Strawberry Cake Mix Brownies
My son doesn’t love chocolate (I’m sorry, what?). Given the choice, he will pick gummies over chocolate every time (I don’t understand). He told me this month that he doesn’t like chocolate cake (I. can’t. even.). His favorite cake, and his birthday request every year, is strawberry cake. I knew when he saw this easy recipe for “brownies” that he’d love it.
Rock Candy
When life hands you lemons in the form of a global pandemic and sudden unexpected virtual schooling from home, trying to make lemonade can be a nice distraction. Our opportunity came when I overheard Leo’s science class on crystals and decided it’d be fun to make rock candy. The process is easy, as long as you fully dissolve the sugar, and has a tasty reward.
Chocolate Sunflower Butter Energy Bites
Packing school lunches is a whole new challenge at our house. After six weeks, these protein-packed treats have become a lunchbox favorite. Any nut butter will do, though sunflower butter makes them allergy-friendly. They’re so easy to make that they’re a great hands-on activity to do with a new kindergartener, and they never come home at the end of the day (unlike those poor rejected baby carrots).
Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins
These tart-sweet lemon muffins, topped with a brown sugar crumble and lemon glaze are deliciously moist, since the cream cheese is mixed right into the batter.
Mom’s Rum Balls
When I was little, I remember mom making these rum balls for holiday parties. Made from crushed Nilla wafers, chopped nuts, cocoa, and light rum, they’re not for kids (but that didn’t stop us from sneaking one when the adults weren’t looking).
Chocolate-Covered Bacon
We first tried chocolate-covered bacon at the Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress Avenue, and decided to make it for our friend Atticus’s bacon-themed first birthday party.
Making a double batch for a party on a warm Austin day wasn’t the best idea, but if you give yourself plenty of time and reserve this project for a cool day, the results are delicious.
Hungarian Pastry Jam Bars
These bars have a tender pastry base, a layer of raspberry jam, a layer of browned egg whites similar to merengue, and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts. They’re the perfect dessert for girls’ night.
Double Chocolate Quick Bread
This quick bread is moistened with apple sauce and either sour cream or Greek yogurt, and has both cocoa powder and chocolate chips.
Ultimate Lemon Bars
Shortbread and lemon curd are two of my favorite things, making these bars the perfect dessert.
Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares
Layer a creamy mixture of sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest on top of a base of sweetened oats and butter. Add a crumb layer on top, and bake. Serve these delicious creamy squares cold for a refreshing tart treat.