Chocolate Chunk Cookies with a Toddler Tweak

My young friend, Meria was about 3 years old when I recorded her instructions for baking cookies. That was a couple of years ago. She had just finished helping her mom make chocolate chip cookies and I asked her to tell me the recipe so I could record it. She was exuburant in the telling, to say the least. I love listening to her on this recording. Keep reading for ideas on really bumping up the flavor of traditional chocolate chip cookies.

Old Fashioned Less-Sweet Pecan Macaroons

I listen to the Splendid Table on our local public radio station.
Love that show!
Anyhoo.
Awhile back I heard a segment that included a recipe for coconut macaroons, and decided to save it for the inevitable sweet-tooth-attack.
Well, this morning I wasn’t really having a sweets craving, but … I wanted to bake something in case anybody with a sweet tooth came into the gallery today.
These are a really easy treat to make — leave out the pecans, or substitute a different kind of nut if you want.
They’re low-fat too!

Chevre Cheese Straws with Caraway and Red Chili

Okay. I admit to bribery. Well. Attempted bribery. I’m hoping that serving up some homemade goodies at our little downtown Helena gallery will entice folks to visit today. I wanted to make something sweet, but having just watched the trailer for the new anti-sugar documentary, “Fed Up,” I decided I also needed to make a savory treat. We had all the ingredients around for a cheesy decadent something-or-other. So, in typical Maureen-fashion, I tweaked a basic recipe and ended up with something I can write home about. These are SO easy — and they are positively addictive. Hope you try the recipe. Or, come visit me at 1+1=1 Gallery today or tomorrow.

Throwback Thursday Anadama Bread

Lately I’ve been craving the chewy mouth feel of Anadama bread. It really truly no-kidding is incredible delicious!
I broke down and baked some this week. Sigh. It’s so good. My husband loves it too. When he tasted the first warm slice his comment was, “To hell with Dave’s bread. This is better!” That’s saying alot around here. Dave’s bread is Tim’s bread.
I made a slightly healthier version than the one I learned as a college student. I used whole wheat flour and flax meal, less salt, a teensy bit less butter. Read on, to find out how I made this incredibly delicious bread.

Harvest Plum Cake

Faced with a large box of freshly picked, incredibly fragranced red plums, I had to think of something to bake. I settled on a variation of an upside-down-cake from my childhood. I used brown butter because Joy Wilson — Joy the (awesome) Baker — inspired me by waxing poetic about it’s virtues in this post. I used the plums. Of course! And we had blueberries, so I added some of those. If you have alot of plums to use up, this will barely make a dent. Still, it’s worth the small effort. Quick. Easy. Beautiful. And the finished cake makes you look like you worked on it for hours. Yummo!

Best Pie Crust Ever

Does your pie crust recipe usually end up in pieces on the kitchen counter when you try to roll it out? Do you get frustrated because your pie crusts are heavy and thick and uninspiring? Try my pie crust recipe and see if it makes a difference. This post also includes a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a “woven” lattice pie crust. It’s way easier than it looks! Check it out.

My Grandmother’s Oatmeal Cookies

Best Ever Oatmeal Cookie recipe from my grandmother, Irene Shaughnessy. It’s been in my immediate family for over 50 years and is one of everyone’s favorite cookies. I have adapted the recipe over the years to include ingredients I can use to fool myself. Fool myself into believing they are healthier. But really these are INCREDIBLE cookies. Check out the recipe. You’ll love them.

No Nuts Granola

Homemade granola is one of those easy things you can make on a Saturday while you are doing household chores. You can make endless variations of granola if you make your own — and better still — you can make it many times healthier for you by adding just a minimal amount of oil or sweetener (or none at all) and leaving out the nuts if you have someone with a nut allergy.