Jan 9th, 2010
My boyfriend, a Cincinnati native, is visiting this week. He was all amped up for the Bengals football game this afternoon, and determined to master a classic food of his home city – the Cincinnati Chili. This particular food combines a sweet-ish beef chili with spaghetti (two-way), cheese (three-way), onions or kidney beans (four-way, five-way with both). I’d had it before, at both Gold Star and Skyline, and was a definite convert. But now, having had it at home, in his particular recipe, I don’t know that I can go back to the fast-food…except for for Coneys at 2 A.M.
It can’t quite erase the pain at seeing the Bengals lose and continue their 19 year streak…but it comes close.
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Recipes | 4 comments »
Tags: chili recipe, cincinnati chili, dinner recipes, game day recipe, regional recipe, Skyline chili
Dec 24th, 2009
And my last installment! It’s actually only 11 cookies, but frankly, I am cookied out. So I thought I’d finish with something pretty, simple, and highly gift-able.
The peppermint crackles have crushed starlight mints in them, along with a touch of peppermint extract. I added bits of candy canes to the top for a special flare.
It’s time for actual Christmas, and the eating of cookies. Happy holidays, all!
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | 3 comments »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, baking recipes, Challenges, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, holiday recipes
Dec 23rd, 2009
Dried mustard in a cookie? Really?
Yes, really.
These spicy, complex little cookies are nearly perfect – a lovely crumbly texture, balance of flavors, and not too sweet. They could easily be dressed up with a coat of icing or drizzle of chocolate, but I love them just as-is.
I’ve also fallen in love with my tiny star cookie cutter – it makes 1-inch or so cookies, that are perfect for single bite snacking. Yum.
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | 2 comments »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, baking recipes, Challenges, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, easy recipe, holiday recipes
Dec 22nd, 2009
Though Linzer Tarts are a little heavy on the construction, they are infinitley worth it – particularly these, where the cookie dough is filled with ground hazelnuts and cinnamon, and then the cookies ooze with wonderful blackberry flavor. I’ll be bringing this one back for valentines day!
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | one comment »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, baking recipes, Challenges, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, holiday recipes
Dec 21st, 2009
Channeling the green box that the girl scouts love to tote, these little minty chocolaty cookies were a nice change. Slice-and-bake instead of rolling out makes for slightly less even rounds, but the chocolate drizzle adds some elegance, and makes for a pretty present cookie.
Three more to go…
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | 2 comments »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, baking recipes, Challenges, chocolate recipes, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, holiday recipes
Dec 14th, 2009
Ok, so I might have promised 12 days of cookies, but did I say they would be in a row???? Zing!
Life gets in the way of baking sometimes, but I’m still having fun with these, and now my friends and coworkers have these sad puppy dog eyes when I don’t carry cookies everywhere I go. So for my last week of baking, I’m getting back into the swing of things and trying a few more cookie recipes.
These look a lot like the last ones…mostly because I don’t have fun cookie cutters. But they couldn’t taste more different – light and airy, citrus and ginger, with just a touch of plain glaze to set them off. Way too easily munch-able for my waistline’s sake.
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | 4 comments »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, baking recipes, Challenges, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, easy recipe, holiday recipes
Dec 8th, 2009
It had to happen eventually – I missed a day. I call excuse from the fact that I spent Sunday crossing three time zones and losing many hours in the process. But I’m back, and at least today…there are cookies.
These ones scared me a bit – I had no idea what juniper berries were, and upon hearing that they were “piney”, I wasn’t sure the taste of wood translated into deliciousness. But I was pleasantly surprised – the glaze does have a green, Christmas-y aroma, that goes very nicely with the gingerbread cookies. The cookies are a perfect crispyness and nice crunch, softened just a touch by the sugar glaze.
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | 6 comments »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, baking recipes, Challenges, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, holiday recipes
Dec 5th, 2009
These are…well….delightful. Like the best thing a chocolate chip cookie should be. I’m a big fan of the cranberries, if you haven’t noticed, and adding the macadamia nuts adds not only some nutty flavor but also a bit of salt. I’m also not usually a white chocolate fan, but here it works – nuggets of sweet silkiness.
These are the easiest cookies thus far – mix, fold, drop, bake. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | 6 comments »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, baking recipes, Challenges, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, holiday recipes
Dec 4th, 2009
For all that I love baking, I don’t have too much of a sweet tooth. I prefer subtle sweetness, and rich butteryness over a blast of sugar. And shortbread is at the top of my list of delights.
The walnuts gave these cookies a really nice, rich flavor. I did add chocolate to some, though many I just left plain, ready to accompany my now daily coffee-and-cookie break.
I’m always torn with recipes about reading the comments – on one hand, I love the value that all the different cooks bring to the table (like with this challenge!). On the other, I like to experiment for myself. But had I read the comments, I would have know that the original recipe’s dough was quite dry. I solved the problem by adding the tablespoon of milk, which seemed to pull things together better. I also opted for dark brown sugar instead of light, so my cookies have a less delicate color to them.
Read the recipe below, and be sure to check out my fellow baker’s work as well!
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | 5 comments »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, Challenges, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, holiday recipes
Dec 3rd, 2009
These cookies looked so fancy and delicate, I just couldn’t resist. It also helps that I’m a sucker for oranges and almonds – what could be better than the combination?
I cite one of my co-worker’s quotes here – “These cookies are to DIE for.”
Light, crispy, pretty, sweet, with a touch of salt, they are a lovely specimen of the cookie family.
I’m not sure how gift-able they are, simply because they are so delicate, but they are most certainly a “wow…” cookie.
Read on for the recipe…
Posted in Challenges, Recipes | 6 comments »
Tags: 12 Days of Cookies, baking recipes, Challenges, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, holiday recipes
