Madelines – a Traditional French Cookie

Madeleines are a traditional french cookie. They are also very quick and easy to make! They are delicious for breakfast with coffee or tea or for dessert! The best part is that everything is done within one saucepan! The only downside is that you do need a traditional Madeline pan, but they are easy to find online or in a baking/craft store. Once you see how easy and delicious these cookies are, they will soon become a family favorite!

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter (unsalted)

• 2/3 cup sugar

• 3 eggs (room temperature)

• 1 cup + 2 Tbsp flour

• Zest of a lemon

• 2 tsp baking powder

• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a saucepan, melt the butter.

Once melted, remove the butter from heat and let cool.

Add sugar to the cooling butter.

Whisk together sugar and butter, until thoroughly blended.

One by one, add the eggs and incorporate into the mixture.

Add the flour, half at a time, and mix well.

Add a dash of salt, the zest of the lemon, and the baking powder.

Spoon the batter into a madeleine pan; filling to 1/2 full. They will puff up while they bake.

Bake for 12-14 minutes, until

lightly golden around the edges.

Enjoy!

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Enjoy your freebies! 😊

Easy DIY Lollipop Party Decor

These lollipop trees are such a cute and easy party decor idea… and kids really love them! Every time I make them for a party they are picked clean by the end of the event! You can buy craft styrofoam cones and balls at your local craft store., usually only for a few dollars each. I recommend buying the very large bag of DumDums and plan accordingly depending how many you need to make.

“Black & White” Chocolate Chip Cookies

Inspired by the traditional NYC Jewish bakery black and white cookies Black & White Cookies I decided try to make a chocolate chip cookie version!

They were beyond delish and I loved how pretty they look!

I started with my Chocolate Chip Cookies and separated the dough into two batches. I added a heaping tablespoon and a half of cocoa powder to one of the batches and mixed to incorporate. I then added 1/2 of white chocolate chips to the double chocolate chip dough. Roll each batch into a ball, cut in 2 pieces and then into four and then into 6 and so and and so forth until there is no more dough. So the same for the regular chocolate chip dough. You should have an equal number of pieces. Gently put together one piece of chocolate dough with regular dough and gently roll to incorporate.

As with traditional chocolate chip cookies, bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes for large cookies and 8-10 for smaller cookies. (I always go for large 😊)

Fresh out of the oven! (Excuse the runaway chocolate chip!)

Enjoy!! They truly are delish!

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

4 medium-size sweet potatoes (avoid oblong shapes)

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1/4 maple syrup (good quality)

1/4 milk or heavy cream

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Reusable piping bag and star tip ( Ateco 829 star tip)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Scrub sweet potatoes under running water. Place the potatoes on a roasting tray and bake until tender, around 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the potatoes to cool slightly before cutting open lengthwise, gently separating. Scoop out the flesh using a large spoon (leave enough on the “shell” so the skin holds its shape) and reserve shells.
3. Mix together on medium speed the potato flesh, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, and butter. Add milk slowly. Mix until the ingredients are completely combined and the puree is smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set the potato skin bases upright on the tray and pipe in the mixture to the sweet potato skin. Alternatively, if you do not wish to pipe the mixture you can add with a spoon.
4. Place the potatoes back into the oven. Bake 10-12 minutes.

Baked Three Cheese Mac n’ Cheese

A smoked gouda spread that I found in a gift basket gave me the idea for a three cheese ( gouda, mozzarella and cheddar) mac and cheese recipe.

The basket below I bought at CVS for 50% off in the Christmas Clearance aisle. It was originally $24.99, reduced to $12.49 and I had $5.00 in CVS rewards, so I only paid a little over $6.00 and the goodies were delish!

Ingredients

• 1 pound small macaroni
• ½ cup butter divided, plus extra for buttering the dish
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup gouda cheese 
• 1/2cup mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon garlic power
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 2 ½ quart or larger casserole dish.
2. Bring 4 quarts and 1 tablespoon salt to a rolling boil. Add macaroni and cook until just al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain well. Do not overcook and do not rinse macaroni.
3. Return pot to stovetop. Over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons butter until foaming. Whisk in flour and cook until bubbling about 1 minute; should be a sand consistency.
4. Whisk in milk and bring to boil. Remove from heat and stir in cheeses until melted.
5. Fold in macaroni and stir until combined. Pour into prepared casserole dish.
6. In a medium bowl, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in microwave. Stir in garlic and parsley. Add breadcrumbs and toss until evenly coated.
7. Pour breadcrumbs over macaroni. Bake until sauce is bubbling and breadcrumbs have browned, 25-30 minutes.

Toffee Banana Nut Bundt Cake

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter (unsalted) softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar 
• 3 very ripe bananas, peeled and well-mashed
• 1/3 cup toffee bits (plus more for decoration)
• 1 large egg (lightly beaten and room temperature)
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Glaze:

3/4 cup powdered sugar

2-3 tablespoons of milk or heavy cream

Squeeze of lemon

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F and spray a bundt pan with baking spray or lightly grease and flour.  Set aside.
• Combine butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl and use an electric mixer). Beat until well-combined and light and fluffy.
• Add oil and beat to combine.  
• Mash bananas. Stir in mashed bananas.
• Add eggs, milk and vanilla extract and stir until well-combined.
• In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Gradually add to wet ingredients until completely combined.  
• Add in toffee bits.
• Spread batter into prepared pan and bake on 350F for 30-35 minutes* or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with few moist crumbs.  Allow to cool completely before drizzling with glaze.

Glaze Instructions:

Mix together all three ingredients, adding in milk gradually until you reach your desired consistency. Drizzle over completely cooled cake and top with extra toffee bits.

Enjoy!