Cookies and Candy

MELT IN THE MOUTH MERINGUES

MELT IN THE MOUTH MERINGUES

When baked to perfection, these meringues are crisp, airy, sweet, and light.  The problem with that, is that you will be tempted to keep tossing them in your mouth like popcorn.    I started trying to perfect meringue kisses when I wanted a cookie that...

MOIST, BEAUTIFUL, MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH MINT BROWNIES

MOIST, BEAUTIFUL, MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH MINT BROWNIES

There was no way I could resist sharing a "bit o' the green", in brownie form, since St. Patrick's Day is coming up. I often took these mint brownies to potlucks at work, and they were always well received. But when I checked my bottle of mint extract, I realized it...

PURE VANILLA TASTE IN THESE COOKIES

PURE VANILLA TASTE IN THESE COOKIES

My husband Allen and I often had opposite preferences when it came to food. I love chocolate desserts, he would always go for fruit pies.  I wanted fish, he preferred beef. My dressing on a salad was usually a vinaigrette. Allen loved creamy blue cheese dressing. I...

SUPER SIMPLE STRUDEL COOKIES

SUPER SIMPLE STRUDEL COOKIES

Start with a soft cream cheese dough that is not sweet, then add a sumptuous filling made with toasted nuts, milk, and sugar, and what do you get? Melt-in-your-mouth-better-pop-another-one-right-away-kind of cookies! These are one of my must-haves for the Holiday...

QUICK SLICING MAKES ALMOND COOKIES A BREEZE

QUICK SLICING MAKES ALMOND COOKIES A BREEZE

ALMOND STRIPS My husband Allen absolutely loved these cookies.  Most people like the additional sweetness of the almond flavored drizzle of icing, but not Allen, so I always had to make some sans drizzle. Over the years, I came to prefer them that way myself. The...

IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS: OUTSTANDING ESPRESSO BARS

IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS: OUTSTANDING ESPRESSO BARS

It is a little disconcerting to bring a new recipe to a gathering with good friends and the first bite causes- COMPLETE SILENCE. Now, you do have to know your friends well to interpret exactly what the silence means: Wow!Ooh-Yuck!OMG this is so good... I was lucky to...

HOW TO FREEZE AND THAW COOKIES OR DOUGH

HOW TO FREEZE AND THAW COOKIES OR DOUGH

You can freeze baked or unbaked cookies to prepare ahead for upcoming holidays and events. Here are some guidelines that I find helpful when I need to be organized prior to major get togethers, or if I want to have special treats ready to give to others. I have also...

“WHO TOOK THE COOKIE FROM THE COOKIE JAR?”

“WHO TOOK THE COOKIE FROM THE COOKIE JAR?”

ALLEN DID If you like cookies that are not too sweet, then you will love these buttery little gems. The first time I made these, many years ago, I thought the recipe made way too many to eat up before they would get stale. Wrong. Hubby Allen generally had good...

SOFT AND SCRUMPTIOUS APPLESAUCE COOKIES

SOFT AND SCRUMPTIOUS APPLESAUCE COOKIES

APPLESAUCE COOKIES As the leaves start to change color, the temperatures fluctuate up and down, I get cold and I start baking.  These Applesauce Cookies are perfect this time of year because the fragrance from the cinnamon and cloves floats throughout the house and...

CRUNCHY AND GOOEY PRETZEL TREATS

CRUNCHY AND GOOEY PRETZEL TREATS

ROLO PRETZEL TREATS If you want a little treat to satisfy many taste sensations at once, this is it.  Salty, crunchy, smooth, sweet, and chocolatey all at once, this little snack fits the bill.  You can make LOTS in little time and bring these out for happy...

AS GOOD AS CHEESECAKE BUT QUICKER

AS GOOD AS CHEESECAKE BUT QUICKER

Cheesecake Bar Cookies These little bars can satisfy a hankering for cheesecake without much time or effort.  Not as filling as a big slice of cheesecake, these cookies are light enough to satisfy cravings without making you hold your stomach and moan about...