Classic Irish soda bread.

On St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll want a fat slice of classic Irish Soda Bread (toasted and buttered, if you like) to soak up all that beer.

The Clara Project: chocolate birthday cake.

This terrific recipe for chocolate birthday cake is dedicated to a couple of special guys, one of whom I’ve never met.

Awesome chocolate chip bar cookies.

This is my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, made into shortbread-like bars with a pop of salt. The cure for your winter blues.

Christmas Cookie-Palooza: Scandinavian almond bars.

A rich and flavorful bar cookie that’s perfect for Christmas cookie swaps: Scandinavian Almond Bars. This recipe dates back many years to Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

Christmas Cookie-Palooza: Spritz cookies.

The classic Spritz cookie is a Christmas tradition with German roots: the buttery dough is squeezed through a cookie press to make light, delicate, almond-y cookies.

Christmas Cookie-Palooza: chocolate-nut meringues.

I added a pop of dark chocolate to this old-fashioned recipe for nut meringue cookies, and love the combination of flavors and textures.

Christmas Cookie-Palooza: Pecan snowball cookies.

Here’s a classic Christmas cookie recipe: Pecan Snowballs (aka Mexican Wedding Cookies). They’re full-flavored but not too sweet, perfectly light and a welcome addition to a holiday cookie platter.