• Irish Beer & Whiskey Cupcakes

    If you’re like me, you might find yourself avoiding the plethora of “boozy” cupcake recipes that circulate the web.  Since I’m more of a wine girl, recipes cooked with beer, whiskey and other liqueurs didn’t ever really call to me. Yes, some recipes call to me.  And they don’t shut-up until I make them.  It’s a problem. I’m not sure why I finally broke down and made these.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I’ve come to really love St. Patrick’s Day. …

  • Quick and Easy Doughnuts

    I’ve never posted this recipe, but only because it isn’t really a recipe.  You don’t have to mix anything.  You don’t have to knead, proof or tip-toe around rising dough.  These are totally no-sweat, easy-peasy doughnuts. You buy a can of biscuits.  You pour some oil into a pan.  You drop the biscuits into the oil, and watch them sizzle for a couple of minutes.  Then you burn your tongue because you can’t wait 2 blessed minutes for them to cool. And then, you feel guilty for…

  • Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly Fillo Shells

    So, how many social events have YOU been to this month?  Weddings, showers, graduations, anniversary parties, end of school year parties – holy cow, it’s a busy time of year!  We’ve hosted a few events at our home lately, and since we’ve been pulled a million different directions, it’s nice to have some quick and easy appetizer options at my fingertips. These little Fillo cups from my friends at Athens are amazing, and have saved me in an entertaining-pinch many, many times.  Fillo (or Phyllo…

  • 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…

  • Soft Pretzels

    I am in love with these.  I want to marry them and buy a house on the beach with them, and grow old with them.  They are soft, buttery, salty, chewy…completely conducive to and encouraging of addictive behaviors.  Don’t even try to be well-behaved and take just “one bite” of these.  I made the mistake of delivering these to some low-carb dieters and let’s just say they weren’t very happy with me.  But, I make no apologies for these.  They are quite possibly my favorite recipe…

  • 25 Amazing Cupcake Recipes

    I get many emails from readers every day, and 90 percent of them ask me one of two questions:  1) Can I make a gluten/allergy/fat/sugar/oil/butter/dairy free version of xyz recipe?  If so, how?  And two:  I have an event coming up and I need to make a dessert – what would you suggest? So, the answers are: 1) yes, but I’ve never done it so I can’t vouch for results and 2) um, all of them?

  • Summer Corn & Bacon Chowder

    I’m a soup person.  I love it, and I can eat it year ’round – yes, even when it’s 103 degrees outside.  (Which is good because it was PRECISELY 103 degrees outside when I made this yesterday!) There’s something about this particular recipe thought that really doesn’t feel like a soup – or a chowder – but feels lighter and screams summertime.  The combo of the fresh sweet corn with potatoes and bacon is a marriage made in heaven, so I was particularly excited to team…

  • A Playroom Makeover: Part 2

    First things first, if you haven’t read Part 1, go back and read it now. Good?  Ok. After we got all of the construction, painting and cleaning behind us, it was time to do the fun stuff – it was time to make the room look like what we’d been envisioning for almost a year now.  Because we adore everything about our new pantry, we teamed up with Organized Living to give our two little girls a bright, clean & efficient play room.  Their bedrooms…

  • Homemade Crescent Rolls

    I come from a family of nappers.  Well, I should rephrase that a bit.  My Mom and sisters could win a napping competition against the best nappers in the whole wide universe.  I guess I wouldn’t call my Dad a napper, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen my brothers nap.  But whatever.  I come from half a family of nappers.   I, though, am not a napper.  Napping makes me feel worse than if I didn’t take a nap at all.  I know there…

  • Friends of Lemon Sugar Series: More Fudge Less Pudge Brownies

    I am excited to bring you the first of many guest posters on Lemon-Sugar!  Erin at The Spiffy Cookie is an amazing cook, baker and person.  She’s a lot of fun to read, follow and has a ton of fabulous recipes on her site.  I mean, cake batter puppy chow?!?  Are you kidding me?  Amazing. I’m honored to have her contribute today, and ask that you all go pay her a visit and tell her I sent you.  Thanks again, Erin – take it away!…

  • Pumpkin Dream Cake

    So, it’s been hovering around the 100 degree mark here the last few days.  In September. I know I live in Kansas, but that’s NOT ok with me.  September is in the fall section of the calendar.  Once Labor Day is over with, it’s pumpkin and legging season, dang-it! How am I going to wear my Uggs, hoodies and yoga pants  cute vintage boat neck tees and boyfriend cords if it’s 100 degrees outside? So, I’m officially rebelling against Mother Nature.  I lit my pumpkin…

  • Easy Entertaining for Last-Minute Guests

    We do a lot of last-minute entertaining at our house. While I am always one to go overboard when it comes to birthday parties and other celebrations, over the years I’ve figured out how to entertain guests on a much smaller scale. My kitchen is right in the middle of my house, and it’s open to EVERYTHING. This is good, because my intention was to make the kitchen the heart of our home, and it really is. On the flip side, however – it’s open…