Mocha Macarons

 When I went to Paris with my mom and aunt I had macarons for the first time. Real French macaron not American macaron with coconut (shudder). I consider myself a reasonably adept baker but was unable to master the macaron so I was very excited when I saw a French cooking class offered. I learned a lot. Apparently a lot of French cooking is about mastering the properly beaten egg white. We made a pear tatin, marshmallows (which I will have to make and post as they are great fun) and souffles.

Chocolate-Cream Cheese-Peanut Butter Bars

Hey, guess what: I'm alive! I know it has been hard to tell based on my posting frequency, but I'm hoping this recipe will make up for it. This is a peanut butter cookie bar base with a lay of chocolate, followed by a layer of cream cheese and peanut butter, topped with more crumbled peanut butter cookies. Yeah, I know, you still love me.

Chocolate-Espresso Snowcaps

This is the last of my Christmas cookie posts and it is only February. Although you wouldn't know it in Seattle where we're on day two of sunshine and 60 degree weather. Cory and I sneaked out of work a couple of hours early yesterday to enjoy the sun. Totally worth it. He is on a plane to Boston for a week right now, so I predict lots more posts in the next week especially when the weather gets nasty again (and it will, Seattle likes to taunt us every year with a couple of days of faux Spring before more rain).

Millionaire's Shortbread

Hey guys, look more cookie recipes. I was back at my parents' house in Moscow, Idaho for over a week this Christmas and I baked a lot of cookies. I am trying to catch up with them. I realize it lacks variety but really, who can complain about more delicious cookie recipes. I promise soon there will be non-cookie recipes (interspersed with even more cookie recipes, what can I say, I love cookies).

Nutella Cookies

I first had Nutella when I lived in Germany with my family when I was 12. I remember it being called something else but there is absolutely no evidence of this so it is probably a false memory. I went ice skating with a friend and there was a crepe stand where you could buy Nutella filled crepe. It was love at first taste.

Butterscotch Cookies

Cory actually picked out this recipe and did a lot of the work. I directed him, though and cleaned up after so I feel justified in posting it. These cookies were super tasty.

Peanut Butter Torte

This torte is basically the most ridiculous thing ever. It has peanut butter, cream cheese, espresso, chocolate and Oreos. It isn't something I would normally bake but my boyfriend wants to learn how to cook and he picked this out. He saw peanut butter and Oreos and wouldn't be deterred. It ended up being rich and decadent and amazing. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chunkers

These cookies created a new record at the office: two minutes after I sent out the e-mail saying I had cookies I had to send out another e-mail saying they were all gone. Two minutes! I may have said these were the most epic cookies ever but I stand by it.

Chocolate Raspberry Sorbet

I went berry picking last weekend and I got so many berries (like 10 pounds)! So I've been making lots of delicious things, not the least is chocolate raspberry sorbet, which was excellent for a summer night. I added a little Chambord to give it an extra kick. It was marvelous. Make sure you have friends to share it with or you might eat it all yourself!

Devil's Food White Out Cake

I made this cake for a charity dessert auction.  The charity supports local and global efforts to enable everyone to have access to healthy, sustainable and local food.  Mostly though, I just wanted an excuse to make this cake.  This cake has a lot of chocolate in it, so if you're a fan of the it may be the right choice for you.

Blondies

Or: things I have been doing instead of updating my blog

I know, that is not a picture of blondies. I have to admit, I entirely failed to take a picture of the finished blondies. I made them for a wine tasting trip; for the picnic pictured above. If you have never taken a Friday off of work, rented a limo and gone wine tasting, you are missing out because it was seriously an awesome, awesome day. You should do it. And the limo is really part of the experience.  It isn't extravagant at all.

Chocolate Layer Cake

I know I haven't posted in ages.  And I have tons of recipes ready to go.  So I am making up for it with this recipe, which is the best chocolate cake ever.  Just look at all the chocolatey goodness, so rich and moist.  You're forgiving me already.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

After cooking some fancy cakes, I thought it was time to try something a little easier.  This can is a breeze to make, and takes only about 45 minutes from start to finish.  It may not look as glamorous but it's rich chocolate flavor makes it a hit.

Black-and-White-Chocolate Cake

Two of my good friends are getting married in June and have asked me to make the cake (eek!).  They are planning on having other desserts but want a small cake for tradition's sake.  They key criteria is that it taste good (which I think I can handle) but it also needs to be somewhat photographable (which I'm not so sure about). 

Caramel Pecan Brownies

The lovely Sarah O, in whose kitchen I baked scones last week, graciously lent me her Macrina Bakery & Cafe Cookbook and I am adoring it.  The Macrina Cafe is located in downtown Seattle (there are other locations in Seattle as well).  I like it because it is a local chef but mostly because the bakery is delicious and so are these recipes.  These brownies are amazing.  Trust me, you should probably make them right now and be transported to gooey chocolate caramel heaven.

Black-and-White Banana Loaf

Marbled cakes are so pretty and easy to make.  This one is banana rum and chocolate flavored so it is also delicious.

Chocolate Soufflé Cupcakes with Mint Cream

More cupcakes! Cupcakes traditionally seem unsophisticated but not these.  A new trend in this area is to have a bunch of cupcakes for your wedding instead of a big wedding cake.  Certainly easier to serve, no cutting required.  I don't know what it is about cupcakes that is so appealing, is it the childhood memories they illicit or the completeness of each one (you get your own, not just a piece).  Whatever it is they seem to be hugely popular.

Chocolate Whiskey Cake

 Happy Valentine's Day!  I am not ashamed to admit I spent this Valentine's day getting a massage and then cooking myself dinner and soon taking a bubble bath with a good book.  I used to resent Valentine's Day (even when I've been in relationships, so much pressure).  But now I've embraced it as a perfect excuse to bake delicious sweets for all the people I love, which is one of my favorite things.

Chocolate Chip Scones

 I am very particular about my scones and so I was a little worried about these, because they have a lot more liquid than typical and also chocolate chips seem a little out of place in a scone.  But in honor of chocolate month I wanted something with chocolate and although I wouldn't see this slightly down-to-earth scones at a high tea, they are excellent nonetheless.

Chocolate Chip Meringues

I love meringues, so sweet and light.  It has been really hard for me to not eat the entire batch of them; I could eat them non-stop.