Bake or Break

For years, I had no luck with Cooking Light’s recipes. Nothing ever turned out the way I had envisioned. I don’t know if they’ve changed or if I have, but I find myself enjoying their creations more and more. I stopped my subscription to their magazine years ago, but I have renewed and am enjoying it more than ever.

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Quinn’s birthday has lasted all month. Seriously. It started at the first of the month when, after months of waiting out the high-def war, he got a Blu-ray player. Then, we spent a week in New York. Granted, he was there for a conference, but it’s New York. And, he got to pick out a new laptop bag at Jack Spade. We got back home the night before his birthday. The next night, we went to one of our favorite semi-local restaurants, and he got another present. Then, this weekend we had the family over for dinner and more presents.

And this cake. I let him pick out his birthday dessert every year. Last year’s tiramisu cake was delicious, but sort of a pain to make (and keep together). This year, he picked a dessert featuring one of my favorite combinations - chocolate and hazelnuts.

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I realize that I just told you that I don’t often make cupcakes and here are more in the very next post. It’s really just coincidence. I happened upon this recipe by accident and was instantly intrigued. A cupcake that tastes like pecan pie? How could I not try them?

I’ll admit that I was skeptical that these would take even remotely like pecan pie. But, all the comments were so positive that I figured there had to be something to them. Plus, the recipe seemed so easy that I decided it wouldn’t be much of a loss if they were no good.

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I have lamented before that I don’t often bake cupcakes. In fact, I don’t really make many things that require frosting. I can usually persuade Quinn to do any frosting that’s needed, because apparently he enjoys that kind of thing. I do like to be self-sufficient, however, so I tend to seek out recipes that don’t require frosting.

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Lately, I’ve been trying to be more prompt about making recipes I find in the obscene number of magazines I receive every month. Most of the recipes I want to make get filed away for future reference, but there always seems to be a few that are just [...]

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After listening all day to Quinn saying that we hadn’t anything sweet in the house in days, I finally caved late last night and made these cupcakes. The recipe appealed to me because it was simple, quick, and mixed in one bowl. Their simplicity, in preparation as [...]

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Quinn is a big fan of caramel. I’ve talked about making him a caramel cake for ages. I like caramel, too, but in small doses. The idea of a cake whose primary flavor is caramel doesn’t really appeal to me. But, I aim to please, [...]

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At the same time I found the recipe for the pecan date cookies, I also found this recipe for a pecan roulade. Never having made a roulade, I was a bit hesitant. But, I couldn’t quit thinking about it and what a lovely addition it would be [...]

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I’ve been itching to make these little cakes ever since Quinn gave me this year’s Christmas with Southern Living for my birthday in August. Small desserts like these are always great for holiday baking. Plus, they were a great justification for buying a new fluted mini Bundt [...]

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So, today is National Bundt Day. I’m still a bit unclear as to whether this day is for the cake or the pan, but I figure they’re a package deal. I do love a Bundt cake. I like that they are usually self-contained sweet satisfaction. [...]

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