Persimmon & Champagne Granita

I'm so excited to share this recipe with all of you today due to my new found love of persimmons!  Have you tried them?  They're fantastic and definitely my new "it" fruit of the season!  Earlier this week I already had it in my head that I was going to make champagne granita for NYE.  It's the perfect dessert for the occasion, light, quick to put together, and boozy!  Originally I planned to use blood oranges, but after striking out on a mission to find them, I was introduced to the lovely persimmon.

Christmas Tree Cake

Well I finally put my Christmas tree up, and there's no doubt that it's totally me!  I make a Christmas tree cake every  year for my family, and I just wanted to do it up a little different this time.  I knew I'd be making walnut kiss cookies and peppermint milanos, so I thought it would be sweet if I tied everything together. There's also the my whole world is pink thing that might have been a factor in this project as well!

Penguin Cupcakes

To say I love penguins would be an understatement, so I had to put some on my blog.  I decided cupcakes would be the best way to go, and I'm delighted with how they turned out.  I can't help but smile when I look at them!  Of course I had to give them sparkly hats, because thats what all penguins wear, right?!  They're perfect for holiday parties, and were pretty simple to put together too.

White Chocolate Peppermint Milanos

Mint milanos have become one of my most requested cookies of the holiday season.  I started making them a few years back as a component of a chocolate dessert on one of my restaurant menus.  I found they were a playful twist to add to a plated dessert, and right away they were a hit.  I quickly learned that as soon as anyone hears the word milano, they smile, and are eager to try.  Like me, the recipe has evolved over the years.

Walnut Kiss Cookies

Walnut kiss cookies are definitely one of my all time favorite holiday cookies.  These little tea cakes have many names, but I always call them kiss cookies because they're light, nutty, and full of flavor.  They can definitely be made year round, but there's something about dredging them in powdered sugar that makes me think of snow and holidays.  As soon as Thanksgiving is over, and I start to pull out all the Christmas decorations, I head straight into the kitchen and whip up my first batch of the season.

Pecan Pie Napoleon

Pecan Pie has always been one of my favorite Thanksgiving desserts.  It's one of those classics that everyone loves, so I didn't want to change the whole thing, I just wanted to make it better.  I took everything I love about pecan pie, and turned it into a pecan pie napoleon.  Can you say upgrade?!  I also really love this dessert because you get three recipes in one.  My melt in your mouth butter cookies and salted almond & coconut dark chocolate bark are staples in my kitchen.  They are each fabulous on their own, but combined in this dessert, equal pure bliss.  I would also like to share some big news with you guys! I have been featured in a national news story! I want to give a big thank you to Raycom Media and talented reporter Joseph Neese for featuring me.  It's all very exciting and I am beyond grateful.  You can see the story here.