Banana Upside-down Cake

Look at those caramel covered bananas. I can't even begin to describe how scrumptious this cake smells, let alone tastes. But before I get into this amazing and easy recipe, let me ask you something: have you had a chance to visit my other blog, Reading and Recipes? I'm actually a co-blogger with my dad (Hi, Dad!). As the "Welcome" page explains, we are both very passionate people who have fun doing projects together. This is our first formal project in which we each take our special talents and put them together--he enjoys writing and loves sharing his work even more, while I enjoy baking and sharing delicious recipes with you. If you have a free second, swing by and pay our blog a visit.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies {Small Batch}

Is there anything better than a perfect chocolate chip cookie? I know there are plenty of extravagent desserts made with the most spectacular ingredients, but who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies? It's a universal dessert that pleases just about every taste bud out there. And what makes a perfect chocolate chip cookie? Crumbly and thin? No thanks. Lacking flavor or texture? Gross. Chewy, thick, melt-in-your mouth delicious? Yes, please! These cookies fit that description to a T.

Fudgey Brownies

You know those days when your brain is telling you to eat fresh, wholesome foods, but your taste buds and stomach are telling you buy a roll of cookie dough, take a spoon to it, and call it dinner? Yeah, I have those days a lot. I'm going to blame my genetics since I come from a family of sweet eaters. Give us a choice between salty or sweet and we'll choose sweet just about every time.

Mini Pineapple Upside-down Cakes

Who doesn't love a little surprise every now and again? If you are anything like me then you love surprises, but only if you don't know about them. If I know there is a surprise coming, I will bug everyone in sight until I can get a hint about the surprise so that I can try and figure it out. After a few surprises and my obnoxious attempts to get hints, my friends and family have learned not to surprise me, or to keep it just that-a surprise.

Southern Banana Pudding

I don't know why I've waited so long to post this recipe. Banana pudding is one of my all time favorite desserts. It might be because I'm from North Carolina and banana pudding is the dessert of the south (in my humble opinion). But it also might be because the combination of creamy vanilla pudding, sweet sliced bananas, and chewy vanilla wafers is nearly impossible to beat. Not to mention how simple this recipe is to make. Stick around for a bit and I'll explain.

Easy Brown Sugar Cherry Pie

Summer is finally here! Not only are the scorching temperatures in D.C. screaming summer, but the fresh produce in my grocery store also lets me know that winter is long gone and summer is here to stay. I must admit that I did a little happy dance when I saw fresh blueberries on sale at my grocery store. Blueberries are my all time favorite food. I could survive off of blueberries if I had to; so, naturally, I bought four pints. I might just turn into one gigantic blueberry, and I'd be totally fine with it.

XXL Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Is there any better combination than chocolate and peanut butter? I certainly can't think of one. Mint and chocolate is a close second, and so is the fantastic trio of marshmallow fluff, graham crackers, and milk chocolate; but I honestly don't think I'd pick any of those over the devine chocolate/peanut butter duo. There is a reason that Reese Peanut Butter Cups are one of the top three most sold candies in America, according to NBC news. Everyone loves chocolate and peanut butter together; we might as well just consider it a fact.

Chewy Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

I love finding new ways to make a delicious recipe even more scrumptious. I'm always up for the challenge of taking a "perfect" recipe and kicking it up a notch, as Emeril would say. One recent example of my mad scientist experiments is with the traditional oatmeal raisin cookie. I am a huge sucker for oatmeal raisin cookies. A lot of people turn their heads at the chewy, hearty, sweet cookies, but I'm the girl grabbing my share and everyone else's. You don't like oatmeal raisin cookies? Great, more for me!

Apple Crisp for One

I present to you one of the easiest, quickest, single serving dessert recipes I've made to date. Not to mention that this dessert can be considered "healthy" since it has fresh fruit in it. Well, that might be a stretch since it is topped with fabulously sweet and crunchy streusel, but just work with me.

Mini Cheesecakes

I'm all about mini foods lately, especially dessert recipes for one or two people. There is something so aethetically pleasing about miniature desserts. They just look better and somehow taste better. I always want ten more mini cupcakes or mini cookies, but am usually all set after eating one cupcake. Is it a mental thing? Or are mini desserts just that irresistable?

Whiteout Cupcakes

Hi. It's me, Elaine. The blogger behind Cooking to Perfection. It's been a while, hasn't it? Will an easy, simple recipe that makes two beautiful, tasty cupcakes make up for my lack of posts lately? I sure hope so.

Lemon Bars

Spring has sprung! Well, actually, in D.C. it is more like summer has sprung. This weekend is a little cooler compared to the 90 degree days we had earlier this week; so, for the sake of the current weather conditions and this post, we'll stick to spring.

Triple Chocolate Cookie for One

Is there anything better than a dessert made for one? Take a cupcake, for example. That cupcake is all yours. Every cake crumb and gram of frosting has your name, and your name only, written all over it. No need to feel guilty about hogging the cupcake because it is a single serving made just for you. If you catch someone eying your scrumptious (insert your favorite cake here) cupcake, you can kindly point them in the direction of the cupcake stand and continue to enjoy your special cupcake. Slightly possessive? When it comes to sweets, I completely support hyper possessiveness.

Italian Cream Cake

Happy (belated) Easter everyone! I was hoping to get this post up on Sunday; however, March Madness and the Duke game on Sunday coupled with computer issues yesterday delayed me from posting this fantastic recipe until today. My most sincere apologies for putting off this post as long as I have-once you try this cake, you will understand why I feel so bad for keeping it from you.

S'morewich

Are you sitting down? Chances are yes if you are reading this on a computer or laptop. If you are browsing my blog on your phone, then go ahead and take a seat. I have some pretty big news: I think I might have invented the new and improved peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Well, to be totally honest, I think anything is an improvement over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Please tell me I'm not the only one. I've never particularly enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In fact, when I was younger I always asked my dad to hold the jelly and just give me extra peanut butter. I was a pb fan from my earliest days. When I felt the need for an extra sugar rush, I always added a few scoops of marshmallow fluff to my peanut butter sandwiches. This treat, which is known as a fluffernutter sandwich, is still one of my favorite comfort foods.

Brown Butter Oatmeal Scotchies Muffins

Browning butter is very much the "in" thing for bloggers and foodies to do. Everywhere I look, I'm seeing blog posts and recipes that call for brown butter. It's hard to argue why it is such a popular ingredient because it makes cookies/cake/muffins/treats taste ten times better than regular butter does. Since I do consider myself a foodie, I figure it's only appropriate for me to jump on the bandwagon; what better way to start than with these muffins?

Cream Cheese Swirl Guinness Brownies

Let's talk about beer for a second. Beer, a lot like wine, has been an acquired taste for me. When I first started drinking, I could not stand the smell or taste of beer. Even the lightest beers made me turn the other way and ask for every high schooler's new drinker's go-to: Mike's Hard Lemonade. Now I think about Mike's Hard Lemonade and gag. Funny how things change. Even to this day, I'm still learning to appreciate different beers. I no longer squinch my nose when I try a new beer, but I still have a long way to go to fully appreciating beer, especially darker beers. Now you might be wondering why I decided to make Guinness brownies. If you are anything like me and haven't developed a taste for Guinness, don't worry; these brownies are amazing despite the strong, dark beer in them.

Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding

Who's ready for spring? I know this girl is. I made a quick trip to North Carolina this past weekend and it snowed. Snow in North Carolina! Are we serious? Bring on March 20th, blooming flowers, baby birds, and warm weather, please and thank you.

Boston Cream Pie

Birthdays are pretty cool. Favors, fun, friends, family, and fabulously, fantastic food. (I like alliteration...could ya tell?) I love baking desserts for my friends and family any time of day or year, but I especially love going above and beyond for their birthdays. I usually ask for requests from the special person; otherwise, it's up to me and my creative mind!

Oatmeal Cream Pies

Growing up, Little Debbie's Oatmeal Creme Pies were one of my favorite treats. My parents rarely bought a lot of sweets from the grocery store because they wanted to feed me healthy and nutritious foods. When I was younger, I thought I was being deprived of what all children should be allowed to eat-there isn't anything wrong with Lucky Charms, Twinkies, and gallons of soda! Now I thank my parents as often as I can for instilling good eating habits in me. However, when I was younger I just pouted. But on the days that I opened my Barbie lunch box decorated with tons of stickers to find a Little Debbie's Oatmeal Creme Pie, my little first grader heart would be filled with happiness. Then I would proceed to gobble it up in 2.5 seconds. It's the little things.