Busy Brunette Bakerista

It's been three years to the day since I shared this recipe on my blog and I still make it all the time! My sweet sister-in-law, Maria, gave me this personalized rolling pin that says “baked by pam”. For it’s inaugural use I had to make my grandmother’s sugar cookie recipe that she wrote on a plain piece of stationery. You make the dough, put it in the fridge, or “ice box” as she called it, roll out, cut, and bake. Ice Box Sugar Cookies   1 ½ cups of butter (softened to room temperature) 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white granulated sugar 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla pinch of salt 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour {1 cup chopped pecans – optional} Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter and both sugars in a large bowl with a mixer.  Slowly add eggs, one at a time, mixing as you go. Add in vanilla and salt and mix again. Add flour slowly in ½ cup increments mixing on low speed until all flour is incorporated. Mix for 30 seconds on ...

I had so much fun planning the big, double 16th birthday party for my twins. After spending weeks going down the "Pinterest rabbit hole" where I'd pin photos after photos of party decoration ideas, themes, food, designs and other details, I narrowed it all down and made a party plan! Since the birthday party was for a boy and  a girl I didn't want it to be confused with a Sweet Sixteen with a lot of pink, so I chose neutral colors of seafoam green, royal blue, white and silver.  My first DIY craft idea was of using various size"16" numbers for decoration. I purchased flat, large wooden numbers at my local craft store. Then I pulled photographs from our albums, and photocopied them at a reduced size - (or, you can print out photos from your computer onto copy paper and reduce the size). I placed the photocopies on each large number and laid them down to cover the entire number. Using scissors, I trimmed off the edges and then used Mod Poge glue, foll...

Easy holiday dessert…shakes at Ruby's Shake Shack!  The other day I made my holiday baking time even easier by visiting our favorite dessert spot in Orange County, Ruby's Shake Shack in Newport Coast's Crystal Cove . Not only can you order a great lunch with a beautiful view, you can choose from over a dozen flavor combinations of famous Ruby's shakes. My son is a shake aficionado and says these are the best!

@frostmebeautiful "Frost Me Beautiful" Cookies I just had to share these creative works of "cookie art" made by Frost Me Beautiful ! These sweet treats are amazing and can be the centerpiece for any event. I ordered these for a cocktail party and it will be hard to part with them.

My Greek grandfather, Papouli, ran a small produce truck in Hollywood in the 1940's and 50's. He was a professional at choosing fruits and vegetables and told me the best place to get certain "exotic" foods was Frisco. That's right, not San Francisco, but just "Frisco." Busy Brunette Bakerista - Tasting Tour of "Frisco" @bbbakerista I started my tour this week with two of my favorite eating spots in the city. Z. Cioccolato in North Beach. My daughter is a fudge expert and nearly passed out at the deliciousness of each flavor. #ineedamoment I highly recommend the cookies-and-cream, and peanut butter flavors. The cute employees behind the counter also give you free popcorn with every purchase! Its' worth your spending money. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in old Chinatown is hidden down a small alley with little signage and even smaller door. The freshest and lightest fortune cookies you will ever taste! I always b...

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