Sweet
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Homemade Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract. Most baking recipes call for vanilla extract, but why? It adds the vanilla flavor of course, but it also helps to bring out the notes of all of your other ingredients. Bakers take vanilla extract for granted, when it is one of the powerful things in your baking arsenal. Not only is vanilla extract essential in your kitchen, but it is also extremely easy to make. It only involves two ingredients- alcohol and vanilla beans. For my alcohol, I usually rotate between plain vodka and Kentucky bourbon. You can’t go wrong with either choice, and both will leave you with a wonderful flavor. It doesn’t have to be…
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Cranberry, Orange, and Clove Shortbread Bars
Cranberries. Nothing screams holiday season in Maine more than these wonderful, tart berries! I use them in everything around this time: cookies, upside-down cakes, jams, tart and basically anything I can put a cranberry in….I do. Another thing that screams holiday season for me is oranges with whole cloves poked in them. It’s a tradition that my mum started with me when I was young, and I still continue it as an adult. The smell of orange and clove creates such a warm and loving feeling for me that I knew I wanted to incorporate both flavors into a festive dessert. I started with my lemon bar recipe and thought,…
