New York Style Black and White Cookies: Baking for Harmony

My wife is a teacher and asked if there was anything I could bake to represent Martin Luther King, Jr day.  After discarding many ideas, we concluded Black and Whites would be appropriate as a sweet treat for her classes.  Though in the final execution, some of them look more Yin-Yang looking than half moon, they taste great, … Continue reading New York Style Black and White Cookies: Baking for Harmony

Isabel’s Perfect Holiday New York Style Cheesecake: Sinful and Gluten-Free

If you are still searching for that perfect holiday dessert, I have one for you.   For both religious and secular celebrations (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Chanukah), this cheesecake is a winner.  Why? It's a dairy dessert, served cold and it's gluten-free (if you make it with corn starch, not flour). It  can be served with fruit or fruit topping or … Continue reading Isabel’s Perfect Holiday New York Style Cheesecake: Sinful and Gluten-Free

Old-Fashioned Apple Cake (with Frosting)

November is to apples what black is to bananas, i.e. nature's alarm clock telling you it's time to use 'em or toss 'em.  As that siren grew louder, I spied my pile of ever-softening honey crisp apples with despair. Decisive action was necessary. Taking to my trusty recipe network, I found Old Fashioned Apple Cake on King Arthur … Continue reading Old-Fashioned Apple Cake (with Frosting)

Pretty F*#%in’ Good Blondies

If you're going to strap on an apron and call yourself a baker so you can churn out highfalutin' stuff, go ahead.  But you better be able to sing the hits, too, because the number of times a family baker has the time to make croissants or gets requests for baked Alaska are pretty small.  Instead, there … Continue reading Pretty F*#%in’ Good Blondies

Make Your Own Pop Tarts! It’s (Pretty) Easy.

One of the things I am always focused on as a parent is getting my kids to eat healthy.  But this is a RELATIVE term because "healthy" in the end is measured by degrees, and is by no means an absolute.   For instance, you are not often given the choice of "salad with quinoa or chicken … Continue reading Make Your Own Pop Tarts! It’s (Pretty) Easy.