Spring party: dessert table

For my sister's graduation, my family hosted a big barbecue at a local park for family and friends.  Lara normally makes a special cake for the party (aka life-sized basketball shoe, waterbottle, trombone in case), but she had a better idea for this one.  Stephanie loves all things vintage and girly, so Lara decided to create an adorable dessert table with many different options.  She made button cookies, confetti, orange, strawberry, and lemon cupcakes, Neopolitan rice crispy treats,  Eiffel tower-shaped almond cookies, chocolate and mint fudge.  She used sewing and picnic baskets, vases, plates on stacks of vintage books, and cake stands to display all the treats.  The table was decorated with flowers in snapple jars (painted white, with the "S" painted in yellow), coffee syrup jars, baby food jars, and whatever else we could find!  Enjoy!:)

Summer Strawberry, Orange Creamsicle, Luscious Lemon

Death by Chocolate

What's Cookin: Recipe for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies!

These are probably the messiest cookies I've made yet for the kids at church.

I might be cleaning carpet after they're done!

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 squares [1 ounce each] unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Confectioner's sugar [powdered sugar

In large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, eggs, oil, chocolate and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture and mix well.

Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours. Wish sugared hands, shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in confectioner's sugar. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Yield: About 2 dozen cookies 

Recipe from: The Taste of Home Cookbook

From the Oven: Gingersnaps!

Sometimes there is absolutely nothing like eating a fresh-from-the-oven gingersnap cookie! The gooeyness litereally melts in your mouth as the tangy ginger and cinnamon combo hits your senses. You reach for a second one without even realizing it!

These are one of my dad's top favorite cookies, so I've been making them since I was very little.

Perhaps a good book and a cup of tea are the perfect compliment to this crinkly cookie!

What's one thing you've been baking since you were a child?