• Cake,  Dessert,  Holiday,  Other Desserts,  St. Patrick's Day

    Irish Apple Cake with Irish Whiskey Caramel Sauce

    The weather was gorgeous outside today.  Sunny, nearly 70 degrees, no wind – and my kids played outside.  We went for a walk.  We didn’t wear jackets, and we didn’t come in until almost bedtime.  These things, along with the fact that college basketball tournaments are on TV and St. Patrick’s Day is a mere three days away can really only mean one thing – SPRING IS HERE! Well, almost.  Still a week or so away but whatever.

  • Cake,  Dessert,  Holiday

    Mint Chocolate Chip Cake

    When I was growing up, our small town had an AMAZING little restaurant called the Old Ice Cream Shoppe.  It was in an old house that had been remodeled into a small-ish restaurant, with little wire tables and chairs, cute local decor on the walls and counter where you’d place your order for food or ice cream.  It was located just about two blocks from the elementary school, and stayed open late during the summers which made it the perfect spot for a treat after…

  • Breakfast,  Cake,  Dessert,  Other Desserts

    Meyer Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake

    I’m back!  I didn’t really go anywhere, but life just got busy.  I am definitely a creature of habit and need my routine to keep me in check – so four snow days, a bridal shower, a gymnastics meet, a sick kiddo (who is scheduled for tubes in her ears on Friday – insert Momma-panic attack here) – and a stressful few weeks at work really have me out-of-sorts. Normally, I bake when things get stressful, but dang-it, I just haven’t had time!  I think…

  • Appetizers,  Bread,  Breakfast,  Cake,  Holiday,  Other Desserts

    King Cake, Filled Two Ways

    I’m feeling very out-of-sorts and distracted today.  We’re in the middle of a very busy week, mostly the fault of my first grader.  Between after-school basketball camp, dance class, gymnastics and a dance-clinic performance, our evenings are shot.  Oh, dinner you say?  What’s that?  Laundry?  How many times can you wear a pair of jeans before they’re truly dirty?

  • Cake,  Dessert

    Tunnel of Fudge Cake

    I think I’ve met my chocolate match.  As you probably know by now, I am a definite chocolate fan.  I prefer the chocolate version of almost everything (except ice-cream – that has to be vanilla or mint) and I will never, ever turn down a piece of good chocolate cake. But this cake?  I got two bites in and I needed some milk.  It’s so rich, dense and over-the-top chocolatey that even I couldn’t go all-in. Not to worry, a glass of cold milk and I was…

  • Cake,  Candy,  Dessert,  Holiday

    Hot Chocolate Cake with Homemade Marshmallows

    So, my daughter’s 7th birthday is next week.  First of all, it’s really just not possible that she’s turning seven years old.  Not possible.  Second of all, this means that I have a big family party looming on the horizon. That means my house has to be cleaned.  It also means I need to plan a menu, figure out decorations and – oh yeah – do all that cooking and baking without undoing all of the cleaning and planning.