Sugar. Throw in a couple of cases of bronchitis and let’s just say I haven’t had much time to spend in the kitchen.
