We are now days away from Christmas and I am as ready as I’ll ever be. Sure, I’ve got a menu of items to make for our big “Eve” party this weekend, but I’ve at least finalized what I’ll be serving and need to only make one more trip to the grocery store for our fresh ingredients. Anything else in my pantry, though, has dwindled down to next to nothing, including my compartment of baking ingredients. Only last week it was overflowing with chocolate morsels, flour, granulated and brown sugar and various other things needed to open my home bakery for the holidays.

I was oh-so-proud of my baking cabinet and the sweets it helped me produce: the chocolate chips I had stocked up on to coat my Oreo truffles, the loads of granulated sugar it felt like I used with my candied orange peel, and the various other Christmas treats that remind me why I love to bake. My favorite holiday dessert, which has become a tradition since I first made it years ago, is considered my “pièce de résistance,” and I like to think my family is anticipating its big reveal this Saturday. The classic French Yule log is no joke – if, like me, you soak up every single complement thrown your way regarding any of your dishes, make a Bûche de Noël. You will be the talk of your family holiday party well into 2012. Read More…

Buying gifts can start to quickly add up, and it’s hard to not feel generous during the holidays. Though I try to set a budget for each person on my list, it can be really hard to stick to; I aspire to be one of the greatest gift givers in my family and sometimes overdo it. To help ease the pain on my wallet, while utilizing my knack for baking, I set out to churn dozens of sweets out of my own kitchen to give my favorite people on the planet presents that are homemade and edible.

I entered my culinary arena at 10 a.m. last Saturday and lost myself in batches upon batches of cookies, cakes and candies. When I finally came to, after a whirlwind day of stirring, mixing, and whisking, it was getting dark outside and I happily realized I spent the entire day in the kitchen. True, I was definitely proud of my accomplishments as I looked around my kitchen and admired my own work: freezer bags and Tupperware containers practically overflowing with holiday treats. But, I was also overcome with excitement as I imagined my confections wrapped in red and green paper, tied with ribbon. What was even more thrilling was the thought of them being eaten. Read More…

The Christmas countdown has commenced and, for most folks, that means rushing out to malls and department stores, crossing items off their loved ones’ wish lists. For me, holiday anxiety comes from countless hours scouring my cookbooks, handwritten recipe collections, magazines and the internet, in search of the perfect cookie and candy recipes to wow family, friends and neighbors.

I have my staples: traditional chocolate chip, the always-a-hit Snickerdoodles, and my mom’s Chocolate Crinkles (which, just like her meatloaf recipe, I will never divulge).The old standbys never disappoint, but I do enjoy throwing in one or two new surprises to keep my recipients on their toes and always looking forward to the holidays.

This year, the internet has provided me with my latest addition to my rotation of seasonal sweets. It’s an unexpected twist using a classic cookie as the main ingredient and is both easy and inexpensive to make. The result is an overwhelmingly delicious hybrid of a cookie and candy – Oreo truffles. Read More…