Cheesecake may just be the perfect food.  It is certainly one of the oldest on record.  It is believed that cheesecake was served to the Olympic athletes during the first Olympic games in 776 B.C.  Any food with that kind of staying power just has to have something to … [visit site to read more]

© Jerry D. Russell and Cooking... by the seat of my Pants!.com, 2008. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cakes, cheesecake, chocolate, dessert, Desserts, Holiday-Recipes, liqueur, sweet, sweets

My wife entered a cookie contest last week.  These bad boys won first place in the chocolate cookie recipe category, as best chocolate cookie recipe.  So when I tell you these are more than good, I have a panel of judges to back me up.  These bars are sweet, succulent and definitely something we’ll be making all year long, but they are perfect for a Holiday buffet, so don’t pass this recipe up when you are planning your Thanksgiving or Christmas cookie baking!

This is a simple recipe, an even though I usually shy away from anything that uses a mix, in this case I’ll gladly make an exception.  They make in a snap, don’t cost much and are suited for the novice baker (read: me).  The results are fabulous, the oooh-and ahhhh factor is pretty high on the list.  Just place a pretty pyramid of these on a shiny platter and back out of the way.  But I suggest you make two batches if you want any for yourself!

I could talk forever about these, but I think I’ll just let the recipe speak for itself.  It’s that good!

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© Jerry D. Russell and Cooking... by the seat of my Pants!.com, 2008. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: brownies, cakes, chocolate, christmas, Cookies, Desserts, Holiday-Recipes, peanut butter, Recipes, sweets, Thanksgiving

This post really isn’t really a recipe, it’s more of a HowTo.  It just didn’t seem to fit any other category.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,  I’m not really a baker at … [visit site to read more]

© Jerry D. Russell and Cooking... by the seat of my Pants!.com, 2008. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cakes, HowTo, Methods, Pastry, Tips and Tricks

Who doesn’t love cheesecake? If made properly it is decadent, creamy, fluffy and just sweet enough to satisfy the cravings of any sweet tooth. It can be made in a variety of flavors, and toppings are always welcome. It plays well with others and finds its place easily as the star dessert at back yard barbecues and five star restaurants.  It’s just that good. The only problem with it is that I have a tendency to eat way too much of one kind and don’t have room to sample others. This little recipe solves all that.

These mini cheesecakes are tiny.  They are perfect for appetizers or if served in all of their possible variations, as a perfect dessert sampling menu. Go crazy with toppings and you could serve a seven course dessert without breaking a sweat. Trust me, the Oooh’s and Ahhhs you’ll get will be worth the effort.

The inspiration for them came from a recipe by Giada DeLaurentis, but as usual, I found Giada’s original version somewhat uninspired.  Oh, they were good, but they weren’t jaw dropping, and they were more labor intensive than this variation. The original called for orange zest, but for my tastes it just didn’t work as well as I’d hoped, so i swapped out for vanilla.  The results were superb.

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© Jerry D. Russell and Cooking... by the seat of my Pants!.com, 2008. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cakes, caramel, cheesecake, chocolate, Custard, Desserts, pies, Recipes, sweet

Everyone has certain foods that remind them of their youth. A taste or smell that takes you back to a time when your biggest worries were things like what to wear to school on Monday, or whether that certain someone would actually look at you in a classroom. A time when things were a bit simpler, when Saturday mornings were the only time to watch cartoons and you waited all week for it.

I may be dating myself a bit here. I’m sure some of my readers had Cartoon Network when they were young, or had other pursuits. Regardless, I think you get the idea. For me, one of those foods that takes me back to those times is the simple, unassuming All-Bran Muffin.

The Kellogg’s company began printing recipes on the sides of its cereal boxes in 1916, so as far as I am aware, the recipe for this little slice of wonder has been located on the side of the All-Bran® package since the name was changed from Krumbles sometime before 1920. Advertising for the All-Bran Muffin exists from 1920, so it has definitely been around for quite some time, and with good reason!

The variations on this classic are endless. But for my tastes you just can’t beat the original, as it’s printed on the side of every box. Enjoy with a little jam, honey or fruit. Or, if you’re a southern boy like me, just spread a little butter in a nice warm muffin and have at it!

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© Jerry D. Russell and Cooking... by the seat of my Pants!.com, 2007. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, breakfast, cakes, Muffins, Recipes

I wanted to make something special for Mrs. seat of her Pants this Valentine’s day, not just your run-of-the-mill dessert. I must have hit every site on Google before I stumbled on this recipe. I was looking for a way to use up some of the Sherry or Sweet Marsala we have lying about, but this just looked so decadent that I had to do it.

It’s also my entry for Sugar High Friday #28, hosted by the lovely jasmine over at Confessions of a Cardamom Addict. If you were planning on entering, you’ve only got 4 days to get your entry in!

Let me warn you in advance, this is by no means low calorie or diet friendly. This is a heavy cake with a rich flavor that will linger on your palate for quite a little while. Not too sweet, but definitely all kinds of chocolaty satisfaction.

The sauce recipe is my own adaptation, mostly due to a lack of ingredients, but I think it’s probably a better compliment than the original would have been.
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© Jerry D. Russell and Cooking... by the seat of my Pants!.com, 2007. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cakes, Desserts, Port Wine, Valentines Day Recipes, wine

So simple, yet so satisfying. Pound cake has got to be the simplest recipe in the baker’s repertoire. A pound of flour, a pound of sugar and a pound of butter. How in the world this simple set of ingredients becomes something as sumptuous as the cake Mrs. seat of Her pant made this weekend I’ll never know. but I’ll enjoy it!

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© Jerry D. Russell and Cooking... by the seat of my Pants!.com, 2007. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cakes, Desserts, sweets