When was the last time you had real hot chocolate? You know what I mean, not that powdery stuff in a packet with crunchy little marshamallows. It doesn't count if someone made it for you, either. I just came off of a quest for the perfect hot chocolate, and it was far closer to home than I'd realized.

My family and I took an afternoon and experimented with as many hot chocolate recipes as we could find. We tried chocolates in all forms; solid, cocoa and syrup. We tested dark, milk and Dutch process. We used powdered milk, real milk, cream, powdered coffee creamer and water. Whipped cream? We used real, canned and frozen. We had great big marshmallows and tiny little ones. Cinnamon, chili powder, vanilla and masala all made their way into our concoctions. It was a real burden, but we figured somebody had to do it.

What we finally settled on as the best hot… Read More

Nothing signals the imminent holiday season like baking cookies. I don't think there is another month in the year where cookie consumption is so high. With all the varieties avaiable, it's no wonder. My own family has many favorites, but it seems like the common thread throughout them all is chocolate. This slightly different version of the classic thumbprint is just the ticket. Not to sweet and just chocolatey enough to satisfy.

Raspberry and Chocolate Thumbprints

Hands-On… Read More

When it comes to comfort food the most comforting of all is homemade bread. There is something warm and wonderful about the aroma as it bakes that makes you want to slow down and take the time to savor it. Baking bread can be time-intensive without a machine, and even then it can take longer than anyone wants to wait for fresh-baked bread. No-Knead bread is just as delicious as the kneaded kind and even the kids can handle this… Read More

This appetizer is so fast, so simple and so delicious that nobody will ever know that it isn't a complicated and time-consuming recipe. Each time I serve these they are gone within minutes. This is the perfect thing for unexpected guests, or for a planned event. You can spice them up for more mature palates, but as-is they are perfect for even little ones. You can even change up the olives you use, but these are the most common and… Read More

Fall holidays seem to be overloaded with heavy and calorie-laden desserts; I should know, I'm usually on the baking end. Don't get me wrong, I love them all, but I can't always find the room for those desserts after meals that are just as heavy. Enter the dessert wonton. These small bites are just right for those times.

The filling is much like a trail mix and they have been baked rather than fried. They come out of the oven every bit as crispy… Read More

One of the best parts about carving pumpkins is the seeds. Pumpkin seeds are not only delicious, but also an awesome source of potassium. I've seen so many recipes for pumpkin seeds and they all look great, but I really like my own method best. Instead of salting seeds directly, I soak them in salt water before tossing in the oven for foolproof flavor each and every time. The salt water soaks into the seed creating steam as they roast… Read More