Apricot & Salted Pistachio Brown Butter Blondies

Apricot & Pistachio Brown Butter BlondiesSometimes this whole food blogging business can be downright painful. See, I’m sitting here at my computer, remembering what these blondies smelled like as they were baking…like buttery, caramelly, brown sugary goodness, straight from the heavens. And now instead of writing, I’m just staring at the crackled tops of these bars, thinking about their perfectly chewy edges and just how addictively sweet/soft/salty/crunchy/chewy they were .

See, I’m remembering all of this. I made these over a week ago and now, as I’m finally getting around to writing about them, they are loooooong gone. I’m sitting here, tweaking photos, writing about these beauties, and they’re nothing but a memory. A beautiful, beautiful memory.  It’s painful, I’m telling you.  

But, as difficult as it may be (mostly because my keyboard is now covered in drool), I’m going talk about these blondies because they were simply too good not to share. They’re just your basic blondies with a few special touches–browned butter, dried apricots, and a handful of salted pistachios. Those little extras are enough to transform a simple bar into an “I want to eat the entire pan right now” treat that I can’t get out of my head and soon you won’t be able to get out of yours. Consider yourself warned.

[Read more…]

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal-Raisin CookiesJust writing the title of this post, I feel like a maniac.  How on earth do you even punctuate such a cookie concoction?

See, I was having the kind of day where I just needed a cookie–a good old classic, dunk-it-in-a-glass-of-milk kind of cookie.  It also happened to be the kind of day that I couldn’t make a decision to save my life.  Can I get away with wearing the brown boots with a black sweater, should I vacuum the house or do my taxes, do I feel like oatmeal-raisin cookies or chocolate chip or peanut butter…

…you can probably see where this is going.  My indecision led to continuing not to care if black matches brown, not vacuuming or working on my taxes (by far the easiest choice of the day), and jamming everything that’s good in the world in 1 crazy cookie.  It turns out, indecision can occasionally be a good thing and sometimes not showing an ounce of restraint actually works out.  These cookies are majorly satisfying and just the thing to bake when you’re having a just-need-a-cookie sort of day.

[Read more…]

Date, Walnut & Gouda Scones

Date,-Walnut-&-Gouda-SconesWhat started with a simple cheese plate has led to so much more.

One night, a few weeks ago, I got off work late and decided to treat myself to a cheese plate.  I stopped by the store on my way home and picked up a little wedge of raw milk gouda, a few juicy Medjool dates, and some walnuts.  A glass of wine and a movie later, my wheels were turning, thinking of other things I do with this delicious combination of ingredients.  I made a batch of date-walnut bars (good, but the crust was a little too crumbly to share with y’all), a really good stuffed pork tenderloin, and, finally, these scones.  It’s been a good ride.

These scones were the star of a leisurely breakfast last weekend.  They’re a great blend of savory and sweet, buttery layers spotted with big chunks of date, toasted walnuts, and sharp cheese.  Paired with hot coffee, pjs, and good company, is there really nothing more I could ask for on a Sunday morning?  Nope.

[Read more…]

Cardamom, Ginger & Orange Palmiers

Orange, Cardamom & Ginger Palmiers

Do you ever make a dessert only to realize your dessert could use another dessert?  I’ve found myself in this situation a few times recently–allow me to explain before you write me off as a total glutton.

I’ve been really into poaching pears this winter.  Red wine, sugar, a cinnamon stick, and maybe a splash of Grand Marnier…they’re really good, but they never quite feel like a stand-alone dessert. 

Enter palmiers.  These cookies are the perfect bite to add when you make something like a poached pear and your dessert needs a little extra something (not that they’re not delicious on their own—they are!).  Palmiers are an absolute cinch to make, just spread sugar and spice on sheets of puff pastry, roll, slice, and bake.  Boom—pretty cookies with flaky, buttery layers and a welcome hit of orange and spice.

[Read more…]

Almond, Citrus & Currant Biscotti

Currant, Almond & Citrus BiscottiThere was a winter, quite a few years back, when I was rarely without a jar of these biscotti on my kitchen counter.  I was a total addict, eating them every morning with my caffè latte, cleaning up crumbs mid-afternoon, dunking them into my bedtime tea.  And then, my morning coffee habits changed and they fell off my radar.  But only temporarily.  Thank goodness.

I’m back to drinking milky coffee in the morning, thanks to the miracle of a stovetop frother I gave Matt for Christmas (a totally selfless act, of course), so it was only natural for my beloved biscotti to return as well.  They’re everything I want with my cappuccino: crunchy and dunk-able, with a bit of cornmeal bite, plenty of almonds, bursts of bright citrus, and little hits of sweet here and there from dried currants.  With a jar of these on the counter, I always have a very good reason to get out of bed…scratch that, leap out of bed.

[Read more…]