Evil Shenanigans – Baking & Cooking Blog

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

I’m something of a brownie junkie. That said, I am very specific about what I want in a good brownie, and I’m sad to admit I am not satisfied with most coffee shop or bakery brownies.  Give me deep, dark, intense, and fudgy brownies and I am a happy woman.  These needs do not change [...]

Chocolate Dipped Lime Cardamom Cookies

When it is hot out I find lime to be most refreshing. Even in cookie form, lime flavored treats seem to taste the best when the temperature outside starts to soar.  We are in the middle of a heat wave in the Dallas area, so I am all about refreshing at the moment.  Since I [...]

Peach Cream Pie

I recently went on a road trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. One of my road trip rules is to find off-the-beaten-path places to eat.  I prefer to eat where the locals eat, since they often have the most unique, and tastiest, food.   Why eat at a chain place, or, even worse, a fast food window?  [...]

Japanese Shortcake Jelly Roll with Chocolate Whipped Cream

I spend a fair amount of time shopping in Asian markets. I love the fresh produce, meat and fish.  The whole experience is an adventure for me as I discover new ingredients, flavors and snacks.  One of my favorite discoveries are Japanese Cake Rolls.  They are soft sponge cake filled with a delicate layer of [...]

Beef Shawarma Meatballs

Not long ago I had lunch at a little Lebanese restaurant and I discovered some really wonderful new dishes. One of these was shawarma, a meat mixture that is marinated in a spice blend, placed on a spit, and slowly grilled.  It is sliced thin and served with pita and other fresh garnishes.  It is [...]

Coconut Mango Rice Pudding

What do you do when you have a mango approaching over-ripeness and a half a can of coconut milk? I don’t know about you, but I turn it into rice pudding!   Mango and coconut are a perfect flavor match.  I love, for example, chunks of ripe mango with some toasted coconut scattered over the top.  [...]

Coconut Curry Shrimp with Spicy Peanut Noodles

When I get a craving for something I want instant satisfaction. Ask anyone who had ever accompanied me to an amusement park, waited with me in line, or sat with me while we waited for a table at a restaurant.  Patience is not one of my virtues.  In fact, I get down right testy when [...]

Strawberry Nutella Crumb Bars

“Success is sweet and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.” — Amos Bronson Alcott I do not often discuss the struggles I go through testing and re-testing recipes because I am not sure how interesting my development process is to you all.  Some recipes come together with one try, but [...]

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Summer is in full swing, and that means in North Texas it is HOT, HOT, HOT! I am loathe to turn on the oven or stand over the stove when the temps are pushing 100F, but that does not mean I eat nothing but cold sandwiches and salads.  Oh no, what it means is instead [...]

Cornbread Pudding

Now matter how hard I try to restrain myself, when it comes to holidays I always make too  much food. The 4th of July is no exception.  Since we typically have some sort of smoked meat on the 4th, usually of the pork variety, I feel compelled to make a big batch of cornbread to [...]