Cordial Treats

inspired by freebies from grocery store loyalty programs and goodies companies that give back to the environment

Truth in Advertising

It's surprisingly delicious.

inspired by the Lucky Charms cereal slogan, innovative chocoholic ice cream makers who also respect nutrition, and actual versus recommended serving sizes

Three Little Words

Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes.

inspired by an annual Roman fertility rite, an execution turned into a commercialized distortion of expressing love for others and any reason to give and receive chocolate

I Can Make Your Thighs Slap

Eat them up!
Nobody can save your soles 'cause you've been running in this city, I know
Too many calories, all these carbs got you losing control...

inspired by a sale on vanilla chai cupcake kits, abandoned food consumption resolutions, and Fitz & the Tantrums

Random Holiday Baking Notes

The Raspberry Dark Chocolate Marble cookie recipe from The Washington Post works just as well with cranberries and white chocolate (pulverize white chocolate chips). In hindsight, rolling the two doughs into a longer, skinnier log then twisting again would have given the cookies a more marbled appearance. They were a hit.

Placing a small juice glass in a plastic sandwich bags is an easy way to flatten cookie dough.

inspired by seasonal treats, family traditions and scratch-made food-is-love gifts  

Good News. Bad News.

Good news: This bag of 100 pieces of chocolate Halloween candy is 80% off!

Bad news: 49 of the pieces are malted milk balls (definitely not my picky family's favorite:p).

inspired by gluttony, bottom-barrel prices on clearance items at the grocery store and looking at the bag as 51% irresistible deal  

The Power of Suggestion

One of the cable shopping channels was selling two dozen scrumptious looking, large gourmet cinnamon buns for about $50. This is what my budget could support.

The directions on the box say to use one jar of cinnamon bun icing to mix into one cup of whipped heavy cream, but one brick of cream cheese and one stick of butter (both softened to room temp.) creamed together with one cup of powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp vanilla extract makes a delightful substitution to blend with the whipped heavy cream.

For the cake mix (try a spice cake mix if cinnamon bun isn't available), these substitutions: milk and sour cream combo for the water, melted butter cooled to room temp. for the oil. Add one tsp of vanilla and 1/8 tsp each of nutmeg and ginger.

Bake at lowest oven temp. listed on the chart. Because making more than three layers bakes the batter very quickly, set the timer for 6 mins., then 3--4 minute intervals until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Enjoy!