Cinnamon Rolls for Our Virtual Tea Party

It’s funny how after more than 20 years with my little family, there are still things I learn about them. One of these being we all four love cinnamon rolls.

in search of Apple Pie

One of my fondest memories of living in Texas in the 1980s is dessert Pie. I took to this quintessential American dessert like a duck to water. Pumpkin, pecan, apple, rhubarb, key-lime, black bottom, peach, peanut butter … the list goes on. I abashedly claim that in my heyday, I polished off most of a full-size pumpkin pie! I paid for it shortly – I don’t think I touched another pumpkin pie for months after that.

dreamy puffs of cloud: Soft Lemon Cookies

Remember the windfall of lemons? The girls and I were sitting around the table brainstorming what exciting things we could make. Older Daughter reminded us that we have biscotti morbidi al limone (soft lemon cookies) bookmarked from ages ago. This was our time to try them.

Satisfying Experiments: Basque Burnt Cheesecake

Thank you Amanda & Sandy for inviting me to be a guest for Friendly Friday Photo Challenge. I am so thrilled to share Something Different with you both!

In the spirit of experimentation, we made several versions of this delightfully different cheesecake to suit the the varied palates of the household. We (including neighbourly taste-testers we roped in) are still split after several attempts. Some of us love the taller silkier version. The others prefer the uniformly firmer texture of the shorter slice. We do all agree that we love the intense, smokey caramelised top & bottom of both versions.

Lemon Drizzle Cake for a Virtual Tea Party

There are some recipes which have been passed from person to person until its origin is lost. This lemon drizzle cake is one of these. It found its way to me after I had a slice at my Favourite London Aunt’s kitchen table. A burst of lemony freshness, moist buttery fluffy goodness melting in mouth.

Wholemeal & Oat Soda Bread for a Tea Party

My first (and I feared, last) attempt ended in the bin – very seldom have I faced culinary defeat so complete that no one could/would eat it. But when I spied Del’s delicious bake on CurlsnSkirls, my soda bread fire reignited.

Delectable & Decadent Pecan Puffs

Pulled out Joy of Cooking in search of our trusty chocolate chip cookie recipe. While flipping towards the page, I chanced upon this recipe for Pecan Puffs. As I had a bag of pecans handy, notions of chocolate chip fled in favour of nuttier pursuits.

Tea Time with PB&J

I love tray bakes: simple, quick and so easy to share.

I love peanut butter: on anything, with anything, in anything.

Jar of peanut butter begging to be used. Jam emerging from back of the cupboard. Recipe earmarked from long ago. Inevitable alchemy.

Minty Dark Chocolate Cupcakes: a family Speciality

My word learning this week in response to One Word Sunday: Speciality hosted by Debbie at TravelWithIntent, is the difference between speciality and specialty. I had to look several times before I could spot the difference in the spelling of the two – may I plead aging eyes coupled with an aversion to reading glasses as an excuse?

Tea Time with Pecan Bars

I remember my first mouthful of pecan pie – just like it was yesterday when in fact, it was decades ago while I was still living in Texas. Although many more slices followed, that first encounter with buttery, nutty, gooey bliss remains etched in my senses. Pecan pie is the ultimate in Southern Hospitality: generous, warm, sweet & plenty of it, as exhibited by the many lovely people who fed my indulgence.