kitchen adventures
Sometimes you want just a couple of cookies. Not a full batch, not dozens, not a big tin full, but just two cookies. One for you, one for a friend – or maybe one for now, one for later. Just two. In fact, you can make just 2 chocolate chip cookies,
I love an easy bar cookie, don’t you? These endlessly adaptable marshmallow bars are even better, because I get to use up the remnants of an open jar of jam. These cookies are inspired by and adapted from Joy the Baker – and they remain a favorite in my family. They’re cookielicious! January 2022: I’m
Whole wheat blondies are a simple to make, needing no mixer: only a bowl and a spoon. I like to melt the butter right in the mixing bowl (it fits in the microwave). Might as well save on dishes, right? They are also fairly quick: from getting out the ingredients
At times, I fear that I give the wrong impression. I put up lots of good things, including jar after jar of jam and fruit butter. But think beyond toast – these jars of fruity goodness are good for much more. Open jars flavor ice cream, smoothies, and cake frostings; spike salad
I’m sure there are people who don’t like chocolate chip cookies – it’s just that none of those people are in my family. By popular demand, when I bake cookies, about half the time it’ll be chocolate chip. We’ve become quite picky about our cookies, and these are perfect chocolate chip cookies.
There’s something about baking for the holidays that’s relaxing and exciting at the same time. It’s a great pleasure to bake in anticipation of sharing good things with friends and family. Brownies with Jammy Bits are a very special brownie at my house. They are intensely chocolatey, moist and chewy, and
Gingerbread hedgehog cookies are undeniably cute, and they’re a favorite in my family.  They’re a simple spicy gingerbread cut-out, decorated with icing and sprinkles. They ship well and taste great, and will last quite a long time in an airtight tin. This is a basic gingerbread cut-out cookie, good to
There are times when you absolutely require chocolate just as soon as possible. There are also times when you need just a few cookies, not a big batch. We’ve got you covered here for both: chocolate coconut macaroons in a small batch. These delightfully shaggy macaroons are made from ordinary pantry ingredients:
I have a weakness for molasses cookies of all kinds. The best of them are deeply darkly delicious; chewy, both sharp and mellow with spices. They will keep for weeks, if only I can hide them from my family. (I’ve never been able to keep any long enough to test
These buttery shortbread cookies are a family favorite: they are both simple to make and delicious to eat. This version is spiked with shards of crystallized ginger. Made with unbleached wheat flour, these cookies are definitely not gluten-free. Shortbread comes from Scotland, where it was made with oats. I’m planning to
Need a dessert, but finding it too hot to bake? Nanaimo Bars are the answer! Common in Canada, they are delicious refrigerated three-layer bars that permit tons of variations. Perfect for hot weather, they require no baking at all. No one seems to know just who invented them, though they’re
When you have extra egg yolks left over, use them in something delicious! These sugar cookies are soft and tender, and handily used my 3 remaining egg yolks. 3-yolk Sugar Cookies 2 1/2 c flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cream of tartar heaping 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
I’m Maurita Plouff, and I write about cooking and preserving the local harvest in Southeast Michigan. Any recipe you find here is something I have cooked myself, and enjoyed, and think you might like too. I invite you to try the recipes, and leave comments.