Mad About Maida

  Fruitcake Icebox Cookies (Source: Maida Heatter's Cookies (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 1997 ed.), pg. 173. When I first saw this, I thought it might be a dessert that Michael talks about from his childhood that he calls "Icebox Fruitcake". However, this is different as they are baked. Michael's mother dessert had a graham cracker crust and was not not baked. I had some fruit cake mix left over and I used it in place of the pineapple and cherries. The mix has cherries and most likely pineapple as well. The cookies have a sandy texture and remind me of shortbread cookies. The fruitcake flavor is very prominent and they are quite good.  I baked one half of the dough and frozen the remainder to make at a later date. I accidentally deleted my work photos for this post. I think that is the first time I've ever done that. The recipe is simple, however, and I don't think they add that much. 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar 8 oz. (2...

  Marmalade Gingerbread (Source: Maida Heatter's New Book of Great Desserts (Alfred A. Knopf, 1982. pg. 282. Also in Maida Heatter's Cakes   (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 2011 ed. , pg. 296). It is that time of year for gingerbread and here is a recipe that I'm trying for the first time. This one is unbelievably easy and the finished product is beautiful. It is light in flavor and I was thinking it needed something a boost. I thought about making whipped cream to accompany it and instead, came across a gingerbread cookie recipe by Alex Guarnaschelli with an orange-flavored icing. It was perfect for this and I've put the recipe at the end, totally optional of course. I forgot to adhere to Maida's advice and cover the cake with foil during the last few minutes of baking. Mine did burn a little around the edges. I used rum for this and instead of lemon zest, I used orange because I had run out of lemons. 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking...

  Lebkuchen (Source: Maida Heatter's New Book of Great Desserts (Alfred A. Knopf, 1982. pg. 310. Also in Maida Heatter's Cookies (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 1997 ed.), pg. 104. Apologies for the terrible job on glazing these cookies! In the recipe, Maida states that the glaze will turn clear but this didn't happen with me. Perhaps the cookies cooled too much before I could got the glaze on them. These cookies were not really hard to make but I did find the recipe a bit confusing. It is a different technique from any other of her recipes that I've tried. This is a 2-day job because they sit overnight before baking the next day. At first, I thought that she must mean that the cookies must chill overnight but no, they actually sit on the counter loosely covered with plastic wrap.   This is a very sticky dough and very difficult to work with. She recommended using a pastry cloth which I've never used nor own. I don't know if that would have made it any easi...