Blog: Julia M. Usher

Need one of Julia’s foolproof recipes? Some stunning cookie decorating ideas? Or a quick fix on Julia’s latest news and events? Well then, you’re in the right place! Here, you can stay up-to-the-minute current on everything that’s happening in Julia’s kitchen and studio – and in that always-churning mind of hers! IMPORTANT: Julia is still formatting blog entries prior to 2021 to conform to the new site layout. Please don’t be surprised if some back entries look a little wacky, and please be patient as she edits them over time.
Step 1: Hold the Cone by the Notch When Filling
Julia M. Usher

Filling and Handling a Parchment Pastry Cone

So how do you use my favorite decorating tool once it’s made? Regardless of the decorating technique you choose, there are some basic cone handling instructions to always apply! Read on, and/or check out Lesson 4 in my cookie decorating video

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Julia M. Usher

Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise (aka Aioli)

My rendition of aioli, though very garlicky, isn’t as biting as some, since the roasting of the garlic bulbs mellows their inherent sharpness. It’s also as delicious atop meat (see my Red, White, and Blue Burgers) as it is mixed into

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Julia M. Usher

Rhubarb-Apple Chutney

I’m not proud to admit to this behavior, but I await the arrival of rhubarb like a spoiled child anticipating the reckless ripping open of presents on Christmas Day. Once I spot the season’s first stalks, my eyes widen, visions

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Julia M. Usher

Red, White, and Blue Burgers

Though perfect for your Memorial Day or Fourth of July fête, this burger is tasty all year ‘round – and colorful, too! The red refers to the roasted red peppers and sundried tomatoes mixed into the meat; the white to

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Julia M. Usher

Easy Ephemera Name Tags

Need some name tags or place cards, but hate your handwriting? Or tired of store-bought options and canned clip art, yet not the best artist? It’s all good – you can still craft beautiful tags using special fonts and ephemera

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Julia M. Usher

Campy Cookie-Cake Pops

More assembly instructions than detailed baking how-to, this interactive (read: get-your-hands-dirty) dessert is infinitely adaptable! The concept? Each party-goer gets his/her own personalized roasting fork to deck out to taste. Here, I give two options for topping the forks: a

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Julia M. Usher

Teatime with Where Women Cook

Even though I’ve been food-styling for publications for a few years, it’s not everyday that a national magazine emails to say they want to photograph me doing my cookie thing. Usually I’m hired to make someone else’s food or space look camera-ready.

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Julia M. Usher

Rubber-Stamped Springtime Cookies

I call rubber stamping my ultimate cheater technique, because it allows anyone – even those without God-given artistic talent – to create show-stopping cookies with very little work. Simply choose a lovely stamp and grab some soft-gel food coloring, and

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Julia M. Usher

Espresso Granita Parfait

I liken this dessert to tiramisu, but without all of the carbs. Sans the traditional ladyfingers and with the espresso turned into ice, its luscious layers are more “light” and summer-like. I originally wrote this recipe in 2006 for an

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Julia M. Usher

Celebrating the Everyday

OK, so this feature isn’t my usual special party, but it is a celebration in its own right – of the smaller things in life that we (or at least, I) too often take for granted. After a whirlwind winter

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Julia M. Usher

Baby Rattle Cookies

Ever since developing the projects for Ultimate Cookies, I’ve been smitten with the notion of 3-D cookies. (You’ll see everything from 3-D lizards and peacocks to handbags and other edible bling in my new book!) These treats are as tasty as

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Julia M. Usher

Holiday in a Hurry

My husband often questions my habit of collecting throughout the year. In fact, my last antiques mall-find elicited a frown and dismissive, “What is that @#%*$?!!” Granted, I rarely return from my foraging with anything of real monetary value or

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Julia M. Usher

Field of Dreams

Alfresco is one of my favorite ways to entertain. Late September into early October, after the summer swelter has passed, is usually the best time to do it here in Missouri. Fortunately, June was unseasonably cool when this farm-to-table dinner

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Julia M. Usher

Lavender Lemonade

Courtesy of my friends Deborah and Steve Nathe, owners of Winding Brook Estate, a 16-acre lavender farm in Eureka, Missouri, this recipe is one of their favorite ways to use farm-fresh (or dried) lavender in the dog days of summer

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Julia M. Usher

White Chocolate-Lavender Panna Cotta

A slightly more conservative, but equally tasty, spin on my orange-scented White Chocolate-Basil Panna Cotta! Yield: About five 1/2- to 3/4-cup servings Prep Talk: Either fresh or dried lavender buds will work just fine. Expect some trial and error to adjust the

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Julia M. Usher

Rugosa Rose Syrup

For some, summer in New England is marked by early morning wake-up calls from fishing boats revving up in the harbor for their day’s work. For others, it means lazy afternoons at the beach with warm sand between the toes, or sunsets that linger on the horizon. But for me, the sweetest of summer emblems is

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