From the category archives:

Desserts and Pastry

Pumpkin Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Filling

Thumbnail image for Pumpkin Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Filling November 14, 2015

Thanksgiving is in two weeks and I am still working out my menu. But, for sure, this Pumpkin Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Filling will be one of the desserts. It looks cool, it has that creamy sweet middle, and it’s pumpkin-y. Oh yes. I found this recipe on the inside of the label on […]

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Thumbprint Cookies with Pecans & Raspberry Jam

Thumbnail image for Thumbprint Cookies with Pecans & Raspberry Jam May 26, 2015

Hi everyone! I have just been through a harrowing 2 weeks, which had nothing to do with food, cooking or my blog. But I thought you might be interested in knowing why I haven’t been posting for such a long time. My car was stolen! From right in front of my house!

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Almond Fantasy Bar Cookies

Thumbnail image for Almond Fantasy Bar Cookies January 24, 2015

If you love almonds, these bars are going to light your fire. Seriously. They have the most saturated almond flavor of any food item I have ever encountered. That is why I called them Almond Fantasy, because they are beyond reality, beyond any other everyday almond flavored thing you have ever eaten. They are made […]

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Grasshopper Cream Cheese Pie

Thumbnail image for Grasshopper Cream Cheese Pie December 21, 2014

Happy Holidays everyone! Thank you so much for all your visits and comments over the past year. They have meant so much to me. You are the best! I hope you have great times with your family and friends this coming week, and of course, wonderful food. That’s what life is all about, right? Delicious […]

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How to Make Chocolate Shards

Thumbnail image for How to Make Chocolate Shards December 12, 2014

The original reason for making these chocolate shards was to embellish the top of the Grasshopper Cream Cheese Pie that I was planning on making. I wanted something on that pie that was sort of a show stopper and really photogenic. My fantasies were just pie in the sky, you might say.

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Orange Marmalade Cake with Currants

Thumbnail image for Orange Marmalade Cake with Currants September 26, 2014

I do believe this is the orange-y-est cake you will ever eat. If you like the flavor of orange, this Orange Marmalade Cake will send you into absolute orange bliss. It contains not only orange juice, but orange liqueur, orange zest, orange marmalade and orange syrup. Plus there is a dollop of marmalade on top. […]

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Springtime Apricot Cake at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen

Thumbnail image for Springtime Apricot Cake at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen May 17, 2014

Springtime Apricot Cake was the dessert recipe for the recent Easter Family Brunch class at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms in Manhattan Beach. This wonderful cake was the ending to a delicious luncheon which also included Easter Banana Muffins, Roasted Shrimp & Pineapple Salad, and “Croque-Madame” Brunch Gratin. Grace-Marie has always made such good desserts […]

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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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Cranberry Hand Pies

Thumbnail image for Cranberry Hand Pies November 24, 2013

So, I was sitting here, trying to figure out what I was going to say about these Cranberry Hand Pies, and the only thing I could think of was that they are Freaking Amazing!! My pies are inspired by a recipe in a Bon Appetit Magazine from a while ago and the accompanying photo only […]

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Plum Nectarine Oatmeal Crisp

Thumbnail image for Plum Nectarine Oatmeal Crisp September 15, 2013

I never make dessert for myself. Not only for the calorie component, but I’m just not into sugary stuff that much. As you may recall, I am the buttered popcorn queen. But for the last BBQ of the grilling season over Labor Day, I had to make something yummy for my guests and this was […]

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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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Lemon Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Thumbnail image for Lemon Swirl Cheesecake Bars July 17, 2013

It was the dark of night and there I was in the kitchen making cheesecake bars to take to my July Food Bloggers Los Angeles meeting the next morning. Sometimes time doesn’t work in your favor. You get busy. You have lots of commitments. But I wanted to go to the FBLA meeting on Saturday […]

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Patricia Rose and Fresh Food in a Flash ~ Presents Weekday Dinners Cooking Class

Thumbnail image for Patricia Rose and Fresh Food in a Flash ~ Presents Weekday Dinners Cooking Class March 26, 2013

I love going to cooking classes, especially when they are participation and the students do the cooking. So when my friend and fellow food blogger Patricia Rose, of the blog Fresh Food in a Flash, invited me to her cooking class, I was really happy to go along and photograph the whole thing. Her Weekday […]

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Chocolate Pavlovas & Cheesecake Mousse with Strawberry Balsamic Compote from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms

Thumbnail image for Chocolate Pavlovas & Cheesecake Mousse with Strawberry Balsamic Compote from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms February 26, 2013

On a recent Saturday, a Chocoholics Party was held at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen for those smitten with all permutations of desserts: chocolate. On this special day we were feted with Cherry-Almond Chocolate Truffles, Italian Piedmont Chocolate Pear Tart, Chocolate Crepes filled with Chocolate Espresso Mousse, and Chocolate Pavlovas & Cheesecake Mousse topped with Strawberry Balsamic Compote. […]

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Chocolate Crepes with Chocolate Espresso Mousse from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms

Thumbnail image for Chocolate Crepes with Chocolate Espresso Mousse from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms February 19, 2013

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one food forever, and your answer is chocolate, then this was the class for you. Last Saturday Grace-Marie held a Chocoholics Party, which included four fantastic chocolate confections, Cherry-Almond Chocolate Truffles, Italian Piedmont Chocolate Pear Tart, Chocolate Pavlovas with Strawberry Balsamic Compote, and […]

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