Tag Archives: Sweets

Lemon Lavender Cupcakes

Posted in 2019 Recipes, Adventures in the Kitchen, Inspirations in Life and in the Kitchen by

My inspiration for these cupcakes come from Joanna Gaines!  Every time I pass through Waco I try to stop at the Silos Baking Company and grab a few sweet treats.  I love her lemon lavender cupcakes and wanted to try to make some at home.  While they may not be as good as hers, I think the frosting turned out pretty tasty!

I posted the frosting recipe below.  I may need to eat a few more cupcakes from Joanna Gaines to get it just right…oh well, I will make the sacrifice!

IMG_E8993

Lemon Lavender Frosting:
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of butter (2 sticks of butter) at room temperature
4 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
3 teaspoons lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon edible lavender (for garnish) or you can add to frosting
pinch of salt

INSTRUCTIONS:
~Stand alone mixer use whisk attachment and beat butter for 2 minutes.
~Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, heavy cream or milk, lemon zest and lemon extract.
~Beat on high for 2 to 3 minutes
~Add salt and if too thick add more cream or milk
~Add lavender and lemon zest to top of cupcakes

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by

I love sugar cookies anytime of the year, but there is something special about making them at Christmastime.  These cookies bring back wonderful memories as I have been making this recipe with my mom since I was a little girl.  I helped her decorate these then and I love them just as much today!

IMG_7310

Christmas Sugar Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream together shortening, sugar and vanilla.  Then add eggs and beat for about 1 minute, making sure all is creamy.

Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.

Divide dough into 4 bowls or separate in large bowl and chill for 1 hour.

Let dough sit out for about 20 minutes.  Then roll out on floured surface and cut into desired shapes.

Bake at 350 for 5 minutes.  Let sit for 10 minutes then put on wire rack.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by

Yummy Christmas treats.

I grew up on these at Christmas time as I am sure you did as well.  Who can resist peanut butter and chocolate, right?  I love this combo and I love that these are so easy to make as well.  ENJOY!

IMG_E7061

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS

Sift together in small bowl:
1 3/4 cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream together until smooth in mixer or large bowl: (I use my stand up mixer)
1/2 cup of butter (room temp)
1/2 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar
Add 1 egg (room temp)
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla

Then blend in the dry ingredients and mix well

Shape into 1″ balls
Roll in sugar (or colored sugar or sprinkles)
Place on greased cookie sheet or on parchment paper
Bake at 375 for 8 minutes each
Remove and top each cookie with candy kiss, press until cookie cracks

Cook for 2-4 more minutes, depending on oven

 

 

Cupcakes taste better in NYC!

Posted in 2016 Travel Adventures, Halloween/Fall by

These little cupcakes went all over New York with me and my sisters.  I carried them in my purse, in a souvenir bag, asked my sister to hold and even dropped some a few times, all for the sake of an iconic photo op.

img_62101

PUMPKIN with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
The Food Hall in The Plaza

img_57631

COCONUT and VANILLA CUPCAKE
from Citarella Gourmet Market in West Village
(fire escape at 39 Christopher St)
img_61901

HAZELNUT with VANILLA BUTTERCREAM
from One-Girl Cookie Bakery
(DUMBO-love the Manhattan Bridge)
if you look close you can see Empire State Building in between

img_60551

PURE VANILLA CUPCAKE
from Sweet Revenge in West Village
(one of my faves…and I dropped it right before I took this pic)
img_59551

LEMON CUPCAKE with LEMON ICING
Citarella Gourmet Market in West Village
(Washington Square Park)
img_58201

PISTACHIO CUPCAKE
Sweet Revenge in West Village
(lovely open window view)img_56691

These are just a few of my favorite cupcakes and bakeries!

When in New York, give one a try.

I’m proud to be an American

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by

We love baking sweets on all occasions and love celebrating our freedom! 

IMG_4760[1]

Sprinkles shortbread cookies...yummy!  Find recipe here.
Chocolate covered Pretzels…always a winner!  Find recipe here.
Red, White and Blue Chocolate covered peanuts…perfect combo!  Find recipe here.
Rice Krispie Treats…these are so cute!  Find recipe here.

IMG_4755[1]IMG_4754[1]IMG_4753[1]

My daughter found this recipe and thought it was so cute, so she made these as well.

Rice Krispie Treats!

IMG_4768[1]

God Bless the USA

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by

I was a little late on July 4th posting…but better late than never, right?

My daughter, Claire, keeps finding recipes she wants to try.  That seems to keeps us busy at the store and in the kitchen. While she has changed her mind from wanting to be a chef (at 11 years old) to now wanting to be an event planner…I love seeing her love for food and baking continue! Conversations, laughter and memories are made in the kitchen.

OLD GLORY PIE. Find recipe here.  I changed the recipe a bit and used fresh cherries, strawberries and blueberries.  YUM!

IMG_4743[1]IMG_4746[1]

 

 

Easy as Pie.

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen, Books I Love by

IMG_4422[1]

I smile as I look at this Cherry Pie.  We made this pie for Father’s Day…we were so ready to get it in the oven that our rows of crust did not turn out quite like we had planned. But it was still a sweet and delicious treat and was worth every calorie.

I thought of our family and how things don’t always turn out perfect.  Sometimes we don’t look like a family that has it all together but in the end there is laughter, love and a bond that we wouldn’t trade for anything!  Our family is worth every calorie!! 🙂

IMG_4414[1]IMG_4413[1]IMG_4430[1]IMG_4438[1]Thank you Sally’s Baking Addition for this recipe!  I love all your pies and cookies!!!  They always turn out so tasty!

Just a “sweet” extra for you, I am learning the more we do for ourselves, the more we can offer our family. I am going through an amazing book and study with friends called  Emotionally Spiritually Healthy. Here is what the book looks  like and the day to day reading.  If you are looking for something to know yourself better and grow, give this book a try.  I think you will really enjoy it and learn a little along the way!

We’re All Mad Here…

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen, Books I Love by

..But the Best People Are!

Take a peek at our delightful Tea Party for a dear friend who is retiring…
Great Send off, Great Food, Great Book and Great Quotes.

IMG_4388[1]

I think this was a great way to spend the day since it is “Always Tea Time.”

“…Sometimes I have believed 6 impossible things before breakfast”

IMG_4343[1]IMG_4359[1]

Pretzels are a must!
“EAT ME!!”

IMG_4315[1]

And of course you must have a backdrop!
“I can’t go back to yesterday,
I was a different person back then.”

“i’m not crazy…my reality is just different than yours.”

Thankful for friendships, creativity, food, fun, good books and great relationships!

Just what the Doctor ordered

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by

I had all my girls home Memorial Day Weekend.  Sadly, I was recovering from a surprise appendectomy!  That meant instead of lake and burgers, our weekend was spent at home with blankets and Netflix.  Even though I was getting around as slow as molasses, my family took me out one time each day to help in my recovery process.  After all, that is what the doctor ordered!

Here are some of our Austin Adventures.

Outing #1:  Food Trailer Park in South Austin.  It has quite a few options for lunch, but we still chose Torchy’s Tacos. We are creatures of habit when it comes to our tacos, and the queso is one of my favorites.  I think my dog enjoyed the outing as well.

IMG_4132[1]

 

IMG_4130[1]

Outing #2…VooDoo Doughnuts off 6th Street in Austin.  This place has some very interesting doughnuts with some very interesting names.  It was hard for us to make a decision.  We opted for a dozen variety box and we all had a little bite of each one.

Strangely, the doughnut called CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN turned out to be the favorite.  You can’t beat Captain Crunch Cereal!  The Fruit Loop was tasty as well. IMG_4138[1]IMG_4135[1]IMG_4159[1]

Outing #3.  Kerby Lane.  A family favorite.   We have enjoyed many Saturday mornings here for breakfast.  On this day I ordered the Carrot Cake Pancakes!  I think it was worth getting out for, don’t you agree??? IMG_4162[1]

Life is Sweet

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by

Each of my daughters have something that is their signature sweet, something they can make at the drop of a hat and it always turns out delicious. My middle daughter’s signature sweet happens to be these lovely Cake Balls.

IMG_4108[1]
IMG_4105[1]These are a bit time consuming and require many steps…but when you bite into one, they are well worth it!  Check out my daughter’s recipe here.  Cake Pops by Olivia Rhine

I think you will see they are well worth your time and energy. ENJOY!

IMG_4103[1]