Baking and Cooking Blog – Evil Shenanigans

Strawberry Jam Tarts

 Last October I had the opportunity to go to England and Ireland and the trip changed my life. Overall, I must admit, the food was pretty bleak.  I was so busy preparing for my friend’s wedding (in which I was not only the Matron of Honor but I was the cake designer) that I ate a lot [...]

Buttermilk Biscuits

Tomorrow is the 4th of July here in the US, and I can think of no better way to celebrate our nation’s independence than with a hearty breakfast of flaky and tender buttermilk biscuits.   For years I struggled with buttermilk biscuits.  Drop biscuits I had down pat.  I could make batches of those fluffy little [...]

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

If you have been following me on Tiwtter then you know that I recently had some minor oral surgery.  For three to five days after I was to be on a soft food diet.   I know, how depressing. Well, I decided to be proactive and make some flavorful and hearty soups before I went in so my soft [...]

Queso Blanco

There are certain foods that I crave and am completely unable to resist.    One of those foods is queso blanco.  This creamy cheese dip is finding its way on to the menus of  Tex-Mex restaurants next to the traditional orange chili con queso.  It is made with a variety of white cheeses and spices depending on where [...]

Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin Roast

I love pork products, and I love finding new ways to cook with this most versatile ingredient. I am not a big fan of pork roast, however.  Most of the pork roast I have had has been dry, tough, and flavorless.  Even with elaborate stuffing, injections, and coatings I have found most pork roast to be boring.   It is [...]

Five Spice Roasted Chicken Thighs with Peanut Rice Noodles

I don’t pretend to be an expert on Asian cooking.  Far from it. However, I know what I like, and I know what tastes good, and this chicken and noodle dish certainly does taste good!  The chicken and the noodles could stand alone as separate dishes, but I adore the spiced chicken with the peanut [...]

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

 It is a wonderful thing to have a good, trusty cookie recipe. It’s good because a trusty recipe can be changed, added to, and amended to create all kinds of different cookies.  I have a lot of recipes that are what I consider ‘base’ recipes.  They are fine on their own, but add a little [...]

Cinnamon Roll Bread

Is there anything more comforting than the smell of warm cinnamon rolls?  If there is, I can’t think of it right now.       While I love the traditional cinnamon roll, and believe me I do, I thought it would be fun to take my cinnamon roll dough and make it into a swirled [...]

Chocolate Loaf Cake with White Chocolate Glaze

I don’t know about you but I love humble desserts, and of those desserts there is just something special about loaf cakes. They are not the prettiest desserts out there.  Often they are served unadorned or simply glazed.  Sitting next to a flaky croissant, a glistening napoleon, or a fluffy mousse they wouldn’t win the beauty prize, [...]

Pot Stickers with Pork Filling – Daring Cooks June 2009

 I decided, because I don’t have enough to do, that I would join The Daring Kitchen.  I know.  I know.   This month’s Daring Cooks Challenge is by Jen from Use Real Butter who challenged us all to make homemade pot sticker wrappers.    Overall, it was not terribly difficult, but it did take a little time [...]