Bourbon Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cookies

Christmas is all about traditions. I love them all and I really enjoy finding other old ones. Tradition goes in hand with classic. And what's more classic than delicious fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies? You're right! Nothing :) However, have you ever tried adding real vanilla pod into the dough? It makes wonders, believe me! Vanilla makes everything better and although you can use extract or vanilin instead, you never get the very same result as with real vanilla pods (or seeds). Christmas baking season has started, so let's make some cookies to fill the air with wonderful aromas :)

Speculaas

It's already December, Christmas is almost here and people all over the world are looking forward to it. When I look out of the window I can see the winter. Cold, freezing, cool, chilling and icy. These words describe it perfectly. I wish it was snowing, too, but it's not from some unknown reason. You know, I don't know about better feeling than this one: I'm sitting in an armchair covered with warm blanket, christmas carols are being singed by my family, I'm holding a cup of hot tea and it's snowing outside. Pretty shiny small snowflakes are slowly falling down to the ground. I feel happy and comfortable and I want a cookie. The cookie, in fact. Speculaas.

The Daring Bakers' Challenge: Crostata di castagne e cioccolato

The 2010 November Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Simona of briciole. She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make pasta frolla for a crostata. She used her own experience as a source, as well as information from Pellegrino Artusi’s Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well.
 

On the first day of every new month I am very nervous. And do you know why? As it is the day when I find out what the new challenge is and that's always a big surprise and I'm really looking forward to this, because I love this our group where one can fully express himself (or herself) and create something fantastic for the others. As for exaple this month - famous Italien crostata (loosely translated as tart).

Orange Almond Cookies with Dark Chocolate

40, 39, 38, 37...No! 35 days to Christmas Eve :) Isn't it great? Imagine you sitting in front of your fireplace, seeing those beautiful orange dancing flames, listening to christmas carols and eating christmas cookies, of course! You know, Christmas isn't about giving and receiving gifts. It's all about love, family and friendship and traditions. And the best gifts are the homemade ones. How about a small box of these wonderful orange almond cookies?

Apple Pie

As I promised you last week, this time I show you what to do with the shortcrust pastry. And it's nothing different than our old good apple pie!

Shortcrust Pastry

Another Saturday, another recipe. This time I'd like to show something very easy and well-known. Yes, I'm talking about shortcrust pastry. It's very easy to make and even easier to eat! Many recipes on the internet suggest using pre-made/store-bought shortcrust pastry or shortcrust pastry shell rather than making your own. My question is why? I don't know anything better than homemade shortcrust pastry and I've decided to share my know-how with you (but I think you already know most of it). So keep reading :)

The Daring Bakers' Challenge: Doughnuts with Chocolate and Maple Glaze

The October 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up. Lori chose to challenge DBers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious.

Doughnuts, who would not love them? I don't know about anyone who'd turn down this fried dessert. We know them as koblihy in my country and they're a little bit different from what is know as doughnut in America. In fact they're pretty similar to bomboloni and it is said that a good kobliha has a yellow circle around in the middle  because it wasn't soaked in the oil during frying :) But let's get to the challenge.

Apple Poppy Seed Quark Coffee Cake

Do you like apples? Personaly, I love them and because I have a huge lot of them I just had to use them because they're so delicious. The first idea was apple strudel, then apple pie and then, well, what about something new? Oh, yes, how about a sheet cake?

Misa Rezy (Mickey Squares)

I don't know how about you, but here's quite cold weather and the clouds are grey which is not the best for my good mood. In these times I often remember things from my childhood (okay, I ain't that old but I'm not that young either). This time I remebered an ice lolly I used to love when being a child - it's called Mickey.

Poppy Seed Greengage Kolacky

Another week, another treat! Yes, it's time to come up with yet another pretty tasty recipe. This time I show you something traditional in a little bit untraditional way :) Want to know more?

The Daring Bakers' Challenge: Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

 

The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.

So it's here! Another DB challenge. Although, I'm not the official member yet, I made this challenge istead of my sister. She's ill and not fancy making cookies (you know - fever, cough - simply not that comfortable when doing well, anything). Our tast was to make traditional sugar cookies and - the main part - decorate them using royal icing. However, that's not all. The theme for the cookies was September. No matter what, you had to create something "September-y." And how did it end up?

Apple Ginger Muffins

Apples are in their season and they do pair well with ginger. Believe me!

Strawberry Poppy Seed Sponge Cake

I don't know how about you, but I'm quite cold these days. The summer season is definitely over and the temperature is lower every day. Oh, and don't forget to add rain to the mix! Yes, fall/autumn is coming or maybe I should say it's already here and to be honest I really don't look for a scoop of ice cream in days like these. In my dreamspace there is an imagination of a warm sweet piece of soft and tender sponge cake. So let's get some!

Rakvicky (Little Coffins)

Is it too depressive? Believe me it's not as gross as it sounds. These little treats are very sweet and makes you smile rather than sad.

Red Currant Sour Cream Tart

Here in my country it's time of red currant and because we have a garden I always have a huge lot of it. Maybe I should say way too much :)  Usually in July I have to go there to pick up some and mostly end up with 4 kilograms of red currant, but then in early August it's there again and our house is like a red currant castle. A huge lot of it ends up in our freezer (so it's totally overfull) and another big amount is transformed into delicious jelly. But what to do with the rest?

A few words before it starts

At first I'd like to apologize for my English as it is my foreign language and I am still in the process of learning. Okay, that would be done and now something about me :)

Who Am I?
As the profile says I'm a girl, in fact I'm 18-year-old 22-year-old girl from the Czech Republic. I live in a flat, go to school, hang out with my friends and so on. All the stuff a usual girl does. But sometimes I really do love to bake. Bake - not to cook. I find cooking too difficult (y'know, how many spices shall I use, how long shall I roast the beef etc.) and it usually ends up as a disaster when it's in my hands. But baking, oh yeah, that's quite easy and you cannot mess it up too much, right?!