• No Bake Cheesecake

    This recipe might not be new to you, because it’s one of those that’s been around for a long time. It was probably one of those “What can we make with Cool-Whip?” recipes that popped up back when it started hitting the grocery store freezer cases many years ago – 1967, just in case you were wondering… By now, you know how I feel about Cool-Whip. It’s full of chemicals, including both high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated vegetable (palm and coconut) oils. Knowing how easy it…

  • Whoopie Pies

    I did a lot of baking this past week.  I think I made eight different recipes in five days.  In fact, right now I’m working on this blog post in an effort to ignore the mess I made in my kitchen.  It’s not pretty.  I even promised my family that I would host Sunday dinner this week to force myself to get it cleaned up…so far it’s not working.  Sigh. Since I had so much baking to do, I had to make sure that some…

  • Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake

    You know that feeling when you’ve just come home from a whirlwind road trip to Omaha, Nebraska and then you wake up and watch a travel show where they’re diving off the coast of Thailand and you’re like, “Hrmph.  Nebraska was almost as cool as that…”? Yep, I’m there. Don’t get me wrong, our “stay-cation with a mini-roadtrip” vacation was nice, relaxing and easy, but I’m a total beach-vacation kind of girl.  We had a great time in Omaha, but I need that sand, surf,…

  • Milk & Cookies Cupcakes

    Let me tell you a little bit about my weekends. First of all, my husband works on the weekends.  While his shift varies, he’s usually out of the house most of the day on Saturdays and Sundays.  This means that all housework, discipline, errands and social events are all on me.  And, that’s totally fine, it’s what I signed up for and I’m perfectly ok with it.  We make it work, and most weekends are full of more fun activities than chores, anyway. But occasionally,…

  • Soft Garlic Knots

    How cute are these little guys?   I’ve been trying to make a lot of our bread at home lately in an effort to avoid processed foods at the grocery store, so I was super happy to find this recipe.  These rolls are soft and tender and full of warm, garlicky, buttery flavor, a perfect pairing with your favorite pasta dish!  If you don’t want/like/need a garlic flavor, just omit it and replace the butter topping with your own flavors – maybe honey, salt, cracked pepper…whatever…

  • Caramel Pecan Brownies

    Chocolate.  Caramel.  Pecans.   Oh, yes.  See how they look all gooey and fudgy?  That’s because they ARE gooey and fudgy.  Don’t make these unless you have a large glass of cold milk nearby…you’ll need it.  These are one of those treats that make you talk with your mouth full – you know, when you take a bite of something amazing and you automatically forget all about manners and mumble a garbled, “oh my gawd,” or “oh, wow…”  Or is that just me?  It’s probably just…

  • Apple Pie Cookies

    Seriously.  What is not to love here?  I had some leftover pie crust from my {Spinach & Gruyere Quiche} and lots of apples in my fruit bowl, so these happened.  I am so, so glad that these happened.  They happened at the end of a yucky, stressful day and made the world all sunshine-y and apple pie-y again.  Perfect.

  • Your favorite posts of 2012 and a giveaway!

    As 2012 comes to a close, I have to say that I feel like celebrating.  Lemon Sugar has grown so much this year – and I have to thank you, my readers, for your part in that.  If you weren’t helping to spread the word by sharing on social media, pinning on Pinterest, or tweeting on Twitter, my little food blog wouldn’t have grown the way it has. So, thank you.  From the bottom of my heart.  To my family, who just reads because I…

  • 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…

  • Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream

    Chocolate.  Strawberry.  Swiss Meringue Buttercream. Heaven. Have you ever had Swiss Meringue Buttercream?  It’s amazeballs.  It’s silky, buttery and not too sweet.  This particular frosting tastes like strawberry ice cream.  I’m telling you, it’s fabulous. Swiss Meringue Buttercream (SMBC) starts with eggwhites and sugar heated on the stovetop, and then whipped into a stiff meringue before adding butter and flavoring.  It has a reputation for being difficult and finicky, but really I’ve never had any trouble with it.  Once you add the butter to the…

  • 30 Recipes for Fall Baking

    If you’re like me, you’re starting to get a little burnt out on all of the pumpkin recipes that have appeared over the past few weeks.  I am a super-pumpkin-fan myself, and even I have reached my threshold of my second-favorite-baking-ingredient ever.  Any guesses what my favorite ingredient is?  🙂 Over the years, I’ve shared quite a few fall-inspired recipes here at Lemon Sugar, and every fall I try to post a fall-roundup for you all so you can see everything in one place.  These…

  • Amazing Brownies

    I’m sure that I’ve mentioned my Mom’s cooking habits on this blog before.  (Sorry, Mom, but I have to go here.  It’s the only way they’ll understand me.)  So, let me paint a picture of my Mom for you.  First of all, she’s tiny.  She’s stubborn.  She is not afraid of anyone, she and my Dad raised five (awesome) kids while working full time, and this woman does what she wants.  Period. She also ends a lot of her sentences with “period.” She also happens…