From the category archives:

Baked Goods

French Breakfast Puffs

Thumbnail image for French Breakfast Puffs February 27, 2016

I first made French Breakfast Puffs around 1959 from my Mom’s Betty Crocker Cookbook. I guess that means I have been making them regularly for 57 years. I’d say it has to be a pretty damn good recipe to be kept in a cook’s repertoire for that long, and still be thoroughly enjoyed every single […]

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Arepas ~ Venezuelan Corn Flour Flatbreads

Thumbnail image for Arepas ~ Venezuelan Corn Flour Flatbreads February 13, 2015

All of us, at one time or another, have had food made from ground corn, be it cornbread, corn tortillas, tortilla chips, tamales or polenta. In my pantry there is a new kid on the block called pre-cooked white maize meal or “harina de maiz blanco precocida”, which is what I used to make my […]

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Irish Soda Bread for St. Patrick’s Day

Thumbnail image for Irish Soda Bread for St. Patrick’s Day March 12, 2014

I just put my corned beef brisket in the oven and I am so excited to be preparing for our St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This year I decided to make soda bread to accompany the corned beef, potatoes and cabbage. Such wonderful dishes to remind us of the Auld Sod. The old authentic recipe for […]

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White Chocolate Orange Scones

Thumbnail image for White Chocolate Orange Scones February 15, 2014

I have been making this scone recipe since around 1996, as I recall. I don’t remember where the original recipe came from and it has gone through several permutations. This is my favorite Sunday morning breakfast, accompanied by a big cup of great coffee. I only eat them on Sunday, so I look forward to […]

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Pumpkin Cranberry Scones with Maple Glaze

Thumbnail image for Pumpkin Cranberry Scones with Maple Glaze October 1, 2013

Today is October 1st. You know what that means, people. The holiday season for 2013 has officially started. Halloween. Thanksgiving. Christmas. New Year’s. Then, boom, we pop out the other end of the tunnel and its 2014. I’m shaking my head. Jeez. Here we go… I only have one other pumpkin recipe on my blog, […]

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Hawaiian Custard Cake with Pineapple Caramel Sauce from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms

Thumbnail image for Hawaiian Custard Cake with Pineapple Caramel Sauce from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms September 2, 2013

I was looking at the schedule for which class I would visit next at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen and Wicky-Wacky Luau just jumped off the page. I knew there would be really interesting recipes and as I have never been to Hawaii, undoubtedly dishes I had never tasted before. Grace-Marie always has intriguing and new ingredients for […]

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Homemade Sesame Seed Hamburger Buns

Thumbnail image for Homemade Sesame Seed Hamburger Buns May 13, 2013

Grilling Season 2013 is here!! Yea!! I was so happy a couple of weeks ago to clean off my grill and get it ready. I had a friend over for dinner and made my BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp. Yum. There is nothing that compares to that black char on grilled food. Do we salivate because […]

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Danish Smørrebrød ~ Herring & Apples on Rye

Thumbnail image for Danish Smørrebrød ~ Herring & Apples on Rye March 10, 2013

I am very glad to be back, after not posting for almost two weeks. I was knocked out by a very debilitating virus from which I am still recovering. Also, I was without a camera, but now am the proud new owner of a Canon T4i. I am still learning how to use it to […]

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Turkey Bacon Tomato on Cheddar Biscuits

Thumbnail image for Turkey Bacon Tomato on Cheddar Biscuits January 25, 2013

I LOVE LEFTOVERS! All I have to do is heat them up and eat. No cooking. No waiting. It’s like telling your replicator what you want and **zing** there it is. Come to think of it, we now have 3-D photocopiers that are making guns, lamps and airplane parts. Is a food replicator far behind? […]

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Cheddar & Bacon Biscuits

Thumbnail image for Cheddar & Bacon Biscuits November 28, 2012

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I was really happy because my son and daughter who live out of state, and my daughter-in-law, and my two grandkids were all in town together for the first time in many years. Last Saturday they called up and announced they were coming over for dinner. I guess when it’s your […]

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Cinnamon-Sugared Pumpkin Donut Holes

Thumbnail image for Cinnamon-Sugared Pumpkin Donut Holes October 27, 2012

Last Sunday was my Food Bloggers Los Angeles (FBLA) meeting for October, which I was fully planning to attend. And then my life went sideways, you know what I mean, and I couldn’t make it. I made these Cinnamon-Sugared Pumpkin Donut Holes and they were ready to go. Everyone was bringing a dish with pumpkin […]

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Chef Paul McCullough’s Cookbook Photo Shoot

Thumbnail image for Chef Paul McCullough’s Cookbook Photo Shoot October 5, 2012

Remember back in 2007 on The Next Food Network Star, there was that cute young Hollywood Celebrity Chef and Caterer Paul McCullough, that everyone was sure was going to be the winner? Even Anthony Bourdain. And then it got to the Iron Chef Challenge with only four contestants left and he was eliminated that night! […]

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies Dipped in Chocolate & Honey Roasted Peanuts

Thumbnail image for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies Dipped in Chocolate & Honey Roasted Peanuts July 29, 2012

Being able to bake sweet little goodies is an ability cherished in our family and passed down from generation to generation. So when I got a call from my Auntie Meggie, announcing a birthday bash for my Cousin Rosie, which included a dessert buffet, I knew I had to go all out. You know I […]

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Really, Really Good Brownies ~ Bourbon-Doused with Black & White Icing

Thumbnail image for Really, Really Good Brownies ~ Bourbon-Doused with Black & White Icing April 22, 2012

I rarely crave chocolate. Not my thing. But about a week ago I got this yen for brownies. You know, rich, fudgy, dense, intensely chocolate. So I dug around for this old recipe of mine, and rediscovered it had whiskey poured over it. Whoa, I forgot about that part.  But even better. So I went […]

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Twisted Cookies ~ With Rolled-In Sugar

Thumbnail image for Twisted Cookies ~ With Rolled-In Sugar February 25, 2012

  My Mom and I made Twisted Cookies for the first time in 1959 from a recipe printed on the inside of a cake yeast wrapper. My Mom made bread from scratch, without a recipe, and this tricky and unique recipe using yeast was right up her alley. When I left home and married, this […]

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