Sparkle Stories Blog

Do you like gingerbread cookies? Here's a handy, time-saving recipe for making small batch gingerbread cookies (by freezing the dough ahead of time!). This way, you can enjoy the yummy treats, just like Martin & Sylvia do in Day 6 of Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar, without having to brave the grand, sticky process.

A warm bowl of polenta—for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—is the coziest thing on a cold day. It's hearty and thick and even it's golden color gently whispers, “I'm warm!”

If there was a poster child for comfort food, it would be homemade macaroni and cheese. It's not fancy, but I think, for may of us, it harkens back to the same feelings Dante has in this story—comfort and safety and a loving parent taking care of us.

Made with just a few ingredients, and often fried over a campfire, these cornmeal Johnny Cakes were a staple for Civil War soldiers, particularly in the South. Inspired by the FIFTY story "Kansas: The Rivalry", here is a delicious recipe for making them at home!

Buccellati are a traditional Christmas cookie from Sicily. A made-from-scratch cousin of Fig Newtons, these cookies are filled with a paste of figs, nuts, and spices, then cut into interesting shapes to expose their jewel-like filling.

We've rounded up a few of our favorite Sparkle recipes that would be great for a Halloween party or treat for your loved ones this autumn.

Cut into star shapes, these chamomile shortbread cookies would be perfect for your next star watching party. Chamomile's relaxing properties always make me think of it as a nighttime herb, and the cheery, yellow flowers are summery, too.

Prepare yourself for a classic s'more with a holiday twist. I've subbed the traditional graham crackers for gingerbread cookies and the usual plain chocolate for seasonal peppermint bark. When the warm gingerbread spices and the cool peppermint chocolate combine with the marshmallows, it tastes like Christmas is exploding in your mouth.

My philosophy on summer picnics is very low-fuss—some cheese and lunchmeat in a cooler, a box of crackers, a tub of hummus, and plenty of cool fruits and veggies. That being said, though, even the simplest picnic benefits from a good dessert, and these little peach cobblers fit the bill perfectly.

There is nothing like a good hunk of chocolate chip banana bread for sharing with friends. It may not quite be “cake”, but it's close enough. Old friends, new friends, new friends who have now become old friends —I can't count the acquaintances we've made and rekindled with the help of this recipe.