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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.
Julia M. Usher

Largely Undoctored Crab Salad

When seafood goes straight from the water to your local market – as it does on my island home-away-from-home in Stonington, Maine – resist the temptation to dress it up with fancy sauces or dips or lots of mayo and other gunk. Instead, let its essence of summer sing out loud and clear

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Julia M. Usher

Semisweet Modeling Chocolate

Recently I’ve heard some trepidation about modeling chocolate expressed within my circles on the internet. But, truly, there’s nothing to fear about this quick and easy two-ingredient recipe. Plus, it’s really tasty, much tastier than

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Julia M. Usher

White Modeling Chocolate

Hey, have you mastered semisweet modeling chocolate yet? If so, it’s time to advance to the white chocolate version. As yummy as the semisweet recipe is, it has its limitations – like it’s impossible to tint! So when I’m in need of a really tasty modeling medium and the flexibility to add color, I turn to

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Julia M. Usher

3-D Contoured Basket Cookies

Lovely for Easter, May Day, or Mother’s Day, these baskets are made from contoured cookie dough covered with frosting sheets. Simply swap out what’s tucked inside to adapt them to a particular holiday! To see the video version of this tutorial, click here.

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Julia M. Usher

My Favorite Italian Buttercream

Super creamy and not cloyingly sweet (like its American counterpart), my Italian Buttercream lets flavor shine over sugar, and is the best icing I’ve found for smoothly icing cakes. It’s also my go-to icing whenever I want

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Julia M. Usher

Holiday Party Crackers

If you hadn’t already gathered, I have a sweet spot for 3-D cookies that resemble things you never thought they could be – like these holiday cookie crackers filled with candies and special messages. I originally designed them for party

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Julia M. Usher

Nana’s Gingerbread Cake

Because I often spend the bulk of my work week decorating reaaally detailed cookies, I like to unwind when it comes to other baking, especially during the jam-packed holidays. This season, I did a quick version of my Nana’s Gingerbread Cake,

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Julia M. Usher

Clementine Cocktail

How did you ring in the New Year? I did it with hubby and a colorful clementine cocktail! The candied citrus rounds not only add a festive note (I love how they sparkle in the right light), but they can also do double-duty in other dishes. In the past, I’ve

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Julia M. Usher

Color Me Christmas

You might be dreaming of a white Christmas, but I prefer the traditional red and green – for decorating, that is! These colors cheer up even the dreariest of winter days; they’re naturally found in nature, which often means cheaper,

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Julia M. Usher

Stuff-able Stockings

Think out of the box – and off the plate! I love the element of surprise that comes from cookies presented in new and different ways, like these 3-D Christmas stockings filled with cookie lollipops, candies, and other treats. Inspiration

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Julia M. Usher

Santa-sational!

Create a sensation this Christmas with these easy-to-decorate Santa faces inspired by clip art of vintage images. All that’s required are the images (as a guide or to trace), edible marking pens, and some Royal Icing for simple borders and embellishments. Looking

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Julia M. Usher

Cranberry-Pomegranate Salsa

With all the turkey consumed between Thanksgiving and New Year, the world needs a condiment that breaks from the same old cranberry sauce-tradition! This recipe – a mildly hot, reasonably tart, crunchy-creamy blend – was born of a lucky experiment

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Julia M. Usher

Mulled Cider Sorbet

Who says mulled cider has to be hot? Here’s an icy, spicy-sweet version that makes a wonderful holiday pie topper or standalone amuse bouche

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Julia M. Usher

Pistachio-Cranberry Brittle

I miss my mother-in-law. I didn’t tell many of you, but she passed away this fall. If you’ve lost someone you love, you know: the holidays can be tough. They bring with them a strange mixed bag of emotions. There’s

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Julia M. Usher

A Cookie Coming-Out

Ka-ching! Ka-ching! Not familiar with that sound? Well then, you’re as lucky as a kid in a candy shop, because most of us can recognize the sound of the cash register tallying up party damages from miles away. There’s no

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Julia M. Usher

Pistachio (or Almond)-Rosewater Shortbread

When I’m at my island home-away-from-home where the über-fragrant Rugosa Rose grows with abandon on every roadside, I infuse the butter and sugar in this recipe with the real deal: the flower petals themselves. But, alas, not everyone is lucky

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