Spritz Flower Cookies

I'm sharing these cookies today for a few reasons-- Spritz cookies are easy to make yet not your ordinary, everyday cookie; you can make many shapes or change the colors with little effort; and, most of all, this post is a reminder not to let dust gather on your cookie press for eleven months of the year, only reaching into the back of your cabinet to find it in December. Spritz cookies are far more than Christmas cookies!

I made these particular cookies for a baby shower so I added a dot of pink icing on some flowers for the occasion. Others I left plain and this is a cookie that is pretty even perfectly unadorned. Get your kids involved and add icing and sprinkles and all sorts of decoration, but in its most simple and basic form these flower Spritz cookies are a delightful treat. They are also an excellent cookie to make and package to be sent in the mail. They don't break easily and they stay fresh longer than you'd expect.

Blueberry Squares

I have found my go-to dessert to take along to barbeques and get-togethers this summer—yes, already!  BLUEBERRY SQUARES. Look no further if you need to make a dessert that is as impressive as it is easy. These squares will disappear quickly. Make a double batch for a crowd.  These squares don’t require fresh fruit but do be sure to use high quality jam or preserves for the fruit filling. The secret ingredient that isn’t mentioned in the title is lemon—lemon curd to be specific—and it lends a subtle background flavor that allows the blueberry to sing.

Lemon-Berry Bundt for #BundtaMonth May

Another month has quickly rolled around and it’s time to enjoy baking again with the #BundtaMonth group led by Cake Duchess and Baker Street. The theme this month is Berrilicious May! While fresh berries are making their way to grocery store produce sections, don’t worry if you are still baking with frozen berries. I love the convenience and quality of frozen berries year-round. This Bundt recipe uses frozen berries—I baked with blueberries and raspberries but you can choose your favorites. Lemon juice and zest add a brightness to the cake batter and lemon also finishes the cake off with a sweet glaze.  This cake says SPRING to me and it is a welcome sight (and taste) after a cold winter.

Basic Focaccia for #TwelveLoaves May

Welcome to #TwelveLoaves May where the group is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Led by Lora at Cake Duchess, this baking group bakes along a theme each month and shares the joy and challenges of baking breads at home. This month the theme is open and welcome to all who bake bread-- "make-what-you-love" is the goal and we hope you will join us this month.