Oreos

I was something of an Oreo hound in my teenage years. At my best friend Mia's house there was always a large plastic tub filled with them that I exclusively commandeered every time I went over. Once, when Mia's mom found it necessary to ground me, my punishment was, among other things, no more Oreos. The horror!

World Peace Cookies

 "But Bailey," I hear you cry, "Why on Earth are there only two cookies in these pictures?" Well, friends, it's because these cookies were gobbled down in the blink of an eye. I was in the shower when Piper came home, found these in the cookie jar, and ate one. I was able to hear her un-printable exclamation over the sound of the shower. They're that good. Dorie Greenspan, who I'm starting to imagine (in a totally non-creepy way) as my fairy baking godmother, jokes that these cookies are called World Peace Cookies because if everyone in the world had one war would be a thing of the past. She may have been joking, but I think she's on to something.

Toffee Crunch Bars

As Piper so eloquently put it, these cookies are a "taste adventure." Don't be fooled by their rather uninspiring looks. These pack a wallop of flavors--there's espresso, almond, chocolate and more than their fair share of delicious rich buttery goodness. There's no actual toffee in the cookie, but something about the interplay of the coffee and the almond...ahh. I had originally made these for dessert, and kept noticing the way my family members kept casually nipping through the kitchen to grab another cookie.

Chocolate Macarons with Orange Chocolate Ganache

I give you the macaron: though it be but small, it is fierce. This is my second-ever attempt at making macarons, largely because the first time I attempted it I was still young and impressionable and I figure now I'm nice and mature and will follow the directions like a good baker and everything will come out perfectly. And though these little guys are far from perfect, they're just so darn cute you can't help but love them.

Cocoa Nib Cookies

Do you sometimes get the urge to bake? Do your urges list towards an intense hit of chocolate straight to the noggin? Look no further, dear reader, for I have the cookie for you. Light on the sweet, heavy on the chocolate; a tall glass of tall milk is an essential ingredient.

Intense Chocolate Mini-Cakes with Rum Buttercream

If you're going to go Valentine's, go decadent. That's the current motto under which I'm operating, especially after today's preparatory trip to Whole Foods (gulp).

Road to the Superbowl, Day One

For me, the Superbowl is less about the hormonally imbalanced man-boys working out their childhood aggression. Nope, hard as it is to believe, it's all about the food. Normally if I'm within range of a television on the big day there'll at least be some ceremonial chunky salsa munching. But if there's a full-on game day party with my UT cohort? That's an excuse to go a little crazy. This year, crazy is taking the shape of Nick Malgieri's "Intensely Moist" Chocolate Cupcakes and a big batch of Pok Pok wings. Wings are tomorrow. Today is all about the cupcake.