Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her official birthday on April 21st, and while her birthday plans may be private, we do know is that her favourite chocolate birthday cake will be on the afternoon tea menu. Just like most of us, the Royals have a family birthday cake recipe. This … [Read more...] about April 21: Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday Served with Chocolate Cake
Afternoon Tea
Mastering French Macarons
French macarons are those French almond cookies that often are confused with English style "macaroons". I first discovered them on a trip to Paris back in 2009 when my companions took me to famed Ladurée. I was so excited I bought a couple of boxes of mixed flavours on the day I … [Read more...] about Mastering French Macarons
The Palmer House Brownie
The Palmer House Hotel opened in Chicago in 1871. Their kitchens created a delicious chocolate treat for the 1893 World Fair and came to be known as a brownie. Food historians agree that brownies are an American creation, and credit Fannie Farmer for the first published … [Read more...] about The Palmer House Brownie
Oatmeal Cookies Made Even Healthier with Dates
Oatmeal cookies rule in our household, and they do rank second only to chocolate chips as the cookie of choice. While we love my classic version with raisins you can substitute with any dried fruit and for Brits their go-to is currants. Dried apricots, cranberries, or … [Read more...] about Oatmeal Cookies Made Even Healthier with Dates
Pretty Little Empire Cookies
An empire biscuit is one of the many Scottish desserts popular across the United Kingdom. Formally known as the German biscuit, the dessert is two cookies wrapped around a layer of jam or cream that binds the cookies together to form one solid treat. Traditionally, the biscuit … [Read more...] about Pretty Little Empire Cookies