White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

As a rule, I don't like white chocolate. It's overly sweet and overly processed. The one thing though that I just love it in? White chocolate macadamia nut cookies. I grew up adoring the ones from the mall cookie stands, and happily eating the Pepridge Farm versions. So the other day, when I was looking for something sweet, these jumped out at me. I used the recipe from Joy the Baker.

Blueberry Pancakes

My daily contribution to my year long "Around the House" photo project. 365 photos. Blogged here.



I'm am a particular pancake eater. I like them fluffy, moist, and just-so or I don't want them at all. So when I decided to toss most of our CSA blueberries into the pancake recipe from the Breakfast cookbook by William Sonoma, there was some trepidation. Boy am I glad I took the plunge! Perfect, soft, delicious pancakes!

Breakfast Potatoes

Breakfast for dinner. The best way to enjoy lots of delicious breakfast foods all at once. And to, you know, actually take the time to cook breakfast. (Seriously, anyone out there making waffles from scratch on a weekday? Yea, me neither.)

Pasta Primavera

With lots of fresh veggies to use and fresh butter on hand pasta primavera was a natural choice. The alfredo sauce comes from PASTA by Williams-Sonoma, the rest was improvised on the spot.

Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

I have a bit of a love affair with strawberry lemonade. Restaurants that offer it generally win my undying affection as soon as I spot it on the menu. I made this for some friends we had over, but really, it was just a good excuse to make strawberry lemonade and not finish off the pitcher (myself) the same day. Some people have self restraint; I pawn food off on friends. ; )

This recipe comes from over at the wonderful Julie at Willow Bird Baking.

Soft Pretzels

The closest I'd ever been to homemade soft pretzels prior to last week was buying super pretzels in the frozen food aisle. Not bad. Not particularly tasty. Certainly not in line with my goal to eat less preprepared and processed food. These however. Very tasty. Very good. Very much not bought in the frozen aisle.

That photo above? That's the only photo I managed to get of the final product because we ate them before I could get another. Ooops.

The recipe I used is from Joy the Baker. It takes a bit of patience and some top notch playdough skills, but it's not difficult.

Perfectly Flaky Pie Crust

As part of our grand Pi Day celebration, my hubby and I decided to try a delicious sounding pie crust. This one did not disappoint.

Red Berry Pie Filling

As part of our Pi Day celebrations, the hubby and I decided to bake a sweet Red Berry pie, using the filling recipe found at Willow Bird Baking.

Chicken Pot Pie Filling

Since Sunday was Pi Day, the hubby and I baked out little hearts out. This year we decided to include a savory option (something suggested by a friend last year) and opted for pot pie.

This recipe is from Manager A Trois, adapted slightly for the hubby and I.

Coconut Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies

It's hard to go wrong with either coconut or chocolate, so naturally they are brilliant together. I used this recipe from Joy the Baker as the base. You might recognize it, since I also used it as the base for the Mint Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies we made for Christmas.

Homemade Guacamole

This is the guacamole that I grew up on. My mom says she got it from a coworker and friend who was raised in Mexico. I just know that it is darn tasty and easy.

Buttons

I'd been seeing variations on this theme for several months before I stumbled across Buttons at Buns in My Oven. But these were clearly the most adorable and tasty sounding version. They are dead simple to make but are absolutely addictive.

Soft Sugar Cookies

I love soft sugar cookies. The kind that they sell at store bakeries everywhere. I have no use for sugar cookies that are crisp, crunchy, or dry. A couple of years ago, I went on a mission to find a recipe that would match the soft, melt in your mouth-ness of the store cookies. And I stumbled onto an amazing recipe which has been my sugar cookie standby ever since.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

The cookies are a family recipe. I have no idea where my mother got the recipe from (I rather suspect a very old, battered, cookbook that survived being half buried in mud, but I digress...) but for as long as I can remember these were the only oatmeal cookies we ever made.

I often (as I did this time) add in chocolate chips, but they certainly aren't necessary for a delicious result. The coconut makes for a soft, moist cookie (even my coconut hating college roommate loved these) and the cinnamon gives them an bit of a lift beyond the ordinary.