Lemon Velvet Tart

I'm sure I'm not the only who's experienced this.  You try some new food at a party, a potluck, or a restaurant, and you fall in love.  What is this amazing thing?  How can I get more of it?  But then no one knows who brought the awesome cupcakes to the party, or your friend refuses to share that mac n' cheese recipe because it's a family secret, or that restaurant never carries that pie again.

Cranberry Orange Biscotti and Homemade Granola: Breakfast in a Box for Mother's Day

 

I'm not sure if there was ever a vote or an international decree, but somewhere along the way Mother's Day seems to have become the breakfast holiday (or brunch, if you're one for sleeping in).  Maybe it's because warmer weather is a upon us and it's the perfect time for a mid-morning outdoor meal. 

Unfortunately for me, my mother's 1600 miles away, so swinging by for Sunday brunch isn't all that easy.  But I figure, that's no reason to get in the way of some yummy food.  So I sent my mom some breakfast in the mail.  We may not be together, but we can still share a meal.

Gluten-Free Roll-Out Sugar Cookies

With gluten intolerance on the rise, a lot of bakers are looking for gluten-free versions of some of their favorite recipes.  I invited some friends over for some cookie decorating before the Doctor Who premier this season.  Since one of these friends is gluten-free, I thought it would be fun to try my hand at one of these recipes for my roll-out sugar cookies.

Super Simple Spring Cake: Lemon Blueberry

After tackling the complicated cheese souffle I thought it would be nice to slow things down and do something a little more basic.  This recipe is super easy to put together because it's made with biscuit mix.  That's right, it's not just for pancakes and waffles, guys.  You can make cake with that stuff.  It's like magic. 

Goat Cheese Souffle with Honeyed Apricots

Doctor Who returns this weekend, and I'll be decorating some dalek-shaped cookies with my friends before the big watch party, but until then I have a recipe that's also somewhat inspired by everybody's favorite Timelord.  Or, I should say, inspired by his new companion:  the mysterious Clara Oswin Oswald. 

Clara was introduced earlier this season, in an episode where the doctor finds himself on a planet-sized Dalek asylum.  Clara's been stranded there for months, and when not fortifying her small pod against Dalek intrusion, she spends her time baking souffles.  Or, attempting to, anyway.  Now that's my kind of girl.

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.