Sweet And Crumby

Baking, a Love Story

Monthly Archives: December 2011


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Bullock’s Tea Room Popovers —The Original Recipe

Bullock’s tea room in Sherman Oaks, California was my Grandmother and my Mecca when I was little. She would take me shopping for the day, and we would take a mid-day break for lunch in their glorious tea room. As we were escorted to our table, I was in awe of the vast ceilings, plushly decorated room in velvety mauves and deep purples and the crisp white table cloths. The minute I sat down, a more than gracious waiter would present us with the largest popover I had ever seen. This was served instead of a bread basket. Can you imagine?

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Take Care of Yourself Creamy Spinach Soup

Hi All! I have been enjoying the holidays far too much to stop and take photos. Last night I cooked a prime rib, Yorkshire pudding (popovers—will post these soon!), roasted Brussels sprouts, pan roasted potatoes, and the list goes on including these amazing Chocolate Mint Parfaits. They were the perfect light and airy, minty finish to a heavy meal.

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These are a Few of My Favorite Posts —2011

This is my second year of blogging and time for my now annual “These Are A Few of My Favorite Posts” (for last year’s attempt, click here).

I have a strange obsession with The Sound of Music so I urge you to sing along as you read this!

Cranberry Cookies and Biscuits with Bacon 
Santa Hat Cupcakes, how many you makin’?
Pumpkin Granola, tied up in strings
These are a few of my favorite postings

Shrimp Stock Risotto and Crisp Apple Streudel
Italian Fig Cookies and Soup with Fresh Noodles
Cheese Spinach Roulade and  Deep Fried Squid Rings
These are a few of my favorite postings

Rich Chocolate Puddings with three unique flavors
Candy Cane Angelfood, this I will savor
Aimee’s Mince Pies, are quite laboring
These are a few of my favorite postings

When the pie burns,
When souffles flop,
When I’m feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite posts, and then I don’t feel so bad!

—Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to enjoy all the food of the season.  Help us fight childhood hunger through Share Our Strength.  Click the link on the Share our Strength badge at the side to help.

I hope you all have a very happy holiday season filled with peace and love…


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Cookie Baking 101 and Katina’s Greek Crescents

I will start and end this post with my family’s favorite Christmas cookies, Katina’s Greek Crescents. They are made with pecans and dusted with powdered sugar and bite after delicate bite literally melts in your mouth.  I actually never knew Katina, nor really know how she fits into my family’s life. I just know she must have been one heck of a baker and that officially gives her my seal of approval.

Cookies 101

Cookies are not tricky so you may wonder what I could possibly say about making them that would help you? Well, actually if you are an avid baker, I probably have nothing on you. BUT if you are in the group of people who bake a batch now and then and wonder why sometimes they come out great and other times they spread out like pancakes, and why sometimes they are a little tough but other times they are perfectly soft and chewy, well then you have come to the right post my friends. Continue reading →


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Take a Coffee Break with Some Finnish Ribbon Cookies

Finnish Ribbon Cookies are dainty little butter cookies that get filled with gourmet jams and drizzled with a citrus-y glaze.   These are the perfect pretty little bites to have on your plate with your tea or coffee, and I have never met a soul that could stop at eating just one.

If you are in a baking frenzy right about now, like I was last night, and need one more petite addition to complete your gifts of goodies, try this one. The dough preparation is like any other butter cookie. Continue reading →


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A Trio of Cupcakes

Rich Red Velvets, Devil’s Food with peppermint buttercream, and whipped chocolate Three Musketeers mini cupcakes made up a festive tray for a Christmas party my son was attending over the weekend. It was a last hurrah before the dreaded finals week or as I affectionately like to refer to it as the “f” word.

My thirteen-year-old daughter and I had spent almost two hours just decorating 48 mini cupcakes. That was a labor of love if there ever was one. But honestly, we didn’t do it for those unobservant teens (no offense guys). We did it for us; for the fun of hanging out in the kitchen together, laughing at our ridiculous piping mistakes, and pulling the big, goofy Golden Retriever away from the table as she was only millimeters away from licking a cupcake. Continue reading →


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Gingerbread Pancakes Because Sometimes Life’s Just That Good

I am known to sing in the kitchen. Way too much. I don’t have a good voice, and I rarely know more than three stanzas to any one song, but I sing anyway because sometimes life is just THAT GOOD.


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A Cranberry Coffee Cake Celebration

Hi All! For those of you who have been following along, you are fully aware of my kitchen floor fiasco but as of 3:37pm Tuesday, Rick, AKA Guy who was vying for 6th member of our family and daytime tennant,  finished our floors and drove his big, white van off into the sunset while I waved, not quite believing that most of this mess was over.

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We Have to Interrupt this Gingerbread Doughnut Post With a Surprise Tongue Appearance

Hands down, this post has been the most popular post over the last year and a half for two reasons I believe: 1) Gingerbread doughnuts. ‘Nuff said. 2) My dog’s ridiculous tongue photo shoot.  So here you go, while my kitchen is being finally finished…I have decided to repost this doozy.

O.K. friends, these soft and spicy gingerbread doughnuts are honestly one of the best things I have ever created.  Did you catch that?!!!  I created this doughnut recipe!!!  I am very excited about this fact. Can you tell?  The number of exclamation points are exponentially related to how excited I am.

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A Cranberry Muffin Toast to Optimism

For those of you who come solely for the food, these healthy-ish cranberry date muffins are perfect to add to any holiday brunch. They have a good dose of eggnog, a spot of rum and toasted hazelnuts atop. They are sweetened with molasses and spiced with cinnamon and cardamom.

Doesn’t that just sound like the epitome of a holiday muffin?  And they could just about turn anyone’s pessimistic attitude about “healthy muffins” into blissful surprise.

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