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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

Pancetta-Sage Mac ‘n Cheese

When asked by my editor at Sauce magazine to develop a soul-satisfying winter dish, I could think of nothing better than mac ‘n cheese. (No surprise, really. I’m a comfort food gal through and through, if you didn’t know already!)

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Julia M. Usher

Love Letters

When a box of Russell Stover’s no longer registers appreciative oohs and ahs, offer this Valentine’s project as a token of your undying love. It says something special, pun intended. What you’ll need for 1 box:(See accoutrements, second photo from

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Julia M. Usher

French Bistro Menu

Oh, there’s nothing better than a project that lets me share my treasures and keep them too! Last year, I rescued a stack of blank vintage bistro menus from a dusty corner of a nearby antiques store. Rather than write

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Julia M. Usher

Love Letters Redux

Another interpretation of cookie “love letters” – and a much more literal interpretation at that! The envelopes here are iced gingerbread cookies (yes, you heard me right!) and the carrying container is a dolled up papier mâché mailbox!What you’ll need

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Julia M. Usher

Cotton Candy Cupid Clouds

Put everyone in high spirits with these whimsical Valentine’s Day cotton candy displays. In addition to the candy, two other parts are edible! What you’ll need for 1 display: Cylindrical glass vase (choose a size that best fits your overall

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Julia M. Usher

An Affair of the Heart

We all have that certain someone for whom a box of chocolates doesn’t seem quite enough . . . that person who’s been there, done that, and seen it all! Am I right? . . . OK, now that we’ve

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Julia M. Usher

Bling in the New Year

Tick tock. Tick tock. Before you know it, this year will be a distant point in history. If you’re spinning your wheels on New Year’s resolutions or otherwise counting the passing of time, I urge you to stop. The few

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Julia M. Usher

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

If the flurry of malls and mass consumerism overwhelms you during the Christmas season, then do as I do and avoid the excess by delivering holiday cheer with handcrafted party invitations, favors, and gifts. Or go the extra distance and

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Julia M. Usher

Tricks & Treats

Come the first of October, bakers everywhere crank up the heat on their ovens, and a riotous waving of spatulas ensues! All in celebration of National Cookie Month, my favorite time of year! In the spirit of the season, I offer you this fanciful Halloween cookie fest

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Julia M. Usher

Potluck Picnic

Whether you’re still lounging around the pool sipping piña coladas or beginning to corral the kids for the start of the school year, one thing is certain: no one wants to spend the last days of summer toiling over an

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Julia M. Usher

Bridal Shower Breakthrough

Turning a bridal shower into a cookie swap is a sure winner. Trust me; in my seven years as a bakery owner, I saw thousands of weddings! Everyone’s a sucker for cookies – including the bride. After months of restraint to fit

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Julia M. Usher

Raspberry-Truffle Brownie Bars

From the Valentine’s Day chapter in Cookie Swap, this recipe is sure to have chocolate fans falling head over heels. In this triple-decker brownie, the season’s favorite aphrodisiac factors into three places: a buttery crumb crust, a dense chocolate-raspberry filling, and

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Schedule willing, I release a newsletter each month, roughly mid-month. In September, I’ll have sales running on two events (The Bake Fest and Cookie-A-Thon) as well as two stencil sales – one featuring Halloween items, and the other taking us further into fall. I look forward to connecting with you more personally!

Live sweetly, Julia