Baked Goods

Thumbnail image for Double Chocolate Butterscotch Brownies

Double Chocolate Butterscotch Brownies

February 9, 2012

I’ve always liked the word serendipity, from visiting to New York’s famous frozen hot chocolate purveyor as a child to the John Cusack movie that earned my viewership a number of times during a brief lovelorn period my senior year of college. This past weekend I experienced serendipity firsthand when I was deleting the bulk [...]

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Thumbnail image for S’Mores Cookie Bars + “Grand Theft Recipe” Thoughts

S’Mores Cookie Bars + “Grand Theft Recipe” Thoughts

January 31, 2012

Blogging about blogging. I know, what could be more boring? However, I write about my life and blogging is something that I do in said life, so it makes sense that once in awhile, I’d have some thought to share about this crazy place we call the internet. A few weeks ago at a party [...]

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Thumbnail image for Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

January 3, 2012

When I was a senior in high school, our varsity basketball team lost every single game. Following previous undefeated seasons, the 0-20 record was especially hard for the seniors on the team to swallow and a topic that no one especially liked talking about. At this time, I worked on the school newspaper, where I [...]

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Thumbnail image for Hindsight and Homemade Apple Crisp

Hindsight and Homemade Apple Crisp

October 5, 2011

I know there is an expression out there that says that hindsight is 20/20, but I don’t really believe it. I think that as time goes on, it’s easy to think we would have done certain things differently, but there is no way of knowing, if given the opportunity to go back in time, we [...]

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Thumbnail image for Starting Again: Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Starting Again: Baked Pumpkin Donuts

September 29, 2011

I’ve written 515 posts here (admittedly, some of them are probably drafts that never made it to the big leagues). I won’t tell you how many visitors I’ve had here since Day 1, partially because my friend Lydia said that sharing your blog traffic on your blog is like telling everyone your bathing suit size. [...]

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Thumbnail image for Pretending to be Patriotic: Traditional Apple Pie

Pretending to be Patriotic: Traditional Apple Pie

September 2, 2011

For some people Labor Day is a festive weekend, full of cookouts and pool parties and friends and sun and summer fun and blah blah blah blah. Well, I did the cookouts and parties and friends and blah blah blah on Memorial Day and subsequently, on the Fourth of July, so this weekend is going [...]

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Thumbnail image for A More Mature S’More: No Camp Fire Needed

A More Mature S’More: No Camp Fire Needed

August 23, 2011

By Gillian Nadel I recently got back from visiting my summer sleep away camp. So forgive me if I’m feeling nostalgic for the simpler days, when color war was my biggest source of stress and dip n’ dots ice cream was a novelty. (And also forgive me if I start cheering or singing mid post. [...]

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Thumbnail image for Baking for Loved Ones: Lemon Chess Pie

Baking for Loved Ones: Lemon Chess Pie

August 12, 2011

When I was in college, my mother would send me newspaper clippings about teenagers and young adults who died in car accidents. They were morbid stories that I didn’t want to read: straight-A students who were killed by a drunk driver on their way home from the  movies,  seniors in high school who would never [...]

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Thumbnail image for Too Many Cookies: Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies

Too Many Cookies: Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies

August 7, 2011

You might have heard the silly saying  “you can never be too rich or too thin.” Well, I won’t editorialize on that statement because frankly, it would be a waste of everyone’s time. What I will do is modify it to add to the phrase “…or have too many cookies.” Yes, you can eat too [...]

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Thumbnail image for Lazy Summer Dessert: Rustic Peach Galette

Lazy Summer Dessert: Rustic Peach Galette

July 25, 2011

Have you ever been afraid to do something…and then once you did it, realized it was one of the best decisions you’ve ever made? This galette was a product of one such scenario, as until recently I had never made a galette and found them moderately intimidating. Then, out of nowhere one day I made [...]

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Thumbnail image for Nutty Cinnamon Monkey Bread

Nutty Cinnamon Monkey Bread

July 21, 2011

A few years ago I made monkey bread for my friend Jen and her boyfriend and while I thought that it would be the guy in the room who devoured the majority of it, that wasn’t exactly what happened. Instead, Kevin looked on with amusement, making little to no attempt o mask his apparent disgust, [...]

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Thumbnail image for Crispy Pecan Cookies & Cook for the Cure KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway

Crispy Pecan Cookies & Cook for the Cure KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway

July 19, 2011

Three of my favorite things in the world are cookies, dinner parties and kitchen appliances…and not in that order. I especially love it when all three things merge: using kitchen appliances to bake cookies for a dinner party. Recently I was contacted by Del Webb, a home building company that has partnered with KitchenAid to [...]

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Thumbnail image for Deep Chocolate Brownies with Chevre Swirl and Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

Deep Chocolate Brownies with Chevre Swirl and Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

July 15, 2011

I might not be a dietitian but I do believe in eating healthily. Contrary to the photograph above, which is essentially dripping with chocolate and goat cheese, I think that a healthy diet includes a lot of vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and healthy fat like avocado. Now, I certainly don’t always practice what I [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cooking for Two: Mixed Berry Crisp

Cooking for Two: Mixed Berry Crisp

July 12, 2011

Having parties is one of my favorite reasons to make dessert. Not that you need a reason to make dessert, but if you did, a party is as good a reason as any. You see, when I don’t have a good reason to bake, like for a party or to bring to someone’s house as [...]

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Thumbnail image for Two-Bite Treats: Petite Madeleines

Two-Bite Treats: Petite Madeleines

July 7, 2011

You know how when some girls eat cookies (or other desserts), they break off a just little piece of it, likely intending to stop there, but then end up going back and finishing off the entire thing, one tiny piece at a time? And then maybe they eat another whole one the same way? I’m [...]

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Thumbnail image for A Healthy Balance [Recipe: Cherry Hand Pies]

A Healthy Balance [Recipe: Cherry Hand Pies]

July 4, 2011

Giveaway winner: Congratulations to Julie of The Little Kitchen, the winner of the Babycakes Cake Pop giveaway! Please email me your address so we can send your prize. Thanks to all who entered! Even though they’ve become trite and cliched, I love miniature desserts. First of all, you can have more than one without feeling [...]

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Thumbnail image for Lemon Cake Pops Recipe + Babycakes Cake Pop Maker Giveaway

Lemon Cake Pops Recipe + Babycakes Cake Pop Maker Giveaway

June 27, 2011

Last week I posted a guest post from my mother that featured a really awesome cheesecake recipe as well as some memories of her late brother, who I unfortunately never had the chance to meet. Because she was so grateful for and touched by your comments, she insisted that we thank you with a giveaway. [...]

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Thumbnail image for Seven Layer Magic Bars

Seven Layer Magic Bars

June 23, 2011

I have a shelf in one of my kitchen cabinets devoted entirely to baking supplies. It’s a large shelf, big enough to accommodate multiple bags of flour, four or five kinds of sugar at any given time, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, chopped walnuts, sliced almonds, several types of oatmeal…you get the picture. It’s crowded in [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

May 21, 2011

Growing up, it was a real treat in my house if one of my parents had gotten up early on a weekend to pick up donuts or bagels for breakfast. Obviously, this was before I had any cognizance of calories or the fact that donuts would one day land firmly on the no-fun side of [...]

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Thumbnail image for Blueberry Drop Scones for Mother’s Day and Bake Sales

Blueberry Drop Scones for Mother’s Day and Bake Sales

May 7, 2011

When my alarm went off at seven a.m. today, my instinct was to shut it off – it’s Saturday, so I must have set it by accident! Well, it’s a good thing I thought twice because this morning I was a guest on NBC Chicago’s morning show to promote the food blogger bake sale I’ve [...]

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Thumbnail image for Strawberry Cheesecake Mousse

Strawberry Cheesecake Mousse

April 1, 2011

There are two desserts that I simply can’t have in my house: chocolate chip cookies and brownies. I’ve learned how to control myself around ice cream (it’s taken years of practice but I’m almost there) but around certain baked goods, there is just no trusting me. So when I need to make desserts for parties [...]

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Thumbnail image for Orange Glazed Strawberry Scones

Orange Glazed Strawberry Scones

April 1, 2011

In the spring, there is no shortage of strawberry recipes on the internet and this recipe, adapted from one of Ina Garten’s recipes, results in scones that are tender, moist and sweet. Some scones tend to be dry, crumbly and difficult to eat but the fruit from the berries lend to a denser consistency. Feel [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts

Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts

February 9, 2011

Today when I was browsing the internet, half-wasting time and half-looking for Valentine-y treat inspiration, I saw a great line in article on DailyCandy about Valentine’s Day: “whether you have someone to tongue wrestle or plan to spend the day shouting Fatal Attraction quotes at strangers, February 14 is coming.” But let’s not talk about [...]

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raspberry pecan bar

Raspberry Pecan Square Cookies

January 21, 2011

It's Friday. You should have a treat. You should, but I shouldn't. I have had plenty of treats over the past couple of weeks…or months. Semantics. So, with a package of sugar cookie dough then went unused over the holidays — but has not yet expired — and a jar of raspberry preserves that I [...]

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quick bread recipes

Simple Hostess Gifts or Party Favors: Miniature Quick Breads

January 8, 2011

You have a party to go to and you'd really like to bring your hostess a gift but you don't want to spend money (admit it). You need a gift for that friend who has everything. You have a baking itch Tuesday afternoon but you'd rather save your cake-and-cookie calories for Saturday night. In any [...]

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cinnamon french toast bread pudding

Cinnamon French Toast Bread Pudding

December 30, 2010

There are a number of French toast and bread pudding recipes out there that, while I’m sure are delicious, don’t excite me. French toast, as most people know it, is bread soaked in an egg mixture rich with milk, spiked with cinnamon and nutmeg toasted in a hot frying pan. On the other hand, bread [...]

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Thumbnail image for Homemade Holiday Spirit and Homemade Peppermint Patties

Homemade Holiday Spirit and Homemade Peppermint Patties

December 18, 2010

Holiday spirit is a relative term, isn’t it? In my family, the holidays aren’t really a big deal but I’ve always done my best to convince myself otherwise. When my brother and I were kids, we celebrated Christmas and Hanukkah in big ways but as we grew up, I think my parents lost interest in [...]

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holiday gift idea homemade fudge

Holiday Gift Idea: Homemade Fudge

December 13, 2010

If you can't stand the crowds at the malls and want to save the money you'd spend on shipping gifts ordered online on other things (like Friday night cocktails or a pre-holiday pedicure) then the kitchen is really your last option. For those of you who like to cook and bake, this is a good [...]

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sour cherry almond cookies

Sour Cherry Almond Thumbprint Cookies [Cuisinart Giveaway Winnner]

December 12, 2010

 No matter what kind of holiday entertaining you're planning, I can't think of one occasion where cookies are inappropriate. Holiday brunch? Absolutely. The office potluck? You'll be lucky if you have leftover crumbs. During the month of December, cookies also happen to be a perfectly acceptable breakfast or midnight snack and if there is any [...]

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Thumbnail image for Peppermint Mocha Brownie Cookies

Peppermint Mocha Brownie Cookies

December 9, 2010

 Even if you're not a big cook or baker I am going to go ahead and guess that the words "holiday” and “baking” will appear in your vocabulary at some point before you change your calendar page from December to January. No matter what holidays you celebrate, cookies bring a smile to anyone’s face – especially [...]

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classic tarte tatin

Classic Tarte Tatin

December 6, 2010

If you need a dessert for a holiday party but are tired of cakes, pies and even those once-revered little cupcakes, try a tart that will make you feel like a kid in a candy store tasting your first caramel apple. Baked upside down, tarte tatin began in 1889 as a mistake, when hotelier Stéphanie [...]

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peanut butter banana bread

Is Banana Bread Bad for You? (Peanut Butter Banana Bread Recipe)

October 23, 2010

The question: is banana bread bad for you? is what brings a lot of readers to this site, according to my good friends at Google Analytics. The answer: of course not. Now, I’m not saying that banana bread is health food, but that everything in moderation is A-OK. I mean, think about it. Broccoli is [...]

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peach crumb bars

Not just yet: Recipe for Peach Crumb Bars

September 27, 2010

Everywhere you look, from the candy aisle at CVS to…well, anything else that tends to overtly display seasonal affection in a commercial manner, you’ll see Fall, Fall and more Fall. Now, this bodes well for me. I like to sleep with my windows open and I glean just enough joy out of a pumpkin spice [...]

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spiced pear pie

If You Love Fall: Spiced Ginger Pear Pie (Tea Giveaway)

August 22, 2010

I’m sorry to all of you summer-holics out there, but I can’t wait until this swampy, sweaty, humid, feel-like-fainting-on-the-bus-in-the-morning heat is over and done with. I’m ready for triple-digit heat indexes to be a distant memory and I’m ready for sweater weather. In short: I’m ready for summer to yield to fall. I love everything [...]

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Thumbnail image for Pate Brisee (aka a fancy way to say “Pie Crust”)

Pate Brisee (aka a fancy way to say “Pie Crust”)

August 22, 2010

I am going to come right out here and say that I swiped this recipe from Martha Stewart and I don’t feel bad about it. You know what? If you go to just about any other food blog out there, you’ll probably see this exact same recipe because there are only so many ways to [...]

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vanilla rooibos biscotti

Baking with Tea: Vanilla Rooibos Biscotti Recipe

August 10, 2010

One thing I love about cooking is when I set out to make a recipe thinking it’s going to be screeching-nails-on-a-chalkboard frustrating and it surprises me by being so intrinsically simple that I could probably duplicate with with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back. What can I say? I have a flair [...]

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blackberry slump

A Case of “What-If” and a Blackberry Slump with Orange Dumplings

August 6, 2010

When I moved to Chicago I used to sit on the bus during my commute and marvel over the simple fact that I lived here. It was ironic, really, considering that I had spent the past four years in the epic city that never sleeps but I would stare at Lake Michigan with the same [...]

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plum crumble

Plum Crumble (A Recipe for Imperfection)

July 25, 2010

Oh, Martha, you did it again. You showed me a recipe and I took it and ran with it until it looked almost nothing like your original. This weekend I found myself with an abundance of fruit and instead of…you know, eating the fruit like a normal, skinny person, I decided to bake into something [...]

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margarita cheesecake

Secrets, Lies, Deception. And Margarita Cheesecake.

July 11, 2010

Okay, so I’m being a little over-dramatic here. I don’t have any secrets, I haven’t told any lies and I hardly think I’ve been deceptive. Oh, but Internet, I feel like I’ve been holding out on you. I also feel like somewhat of an anomaly here because usually, when bloggers land a fabulous writing gig [...]

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Blueberry-Peach Crisp with Ginger Cookie Topping

Summer Sneak Peek: Blueberry-Peach Crisp with Ginger Cookie Topping

May 23, 2010

Today was the first really hot day Chicago has had since I’ve lived here. Every time I’ve had a conversation with anyone – from good friends and coworkers to hairdressers and grocery clerks – about being new to the city, they’ve all said the same thing: “if you think you like Chicago now, just wait [...]

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cinnamon streusel coffee cake

People Like Cake: Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

May 20, 2010

People like cake. Now, I’m more of a cookie-and-brownie person myself, but even I understand that there’s a reason why we have birthday cake and not birthday brownies or birthday pie. People like cake. There are all kinds of cakes out there – celebration cakes, breakfast cakes – and my personal favorite, ice cream cake [...]

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healthy zucchini bread

Zucchini Bread, Healthified

May 13, 2010

When zucchini showed up in my CSA this week, I wasn’t quite sure how to prepare it, but I also knew that I didn’t want it to meet an untimely demise in my refrigerator, as enigmatic produce sometimes has a tendency to do. Despite the presence of a green vegetable, zucchini bread is usually loaded [...]

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fresh corn muffin

Fresh Corn Muffins (And a few fun facts)

May 6, 2010

For some reason, Southern-style country cooking sounds more appealing in the summer. Maybe it’s the fresh produce, the leafy greens and ripe tomatoes, the pert asparagus and plump yellow onions. Even though I’m no stranger to simple cornbread and cornbread with caramelized onions, I can’t remember the last time I made corn muffins with real [...]

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berry muffins

Berry Smash Muffins (Strawberry-Blueberry Muffins)

April 29, 2010

When life hands you strawberries that are a little bit past their prime…make berry muffins! In addition to my oven that doesn’t open, I have a refrigerator that’s just a little too small. It’s a standard, apartment-sized appliance but it’s also deeper than it is wide and just in general, difficult to store things. I [...]

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whole wheat blueberry muffins

Feeling at Home: Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffin Recipe

April 22, 2010

When I started cooking for myself in my college apartment, I didn’t make complicated recipes. I didn’t experiment with fresh herbs or spices. Though I did conquer a pre-Thanksgiving turkey during my senior year, the other 99% of my meals were basic, simple and reflective of the meals I ate growing up: pasta with homemade [...]

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food blogger bake sale

Chicago Food Blogger Bake Sale…in Pictures & Recipes

April 18, 2010

I’m still recovering from a great day that started with a 6:15 AM segment on NBC 5 about the Chicago Food Blogger Bake Sale and ended after hours of brownies, cookies, cupcakes and of course: $885.00 raised for Share Our Strength to help fight childhood hunger in the US. Even though I used last night [...]

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cherry lime scones

Bake Sale Bounty: Cherry Lime Scones

April 13, 2010

Sometimes, ingredients just scream to me, and I’m not quite sure why. I’ll pick up a mango with no idea how I’m going to use it until it’s ripe, I’ll buy artichokes that will sit in my cabinet for months before they turn into spinach and artichoke fritatta. A few days ago when I was [...]

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multigrain bread

National Food Blogger Bake Sale: Saturday, April 17, 2010

April 9, 2010

Mark your calendars for April 17th 2010! This is the big day! We are kicking off the Share Our Strength fundraising season with the first annual National Food Bloggers Bake Sale!! Love to bake? Love to eat? Then, you might want to read on. Earlier this year, my friend Gaby Dalkin contacted me about helping [...]

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sour cream blueberry torte

A Summer Dessert: Blueberry Sour Cream Torte

April 6, 2010

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be perfect. This was never a conscious decision; but rather one that I recognize looking back on my habits from years ago. Whenever I took notes in class, I would sometimes start them two, three times, ripping each sheet of paper from my notebook to [...]

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pizza bianca

Jim Lahey’s Pizza Bianca

April 4, 2010

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t like pizza? Initially, I say no, no that isn’t possible. Everyone likes pizza. But of course, there are the lactose intolerant, gluten-free dieters and people who simply don’t like the combination of thin, crispy crust topped with rich mozzarella cheese and a full-bodied, rustic tomato sauce… I digress. [...]

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homemade chewy granola bars

A Crossroads: Thick, Chewy Granola Bars

March 31, 2010

Recently, I found myself at a crossroads where I was begrudgingly eating a lot of packaged foods. I was busy at work and in life and cooking, which is usually what keeps me sane, took a backseat. A Vita-muffin for breakfast, a purchased salad or Campbell’s soup for lunch and whatever I could get my [...]

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apricot mini muffin scones

The Breakfast Rules: Apricot Mini-Muffin Cream Scones

March 18, 2010

Have you ever eaten a scone and wished that it didn’t make so many damn crumbs? Well, I have. An important characteristic in breakfast, especially on the weekdays, is that it be portable. Not portable like a granola bar that I can eat in two bites on the bus in the morning, but portable enough [...]

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banana chocolate chip bread

Monkey Bars (Chocolate Chip Pecan Banana Bread)

March 15, 2010

If you look, at any given time on my kitchen counter, you’ll find bananas. Bananas are a shopping list staple for this single girl. They’re healthy, compact and versatile – you can pop them in cereal, eat one before a workout or transport in your purse for an on-the-go potassium fix. The problem with bananas [...]

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soft pretzel

Homemade Soft Pretzels (A recipe that anyone can make)

March 8, 2010

Whenever I don’t have immediate plans to eat in a restaurant, I am usually daydreaming about the great places I want to try: a BYOB that I read about in Grub Street Chicago, a great vegetarian place a friend told me about, a cute wine bar that I pass on my way from the bus [...]

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whole wheat muffins with golden raisins

Whole Wheat Muffins with Pecans and Golden Raisins

February 18, 2010

Sometimes I joke that I’m not even going to think about having kids (or even a pet) until I can manage to get myself out the door in the morning, in one piece. Even though my only real responsibilities before 9am are to get from bed to shower to bus to work (and sometimes stopping [...]

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perfect cornbread

Irony: Simple Cornbread Recipe

February 4, 2010

I love irony. I grew up in a small suburb in New Jersey where there wasn’t very much history or culture. When you wanted history or culture you took a train for an hour in either direction and visited New York City or Philadelphia. However, there was a former dairy farm in our town that [...]

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healthy chocolate chip cookie

A New Blog & A New Cookie: Healthier Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

February 3, 2010

There are a few things in life that I consider highly unpleasant. Problems that I know, deep inside, are first world problems but that I will complain about nonetheless. I dislike visiting the Apple store for computer repairs. I dislike being late, even though I’m never on time for anything in my life. I dislike [...]

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oatmeal chocolate chip bars

Writer’s Block: Low-Fat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Recipe

January 14, 2010

When I was in college there was a student in several of my creative writing classes who was, well, eccentric. Among several oddities that I won’t bother to list, he wore a Civil-War style confederate uniform jacket whenever he had writers block. You know what? Call me immature, but I mocked him with my friends [...]

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chocolate chip biscotti

From the Archives: Chocolate Chip Biscotti Recipe

January 5, 2010

This is one of those recipes that you can bring to a party and people will be all, “Wow! You made biscotti! Amazing!” when it actually took you ten minutes to throw together in a bowl and bake for half an hour. Fine, I lied. You actually bake it for about fifty minutes overall, but [...]

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chocolate chip blondies

Last Minute Cookie Panic: Top 10 Holiday Cookie Recipes

December 23, 2009

Chocolate Chip Blondies from In Good Taste Christmas is in two days and in all likelihood, you will eat cookies over the next two days. And if for some crazy, freakish reason you don’t eat cookies, you’ll probably at least see cookies somewhere. Just maybe, you’ll need to make cookies because your boss gave you [...]

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mint chocolate kiss cookies

First Kisses: Mint Chocolate Kiss Crinkles

December 22, 2009

When was your first kiss? If you Google “first kiss” the first link returned is a wiki about how to have a first kiss. As engaged as I am in the Internet and social media it never occurred to me that while my friends and I spent our early teen years sneaking peeks at Sex [...]

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gingerbread cake

Holiday Dessert Recipe: Gingerbread Cake

December 20, 2009

The first time I ever made gingerbread cookies from scratch was during my senior year of college. The day after finals, before leaving for semester break, I gathered a handful of recipes, jotted onto cards and set to an afternoon filled with baking at my friend Alison’s apartment. It’s a day I remember clearly, but [...]

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Thumbnail image for Food Snobbery and Meyer Lemon Scones

Food Snobbery and Meyer Lemon Scones

December 11, 2009

I think there is a difference between people who like food and people who like to eat. My non-scientific, subjective definition is that someone who likes food cares about the ingredients they use, where the things they eat come from and how to prepare the ingredients with flavors that will enhance or complement their taste. [...]

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Thumbnail image for Thanksgiving Leftovers: Cranberry Cornmeal Quick Bread Recipe

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Cranberry Cornmeal Quick Bread Recipe

November 29, 2009

On Thanksgiving I posted some ways to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers on my page at Examiner.com. I shared a round-up of recipes that use Thanksgiving leftovers – from the turkey to the cranberry sauce to the excess of green beans brimming from your vegetable drawer. What I haven’t yet shared is a new recipe that I [...]

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chocolate chip blondies

Getting Ready for the Holidays: Chocolate Chip Blondie Recipe

November 28, 2009

With Thanksgiving in the not-so-distant past, there is one thing on a lot of people’s minds: Christmas cookies. Even if you don’t actually celebrate on December 25, it’s hard not to like the various sweet treats that seem to erupt from kitchens as result of holiday baking endeavors. My two favorite baked goods are brownies [...]

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Thumbnail image for The Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge (Week 18) Light Wheat Bread

The Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge (Week 18) Light Wheat Bread

November 19, 2009

Of all of the breads that I’ve baked in the Bread Baker’s Apprentice challenge, I have had a few favorites. To Peter Reinhart, i selecting a favorite might be a little too much like choosing a favorite child, but for me the cinnamon buns and English muffins were, in their own rite, unrivaled. However, no [...]

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Thumbnail image for Doing it For The Kids: Rocky Road Shortbread Cookies

Doing it For The Kids: Rocky Road Shortbread Cookies

November 18, 2009

When I was in college I had a classmate named Ben who used to show up at parties wearing an adult-sized Batman costume. It was originally a Halloween purchase but for those who knew him, it wasn’t unusual to see him out at the bar, say, in February masquerading as the caped crusader. He also [...]

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pumpkin apple harvest muffins

Pumpkin Apple Harvest Muffin Recipe

November 17, 2009

I know what you’re thinking. Enough with the pumpkin, lady. While I can’t make any promises, I can assure you that I am running low on canned pumpkin with no pending plans to purchase more. I also realized, recently, that even though I have recipes here for low-fat banana muffins, banana muffins with tart lemon [...]

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Thumbnail image for On a Roll: NaBloPoMo and Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

On a Roll: NaBloPoMo and Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

November 13, 2009

When I committed to NaBloPoMo, I’m not sure that I realized the commitment it would entail. Well, sure, I knew that it meant that I would post daily. It meant that I would be able to refresh my blog with a multitude of recipes that I’ve been dying to share, but for one reason or [...]

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orange almond yogurt cake

Perfect Portion Control: Orange-Almond Yogurt Cake

November 11, 2009

Since I began training for the Couch to 5K running program with Joy and Denise, I’ve been motivated to also adapt to healthier diet. Three years ago I lost a considerable amount of weight only to promptly gain 110% of it back. When I was dieting, I ate a lot of fake food: processed cheese [...]

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pumpkin cheesecake pie

A Reason to Give Thanks: Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie with Gingersnap Crust

November 7, 2009

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s already November. I’m not saying this to be condescending; I almost didn’t notice it was November because, well, wasn’t it just August? Yesterday I read a tweet from Kristen that echoed my sentiments about how quickly time moves. When you’re in a four-hour meeting, yes, time moves quite slowly. [...]

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Thumbnail image for World Series Cookies for Drop In & Decorate

World Series Cookies for Drop In & Decorate

November 4, 2009

They taste better than they look. I’m not a big baseball fan – in fact, I’m not a big sports fan in general – but I will take any excuse to bake cookies. I like watching an exciting baseball or football game and though I generally tend to root for New York teams by virtue [...]

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Thumbnail image for Not What It Seems: Whole Wheat Beer Bread

Not What It Seems: Whole Wheat Beer Bread

November 3, 2009

I’m a believer in personal responsibility. I don’t think that video games are responsible for teenage violence and I don’t think that Eminem songs fuel drug addictions and substance abuse. However, my one exception to that rule is Sex and the City. Sex and the City was one of my favorite shows in college, to [...]

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Thumbnail image for The Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge (Week 16) Kaiser Rolls

The Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge (Week 16) Kaiser Rolls

October 29, 2009

I’m going to come right out and say this. I think that New York food is overrated. Well, let’s take a step back and start from the beginning. I made Kaiser Rolls, the sixteenth bread in the Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge, recently. They were a nice change from my usual whole grain sandwich bread, but [...]

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Thumbnail image for It’s The Great Pumpkin: Pumpkin Bread Recipe

It’s The Great Pumpkin: Pumpkin Bread Recipe

October 18, 2009

Since I began blogging I learned that if there is one thing that die-hard home cooks love, it’s seasonal food. While I appreciate pumpkin in October, cranberries in December and strawberries in June, their arrival at the farmer’s market or grocery store means more than just having a new item on the shelf: it symbolizes [...]

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Thumbnail image for A Peek into Big Daddy’s House: The Next Food Network Star Aaron McCargo Jr.

A Peek into Big Daddy’s House: The Next Food Network Star Aaron McCargo Jr.

October 8, 2009

I’m not usually impressed by celebrities. Unless it’s George Clooney or Jude Law inviting me to the Oscars and offering me a free Vivienne Westwood wardrobe, I don’t consider myself star struck (wait…did that sound shallow?). I once had a boss who told me that PR pros should always “treat celebrities like regular people and [...]

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Thumbnail image for Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice: Snickerdoodle Blondies

Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice: Snickerdoodle Blondies

September 29, 2009

I’ve reached the age where every time I sign onto Facebook, someone else that I knew in elementary school has gotten married and someone else that still looks seventeen in their profile picture has had a baby. It’s surreal to me that people my age are old enough to have kids. I mean, yes, technically, [...]

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Thumbnail image for Simple Dessert: Saltine Candy with Chocolate & Nuts (Chocolate Covered Toffee)

Simple Dessert: Saltine Candy with Chocolate & Nuts (Chocolate Covered Toffee)

August 13, 2009

I might mention it on here once in awhile, but I don’t think I talk enough about the importance of family. I grew up with my parents and a younger brother, but for one reason or another, didn’t see my extended family very often. Though we alway kept busy on birthdays and holidays, a part of me [...]

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Thumbnail image for South Carolina and Berry Coddled Cobbler

South Carolina and Berry Coddled Cobbler

August 11, 2009

When I was younger I loved souvenirs. I didn’t travel very often throughout my childhood so even a day trip to the beach seemed like reason to celebrate with a t-shirt or snow globe. At one point, my father traveled frequently for business and I thought there was nothing more fascinating than a keychain emblazoned with [...]

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Thumbnail image for The Cranberry Bait and Switch: Citrus Chocolate Chunk Cookies

The Cranberry Bait and Switch: Citrus Chocolate Chunk Cookies

June 16, 2009

Orange. Cranberry. Two flavors reminiscent of holiday desserts. Christmas in June? Just bear with me for a minute, and you won’t be disappointed. When browsing a new-to-me food blog , I stumbled across these orange cranberry cookies. It seemed like a good idea to make a cookie that isn’t chocolate chip, since we know I [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cranberry Buttermilk Scones

Cranberry Buttermilk Scones

May 7, 2009

Okay, I know what you’re all thinking. “Between all of the scones and pasta…and more pasta….how does she roll herself through the doorways?” Well,  the truth is that I’d be doing everyone who reads this blog a harsh disservice if I didn’t tempt you regularly with the baked goods I swear by (anyway, a girl [...]

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Thumbnail image for Mom’s Banana Muffins (Low-Fat)

Mom’s Banana Muffins (Low-Fat)

April 23, 2009

No matter how much a person likes to cook, it’s always nice to be cooked for. Even the most proficient home cook would probably be delighted to wake up the smell of pancakes and sausages sizzling on a griddle or come home to the welcoming aroma of roasting garlic and simmering tomato sauce. Now, I’m [...]

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Thumbnail image for The Pioneer Woman’s Grandma Iny’s Prune Cake

The Pioneer Woman’s Grandma Iny’s Prune Cake

April 19, 2009

Last time I baked in my mother’s kitchen, I had to make a last minute dash to the grocery store – quickly – because she was out of flour and sugar. My mother does a lot of things wonderfully and with enthusiasm, however, baking is not usually one of those things. So you can imagine [...]

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chocolate chip cookies

When You Care Enough To Send Your Very Best….Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

March 31, 2009

I know, I know what you’re thinking. Did she seriously bake cookies again? There’s a point here. Stick with me. And it has nothing to do with the fact these cookies are soft and chewy, everything that the perfect cookie should be. When I was in college there was nothing I liked better than getting [...]

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Skillet Cornbread with Caramelized Onions

March 26, 2009

Ever since I was in college, when I would go home to visit my mom, at some point I would wind up rummaging through her pantry scavenging for groceries. It wasn't that I couldn't easily go to the store to buy my own, it was just that whatever already lined her shelves seemed pratical and [...]

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They ‘ re Always After Me Lucky Charms: Irish Soda Bread

March 10, 2009

I have a very Irish last name (think of O’Donaghue…it’s only a little less Irish-sounding) but know very little about the actual culture of my country of origin. I know they have a soccer team. I know that Guiness comes from Ireland. And I know that the flag is a vibrant green, white and orange. [...]

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Half-Baked: Cupcakes in Manhattan

March 9, 2009

Since today we all "sprang ahead" and lost an hour in the day, I somehow found myself short on time. It seems that the hour I lost is the hour I would have gone to the gym, done my laundry, cooked dinner and written this post. Please enjoy this photo journal of my weekend slash [...]

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Thumbnail image for Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bars

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bars

February 26, 2009

When I want dessert, 99.9% of the time, I’ll look to something in the chocolate family. I’m not picky: chocolate ice cream, chocolate cookies and chocolate chips straight from the bag all count (although I’m not so proud of the latter). The other .1% of the time – or when I’m baking for people whose [...]

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Thumbnail image for Banana Muffins with Tart Lemon Icing

Banana Muffins with Tart Lemon Icing

February 19, 2009

Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat. Yes, that IS a big bite taken from the side of the banana muffin that you’re looking at. It’s actually two bites, maybe even three, because if you’re like me, you’re not going to stop at just one taste of a delicious banana muffin [...]

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My Actual Favorite Movie…and Chocolate Chip Scones

February 10, 2009

In one of my favorite episodes of Friends, Monica and Rachel bet that they know Chandler and Joey better than Chandler and Joey know them, with Chandler’s pet duck as the wager. Ross writes the questions and delivers them game-show style, and it’s through the series of questions that they reveal that while Rachel claims [...]

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Whole Grain Wheat Sandwich Bread Recipe

January 18, 2009

Ever since I got one of these for my birthday, I've been developing excuses to bake. Chocolate chips in the cabinet leftover from my holiday baking binge? Better turn those into cookies, STAT. Out of bread? I suppose I'll just have to make some rather than risking the trek across the street to the corner [...]

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Cake Now, Diet Later: Cranberry Coffee Crumb Cake Recipe

December 30, 2008

The holiday season winding down often leaves everyone a little sad. No more holiday parties to make excuses not to go to, no more listening to the same annoying Christmas songs blathering on every FM radio station. As much as I hate seeing abandoned Christmas trees discarded at the curb, I’m looking forward to the [...]

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Nutty Maple Banana Bread Recipe

December 19, 2008

When I lived in my first apartment in the city, my three roommates had the sorriest kitchen I’d ever seen. I’d been in frat houses with better collections of cookware and kept more groceries in my college dorm room than they did in their refrigerator. Since I had moved in to replace the soon-to-be-engaged roommate [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cake Nor Candy: The Best Brownie Recipe

Cake Nor Candy: The Best Brownie Recipe

December 17, 2008

Betty Crocker has nothing, and I repeat nothing, on this brownie recipe. I know that there are irresistable recipes floating around the internet for varieties of the gooey, chocolate favorite, like Dulce de Leche Brownies. Some people like peanut butter, nuts or marbled cheesecake swirls in their brownies. I like chocolate, straight up, with a [...]

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B-A-N-A-N-A-S (Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe)

December 4, 2008

Even though my chocolate idiot/maybe better than sex/flourless chocolate cake will be a tough post to follow, I’ve been doing a whole lot of baking lately, what with that whole Thanksgiving thing last week. It’s been fun for the blog – not fun for my jeans. Holiday season or not, when I eat a good [...]

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Thumbnail image for Chocolat: My Favorite Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe

Chocolat: My Favorite Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe

November 30, 2008

I’ve read about chocolate cakes before that claim to be “better than sex.” And I’ve thought, “Seriously? Apples and Oranges, people.” But I think I found a chocolate cake that would easily fit the category because it’s better than just about anything. Apples, oranges – you name it. Winner, hands down. This cake is super [...]

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Live from Black Friday: Recipe for Iced Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies

November 29, 2008

Live from Black Friday, I’ve interrupted my previously scheduled “ohmigod-Thanksgiving-dinner-was-amazing-and-I’m-never-eating-again” post for a brief serenade to the Iced Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies that I made earlier this week. Before I went home for the week I wanted to whip up some sort of fall-flavored baked good that I’d been itching to make for awhile, but avoided [...]

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Pumpkin Season Ain’t Over Yet: Glazed Pumpkin Scones Recipe

November 18, 2008

If I read one blog in September that said, “I love the Fall” I read a hundred. Mine included. However, most of the proclamations of love for the autumn season started to die down around mid-to-late October when the weather really started to get chilly and people started thinking, “Damn it, I wish it were [...]

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Carboloading: English Muffin Bread Recipe

November 3, 2008

There goes a stereotype that women tend to crave carbohydrates and men prefer to eat protein. While my brother can easily sit and eat two hamburgers in a sitting, I could never accomplish such a feat. But put me in front of the bread basket and I’m putty in your hands. Even though I like [...]

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Blogging about Cookbooks & a Banana-Nut Bread Recipe

October 13, 2008

Even though the internet is my mecca for recipe-finding, I have amassed quite a few cookbooks over the past few years. Some were inherited from my mom, who finally admitted that she’ll never use them, some I received as gifts when I began to show an active interest in the kitchen and there are a [...]

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Thumbnail image for Gooey Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares Recipe

Gooey Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares Recipe

October 9, 2008

A lot of holidays are prime time for familial drama. In my extended family, holidays and special occasions have caused significant tension in the past: forgotten birthdays, refusal to travel for Thanksgiving dinners, heated debates over what time we’d sit down to eat on Christmas Day. Yet, if you ask most people what their favorite [...]

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