I was brainstorming cake ideas for an event and realized I’ve never had a banana cake! The idea of a lighter banana bread covered with fluffy, decadent buttercream frosting was an instant winner. I knew I had to make it…and add salted caramel for good measure. Banana dessert is actually a recently acquired taste for me. I… Read More Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
Salted caramel and I are good friends. I love it in pretty much every sugary sweet dessert. It’s my favorite ice cream flavor and topping. My favorite candy is sea salt caramel. And any combination of salted caramel and dark chocolate is a hit with me. You can imagine my excitement when I finally decided to make… Read More Easy Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
Last month, I hosted a wine & cheese night and ended up with copious amounts of leftover cheese and baguettes. Lucky me! I had one of those lightbulb moments and decided to make assorted mini grilled cheese sandwiches. Now baguette bread is not the ideal medium for grilled cheese as the irregular and large pores allow… Read More Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Summer is my favorite time at the farmers market. It’s the season of fresh berries and stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots). Lately though, something else has been catching my eye – the humble corn. I didn’t think much of corn growing up, but I have to credit Mr. A for helping me appreciate this plant. His… Read More Sweet Corn Salad with Tomato, Parsley, and Mint
After a long holiday weekend, I try a little harder to eat healthy. You know how that goes. The bloat from salty food, beer, and general indulgences gives you that extra push to eat “clean” for a bit. At least for a day or two, right? Okay maybe just breakfast. I truly believe breakfast is the most… Read More How to Make Perfect Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Sweet potatoes are a staple snack in Taiwan and many other Asian countries. During my trip to Taiwan last month, I was reminded of just how beloved this tuber was. I grabbed a roasted sweet potato at a 7-Eleven, and it was creamier and sweeter than any I’ve had in the US. The sweet potato is enjoyed as a… Read More Roasted Honey Butter Sweet Potatoes
I grew up eating mussels quite often. My dad didn’t make them fancy with broth and bread for dipping. We ate the mussels plainly steamed, enjoying the simplicity and purity of the flavor. It wasn’t until post college that I realized mussels in broth were even a thing, and my world instantly became better! I actually prefer eating bread… Read More Mussels in Lemongrass Coconut Broth
It’s been a trying week for me to say the least. I won’t go into details, but uncertainty throws me off. I’m a planner who craves structure and constants. When things get tough, I draw on the familiar to bring me up. Working out is one way, but lately my mind’s been so distracted that… Read More Pão de Queijo – Naturally Gluten Free Brazilian Cheese Puffs
Have you ever had something work out that seemed so statistically unlikely, it felt like destiny? This happened today with our wedding date. Last weekend, we gave up our desired day in May to a couple that challenged our soft hold, as we weren’t ready to commit to a deposit. Just a few days later, we… Read More Southern Skillet Cornbread – No sugar, no flour
This past weekend, we went scouting for wedding venues. It’s only been a few weeks since the engagement, but I wanted to move fast to secure a nice venue for this year. Apparently this wasn’t fast enough. The first venue I visited was THE venue – my magical forest wonderland. Unfortunately they were completely booked for… Read More Orange Bars aka Better Than Lemon Bars