Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits

Is there anything better than a fluffy, warm biscuit on a weekend morning?  Pancakes?  Waffles?  Nah.  The Biscuit is where it's at.  Golden on the outside and soft on the inside, still steaming from the oven when you pull it apart.  Ready for jam or honey or gravy or even a little egg sandwich.  It's the rustic, unassuming hero of breakfast foods.

Neapolitan Birthday Cake

 

One of the best parts of being a baker with a birthday is that it's the perfect excuse to make whatever kind of cake your heart desires.  No need to cater to anyone's taste but your own.  For my own birthday this year I had my friends over for a full meal of my favorite comfort foods - fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, mac and cheese... I spent the whole day in the kitchen and it was well worth it.  But the cake is the star of any birthday, so I wanted to make something a little special. 

Healthy-fied Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

It's a new year, which means New Year's resolutions are upon us.  I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who ate a little too much pie and candy over the holidays and have resolved to eat healthier, at least for a couple of months.  Here are some of the guidelines I laid out for myself last year:

BYOG - Build Your Own Gingerbread (House or TARDIS)

The holidays are a time for traditions, and a few years ago, my roommate and I started one of my favorites:  gingerbread houses.  We grabbed a couple of the pre-baked kits from the craft store and spent an evening covered in frosting and candy and watching Christmas movies.  We've stuck with those little kits for the past couple years, and they are a great option for a beginner, but this year I wanted to take it to the next level and build the whole thing from scratch.

Salted Caramel Apple Pie

I hosted a Thanksgiving dinner this year.  Sure, there were only 5 of us, so I didn't have to worry about things like a big giant turkey or whether or not we had enough booze, but there's still a lot to get done when you host Thanksgiving, so I wanted to be sure to have one thing ready to go before the big day:  the pie.

Holiday Cookies: Sparkling Molasses Chewies and Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti

Whether you're attending a party, making a care package or just looking for something to snack on, you may find yourself in need of some tasty cookies this holiday season.  One of my favorite sights as a child was at the church's annual living nativity, where the snack table was often stacked high with chocolate crinkles, butter spritz cookies and italian pizzelles.

Pumpkin Hand Pies with Maple Glaze

Sorry for the hiatus folks, but don't worry, I've got plenty planned for the coming weeks.  After all, with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, 'tis the season for Holiday baking, which is my favorite kind of baking.  Cold weather flavors are deep, rich, warm and comforting, like a blanket for your mouth.  Actually, that sounds disgusting, forget that.  I need to work on my metaphors.