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Peanut Butter Hazelnut Cookies for #CookieWeek

November 14, 2013

These cookies are the perfect combination of peanut butter, chocolate and hazelnut!




Welcome to #cookieweek! Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen and Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic have joined together this week with 23 of their blog friends to present to you a week of cookie treats! We have every type of cookie you can think of listed this week, including something for our furry friends! Now is the time to bookmark these recipes for the upcoming holidays and cookie swaps or simply visit our Pinterest board!  Make sure you enter the giveaway with some fabulous prizes from KitchenAid, King Arthur Flour, OXO, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar to help with your cookie making needs!

These cookies came out of a baking fail. You know, when you try a recipe and something just doesn’t look right. Well I tried a delicious looking chocolate cookie recipe, twice, and total fail. So I changed my gameplan and saw these little beauties in a cookie magazine.

The salty peanut butter combined with the sweet Nutella makes for a perfect cookie. I am totally a salty, sweet person! If you plan on making these ahead of time for the holidays, do the hazelnut spread at the last minute, because it will not harden, unless you freeze them in individual layers.

 Peanut Butter Hazelnut Cookies
adapted from Pillsbury
yield 20-30 depending on scoop size

Peanut Butter Hazelnut Cookie Ingredients:
 – 1 cup Peanut Butter
 – 1/2 stick Vegetable Shortening
 – 1 & 1/4 cups packed Brown Sugar
 – 3 tablespoons Milk
 – 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
 – 1 large Egg
 – 1 & 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
 – 3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
 – 3/4 teaspoon Salt
 – 1/2 cup Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (I used Nutella)

Peanut Butter Hazelnut Cookie Directions:
 – Heat oven to 350F
 – In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachement, combine Peanut Butter, Shortening, Brown Sugar, Milk and Vanilla Extract. Beat until combined then scrape down the sides of the bowl.
 – Add in the Egg and beat until combined.
 – Combine Flour, Baking Soda and Salt in a small bowl. Add to Peanut Butter mixture and beat until just combined.
 – Using a small to medium cookie scoop, drop onto ungreased non-stick cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. 
 – Bake 7-9 minutes, or until lightly brown. Cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to rack to continue cooling.
 – Melt Chocolate Hazelnut Spread in microwave for 10-15 seconds, then drizzle on cool cookies.

We have an amazing  giveaway lined up this week thanks to our fabulous sponsors, KitchenAid, OXO, King Arthur Flour, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar.  
Four lucky winners will win one of the following:
Prize #1: 1 (one) KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer plus 1 (one) 4lb bag of  Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
Prize #2: 1 (one) OXO gift set including the following:  1 (one) 3-in-1 Egg Separator, 1(one) Cookie Press, 1(one) Autumn Cookie Disk Set, 1(one) 3 piece Cookie Cutter Set, 1(one) Bowl Scraper, 1(one) 2 Cup Adjustable Measuring Cups
Prize #3: 1 (one) King Arthur Flour gift set including the following: 1(one) King Arthur Unbleached All Purpose Flour -5lb bag, 1(one) Snowflake Cookie Cutter Set, 1(one) King Arthur Flour Pure Vanilla Extract, 1(one) Sparkling Sugar Collection, 1(one) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Wafers – 16oz and 1(one) 4lb bag of Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
Prize #4: 1 (one) Silpat Halfsize Mat and 1(one) 4lb bag Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
This giveaway is open to US residents from November 11, 2013 through November 16, 2013 11:59pm EST and will be picked from random draw.  The winners will be notified via email and have 72 hours to respond, if not their prize is forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

How to Enter:
  1. Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment with  your favorite cookie to bake during the holidays or for cookie swaps.
  2. Many more ways to enter in the rafflecopter widget!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: KitchenAid, OXO, King Arthur Flour, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane are providing the prizes free of charge.  All opinions stated are my own.

Also check out the other #CookieWeek participants and their cookies today!

  • Bacon & Parsley Puppy Treats by Omeletta
  • Cinnamon Chip Snickerdoodles by In The Kitchen With KP
  • Coconut Chai Chocolate Chip Cookies by Beyond Frosting
  • Flourless Fluffernutter Thumbprint Cookies from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
  • Ginger Cookies by Total Noms
  • Homemade Funfetti Cookies by i heart eating
  • Linzer Cookies from Jen’s Favorite Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Hazelnut Cookies by Love and Confections
  • Peanut Butter Pinwheels by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
  • Peppermint Meringue Pillow Cookies by It’s Yummi!
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Biscotti from Chocolate Moosey
  • Oatmeal Rum Raisin Cookies by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
  • Samoa Macaroons by 52 Kitchen Adventures
  • Until next time,
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Filed Under: Cookies, Uncategorized

    Nutmeg Logs for #CookieWeek

    November 13, 2013

    Nutmeg Logs are one of my all-time favorite holiday cookies. Perfect at room temperature and even better when frozen, these cookies will be a hit for any holiday party.

     


    Welcome to #cookieweek! Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen and Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic have joined together this week with 23 of their blog friends to present to you a week of cookie treats! We have every type of cookie you can think of listed this week, including something for our furry friends! Now is the time to bookmark these recipes for the upcoming holidays and cookie swaps or simply visit our Pinterest board!  Make sure you enter the giveaway with some fabulous prizes fromKitchenAid, King Arthur Flour, OXO, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar to help with your cookie making needs!

    My Uncle introduced me to these cookies a few years ago around the holidays. O-M-G! One bite and I was hooked. I totally understand why a few batches are made every year. They disappear so fast.

     

    These cookies are great freshly made and at room temperature, but boy oh boy, try them straight from the freezer and its heavenly. They freeze perfectly, so these cookies can be made ahead well before your holiday celebrations.

     

    Nutmeg Logs
    adapted from Pillsbury
    yield roughly 24 cookies

    Nutmeg Log Ingredients:
    – 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted Butter, room temperature
    – 3/4 cup granulated Sugar
    – 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
    – 2 teaspoons Imitation Rum Flavoring
    – 1 large Egg, room temperature
    – 3 cups All Purpose Flour
    – 1 teaspoon ground Nutmeg, fresh if available
    – 1/2 teaspoon Salt

    Nutmeg Log Directions:
    – Heat oven to 350F
    – Combine Butter, Sugar, Vanilla Extract and Rum Flavoring in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment.
    – Once combined, add in the Egg. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is mixed together.
    – Add in the Flour, Nutmeg and Salt. Mix to combine.
    – Using a small cookie scoop, scoop out batter and roll dough, with your hands, into 3 inch logs
    – Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire rack completely, then frost.

    Frosting Ingredients:
    – 3 tablespoons unsalted Butter
    – 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    – 1/2 teaspoon Imitation Rum Flavoring
    – 2 cups Powdered Sugar, sifted
    – 3-5 tablespoons Heavy Cream
    – ground Nutmeg for garnish, fresh if available

    Frosting Directions:

     – Combine the Butter, Vanilla Extract and Rum Flavoring in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment or in a medium bowl with a hand blender.
    – Slowly add in the Powdered Sugar.
    – Add the Heavy Cream, one tablespoon at a time, until desired spreadable consistency.
    – Spread a small amount on cookie, working with only a few at a time so it doesn’t dry too fast, then sprinkle on Nutmeg.
    – Can be stored at room temperature in a container for 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to a week, but best stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month.

     

    Also check out the rest of the #CookieWeek participants and their yummy cookies today!

     

    • Black Forest Sandwich Cookies by Cravings of a Lunatic
    • Chewy Cocoa Fudge Cookies by Food Lust People Love
    • Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies by i heart eating
    • Macadamia and White Chocolate Chip Cookies by In The Kitchen With KP
    • Maple Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Cups by Beyond Frosting
    • Maple Cookies by Total Noms
    • kitchen-sink-cookies by Texana’s Kitchen
    • Nutella Cookies by NinjaBaking.com
    • Nutmeg Logs by Love and Confections
    • Oatmeal Raisin by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
    • Peanut Butter Blossoms by Like Mother Like Daughter
    • Pumpkin and Apple Dog Cookies by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
    • Raspberry Streusel Bars by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
    • Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting by Chocolate Moosey
    • Spicy Ginger Chews by Crumb
    • Vodka Cookies by Masala Herb

     

    Filed Under: Cookies, Uncategorized

    Ginger Crinkles for #CookieWeek

    November 12, 2013

    With the right amount of spice, sugar, crunch and chewiness, these Ginger Crinkles are perfect for the season.

    Welcome to #CookieWeek! Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen and Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic have joined together this week with 23 of their blog friends to present to you a week of cookie treats! We have every type of cookie you can think of listed this week, including something for our furry friends! Now is the time to bookmark these recipes for the upcoming holidays and cookie swaps or simply visit our Pinterest board!  Make sure you enter the giveaway with some fabulous prizes from KitchenAid, King Arthur Flour, OXO, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar to help with your cookie making needs!


    These cookies are addictive! My Mom told me about this recipe last Christmas and they are so good. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, just the right amount of spice and sweetness.

    The first time my Mom made these, she made one batch – which yields between 3.5 and 4 dozen cookies. It sounds like a lot, but they were all eaten within a day. She had to remake a couple more batches just so we could have these cookies for our Christmas celebrations. 



    Trust me when I say that even though it’s a little time consuming, you will want to make multiple batches of these guys!!

    Ginger Crinkles

    from The Food Network
    yield 3.5-4 dozen

    Ginger Crinkles Ingredients:
     – 2 cups All Purpose Flour
     – 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
     – 1 & 1/2 teaspoon ground Ginger
     – 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
     – 1/2 teaspoon Salt
     – 1/4 teaspoon ground Allspice
     – 1/4 teaspoon ground Cloves
     – 1/2 cup vegetable Shortening
     – 1/4 cup unsalted Butter, room temperature
     – 1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar
     – 1/2 cup granulated Sugar
     – 1/4 cup Molasses
     – 1 large Egg
     – Turbinado Sugar for rolling cookies in

    Ginger Crinkles Directions:
     – Heat oven to 350F.
     – In a medium bowl, whisk together the Flour, Bakind Soda, Ginger, Cinnamon, Salt, Allspice and Cloves.
     – In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the Shortening, Butter, Brown Sugar and granulated Sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. 
     – Add in the Molasses and Egg and beat until combined
     – Slowly add in the Flour and spice mixture and beat until combined.
     – Place the Turbinado Sugar in a small bowl. Using a small cookie scoop, drop the batter into the Turbinado Sugar by the scoopfuls and roll around to cover completely. 
     – Place 12 dough balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart, and bake for 9-11 minutes, rotating halfway through. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then continue cooking on a wire rack.

    We have an amazing  giveaway lined up this week thanks to our fabulous sponsors, KitchenAid, OXO, King Arthur Flour, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar.  
    Four lucky winners will win one of the following:
    Prize #1: 1 (one) KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer plus 1 (one) 4lb bag of  Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
    Prize #2: 1 (one) OXO gift set including the following:  1 (one) 3-in-1 Egg Separator, 1 (one) Cookie Press, 1 (one) Autumn Cookie Disk Set, 1 (one) 3 piece Cookie Cutter Set, 1 (one) Bowl Scraper, 1 (one) 2 Cup Adjustable Measuring Cups
    Prize #3: 1 (one) King Arthur Flour gift set including the following: 1 (one) King Arthur Unbleached All Purpose Flour -5lb bag, 1(one) Snowflake Cookie Cutter Set, 1 (one) King Arthur Flour Pure Vanilla Extract, 1 (one) Sparkling Sugar Collection, 1 (one) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Wafers – 16oz and 1 (one) 4lb bag of Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
    Prize #4: 1 (one) Silpat Halfsize Mat and 1 (one) 4lb bag Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
      
    This giveaway is open to US residents from November 11, 2013 through November 16, 2013 11:59pm EST and will be picked from random draw.  The winners will be notified via email and have 72 hours to respond, if not their prize is forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

    How to Enter:
    1. Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment with  your favorite cookie to bake during the holidays or for cookie swaps.
    2. Many more ways to enter in the rafflecopter widget!
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Disclaimer: KitchenAid, OXO, King Arthur Flour, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane are providing the prizes free of charge.  All opinions stated are my own.

    Also check out the other #CookieWeek participants and their yummy recipes today:

  • Coconut Macaroons by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
  • Loaded Oatmeal Coconut Cookies by The Cooking Actress
  • Peppermint Cream Cheese Thumbprints by Jen’s Favorite Cookies
  • Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Cookies by Beyond Frosting
  • Stuffed Chocolate Chip Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Cookies by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
  • Sugar Cookie Bars with Vanilla Bean Buttercream by i heart eating
  • Toffee Almond Snowball Cookies by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
  • Until next time
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Filed Under: Cookies, Uncategorized

    Double Chocolate Biscotti for #cookieweek

    November 11, 2013

    Double Chocolate Biscotti is perfect with your morning cup of coffee, afternoon cup of tea, or nighttime glass of milk. 


    Welcome to #cookieweek! Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen and Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic have joined together this week with 23 of their blog friends to present to you a week of cookie treats! We have every type of cookie you can think of listed this week, including something for our furry friends! Now is the time to bookmark these recipes for the upcoming holidays and cookie swaps or simply visit our Pinterest board!  Make sure you enter the giveaway with some fabulous prizes fromKitchenAid, King Arthur Flour, OXO, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar to help with your cookie making needs!


    Growing up in an Italian household not only meant lots of pasta and sauce and all sorts of delicious savory foods, but it also meant great desserts and snacks as well. My love of Biscotti stems from my Mom. She loves all things crunchy. When she toasts bread, it has to be extra dark and crispy – almost to the point of being burnt. Back to the crunchy… Biscotti is an anytime snack cookie for me. Most people like it with coffee or tea, and I’ll eat it like that too, but I also welcome it anytime of the day.

    Biscotti, plural of Biscotto, is a twice baked cookie, which is how it becomes dry and crunchy. There are so many flavor options with Biscotti. The most traditional Italian biscotti is with almonds and anise. I’m not particularly a fan of anise so I went a more modern route with these Double Chocolate Biscotti. It’s a very rich cookie and perfect with a cold glass of milk.



    Double Chocolate Biscotti

    adapted from Advanced Bread and Pastry
    yield 12 large or 24 small

    Double Chocolate Biscotti Ingredients:
     – 2 oz unsalted Butter, room temperature
     – 7 & 1/8 oz granulated Sugar
     – 3 large Eggs
     – 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
     – 9 & 7/8 oz All Purpose Flour
     – 2 oz Almond Meal/Flour
     – 1 & 1/2 oz Cocoa Powder
     – 1 & 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
     – 1/2 teaspoon Salt
     – 3 & 1/2 oz Milk Chocolate Chips

    Double Chocolate Biscotti Directions:
     – Heat oven to 325F
     – Cream Butter and Sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand mixer
     – Add in Eggs and Vanilla Extract
     – Combine All Purpose Flour, Almond Flour, Cocoa Powder, Baking Powder and Salt in a small bowl. If necessary, sift to prevent clumps.
     – Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients slowly. Once all the dry ingredients are in, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in the Chocolate Chips. Mix just to combine, making sure all the dry ingredients is incorporated.
     – Place the dough on a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Roughly 12 inches long by 3-4 inches wide by 1 inch thick. You can also form it into two smaller loaves and the second bake time will be reduced.
     – Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until firm to the touch.
     – Lower oven temperature to 300F.
     – When the Biscotti is cool, slice on a bias with a serrated knife and return to oven. Bake for 15 minutes, flip to the other side and bake another 15 minutes, or until well dried.

    We have an amazing  giveaway lined up this week thanks to our fabulous sponsors, KitchenAid, OXO, King Arthur Flour, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar.  

    Four lucky winners will win one of the following:
    Prize #1: 1 (one) KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer plus 1 (one) 4lb bag of  Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
    Prize #2: 1 (one) OXO gift set including the following:  1 (one) 3-in-1 Egg Separator, 1(one) Cookie Press, 1(one) Autumn Cookie Disk Set, 1(one) 3 piece Cookie Cutter Set, 1(one) Bowl Scraper, 1(one) 2 Cup Adjustable Measuring Cups
    Prize #3: 1 (one) King Arthur Flour gift set including the following: 1(one) King Arthur Unbleached All Purpose Flour -5lb bag, 1(one) Snowflake Cookie Cutter Set, 1(one) King Arthur Flour Pure Vanilla Extract, 1(one) Sparkling Sugar Collection, 1(one) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Wafers – 16oz and 1(one) 4lb bag of Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
    Prize #4: 1 (one) Silpat Halfsize Mat and 1(one) 4lb bag Zulka Pure Cane Sugar

    This giveaway is open to US residents from November 11, 2013 through November 16, 2013 11:59pm EST and will be picked from random draw.  The winners will be notified via email and have 72 hours to respond, if not their prize is forfeited and another winner will be chosen.


    How to Enter:
    1. Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment with  your favorite cookie to bake during the holidays or for cookie swaps.
    2. Many more ways to enter in the rafflecopter widget!
    a Rafflecopter giveaway



    A little about our sponsors:

    The iconic Kitchenaid stand mixer was born in 1919, from there stemmed an entire kitchen of  high-performance appliances -all created with the same attention to detail and quality. OXO’s mission is dedicated to providing innovative consumer products that make everyday living easier. King Arthur Flour was founded in 1790, as America’s oldest flour company they provided pure, high-quality flour to residents of the newly formed U.S., still going strong, they are the nation’s premier baking resource. Silpat was founded in 1965 by M Guy Demarle in Northern France.  He was an experience baker seeing a better way to bake bread with forms using non-stick silicone coatings.  He invented the first non-stick baguete baking trays and a few  years later invented  and created the original Silpat. Zulka Pure Cane Sugar is a Non GMO Project Verified “Morena” sugar – a term used to described granulated sugars that do not undergo conventional refining processes.  Zulka is perfect for baking, it tastes better, is less processed and is a cup for cup replacement.
    Disclaimer: KitchenAid, OXO, King Arthur Flour, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane are providing the prizes free of charge.  All opinions stated are my own.

    Also, Check out the other #CookieWeek Participants and give them some love!

    • Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwich Cookies by The Cooking Actress
    • Caramel Apple Cider Cookies by Like Mother Like Daughter
    • Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookie Bars with Peanut Butter Frosting by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
    • Chocolate-Filled Christmas Thumbprint Cookies by Food Lust People Love
    • Chocolate Fudge Brownie Sandwich Cookies by Cravings of a Lunatic
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Cookie Cups by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
    • Chocolate Peppermint Raisin Cookies from It’s Yummi!
    • Classic Gingersnap Cookies by In The Kitchen With KP
    • Coffee-Toffee Thumbprint Cookies from Crumb
    • Dark Chocolate Andes Cookie Cups by Beyond Frosting
    • Eggnog Cookies by Jen’s Favorite Cookies  
    • Extra-Chewy Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies from Omeletta
    • Fruit Coolers by Texana’s Kitchen
    • Gluten-free Elisenlebkuchen cookies  by Masala Herb
    • Iced Molasses Cookies with by i heart eating
    • Nutella Cookies by Total Noms
    • Orange Cream Cookies by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
    • Peanut Butter Cup Sandwich Cookies by Chocolate Moosey
    • Pumpkin Coconut Macaroons by 52 Kitchen Adventures
    • Rolo Brownie Cookies from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
    • Saketini Christmas Balls from NinjaBaking.com

    Until next time,
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Filed Under: Cookies, Uncategorized

    Frankenstein Pudding Cups and Halloween Traditions

    October 30, 2013

    Halloween is one of my favorite holidays – I love decorating and doing activities with friends!


    Every Family has their holiday traditions, and I especially love mine. Homemade Easter Bread, Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas, and cookies on almost every holiday. We always made my Grandmother’s recipe. Mom would make them a few days ahead and freeze them so we would be all set to decorate.

    As little girls, KB and I had to have a plethora of frosting colors and sprinkles to adorn our cookies. This year for Halloween, I asked my girlfriends, Thelma and Lolo to bring their kids over so we could do cookies. I love keeping the holiday cookie tradition alive – especially since my Grandmother is no longer with us and my Mom lives a few hundred miles away. It is definitely one tradition I will be doing with Baby L&C when she is old enough… almost 6 weeks until due date by the way!
    Thelma’s daughter, Little E, is almost 5 and Lolo’s son is almost 3. We had such a good time making cookies, even though our attention span was very short. They loved all the frosting colors and the special sprinkles I bought for the occasion. I haven’t seen that many eyeballs on one cookie in a while!
    After cookie decorating, we made Frankenstein Pudding Cups. I saw the idea on Pinterest a while back and thought it would be fun for them to make – and eat. It was really simple and took only a few minutes to do. The kids loved getting their fingers in the Oreo crumbs. 

    Frankenstein Pudding Cups
    inspired by Pinterest
    Frankenstein Pudding Cups Ingredients:
     – 4-5 decorated clear plastic cups
     – 1 box Instant Vanilla Pudding
     – 3 cups cold Milk
     – Neon Green Food Coloring, 20-25 drops
     – Neon Blue Food Coloring, 2-3 drops
     – 20 Oreos or other cream filled chocolate cookies, made into crumbs in food processor
    Frankenstein Pudding Cups Directions:
     – Using a permanent marker, draw faces on the outside of the plastic cups
     – In a large mixing bowl, mix the Instant Pudding, cold Milk and Food Coloring for 2 minutes.
     – Pour pudding into cups and top with Oreo Crumbs. Refrigerate 20 minutes
    Until next time,
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Filed Under: Cookies, Holiday, Uncategorized

    Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

    October 18, 2013

    I am wishing for Fall weather here in Florida and to hopefully speed it along, I created my own Pumpkin Pie Spice. With Fall baking, that little spice container in the grocery store never seems to be enough and always runs out right when I need it. Pumpkin Pie Spice is quick and easy to make and you probably have all the spice ingredients already in your pantry or spice drawer.

    The internet has been blowing up with Pumpkin Spice this and Pumpkin Spice that since early September. I love all those delicious creations that I see on Pinterest and FoodGawker. Hopefully I will not be too busy with Baby prep in the next few weeks to add to all the gloriousness (yes, that’s my made-up word) of Pumpkin Spice baking.



    Pumpkin Pie Spice
    a Love & Confections original recipe

    Pumpkin Pie Spice Ingredients:
     – 1/4 cup ground Cinnamon
     – 1 tablespoon ground Nutmeg, freshly grated if you have it
     – 1 tablespoon ground Ginger
     – 2 teaspoons ground Allspice
     – 1 teaspoon ground Clove*
    *some people like Clove in their spice mix, but I personally do not care for it, so it it up to you if you wish to add it in.

    Pumpkin Pie Spice Directions:
     – Add all spices in a jar, with a tight-fitting lid, and shake to combine. Any type of mason or canning jar would be perfect.

    Until next time,
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Filed Under: Kitchen Tips, Uncategorized

    For Grace – September 16, 2013

    September 16, 2013

    Every year this day seems to get harder and harder, but this year is different. For the first time in 12 years, even though its hard, I have something special to celebrate today…

    My grandmother, Grace, was one of the most important and influential people in my life. She was like a second mother to me. She instilled the true meaning of Family in our lives and loved us unconditionally. My love of baking stemmed from being in the kitchen with her, and even though she was gone, she inspired me to become a chef.

    Like I said, we have something to celebrate on this painful day – Mr. Love & Confections and I are expecting our first child, a little Girl! We are so excited to become parents. Years ago, while talking with my Grandmother, I happened to discuss baby names with her if she had been fortunate enough to have had another girl. She told me the name she liked and I thought it was a pretty name that would be good if I ever had a daughter.

    It came time for Mr.L&C and I to think about baby names. The name my Grandmother liked was one of my top choices, but it just didn’t feel right. We looked through baby name books and went back and forth on options, but didn’t find anything we truly liked. Nothing seemed to fit, but then I suggested we name her after my Grandmother. Mr. L&C and I agreed, and so we had a name for our baby girl… Grace which means “God’s favor; blessing”!

    It’s unbelievable how much I love little Grace already, and haven’t even met her yet. I’m sure my Grandmother would love her just as much if she were here to meet her namesake. I know she is watching over us and keeping an eye on our baby girl.

    Grace’s Sugar Cookies
    a Family Recipe adapted from Pillsbury

    Ingredients:
     – 3 cups All Purpose Flour
     – 1 & 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
     – 1/2 teaspoon Salt
     – 1 cup granulated Sugar
     – 1 cup unsalted Butter, room temperature
     – 1 Egg
     – 3 tablespoons Heavy Whipping Cream
     – 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

    Directions:
     – Sift Flour, Baking Powder, Salt and Sugar into a large mixing bowl. Cut in Butter using a pastry blender.
     – In a small bowl or measuring cup, put Egg, Cream and Vanilla and beat slightly to break up the egg.
     – Pour egg mixture into the flour/butter mixture and combine with a spoon, or by hand, until it forms a cohesive ball of dough.
     – Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours. If not using the same day, the dough can stay in the refrigerator overnight, or you can securely wrap it and place in a ziploc bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Thaw overnight in refrigerator or a few hours on the counter.
     – When ready to make cookies, heat oven to 400F, roll out to 1/2 inch thick, cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place on an ungreased baking sheet.
     – Bake for 5-8 minutes or until just golden brown around the edges. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooking rack and cool completely before icing.

    Royal Icing & Flooded Icing
    adapted from Bake at 350

    Bridget shares her recipe and step-by-step pictures. Head on over to her Blog for the recipe and to learn how to make royal and flooded icing.

    Until next time,
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Filed Under: Cookies, Family & Festivities, Uncategorized

    Ham and Swiss Puff Pastry Bites

    September 1, 2013

    A few weeks ago, I traveled home to North Carolina to visit my family and help my Mom host a Bridal Shower Brunch for my cousin – and you all know how much I LOVE Brunch. Her favorite color is purple so everything was decorated with that in mind.

    All the local mothers helped by bringing food. We had a great spread including a French Toast Casserole, Mini Frittatas, Deviled Eggs, Hash Brown Casserole, Tomato-Pesto Tarts, a build-your-own Yogurt Parfait and a Mimosa Bar.

    I helped Mom with all the decorations as well as the Puff Pastry Bites and French Macarons. We also had a dessert table with Cupcakes, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Mints and Peach Cake.

    I think she enjoyed herself and had a great Bridal Shower. Congratulations and I cannot wait for the wedding in October!



    Ham and Swiss Puff Pastry Bites
    inspired by Pinterest

    Ham and Swiss Puff Pastry Bites Ingredients:
     – 1 package Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed overnight in refigerator
     – 1 pound shaved deli Ham
     – 1/4 pound sliced deli Swiss Cheese, cut in half
     – 1-2 eggs beaten with 1-2 tablespoons water for Egg Wash

    Ham and Swiss Puff Pastry Bites Directions:
     – Heat oven to 425F and lightly spray some baking sheets.
     – Lightly flour a surface to roll out one Puff Pastry Sheet at a time. You don’t want to stretch or make them too thin, just maybe an extra 1/2 to 1 inch on each side, and to flatten the fold. Cut into 9 equal squares.
     – Set squares on a diagonal in front of you and place a 1/2 slice of Swiss Cheese, followed by some shaved Ham.
     – Using the Egg Wash, fold one side over, brush the corner and fold the other side on top – to create a sealed puff pastry bite. Brush the entire piece of Puff Pastry with the Egg Wash, including the tops, sides, and little corners still visible under the Ham and Swiss.
     – Repeat process with second Puff Pastry Sheet, remembering to work fast, so the fat does not melt out of the sheets before baking – that’s what makes it flaky and delicious!
     – Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Can be served warm or at room temperature.

    Until next time,
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Filed Under: Breakfast & Brunch, Family & Festivities, Pastries & Baked Goods, Uncategorized

    Raspberry Crumb Bars

    August 29, 2013

    It’s almost September and Halloween stores are opening and pumpkin recipes are up on the internet. Summer is still in full effect here in Florida. These past few days have been hot and humid and I cannot wait for cooler weather and Fall baking. Until then, I decided to go with a bright and summery dessert bar for you.

    I am not the biggest raspberry fan. I love the flavor, but I just can’t get past all the seeds. It tastes great, but if I had a choice between raspberries, blueberries or strawberries, I’d choose the last two.

    I decided to use the raspberries I had to make some more room in freezer. This is the perfect way to use frozen raspberries, because they don’t always hold their shape once thawed.



    Raspberry Crumb Bars
    adapted from allrecipes.com

    Raspberry Crumb Bar Ingredients:
    200 grams Granulated Sugar (1 cup)
    3 grams Baking Powder (1 tsp)
    375 grams All Purpose Flour (3 cups)
    2 grams Salt (1/4 tsp)
    Zest from one medium Lemon (1 tbsp)
    226 grams cold unsalted Butter (2 sticks)
    100 grams Eggs (2)

    400 grams frozen Raspberries, thawed and strained of any extra juice (2 cups)
    100 grams Granulated Sugar (1/2 cup)
    18 grams Corn Starch (2 tbsp)

    Raspberry Crumb Bar Directions:
     – Heat oven to 350F. Grease and flour, or use baking spray, on a 9 x 13 non-stick pan.
     – In a medium bowl, combine the first measure of Granulated Sugar, Baking Powder, All Purpose Flour, Salt and Lemon Zest. Using a pastry blender or fork and knives, cut the cold Butter into the dry ingredients, until pea-sized shapes are formed. Add in the 2 Eggs and continue to cut to combine.
     – Using 1/2 to 2/3 of the mixture, press it into the bottom of the pan.
     – In a separate bowl, combine the thawed Raspberries, second measure of Granulated Sugar and Corn Starch. Scoop the Raspberry mixture evenly over the bottom crust. Sprinkle the remaining dry mixture evenly over the top.
     – Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely before cutting.

    Until next time,
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Filed Under: Brownies & Bars, Uncategorized

    Hash House A Go Go – restaurant review

    August 17, 2013

    A restaurant review of Hash House A Go Go in Orlando, Florida.


    I love Brunch! You can probably tell from when I hosted BrunchWeek this past May. I don’t think Brunch needs a special occasion – just good food and good company. Hash House A Go Go took care of the good food. As far as the good company, Mr. Love & Confections, our friend Susan, Marilyn from Forkful and a few of her friends joined us for a fabulous brunch.

    We went on a busy Saturday morning, and I would highly recommend making a reservation, especially with a group as big as ours. We got seated pretty fast and the only drawback was that they didn’t actually have a table big enough for our group. We had to add a small table to the end of one of their large booths to have everyone fit.

    Kiwi Watermelon Lemonade – most popular drink – try it!

    A few people at the table got some of their fun drinks and coffee. After Baby L&C comes, I am definitely going there for happy hour! The drinks looked fun and delicious and the coffee hit the spot.

    Caramel All Over Mocha & S’Mores Mocha

    Hash House A Go Go’s tagline boasts its “twisted farm food”. Their take on traditional dishes was awesome and the portions were huge! Susan’s BLT came out to the table first and then we knew what we were getting in to.

    BBBLT  – you can’t have too much bacon! & One Pound Stuffed Burger

    Sage Fried Chicken & Waffles
    The Chicken & Waffles was delicious! Two sage fried chicken breasts with a hardwood smoked bacon waffle tower – yes bacon was inside the waffles, hot maple syrup reduction and fried leeks.

    Everyone was wide-eyed as their order was set down in front of them, salivating as each plate came. The food kept coming and kept getting bigger by the plate.

    Hash with crispy potatoes, 2 eggs, fresh fruit and a biscuit.

    The biscuits were so good and the pictures don’t do them justice. They were so tall, flaky and moist. I had the Griddled French Toast dipped in a Banana Cinnamon Cream with Pecan Maple Syrup.

    Mr. Love & Confections had the Tractor Driver Combo with the Brown Sugar Banana Flapjack – He used his had as a reference to how big the flapjack actually was! It was DELICIOUS and next time I go, I am getting that!

    Everyone at the table ordered something different, which I love, because we were all able to sample something from each other’s plates – I love sharing a meal with Foodies! The food was delicious and some of us had to take leftovers home. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It was a fun atmosphere and had great food.

    for more information on the restaurant including locations, hours and menu, visit the Hash House A Go Go Website!

    Until next time,
    LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

    Disclaimer: I was not compensated for or asked to write about this restaurant. All opinions are my own.

    Filed Under: Uncategorized

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