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Strawberry Breakfast Cookies

June 27, 2011 By + 20 Comments

“THE BREEZE AT DAWN HAS SECRETS TO TELL YOU.  DON’T GO BACK TO SLEEP.”  Rumi

Strawberry Breakfast Cookies | From My Sweet Heart

I am not a big breakfast eater.  I prefer to skip breakfast and indulge in a larger and very leisurely brunch.  And I prefer to eat breakfast for my dinner!  Go figure.  What I really love to eat for breakfast are pastries and sweet things with either a cup of cafe au lait or tea with milk and sugar. And while I LOVE a good sticky bun; sometimes a simple piece of brioche with a little jam is all I need.  Mostly, these days….my breakfast is on the fly.  And so anything made portable is great!

These breakfast treats are really good and very simple!  They are a cross between a scone and a cookie.  And again, the ingredients can be so versatile.  The secret ingredients in these little gems are……. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast/Brunch Tagged With: , , ,

Agave Negro

June 26, 2011 By + 12 Comments

Agave Negro | From My Sweet Heart

  •  2 blackberries (plus another for garnish)
  • 1 cup of ice
  • 1 1/2 ounces of Cazadores Reposado Tequila
  • 3/4 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice (lime slice for garnish)
  • 3/4 ounce of Simple Syrup
  • 1/2 ounce of Chambord
  • 1 ounce of chilled club soda

 

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the 2 blackberries.  Add ice, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and chambord.  Shake well.  Pour into a rocks glass.  Stir in the club soda. Garnish with skewered blackberry and lime wheel.

It is AMAZING what a difference fresh ingredients play in something so simple as a cocktail.  This is a very refreshing summer cocktail.  The flavor of those 2 little blackberries really shines through.  I hope you enjoy this while listening to a clip from one of my very favorite artists……Jamie Cullum.


Filed Under: Cocktails, Sweet Happy Hour Tagged With:

Velvet Hearts

June 20, 2011 By + 23 Comments

“WHEN YOU ARE SORROWFUL LOOK AGAIN IN YOUR HEART, AND YOU SHALL SEE THAT IN TRUTH YOU ARE WEEPING FOR THAT WHICH HAS BEEN YOUR DELIGHT.”  Kahlil Gibran

Velvet Hearts | From My Sweet Heart

 These simple vanilla cookies are buttery and light.  But with the addition of cream cheese in the mix, they are substantial and almost savory.  I hope you will try them and jazz them up in any way you like.

Sadly today, my son said goodbye to his good friend who was taken from us much too soon and way too young.  The kitchen is always my solace.  I baked these with the most heartfelt thoughts of this young man, and in loving support of all the friends and family he left behind.  I hope that soon, we will all find peace in our own hearts again.  But I hope this…..especially, for my son Matt.

Hold tight to those who mean the most to you….and bake these for someone you love…….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cookies Tagged With: , ,

Lemon Lavender Cookies

June 11, 2011 By + 12 Comments

“THERE’S A FEW THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN LIFE: ALWAYS THROW SALT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER, KEEP ROSEMARY BY YOUR GARDEN GATE, PLANT LAVENDER FOR GOOD LUCK, AND FALL IN LOVE WHENEVER YOU CAN.”  Alice Hoffman

Lemon Lavender Cookies | From My Sweet Heart

About a month ago, I participated in an online bake sale.  I bid $50 on some cookies and I won!!!  Sadly, though, I never received the cookies!  It’s no matter, because I would have donated the money to that great cause even if I had been overbid.  But what was disappointing is that I bid on some Lemon Lavender cookies because I have never tasted lavender in food before.  And I wanted to taste what they should taste like, before I tried them on my own.

But since the return of my kitchen mojo…I decided to go ahead and attempt this for myself!  And I must tell you that I really enjoyed working with this lovely, pretty and aromatic herb.  My fear was that I would use too much, and my cookies would taste like a bar of savon du provence! (Where is Jill Colonna when I need her!)  Well let me tell you.  These were so good….no bars of soap here!  Just a light, lemony, sweet, crispy cookie with a subtle hint of home grown. . . . . [Read more...]

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Strawberry-Pistachio Brown Butter Babycakes

June 10, 2011 By + 10 Comments

“THOU ART TO ME A DELICIOUS TORMENT.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Strawberry Pistachio Brown Butter Babycakes | From My Sweet Heart

 Strawberries…you and I had a little falling out this week.  Actually, we almost broke up!  I don’t like drama in my kitchen.  But there you were….weeping and bleeding all over my lemon tart!  And now you want to get back together again?  Can I trust you?  Can I even forgive you?

Lucky for you I believe in second chances!  But let’s take it slow this time.  Why don’t I introduce you to Pistachio.  And let’s see if you can behave!

Was it a match made in heaven?????…………………. [Read more...]

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Heart of Darkness Brownies

June 7, 2011 By + 14 Comments

“ALL I REALLY NEED IS LOVE,  BUT A LITTLE CHOCOLATE NOW AND THEN DOESN’T HURT!”  Charles Shulz

Heart of Darkness Brownies | From My Sweet Heart

 Well I think these brownies are very appropriately named.  And very much suited to the state of my own heart these days.  You see, I’m in a spell of very bad kitchen karma.  My strawberry tart, though incredibly delicious, didn’t hold up very well.  And today, while making these brownies, my lower oven was set to 350°; while my upper oven somehow was set to 450°.  So you can imagine the fate of one set of brownies!  And….in between batches, my power went out!!!  I think the kitchen gods are trying to tell me something.  Or maybe I think that my own heart has been a little heavy these past few days and so I am feeling a bit distracted in the kitchen.  Anyway…. I decided to abandon the strawberries in lieu of these incredible, moist, chewy, fudgey delights!  And believe me…..this was just what my poor heart of darkness needed.  You cannot believe what is in these!!!  But read on to understand why they will lift you out of your own dark place……. [Read more...]

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