Making vanilla extract is much easier than you might think. This recipe makes pure vanilla extract, as opposed to the imitation vanilla you commonly find on grocery store shelves, filled with artificial flavors and chemicals. At a time when food costs are skyrocketing, learning to make your own vanilla extract can save you an impressive … Continue reading Homemade Vanilla Extract
Baking
Testing Raising Agents
An important step when restocking your pantry is making sure your raising agents, such as baking soda and baking powder, haven't lost their potency. It's especially important during fall's scrumptious baking season, as fresh raising agents will make lighter, fluffier baked goods! Both baking soda and powder come with best-by dates printed on the boxes, … Continue reading Testing Raising Agents
Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
There are a handful of recipe developers that reduce me to fangirling. Cooks whose cookbooks I will faithfully purchase sight unseen. Chefs who release such consistently delicious food, you think they might be made of magic. One of those is Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest. Don't let her humble, unassuming demeanor fool you; she … Continue reading Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
In Season for Fall: Zucchini
Do you have a garden with zucchini coming out your ears? Or perhaps you have friends and/or family with a garden who have gifted you so much zucchini that it's coming out your ears. Either way, it's hard to miss that it is definitely zucchini season! Here are three ways to use up all that … Continue reading In Season for Fall: Zucchini
Maple Pecan Snickerdoodles
Every fall, I challenge myself to try at least one new cookie recipe. That's how I discovered these Maple Pecan Snickerdoodles. I love the flavor combination of maple and pecan year round, but there is something special about it during the fall. My favorite thing about this cookie is its delicate flavor. These don't overwhelm … Continue reading Maple Pecan Snickerdoodles
Apple Crisp Cookie Cups
To continue our celebration of spiced apple during the fall, we're making Apple Crisp Cookie Cups! This recipe is the beautiful marriage of apple crisp and an oatmeal cookie, and it's sublime! The base cookie is slightly different than the oatmeal cookies I'm accustomed to, perfectly sweet and strong against the apples. I also recommend using … Continue reading Apple Crisp Cookie Cups
Spiced Apple Hand Pies
I have an confession. While I adore pumpkin everything during the fall, I love apples even more. That's right, I believe apples are the superior fall flavor to pumpkin. So while there is room for both in our household, today we're celebrating apple with all kinds of seasonal spices. This particular recipe also adds a … Continue reading Spiced Apple Hand Pies
Frosted Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cookies
If I was limited to baking only one thing every fall, I would choose these cookies. They're my all-time favorite pumpkin indulgence every autumn season! It's also one of the recipes I share with neighbors each October to rave reviews! These were the result of combining two recipes on a whim. The cookie itself is … Continue reading Frosted Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cookies
Quick and Easy Fall Pastries
Homemade is wonderful...when you have the time. But in certain cases, there is nothing wrong with a shortcut! This quick and easy fall dessert utilizes two of our favorite short-cut ingredients: frozen puff pastry and canned pie filling. Combined with a few other easy ingredients, these result in a quick and easy pastry filled with … Continue reading Quick and Easy Fall Pastries
Healthier Banana Applesauce Bread
For us, fall is baking season! There is something about the cozy weather and delicious seasonal flavors that have us in the kitchen making all the baked goodies! One of the easiest, fastest things to throw together is a quick bread. If you think tasty quick breads can't be a little healthier, this Banana Applesauce … Continue reading Healthier Banana Applesauce Bread
Mainstay Kitchen & Home 