• Spicy Chicken Hoagie

    I am a huge sandwich fan – a HUGE sandwich fan.  So much so that I could totally relate to Joey and his sandwich obsession on “Friends.”  Speaking of Friends, do you remember the episode where Ross freaked out because someone ate his sandwich?  The Moistmaker??  I do.  And come Thanksgiving, there will totally be a Moistmaker recipe on this blog.  You think I’m joking…I’m not. So yes, I love sandwiches.  I think it’s probably just that I love bread, and you can’t really have a…

  • Strawberries & Cream Cupcakes

    If you’re like me, visiting the produce section of the grocery store in the middle of winter is a huge let-down.  While I do love the changing of the seasons, living in the middle of the country really limits what we can easily purchase when it comes to fruits and vegetables- yes, you can buy strawberries in January, but they are usually smaller, less flavorful and always on the verge of spoiling by the time you get them home. Because we are always left scurrying…

  • Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

    It’s official.  Pumpkin season is here.  I’m ready.  I always try to hold off on the fall flavors until after my birthday, which is just a few days away, but I couldn’t help it.  The time has come and now I’m all about autumn. I’ve actually made these muffins a few times before but never blogged them, but I couldn’t hold out on you anymore. These.  Are.  Fabulous. The muffins are the perfect blend of cinnamon and nutmeg, the pumpkin puree keeps them super-moist, and…

  • Valentine Love Letter Cupcakes

     Wizard of Oz.  The Grinch Stole Christmas.  Wizard of Oz.  The Grinch Stole Christmas.  WIZARD OF OZ WIZARD OF OZ WIZARD OF OZ. My three year old is on a kick. She only wants to watch WIZARD OF OZ and THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS.

  • Throwback Thursday: One Hour Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

    Hi everyone!  On Thursdays, I will be sharing some of my favorites from the archives of Lemon Sugar.  These are still my very favorite cinnamon rolls, ever and are one of my most-pinned recipes!  Wouldn’t these be great on a lazy daylight-saving morning? Enjoy! ♥ This is officially the third time I’ve used my One Hour Cinnamon Roll Dough on the blog.  There was the original, the Cherry Sweet Rolls, and now these. I think these win. These are Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls, and they’re fabulous. Oh…

  • Fall Roundup

    My head is literally swimming with pumpkin and apple recipes.  I actually made a list of all of the fall baking I wanted to get up on Lemon Sugar before autumn slips away, and it’s kind of ridiculous.  There are 42 items. How in the world will I ever narrow that down?  I won’t.  You all are going to gain 75 pounds before Thanksgiving.  I apologize.  Really. It’s funny, because I keep rationalizing to myself that pumpkin is a healthy baking alternative, so these recipes aren’t…

  • 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!

  • Castello Moments: A Roundup of Recipes

    Last week I shared a recipe with you, for Cheesy Potato Gratin, made with Castello’s Hirten Cheese.  Many of my fellow bloggers also participated in this recipe development program, which was sponsored by Honest Cooking Magazine and Castello Cheese.  After browsing their submissions, I wanted to be sure to share them all with you as well, because these seriously talented cooks came up with some fabulous recipes. Take a few minutes and check them out.  Hope you find yourself as inspired as I did –…

  • Dipped Vanilla Sprinkle Cupcakes

    When my husband and I finished college, we moved to the suburbs and built our first house together.  We both grew up in a small town, out in the country, and I think we were ready to give “city living” a try.  We built a great first house not far from the police station where my husband works and relatively close to my job.  Then, my first daughter was born.  She wasn’t even six months old when we realized that we wanted her to have…

  • 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…

  • Taking a Moment for Myself

    Today’s post is a little bit off topic – I’m not going to share a recipe but instead am taking an opportunity to slow things down.  You all know by now that I am a bit of a worker-bee…I am at my best when I’m busy, when I have a project, when I have a to-do list.  I don’t like to be idle.  I do my best work under a deadline, and I crave the intensity and activity that a busy, planned-out day brings.  …

  • Lemon Pound Cake & A Giveaway

    On most Saturday mornings, I take my oldest to dance class.  During her class, my youngest daughter and I venture off to a nearby shopping center and take care of our weekly household shopping.  We wander around, looking at toys, books, kitchen goodies and then pick up a few necessities before heading back to the dance studio.  In this particular shopping center, there happens to be a Starbucks, which always seems like a fabulous idea on a busy Saturday morning. My youngest, who is three…