Tag Archives: free speech

Christmas Cake and Cookies

I love the elaborate Christmas dessert buffets found at upscale restaurants and hotels during the holiday season. I prefer sampling a variety of sweet treats than gorging on a single piece of rich cake or pie. Those holiday dessert buffets inspire me this time of year. While I am far from an expert baker, I do my best to whip up an array of different desserts to serve on Christmas Day. Some are traditional, while others are far from holiday fare. Regardless, they are all delicious, and as you can see from the recipes I’ve listed below, they are also … Continue reading →

Gluten Free Double Choc Cookies

For all you chocolate lovers, I’m going to share with you one of my daughter’s favorite recipes for gluten free cookies. She uses it all the time. If you’re a chocolate fan, you will love these. They are very more-ish. Whenever she makes them, people rave over these cookies. Warning – they are very rich. This recipe will make about 20-25 depending on the size of your cookie. But I’d suggest you make at least double that as people love them. You could also put one batch away in the freezer if you manage to keep them out of eager … Continue reading →

Should Schools Ban Cookies?

Gone are the days of celebrating your kid’s birthday in school with cupcakes and cookies. At least at my daughter’s school. Last month, administrators at my kid’s private school put the kibosh on birthday baked goods and candy. Now, the only treats your birthday boy can share in class on his big day are “fun print” napkins, pencils, Go-gurt, crackers or string cheese. Can you say party pooper? I did, until I learned that the New York City Department of Education has also banned baked goods in school. According to the New York Times, class bake sales are now banned … Continue reading →

Comfort Foods: Baked Goods

Maybe it’s because of the chocolate factor, or perhaps it’s because I grew up eating them as a child and they always brought a smile to my face, either way the following recipes are some of my favorite comfort foods. What’s more, these simple timeless treats are now embraced by my daughter, which makes them twice as nice to prepare and enjoy. BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFIN TOPS Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup oatmeal 2 eggs 2 mashed bananas 1/2 cup white … Continue reading →

Ways to Keep the Kids Busy on Valentine’s Day

How are you planning to spend Valentine’s Day? Will you be enjoying dinner out with your sweetheart or will you be celebrating Love Day at home with the entire family? For many families the flailing economy has forced them to cut back on Valentine’s Day spending. However, the following ideas prove that you don’t have to break the bank to celebrate February 14th in style. These simple kid-friendly projects are ideal for keeping children content on Valentine’s Day. VALENTINE’S DAY CARD HOLDER Students who got swamped with Valentine’s Day cards at school will find this craft to be exactly what … Continue reading →

How to Make Your Own Milk Chocolate Masterpieces for Valentine’s Day

What did you ask your sweetie to get you this Valentine’s Day? Diamonds? A romantic dinner for two? A massage? Since requests aren’t always granted (depending on the particular sweetie involved), you might want to brace yourself for a bar (okay, a box) of chocolates and a pat on the back. If you are lucky, your honey will honor you with a slice of Emeril Lagasse’s Milk Chocolate Cheesecake. If you are really lucky, you won’t have to make it yourself. Either way, the recipe is provided below along with the directions for mouthwatering milk chocolate cookies sealed with a … Continue reading →

Recipe for Frugal Cookies

All cookies are not created equal when it comes to how much they cost. Yes, homemade cookie gifts are a good way to be frugal and generous at the same time, but do you know exactly how much that batch of cookies is costing you to make? I don’t want to be a scrooge, of course, but when choosing between two recipes, it might be nice to see which batch of cookies will cost you less. Here are some guidelines about ingredient costs and which recipes are generally the most expensive. Ingredients If you get a good deal at the … Continue reading →

Last-Minute Christmas Treats

This is it! Christmas is just two days away. If you are still in need of edible gifts to pass out on the big day or you are hosting out-of-town guests, then you’ve come to the right place. The following sweet recipes are extremely easy to prepare and can be on the table or in a decorative tin in about an hour. HOMEMADE COOKIES AND CREME FUDGE Ingredients: 3 cups granulated sugar 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) Evaporated Milk 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) white chocolate chips 1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme 1/2 cup … Continue reading →

How to Make Lollipop Cookies and Gourmet Chocolate Truffles

Everything tastes better on a stick, right? That’s what state fair food vendors maintain anyway. Now you can bring the joy of snacking on a stick to your holiday party with this fun recipe for Chocolate Lollipop Cookies. Don’t let the name intimidate you, this recipe is very simple to make. What’s more, kids go crazy for these festive holiday cookies. The second recipe for Gourmet Chocolate Truffles is not as elaborate as it sounds. The chocolate treats that are mega-popular this time of year have the look and taste of a gourmet goodie, but the preparation is nowhere near … Continue reading →

Healthy Christmas Cookies

Okay, maybe not the healthiest… but much healthier than other versions. The Pistachio Cookies with Fennel are a good source of Vitamin C (thanks to the fennel). What’s more, the pistachio nuts are enriched in antioxidants and feature essential fatty acids, said to be useful for reducing cholesterol. Pistachio nuts are also believed to be a good source of B Vitamins, calcium, iron and selenium. The second recipe for Dark Chocolate Cookies is low in fat. In fact, the major source of fat in the recipe comes from the almonds, which provide “good” fat. In addition, almonds contain fiber, protein, … Continue reading →