Samoa Scones with Toasted Coconut and Chocolate Glaze
This is a scone version of the Samoa Girl Scout Cookie. (The original Coconut Scone recipe can be found here). They feature coconut in three ways: coconut milk (instead of regular milk), shredded coconut, and coconut extract. In order to “Samoa” it, I added chocolate chips to the mix, and topped it with chocolate drizzle and toasted … Read more
Frosted Sugar Cookies with a Hint of Lemon
These Frosted Sugar Cookies go way back, a family favorite from my husband’s childhood. They are soft on the inside, with a hint of lemon throughout. They are perfect for any time of year, simply use seasonal sprinkles and colors. This batch is for class tomorrow. Happy Birthday to my Cupcake and Little Monkey! Where did the … Read more
Chocolate Mint Dreams by Taste of Home
Our new favorite to Christmastime cookie (by Taste of Home). It’s a sandy chocolate cookie, with a minty icing and a drizzle of chocolate. What else can I say? Chocolate Mint Dreams Ingredients 3/4 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate … Read more
Pumpkin Bars with (like Cinnabon) Cream Cheese Frosting
What’s new in the KrausnicKitchen? Well, we just put our house on the market. It is such an exciting time, but preparing our house for sale has occupied much of our time and energy. I hope to be in full “cooking” mode in January when we move into our new kitchen, I mean, house. Here … Read more
Second Annual Cherry Jam
For the second year, our local grocer offered 11-pound cherry flats for around $1 per pound. This year, I bought 22 pounds, knowing that I could use my recently acquired canning equipment (thanks mom) to preserve the fruit. Whew! It was a bit overwhelming. I was buried in pits, covered in splatters, and I have a repetitive wrist-motion … Read more
“From-a-mix” Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
About this time of year, many of us find ourselves baking cookies, brownies, and bars to bring to end-of-the-year events. I went searching for some easy treats and found a brownie mix cookie. It reminded me of an old recipe from a friend, a chocolate cookie made from a cake mix, all sandwiched together with … Read more
Movie Night Treats (or should I say Film Night Buffet?)
My husband is a movie nerd film buff. He even has a film club, a group of friends who attend a viewing and then discuss what they’ve seen. I’m so thankful that he has a group of like-minded buddies to analyze what things “mean” since that is not my forte, although I try my best… “I … Read more
Happy Valentines: Fudgy Chocolate Cakelets
Spur of the moment, I decided to bake a special Valentines dessert for my family thirty minutes before dinnertime. I wanted something chocolaty that would be on the table in 30 minutes. “Fudgy Chocolate Cakelets” is the answer. It took 10 minutes to whip up. Not only is it quick, it’s HEAVENLY (yes, I’m shouting). … Read more
The Quest for THE Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
There is one thing I take very seriously. Cookies. In particular, chocolate chip cookies. It all started with the saucer-sized cookies my dad used to make when I was in preschool. Then on to my cookie-baking kick in high school, mostly consisting of Toll House and whatever recipe was found on the margarine box or … Read more
Orangettes: Candied Orange Peel Dipped in Bittersweet Chocolate by Serious Eats
Does anyone remember the Pepperidge Farm Orange Milano cookies? They remind me of home. These Orangettes taste like an Orange Milano cookies. They are candied orange peels dipped in bittersweet chocolate. The orange peels transform from inedible throwaways to the taste and texture of orange candy. Really, they’re orange peels. The peels are blanched repeatedly to remove … Read more
Chocolate Shortbread Raspberry Bars
Raspberries and chocolate is a wonderful combination. This take on my Orange Essence Bars. It incorporates a chocolate shortbread crust, a sprinkling of bittersweet chocolate, topped with a creamy raspberry layer. It is a divine! The raspberry extract is pretty good, but the raspberry flavor is a bit ersatz. I’m hoping to figure out how to make … Read more
Thanksgiving Keepers: Recipes for the Archives
Happy Thanksgiving! Today we had the pleasure of hosting Thanksgiving for the first time. I had a blast in the kitchen. I tried roasting my first turkey without a turkey bag. I was listening to Splendid Table, my favorite nerdy cooking radio show on NPR. They host a call-in show on Thanksgiving and I heard the … Read more
Ghirardelli Saves the Brownie
I’ve had the Ghirardelli recipes page in my queue for a while now, and I just needed an opportunity to use it. First on the list: “Ghirardelli Award Winning Brownies.” These are the best brownies to ever come out of this kitchen, thanks to the Ghirardelli Cocoa Powder. It gives such a true chocolate flavor. … Read more
A “Cup of Cider” Cake
Apple juice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and a touch of orange zest warmed in a cup is truly one of the comfiest drinks that I know. I love it, but it seems that when it’s served at a gathering, I always have a little left over the next day. I wanted to find a creative way to use … Read more
Homemade Marshmallows (by Alton Brown)
I’m not a huge marshmallow fan, unless it’s in a s’more, and then for me it’s more about the chocolate. This summer my sis brought down marshmallows from Jones Brothers. I was shocked at how much better they were than store-bought jet fluff. They are amazing toasted, like crispy, crusty sugar pillows with airy, velvety, … Read more
