Easter season is the perfect time for carrot cakes. But I will admit, I am a little too lazy to make beautiful layered version swathed in cream cheese frosting, decorated with icing or marzipan carrots. I tend to go for bundt or tube cakes, like these Carrot Ginger or Carrot Coconut version. My other cheat is these lovely bars packed with carrots then gently … [Read more...] about Spiced Carrot Cake Bars
spice
Chai Spiced Swirl Bread
Cinnamon swirl bread has been, for most of my life, a treat. It wasn’t regular breakfast fare growing up, but it sometimes made an appearance in a bag from the grocery. In college dorms, when a toaster oven was the only appliance allowed, cinnamon bread was splurge. When I reached the age of buying my own groceries, it was part of weekend special breakfast plans. And … [Read more...] about Chai Spiced Swirl Bread
Mulled Wine Brownies
I love all the silly sweets at Christmas. This rice crispie treat wreaths, cupcakes with red and green sprinkles, those little pretzel reindeer. It’s the kind of fun the holidays are all about. But sometimes it’s nice to present something a bit more grown-up. As the children in my life are turning into adults (faster than I like), I find more reason to try out those … [Read more...] about Mulled Wine Brownies
Autumn Sangria
It’s always nice to have a special something to welcome your guests. And on a day like Thanksgiving, with lots of family and lots of work and lots of noise and lots of food, it helps if that little something special involves wine. The idea of making sangria with dried fruit and sparkling soda came from friend whose family is from Nicaragua. She brought a summer version to … [Read more...] about Autumn Sangria
Clove Cookies
As a kid, I was a great one for projects. Homemade play-dough. Cookies painted with egg/food-coloring paint. Dollhouse furniture. Leaves pressed between waxed paper. I was never very good at any of these, and my record on finishing what I started was less than stellar. So maybe I should clarify that I was a great one for the idea of projects. I liked thinking about them, … [Read more...] about Clove Cookies
