Seven Minute Icing

Jim says the icing tastes marshmallow fluff, which he loves, so I take this as a compliment.

Servings: Icing for 12 cupcakes

Fresh 2 egg whites

Pantry 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar 1-1/2 tsp. light corn syrup 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/8 tsp. salt 2-1/3 cups water, divided

Combine ingredients In the top of [...]

Bourbon (or Rum) Balls

My holiday baking this year was minimal: Sugar Cookies and Peanut Blossoms. To supplement my lack of baking, my loving and generous mother sent a box of homemade goodies overnight mail – including these treats, which Jim quickly gobbled up.

Servings: 36

Pantry 2-1/2 cups crushed vanilla wafer cookies 1 cup plus 3 to [...]

Banana Cream Pie II

In the past year we made four Banana Cream Pies. The recipe was perfected by the second attempt, but the photos were the challenge. I am finally happy with our photos, both the single slice and the entire pie – which one is used in the book will depend on page layouts.

Servings: 8

[...]

Peanut Blossoms II

I scaled back my holiday baking this year, but I have to make Peanut Blossoms or it wouldn’t be the holidays in our house.

Servings: 48 cookies

Fresh 1 egg 2 Tbsp. milk

Pantry 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 cup shortening 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 [...]

Apple Turnovers

This posting reflects edits and improved photography from the original version posted in September 2010. Thank you to my loyal reader(s) for trying these at home and helping us achieve perfection. We threw the first version together on a Sunday afternoon to bring to a chili cook-off party. These can be made in any [...]

Halloween Sugar Cookies

Full disclosure: this is a recycled recipe. Halloween Sugar Cookies are the exact same as Holiday Sugar Cookies. But good recipes are worth repeating.

Servings: 24 cookies

Fresh 2 eggs 2 Tbsp. milk

Pantry 1 cup soft shortening ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup brown sugar 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 2-¾ cups [...]

Pumpkin Cupcakes

We are having a Halloween party on Saturday. The last time we celebrated this holiday we were Sophomores in college. I dressed as a farm girl, wearing the overalls I was wearing three times a week anyway and putting my hair in braids. Jim dressed as a priest and was a big hit at [...]

Blueberry Cream Pie

Perfect Yellow Cake Cupcakes

Jim said these are the best cupcakes he has ever eaten. Either this is an amazing recipe, or he is trying to use flattery to get me to bake more cupcakes.

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Fresh 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature 2 large eggs yolks, room temperature 1 egg white, room temperature 1/2 cup [...]

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Fresh 2 large carrots 2 eggs 1/2 cup Applesauce

Pantry 1-1/4 cup flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/4 cup canola oil 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Combine dry ingredients Preheat oven to 350 degrees-F. In [...]