Do you like to binge Great British Bake Off as much as I do? I've been watching since it began over a decade ago. Back when I had no idea what they were referring to when they would make a "creme pat", though it looked tasty! Turns out that term is short for Crème Pâtissière, … Continue reading Pastry Cream (Crème Pâtissière)
Baking
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
It's time for our February installment of Birthday Celebration Desserts! February's Birthday Guy chose his all-time favorite: Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. The result was a deliciously spiced cake with a perfectly moist crumb and creamy, tart frosting that I will definitely be making again in the future! I also decided to try fondant … Continue reading Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Lemon Sour Cream Pie
Last year, we lost an immediate family member. He loved lemon, and I mean loved lemon! He would always ask restaurant waitstaff for an entire bowl of lemon wedges for his drinking water, and if that menu offered any lemon desserts, that's the one he would choose. To commemorate what would have been his 76th … Continue reading Lemon Sour Cream Pie
Brown Butter Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies
Every good home cook needs an on-deck recipe for chocolate chip cookies, so I've been on a mission to find an especially memorable one to adapt as my own. Once I found these, I stopped looking. There are good cookies, and then there are incredible cookies. These are incredible cookies! There are three elements that … Continue reading Brown Butter Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies
Removing Smells from Silicone Kitchenware
Silicone has revolutionized the kitchen for home cooks! You can use silicone kitchenware for making candy, specialty ice cubes, cocoa bombs, even portioned freezer sauces and soups. There is one downside, though: silicone retains smells. Badly! One of the ways I use silicone is to freeze pre-portioned pesto into cubes. But no matter how many … Continue reading Removing Smells from Silicone Kitchenware
Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
I'm starting a new series for 2022 called Birthday Celebration Desserts! Each month, I'm asking a loved one whose birthday falls within that month to choose a birthday dessert; anything they want! I'll research and develop the recipe, make them the dessert, and deliver it to the person as close to their birthday as I … Continue reading Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
Tarragon and Leek Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken Pot Pie is perfect for a cold winter day, as well as one of my husband's favorite meals. This Tarragon and Leek Chicken Pot Pie, however, elevates the basic chicken and veggie combo you've come to know. It balances a deeper flavor profile with the traditional homestyle taste you want in a chicken pot … Continue reading Tarragon and Leek Chicken Pot Pie
Bravetart Oreos
Last week, I waxed poetic about the cookbook, Bravetart, by Stella Parks. It's filled with fantastic recipes for making iconic American sweet treats right in the comfort of your own home. Ms. Parks shares tips and tricks, from equipment to use to specific ingredients, to achieve results that taste very much like their popular counterparts. … Continue reading Bravetart Oreos
Favorite Baking Cookbooks of 2021
My baking game has come a long way in 2021, and these baking cookbooks are a big part of the reason why. From James Beard Award winners to internet stars, these baker authors combine foundational basics with delicious flavor combinations, and even some beloved copy cat recipes you'll never believe you can make at home! … Continue reading Favorite Baking Cookbooks of 2021
2021 Mainstay Christmas Goodies Platter
We've finally finished our Cookie Platter for the 2021 Christmas season! However, with Cocoa Bombs, blondie bars, and peppermint bark, perhaps we should call it a goodies platter??? This year's platter includes some of our festive favorites! Pecan Coffee ThumbprintsGrinch Heart Sugar CookiesSpiced Molasses CookiesRussian Tea Cakes (not pictured)Chocolate-Dipped Coconut MacaroonsMelted Snowman Peppermint BarkOrange Cranberry … Continue reading 2021 Mainstay Christmas Goodies Platter
Mainstay Kitchen & Home 