Just another day in paradise

When we are visiting Brent's folks in Scottsdale, we love to eat at Paradise Bakery. Their cookies are fluffy and soft and delicious. I was thrilled to find their sugar cookie recipe online. They tasted just like the real thing!

Color me Red

I needed to make dessert to take to some friends' for dinner tomorrow night. Ipso Fatto had recently made Red Velvet Cake for a Christmas party, and I remembered that Brent had brought me Red Velvet Cupcake mix many moons ago. Now normally everything here on the blog is from-scratch, but these are pretty darn close.

And with leftover roast chicken, we dined on chicken tortilla soup:

King Cake

To celebrate, Epiphany, I made King Cake for Godly Play. It was too lemon-y for many of the kids. It was beautiful, though! Next time, I think I'll make a pure cinnamon-roll type dough.

Getting ready for Christmas

Featuring Margie's world-famous peppermint cookies!

Thanksgiving treats

Cranberry bog turkey burgers:

Risotto with roasted sweet potato and brussel sprouts:

Putney Pasta butternut squash ravioli with brown butter, sage, and walnuts:

Classic Libby's pumpkin pie on Whole Foods crust:

Pumpkin bread:

Feeding the masses

While Brent was out of town(!), I hosted my students for dinner. We had a delicious spinach and pesto lasagna, brownies, and pumpkin cake.

Comfort food

Chicken roasted on the grill:


With cornbread and brussel sprouts:


Then tossed with pasta and broccoli rabe:


Followed by my should-be-award-winning chili:

Happy Birthday Brent!

Blueberries for Sal Wiz

A late summer breakfast treat -- from scratch sour cream-blueberry muffins, stuffed with wild organic Maine blueberries. Delicious!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I know I said two weeks ago that I was back. But then school started. So now I'm trying again. I had a wonderful birthday weekend.


From scratch Wellesley Fudge cupcakes with white chocolate buttercream frosting. Yum!