Anise Espresso Fudge

 

Now that it is a little bit cooler out, chocolate-dipped candies are back on the menu!  I made this fudge for Rick's retirement party last spring along with the Aztec Hot Chocolate Patties.  The fudge was inspired by a candy bar that Rick enjoys.  If you're a fan of anise, you'll definitely be a fan of this fudge!
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Vanilla Concord Grape Popsicles

Is there anything that says summer like a nice grapey popsicle eaten on the back step in the shade?  A few weeks ago, that is exactly what my parents, nephews, and I were doing.  We wrapped the boys up in clean kitchen towels so they wouldn't stain their clothes and had these popsicles for dessert after lunch.  The boys really enjoyed them and their chorus of "Mmmmmm, Aunt Julie. These are really good!" made my heart melt.
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Vanilla Simple Syrup

So simple.  So tasty. 
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Lemon Poppy Seed Squares

Lemon and poppy seeds are so perfect together.  These bars are easy to make and are buttery and refreshing.  I think you’ll like them.  Enjoy your holiday weekend!

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Chocolate Cinnamon Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

Yesterday, I had a completely new experience: a random guy biked past me and told me I could draft off his bike.  Perhaps I was going pathetically slow, or maybe he was just being nice.  I’m going to go with nice because in my mind I’m practically velodrome material.  If you’ve ever drafted off of someone, you already know that it makes the ride significantly easier.  I ended up going faster than I’ve probably ever gone on that stretch of the trail with what felt like minimal effort.  It was exhilarating.  If I knew who that guy was, I would say thanks by giving him a piece of this cake.
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Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (with Rye Flour!)

I'm going to be straight with you here:  Scott and I recently "cleansed" for 19 days.  We were supposed to do it for 21 days, but by the time we reached 19 days, we decided to call it quits.  On day 19, reason set in, and we had a little conversation about whether or not those last two days mattered and decided that they didn't.  There are only so many days a person can take of vegetables and shakes.  Do you know how many hours you have to spend eating just to get enough calories if vegetables are pretty much all that you are eating?  We barely had time for anything else!  Despite its difficulties, the cleanse was an enjoyable experience.  I felt amazing while we were on it, slept better than I have slept in years, and got to eat some amazing veggie dishes that Scott created for us.  It's just that I was ready to eat more than vegetables and be back in my apron, playing with flour. 
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Cardamom Zucchini Muffins

When I was little, our backyard was one giant hill that sloped down away from the house and was covered with yellow with cheery dandelions in the spring and perfect for sledding the few times that we got snow in the winter.  My mother kept a garden at the far right corner of the backyard, at the spot where the hill began to level out a bit.  She always grew tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers, along with a smattering of other vegetables.  The zucchinis always seemed to be prolific, and we spent our summers eating them in every way possible.

At some point, we would head off for vacation, and one of the neighbors would kindly tend the garden in our absence.  We were on one of those vacations when a zucchini went off the grid. 
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