Dessert | Mommie Cooks!

Lemon Almond Cookies

April 7, 2016 By Julie 2 Comments

I adore spring. It’s not just the warmer weather I find appealing, but the gentle rousing of nature as it begins to wake up and once again come back to life.

Here in Charlotte it begins with the Bradford Pears. You get up one morning and walk through your neighborhood to notice that suddenly, as if on cue, the trees have the most beautiful white flowers budding from their branches. This in itself is a glorious site, but then it gets better. A handful of days later you walk down that same street, but now the leaves are pushing their way past the flowers causing a gentle rain of petals that my kids liken to a “first of the season” snowfall….

Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

March 19, 2016 By Julie 1 Comment

Thank goodness it’s Saturday. Let’s be honest, it’s been a long, tiring week. I don’t know about you, but I always struggle with the first week of the “spring forward” time change. Yes, I enjoy the longer daylight hours and yes, I delight in the warmer weather, but the loss of one of my precious hours of sleep? Now that’s a tough pill to swallow….

The Perfect Dairy Free Ice Cream Base

August 26, 2013 By Julie 2 Comments

I simply couldn’t let summer come to a close without taking one honest to goodness stab at dairy free ice cream. And I’m not talking about a stab that kind of sort of tastes like ice cream but still makes me long for the real thing. I’m talking about the “holy mother of Mary that’s the best dang ice cream I’ve had in a long time and I demand proof to the contrary that it’s dairy free” kind. That’s what I aimed for. No less would suffice. And honestly? I’m still pinching myself to make sure I’m not crazy, but dag gone it, I think I’ve done it. This one’s a winner. You know you’ve done something right when your child who can still eat dairy actually requests that you brew up another batch of the milk free version.
…

Blueberry Coconut Crisp (Gluten and Dairy Free)

July 23, 2013 By Julie 5 Comments

First up, you all are awesome. Thank you so much for the kind words, the valuable information sharing and the general feeling of support. If nothing else, it makes the journey a bit easier and a whole lot more interesting knowing you’re not the only one on board the train. We’ve hit week six of the change and it feels like the hill is starting to turn back down again. I’ve figured out the perfect pancake, tracked down a couple gluten free granola bars we all like in addition to making our own and, of course, baked up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Almond milk is my new friend and the boys are once again relishing in their daily morning time smoothie sans yogurt.

…

Quickie Delectable Puff Pastry

June 15, 2012 By Julie 16 Comments

Puff Pastry. It’s one of those products you always find yourself buying at the store because it looks way too daunting to try yourself at home. Well I’m here to tell you that, thanks to King Arthur Flour (KAF), processed puff pastry can take a kick to the curb. There’s a new, simpler gal in town. The best part is that this method works magic in pie crust as well, yielding flaky yet fabulous crust (sounds like a few Hollywood celebrities I know).

…

Coffee Toffee Cupcakes with Strawberry Mascarpone Whipped Topping

April 16, 2012 By Julie 18 Comments

The boys and I went strawberry picking this past weekend. It’s one of the main springtime events that Alex, my middle child, looks forward to. I’ll be honest, I look forward to it as well. There is nothing more tantalizing then a freshly picked strawberry hitting your mouth for the first time each spring. Last year the berries were gargantuan and plenty. This year it seems the secret is out. The crowds were en mass on Saturday and the fields were a bit picked over. Despite the conditions, we won’t be deterred. There is still plenty of picking to be had and Alex is demanding a second go at the task. He and I plan to return in the upcoming weeks once the subsequent round of berries have had a chance to ripen.

…