I love to bake for special occasions, and these cupcakes topped with buttercream roses are a perfect treat for all sorts of celebrations. They look really pretty and elegant. You might think it's really hard to make a buttercream rose, but all you need is the right piping tip and a little practice! You'll want to use a petal tip, which looks like a skinny teardrop as you can … [Read more...]
From Garden to Glass: Bottling Spring with Tinctures
Spring has arrived, with all of its bright flavors and smells – aromatic herbs, blooming flowers and the natural sweetness of fresh fruits. While spring is the perfect opportunity to use them at their peak of flavor and freshness, it’s also the ideal time to preserve these flavors for the months ahead. That’s where tinctures come in, giving you an excellent way to bottle up … [Read more...]
The Bee’s Knees
It was the winter of 2020, and I held my new Christmas present, the late Sasha Petraske’s book, Regarding Cocktails. I flipped through the pages and found a recipe that looked interesting, and I happened to have everything on hand for it. The Bee’s Knees, a Prohibition era cocktail that calls for just 3 simple ingredients, gin, lemon juice and honey syrup. I mixed up a couple … [Read more...]
Mini Pavlovas
Have you ever had meringues? They're light, crispy cookies made with whipped egg whites, sugar, vanilla, cream of tartar and a pinch of salt. I've always loved baking them (and eating them!) and I have sold them at many of my bake sales! I've always wanted to try taking my meringues to the next level by making a pavlova. If you haven't heard of this dessert before, it's a … [Read more...]
Crane’s Craft BBQ at the Wagon Wheel
When the Crane family moved back to Texas, they imagined a place with “cold beer, boots, country music and barbecue.” Today, that vision has come to life in Crane’s Craft BBQ at the Wagon Wheel—a place now proudly nominated for a 2025 James Beard Award, a food industry honor. The historic square dance hall has been transformed into a lively barbecue restaurant that has kept … [Read more...]