It’s been a little while since I’ve done any baking and after last week’s random snow storm, I just wanted to curl up inside and eat my weight in baked goods.. so here we are. I was actually inspired to make these after seeing a lemon blackberry scone recipe made with tea. I decided to make a muffin version instead and use one of my favorite tea flavors.. Vanilla Chai…. Keep Reading
I’ve been given the affectionate nickname of “Bread Head” by my boyfriend, Chris, because at any meal where there’s fresh baked bread I happily eat seconds, thirds, and fourths of JUST BREAD. As a kid I would even barter with classmates at school lunch to get extra dinner rolls. So after having a lifetime love of bread, I’ve realized just how easy (and how much tastier) it is to make… Keep Reading
I sometimes day dream about this fantasy day off where I can spend all day just making one delicious and visually stunning dessert.. particularly a pie. The reality is that my days off are so packed full/interrupted/sometimes non-existent, I have to really maximize my time and choose recipes that are going to be quick and easy for you to make too. I also have baked and blogged long enough to… Keep Reading
I haven’t attempted to grow any berries yet in my summer garden, but I think next year is the year because I want to make berry sorbets all summer long! The best part is that you have to freeze the berries anyway so you can make this long after the growing season has ended. I added in a basil syrup for a sweet herb flavor and it was the perfect… Keep Reading
I don’t really care if it’s a total cliche to do a carrot cake recipe around Easter because it’s a cliche delicious enough to keep perpetuating. Rather than stress about the perfectly formed cake or cupcake, then frosting, and decorating it, I chose to disassemble it into these easy to make dessert cups. A handful of bite size spiced carrot cake pieces topped with an airy whipped cream cheese frosting,… Keep Reading
Yesterday I shared how to make Simple Homemade Pumpkin Puree, so today I thought I would share a round up of some of my favorite recipes using pumpkin. Some of these posts are from my first year of blogging, which means cringe-worthy lighting, angles, and composition with the photos, but the recipe itself is something I wouldn’t change at all. They’re tried and true recipes that I use often, especially… Keep Reading
I used to dread the heat and humidity that comes with summer, but having a garden has made the sweltering season grow on me a bit. I’m able to produce a ton of fresh vegetables and herbs for my own consumption and to create new recipes with all season long. To highlight one of my favorite herbs I chose to make this Lemon and Lavender Bread that I thought would… Keep Reading
I’m not sure how I let this happen, but the last cupcake post I did was in December! That is just way too long to go without some scrumptious cupcakes in your life! For this batch I knew that I wanted something sweet and summery and I wanted to spike it with rum. If you guys truly know me then you know that last part was just kind of a… Keep Reading
Our spring was off to a really slow start, but now that everything is slowly budding and turning lovely shades of green I wanted to put together a roundup of some of my favorite spring-inspired recipes from the blog! First up are these scrumptious Spring Fruit and Basil Bruschetta appetizers. Toasted baguette slices, rich goat cheese, sweet fruits, and honey make for a delectable combination. Click here for the full… Keep Reading
I’m always mystified at the new coffee drink flavor combinations that they come up with and some that customers come up with… “I’d like a non-fat caramel macchiato unicorn blood crunch drizzle.. ” Or at least that’s what their orders sound like to me when I’m grumpy and uncaffeinated in the morning. To each their own, but about as crazy as I get is switching from a vanilla latte to… Keep Reading
As we finish out this last week of August and head into the cooler fall months, I wanted to end my summer recipes with one that pulls together some of my favorite seasonal ingredients. And since I’ve had a craving for something sweet I thought a cupcake would be perfect for the occasion! Now I know some people can’t get behind the idea of using lavender in cooking or baking,… Keep Reading
I’m going to begin by saying that Valentine’s Day is not really my favorite. I’d much rather celebrate Galentine’s Day or a Treat Yo Self Day (can you tell I still marathon Parks & Rec on a regular basis?), but I suppose I can get behind the whole chocolate and dessert splurging that comes along with the day. Since I rarely celebrate it I decided this year I would go… Keep Reading
Every December I have this day dream of spending an entire day listening to classic Christmas music, putting up the tree, and baking and decorating hundreds of Christmas cookies. REALITY CHECK: I don’t have that kind of time in my schedule right now! Instead I came up with a quick and easy alternative that doubles as a DIY gift for friends and family.. hot chocolate spoons! It took me 20… Keep Reading
When I initially made this Peppermint Crunch Popcorn Mix I was mildly concerned that I had made far too much and I realize now what a silly notion that was. I’ve been catching myself snacking on this stuff for breakfast, all throughout the day, after dinner, and well.. right now! It’s sweet, salty, crunchy, pepperminty, festive, and clearly just a wee bit addicting! It makes a huge batch which is… Keep Reading
I made my first attempt at a galette (a French dessert that is basically the lazy person’s pie) and it was delicious! A crunchy flaky crust filled with spiced apples and drizzled in decadent caramel sauce! I took one small bite to taste test it and then wolfed down the rest of the slice in seconds! Get the recipe for this Whole Wheat Country Apple Galette with Caramel Sauce over at Dream A… Keep Reading
I feel like I’ve made about 20 different variations of banana bread, but I just can’t help it! I feel terrible pitching bananas into the trash when they’ve gotten too ripe so I always wind up making bread and trying to put a new spin on it. This combination is probably my favorite so far! When I picked up a seasonal pack of Blue Moon and spotted the new Chai… Keep Reading
I’ve held off on doing too many pumpkin recipes this season because it seems like every drink, dish, or dessert right now is pumpkin spice something or other, but now it’s time to unleash the pumpkin amazingness! If I could name this something else I would call it Dangerous Decadence, because that’s exactly what it is! It begins with a fluffy spiced pumpkin base and crunchy pecans baked right into… Keep Reading
Beer bread and hard apple cider breads are among my favorite things to bake during fall, but I wanted to make some on-the-go versions. I adapted my cider bread recipe to create these muffins and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the result. They’re not too sweet, extremely fluffy, and you get fresh baked apples in every bite. An added bonus is that your entire house will smell of fresh… Keep Reading
In the past I was never a big fan of cornbread because I always found it a bit dry and flavorless, but after whipping up this version, I practically want it with every meal! Zesty green onion, a kick of heat from jalapeños, and cheddar cheese keeps this bread from being too dry. Baked in a bit of bacon grease in a cast iron skillet gives the bottom a crisp… Keep Reading
It’s the most wonderful time of year… National Rum Day! If you’ve been a reader for awhile, then you know I’ve got no shortage of rum recipes and cocktails for you to choose from, but I thought I would share a few of my favorites to spark your appetites and help you celebrate! Rum Spiked Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes A prime example of it never being too early to crack… Keep Reading
Portland has warmed up this week and I couldn’t be more grateful that I made this ice cream the other day! Crunchy toasted coconut, chocolate chips, and a blend of cream and coconut milk made this a simple and satisfying summer treat. And no ice cream maker required!
This Fourth of July, you’ll no doubt be invited to a picnic or get-together of some sort and asked to bring a side dish or dessert. Make things easy on yourself and keep it simple with White Chocolate and Sprinkle Covered Strawberries! No baking required, they can be made the night before, and you don’t have to be a pastry chef to decorate them!
Last week I found myself wide awake at 3am brainstorming recipes and blog ideas. It’s an infuriating curse at times, but some of my best ideas occur then. These summer-inspired cupcakes are one such product of my insomnia and sacrificing a bit of beauty sleep was completely worth it! Basil and lemon are some of my favorite ingredients to work with, but I was concerned about the flavors overpowering each… Keep Reading
I’ve never been a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, but I am a fan of the chocolate covered cherries and strawberries that seem to be in abundance this time of year! They sparked the idea to use an old recipe of mine for chocolate ale cupcakes, but this time I upped the chocolate factor by using a delicious chocolate porter from Three Creeks Brewing Co. The cake came out rich,… Keep Reading