Birthday Recipes
Jack’s Favorite Bloody Mary
A pitcher-full of outstanding Bloody Marys is easy to make and infinitely tastier than store-bought mixes. Bloody Maria, Dirty Mary, and Virgin Mary variations are included and are customizable by the glass. For added fun, offer a make-your-own garnish station! An olive loaded Bloody Mary with a crisp stalk of celery and a generous amount…
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crisp edges, chewy insides, puddles of semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a sea salt topping – plus nutty, caramel notes from the browned butter. These chocolate chip cookies are what dreams are made of! When asked why these cookies are Steve Lindsey’s favorite, his answer was short, sweet, and summed up his award-winning recipe quite succinctly:…
Root Beer Float Cookies
Extra points for creativity, root beer fans far and wide will appreciate the addition of this gem to a holiday cookie platter. And don’t forget Christmas in July! As many great recipes start, Tricia Trainer discovered her winning root beer float cookies accidentally. She spied them on a holiday cookie plate, thinking they were molasses…
Lavender Syrup
Lavender Syrup is simple to make and adds a sweet, floral note to hot and iced coffee and tea, lattes, lemonade, cocktails, desserts, and more. A clever trick makes the syrup a pretty shade of purple! The first time I had a lavender latte, I didn’t finish it. Despite rave reviews from friends who claimed…
Salted Caramel Coffee Heath Bar Ice Cream Pie
Salted caramel and coffee ice cream are piled into a graham cracker crust and studded with crunchy Heath bars for an irresistible flavor combination that is destined to be the dessert of the season! Salted Caramel Coffee Heath Bar Ice Cream Pie. The recipe name is long, but whenever I tried to shorten it, I…
Sangria Spritz
Enjoy the fruity, sweet-tart flavor of classic sangria in this light, refreshing, 3-ingredient spritz – and then customize according to season with your favorite fruit garnishes. The concept of a spritz dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans; it is believed that wine was often diluted with water to keep people from becoming…
Cold Pan Seared Steak
Perfectly cooked steaks with a gorgeous crust and tender, juicy insides are easy to achieve with this unorthodox method. No smoky, splattered mess on your stovetop either! Steak night isn’t a weekly occurrence in our house – although the guys likely wish it were! So, when steaks are on the menu, they should really…
Butterscotch Rum Ripple Cake
Butterscotch Rum Ripple Cake reinvents the classic pound cake with the addition of caramel-like swirled layers and an irresistible glaze. This recipe goes WAY back. As a newlywed, my husband, Jack, and I drove to Philadelphia to see his niece, Judy, perform in a play. She was in elementary school and had a part…
M&M Cookies (in a jar!)
A popular holiday gift (for any holiday) and a great project for kids to make for friends, M&M Cookies in a Jar are fun to bake, give, and enjoy. Printable tags included! When I first started working with Ann, I cooked my way through many of her delicious recipes, from sweet to savory and everything…
Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Creamy and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness, this classic frosting can easily be spread or piped onto cakes, cupcakes, and cookies for desserts that look as great as they taste! This recipe will add a glorious final touch to your favorite cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. I most frequently use it to decorate…
Spanish Tapas Board
Elevate your charcuterie game with this epic Spanish tapas board, which comes together easily, looks stunning, and is loaded with savory bites. Perfect for any occasion, from New Year’s celebrations and game days to girls’ nights and book clubs. Optional extras will make it a meal. Charcuterie boards are popular for good reason. They…
Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge
Ultra-creamy with a delightful chocolate flavor, this foolproof fudge sets up beautifully without the need for a candy thermometer. Perfect for holiday cookie platter and sharing with family and friends. Aunt Peggy came over for an afternoon of cooking yesterday. She wanted to make Party Salmon with Creamy Horseradish Dill Sauce for a holiday potluck…
