Blondies Have More Fun

Blondies Have More Fun

Vanilla or chocolate? If I have to choose--most recently at the ice cream trucks tinkling through my ‘hood—I’m vanilla all the way. My affection for the bean began with Carvel soft-serve (shout out to my East Coasters!), grew with Nilla wafers, and was affirmed with Jell-o instant vanilla pudding after childhood meals. My teenage job torching crème brulées, and eating the rejects, at Chez Pierre sealed the deal.  

I’m so vanilla I used to wear it as perfume.

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Let Us Eat Cake

Let Us Eat Cake

Growing up, Ms. Crocker and Mr. Hines were VIP's - Very Important Packages - at our house.  Before Justin & Andy's schlong song, this is what you wanted in a box. These easy-bake cakes ensured every occasion had frosted treats.  No event was too small. Dance recital? Funfetti.  An A essay from D-minus Decker? German Chocolate.  My sister discovered that adding more oil than directed created exceptionally moist cakes; now a bake-from-scratch maven, it was her first glimmer of pastry prowess.

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