Almond Butter Cookies

Well this past week has been trying, to say the least.

After spending a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with family and friends, Black Friday and Shop Small Biz Saturday came and went with a bang! We were VERY busy at the shop, I’m happy to say; but all the hustle and bustle took it’s toll on me.

Exhausted and unable to acclimate to the recent chilly weather, I came down with the worst head/chest cold I can ever remember having. Ugh…. I hate to be sick (as anyone else does, of course)! And it always seems to hit at the busiest time–when I definitely don’t have time to be out of work.

Pre-BaconApocalypse Bacon Party

Rumors of an imminent bacon shortage has got the whole foodie world abuzz. Bacon prices will rise; and what once was considered a low-brow, inexpensive, commonplace kitchen staple is now a gourmet item. Much blogged about, placed on the foodie center stage, and soon-to-be the newest poetry subject: We love our Bacon! ;)

So, leave it to Lizette to host an all bacon party. LOL

Minty Peach Sorbet

The dog days of summer continue to linger here in the deep south, but the past couple mornings there has been the slightest hint of fall in the air. When the humidity breaks for a few minutes, and a breeze blows in, there is an unmistakable smell of changing seasons.

We have months of warm weather ahead of us still, but those moments of relief from the oppressive heat are a welcome reminder that moderate temps will eventually find us.

Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream

Last summer I got the ice cream attachment for my KitchenAid mixer. I waffled a bit before buying it because I wasn’t sure I’d get that much use out of it, and I despise having useless kitchen gadgets cluttering my precious cabinet space.

Well, needless to say, I’ve gotten more than my money’s worth of use out of it. It’s a wonderful tool for making any kind of frozen concoction quickly and easily.

Plus it’s a huge bonus to get to create healthier options than what’s available to buy. I tend to shy away from any ice cream recipe that calls for eggs, and I usually substitute coconut cream for the fat-laden sweetened condensed milk. That way, our summer dessert indulgence doesn’t have to be so costly. ;)

A Southerner’s Staple: Banana Pudding

Perhaps I’m being a little parochial. Maybe banana pudding is a staple on every American’s table during summer time feasts. Maybe every family has a generational obligation to provide this one dessert at every meal where .

Maybe.

I know for sure this is how it is in the South. :) Everyone grows up with this dessert. Everyone loves it (mostly). And everyone knows how to make it.

But… just in case someone out there doesn’t know, I’ll let you in on a little secret. It is probably the easiest dessert to throw together and one of the prettiest despite the lack of complications.

Strawberry Beeramisu

Several friends have been asking for this recipe for the last YEAR. >sigh< Yes, I have procrastinated, forgotten, and put it off for that long. The last time I actually made this dessert was two years ago, so it wasn’t much on my mind until the subject of strawberry beer arose recently.

My favorite Louisiana brewery, Abita, puts out a special edition, limited batch of strawberry beer each spring; and I use that specialty beer in a tiramisu recipe. I can’t take credit for the “Beeramisu” name. That comes from a basic recipe in Abita’s own cookbook that I took and tweaked just a bit to make it a little more my own.

It doesn’t hurt that this is the height of strawberry season here in Louisiana, either.

Banana Split

O. M. G. Have I said I love Pinterest? Well…. I LOVE Pinterest! So many ideas, so little time.

I do not know where this particular idea originated (I did not find it on Pinterest myself). My brother-in-law is actually the one who told me of this idea and that he found it on the pinning site. {He was super sweet and surprised my sister with a romantic home-cooked meal for Valentine’s Day and made this for dessert.} Genius!

{Guest Blogger} Mardi Gras Cake

I am very happy to introduce you to today’s guest blogger, Carmen. I’ve known Carmen for many years and am happy to call her a long-time friend. Among many other talents, she has started baking and decorating cakes (and cupcakes and cookies and…. well, I suppose anyting sweet that can be decorated!). She has been very generous in accepting my request to do up something special for all my dear readers. What a treat you’re in for! Please welcome Carmen……

Peanut Butter & Jam Sandwich Cookies

A very dear friend asked me to help out with her daughter’s 6th birthday party. Theme: dress up tea party! How could I say ‘no?’ This is going to be way too much fun, so I started brainstorming immediately.

What would little girls like to eat? ??? I thought and thought, wondered and wondered. Then realized: Peanut butter and jam sandwiches, of course.

How could I change them up to be more fun, more fancy? Make them as a cookie!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

…or should they be called Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars? Meh… Sometimes I get things a little backwards But I’m not sure that really matters in this case because whatever you call these, they are De.Li.Cious! Heavenly. Decadent. Sinful. Rich. There are many adjectives that aptly describe these treats. I’ll leave it up to you to work out. I’m too busy stuffing my face.