SMiLes by Meg

Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies

“Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies” is possibly one of the most unappetizing names for a cookie I have ever heard. They sound like the dessert that would go with a dinner of liver and onions served with prune juice.  But the name is very deceptive – they should in fact be called creamy butter cookies with a hint of cinnamon sprinkled with colorful sugar. But that also would not be a great name for a cookie. However, they would go wonderfully with just about anything – they are pretty basic in flavor such that they could easily complement a variety of desserts

Trail Mix Biscotti

So I’m kind of obsessed with trail mix.  If it’s got dried fruit and nuts, I’m in.  Add some chocolate covered anything and I can’t stay away.  And the king of all trail mixes is the orchard blend trail mix from BJ’s.  It’s almonds, pistachios, raisins, dried cherries, and dried cranberries.  Salty, chewy, crunchy – the whole package.  So before I came back down to New Jersey for the school year, I made sure to pick some up on a trip to BJ’s with my dad – two whole bags.  For two weeks, I was good.  I kept them closed

Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Full disclosure: I made these on the 3rd of July, not the 3rd of August.  But as I mentioned earlier, when you don’t have a staff room to drop the treats off in on Monday morning, you have to save some recipes for later if you want to save yourself from death by diabetic coma.

Coconut Scotchies

Last week, I was mean.  I only gave you half of the recipe to the treat I was making.  However, this week, I plan to make that up to you.  So, if you have not yet finished all of the chocolate ice cream (which I realize is unlikely, I barely had enough to use one day later, let alone a week), you can combine it with today’s cookie recipe to make some pretty unbelievable ice cream sandwiches.

Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Cookies

Do not despair, my loyal followers, I’m back.  I’m sorry for not giving you a sugar fix last weekend, but in all honesty I did try.  I had this whole grand plan in place.  I was going to post a picture like this:

Half Moon Cookies

About two hours ago my Dad called me.  He was upset because he had gone to our favorite bakery to get a half moon cookie, only to find they are closed on Sundays, causing him to settle for Dairy Queen instead.  Funny enough, as he called to tell me this, I was in the middle of frosting half moon cookies of my own.

Cup Cookies

So I have a special midweek treat for all of you – a guest post by two aspiring young bakers.  My twin cousins Teddy and Jack made cup cookies (which you can then put milk in, eliminating the need for dunking), and they want to tell you about it.  Enjoy!

Coconut Macaroon Nests

Happy Easter!  I know I usually post on Sundays, but with Easter being tomorrow, I figured I’d give you a last minute (and quick!) recipe to make in case you’re scrambling for something.  This is also the last post I get to do from the house I grew up in – my parents are moving out within the week, but I did get to come home for one last holiday with everyone.  So I’m feeling a little sentimental.

Ann’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

When my brother was in high school and I was in college, I used to get home for summer just in time to see his tennis season, which he always dominated.  And since I usually had a lot of time on my hands with him at school and my parents at work, I would bake things for the team for every match.  Now, Pete’s a freshman at University of Chicago, playing for the tennis team there and doing just as awesome if I’m to believe what I’ve been hearing.  So, to continue my theme of baking something for other people

Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Want to know what happens when you have 6 snow days in a month and a half?  You lose all track of time.  Literally.  This past weekend was supposed to be a long weekend from school for Presidents’ Day.  We were going to have Friday through Tuesday off.  However, we had 4 snow days in January/early February, so the school decided to take away 2 of those days (Friday and Tuesday) because we didn’t have enough days built into the end of the year.  So in honor of having school on Valentine’s Day after all, I decided to make heart-shaped