Tag Archives: Baking

Halloween Cookies

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Last fall, one of the many children I have the pleasure of cooking for requested cookies to decorate for Halloween. Now that Halloween is nearly here again, this seems like a good time to share my favorite cookie recipe. Continue reading

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Low-Guilt Treats for Tea

Scones (instagram)

I first saw this recipe a couple of years ago when I purchased the Gather cookbook. My friend Carrie and I agreed that I should make these. What appealed to me was the idea of enjoying a scone that had a fair amount of nutritional value. Continue reading

Last-Minute Gift Ideas

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One of the challenges of working as a personal chef is that I am often so busy in the time leading up to the holidays that I barely have time to plan celebrating with—or purchasing gifts for—my own family and friends.

I can’t tell you what I’m doing for them this year (because many of them read this blog), but here are some ideas if you are still trying to come up with something for your friends and family. Continue reading

12th Man Cookies – Seattle Style

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One day last month, my husband came home from work and told me that he and his office mates had decided to spice up office life a bit by making Wednesdays “cookie hump day.” Each week, a different person was in charge of bringing in cookies, which could be homemade or store bought. When it was Jason’s turn, I had some free time, so I offered to make the week’s cookies. Continue reading

Cherry-Almond Scones

Scones (instagram)About a year ago, I purchased the cookbook Gather: The Art of Paleo Entertaining. After completing the Whole-30 challenge, I became intrigued by the Paleo diet and started reading more about it. While shopping at Whole Foods, I came across this book. It has great photos, as well as several recipes I wanted to try. One was a recipe for orange scones that look delicious.

Continue reading

Vanilla Shortbread Cookies

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This is a great recipe and an item that should be a staple in your freezer. These cookies are delicate, flavorful, and easy to make.

I came across this recipe earlier this summer just before catering an event for about 50 people. Raspberry sorbet was on the menu, and I wanted a cookie to serve with it. Continue reading

Buttermilk Biscuits

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A few months ago, I catered an engagement party. As we were trying to come up with different menu ideas, the host asked if I had a good recipe for biscuits. Well, I do, and I’m sharing it with you here.  This is from the Baking Illustrated cookbook.

I recall making these years ago to accompany a charcuterie platter with assorted mustards. For the engagement party, however, we decided to turn the biscuits into mini ham sandwiches.  (See the photo near the end of this post.) Continue reading

Cheese Straws

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Last month, I catered a dinner party for which my client and I were trying to think of simple appetizers. She is a huge fan of Ina Garten, and when she mentioned bread sticks, I knew we had to try this recipe out of Ina’s Barefoot In Paris cookbook. Continue reading

Buttermilk Scones

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Here is a recipe I started making in the early ’90s, and people have raved about it every time. I originally got the recipe from a restaurant that has long since closed — the Surrogate Hostess — but more recently I found the recipe in The Seattle Classic Cookbook from the Junior League of SeattleContinue reading

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

April-May 2014 092 In early May I catered a baptism brunch. When deciding what to have on the menu, I went to some of my tried-and-true recipes, including this Sour Cream Coffee Cake. Continue reading