Peach Bellini Cupcakes

I remember when my bellini obsession began.  I was in middle school and my family was eating dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  I always loved eating at the Cheesecake Factory because of the extensive dessert selection.  An entire restaurant whose premise was to serve inventive cheesecakes?  How could I not love that?

Anyway, after selecting my entree (fettucine alfredo, most likely) I flipped to the drink menu, just out of curiosity.  There were lots of drinks that sounded terrible to me.  I was 13, after all.  But then, something caught my eye: a peach bellini, with sparkling wine and peaches blended together.  It sounded like dessert in liquid form.  Suddenly, I wasn't very interested in cheesecake any longer.  Instead, I was wishing I were 21 so I could try a bellini for myself.

Homemade Graham Crackers with Maple-Walnut Glaze

I love graham crackers, but I rarely think to buy them when I'm grocery shopping.  It turns out that they're quite easy to make for yourself, so long as you have graham flour on hand (I've also seen recipes using wheat germ).  To make my homemade graham crackers more appropriate for fall, I topped them with a simple maple-walnut glaze and a sprinkle of chopped walnuts.  The end result tasted like a cross between a graham cracker and a maple donut.  Who could resist that?  

Cherry Cola Cupcakes with Maraschino Buttercream

 Aren't maraschino cherries fun?  Something about their bright red color and long stems just leaves me feeling nostalgic.  But how does one use a maraschino cherry, other than in a Shirley Temple or an ice cream sundae?  And after you've eaten all the cherries, what does one do with all the leftover sticky cherry syrup?  

Care to try a cherry cola cupcake with maraschino buttercream?  

Chocolate-Drizzled Almond Biscotti

When I was in elementary school, I relished going to Starbucks with my dad.  It was the mid 1990s, and Starbucks hadn't yet taken off in the area where we lived.  The nearest shop was at least an hour round trip from our house.  But I didn't mind the long drive; I just loved the father-daughter time.  And, to be completely honest, I knew that if I came along for the ride, there would be a chocolate-covered biscotti and kid-sized hot chocolate with my name on it.   Both the time with my dad and the chocolate-y treats made the entire experience feel like a special occasion.

Buttermilk Balsamic Ice Cream with Brandied Figs

My husband and I have entirely different preferences when it comes to ice cream.  He appreciates the tried-and-true favorites like vanilla and chocolate.  On the other hand, I gravitate towards flavor combinations that are a bit more unique, such as this buttermilk balsamic ice cream