Brownies

This brownies recipe came from my grandma and my mom has been making them for as long as I can remember.  They are simple to prepare and can be completed within 45 minutes (including baking time).  We’ve always eaten them fresh out of the oven with ice cream, but they also taste great the next day with a glass of milk.  

This recipe can be slightly modified depending on whether you like fudgy or cake-like brownies.  If you like fudgier brownies, use butter, but if you like brownies with more of a cake-like texture, use vegetable shortening. 

Cranberry-Orange Scones

After some much needed encouragement from my friend, RAWkash (check out his blog, Phot(o)graphy for the Masses), I finally sat down and typed up some recipes from my recent baking classes.  The first of these recipes are for Basic Cream Scones, which I modified to create Cranberry-Orange Scones.  These scones are so simple to make, you can throw them together and have a finished product in 30 minutes.  The light, citrus flavor of the scone comes from the zest of an orange and compliments the flavor of the cranberries.  The glaze is optional, but it helps keep the scones moist after they have cooled and adds an extra burst of orange flavor.  I prefer eating scones when they are warm and fresh from the oven, and these scones reheat well.   

Strawberry Cream Roll

This Strawberry Cream Roll is a light vanilla sponge cake rolled up with fresh strawberries and sweetened whipped cream.  It makes a wonderful summer dessert – the cake is light and the strawberries and whipped cream make a refreshing filling.  

If strawberries are not in season, you can also make my Vanilla Bean Strawberry Preserves or use a good quality store bought strawberry jam and layer this on top of the whipped cream before rolling up the cake. 

Blueberry Earl Grey Cupcakes

Blueberries and Earl Grey tea may sound like a strange combination, but when you try these cupcakes, you’ll be amazed by how well these flavors mesh.  The light citrusy flavor of the Earl Grey tea complements the fresh blueberry flavor of the preserves, and the cake itself is light and fluffy.  The blueberry preserves keeps the cake from drying out and the additional flavor transforms ordinary cupcakes into something special.