Last month was my 50th birthday and my husband continued his tradition of baking a cake of my choice for me. This carrot cake was this year's pick. It was incredible. I flagged the page in my King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion Cookbook for the recipe. This is my favorite Carrot Cake recipe. It's dense … Continue reading Carrot Cake: No Matter What
The weather here in Tennessee is erratic- one day hot and muggy, another day rainy and stormy, then a chilly day, and more than likely a week later it's mild and lovely. It's hard to keep up. At my home, we check the weather channel & step outside to determine what to wear...and then dress … Continue reading Lovely Lemon Cake- A Dessert for All Seasons
Lucy got her braces off and we celebrated with corn on the cob (Elote style) and caramel apples- two foods that aren’t possible with braces! I wanted to make real caramel rather than store bought, but I always struggle with getting it to stay on the apples. Braces Off Day! Elote! I wanted to spend time … Continue reading Caramel Apples- Autumn is Near & Braces Are Off!
When I was a kid we would sometimes make Fruit Pizza, which was basically a "crust" made out of a tube of Pillsbury sugar cookie dough rolled into a round pizza pan, topped with "sauce" made out of a sweetened cream cheese mixture, topped with cut fruit. It was fun and pretty and yummy. The … Continue reading Fruit Pizza Cookies
There is nothing like food, in my opinion, to transport you to another place. Whether it is a food memory from a place I've been that lodges so deeply in my mind, or whether it is a food that is shared locally by a person from a far off land as an introduction to their … Continue reading Eton Mess: A Recent Introduction to an English Classic
I don’t understand TikTok. It entered my life a couple of years ago through my niece and daughter setting up their phones in random spots (in the kitchen, in the target aisle, in the park) to video record dance sequences and lip sync. They would do said dance moves while at the dinner table, while … Continue reading TikTok Cooking Inspiration: Chocolate Krinkle Cookies
This cake is a great one. It is simple and versatile; special yet easy. It's an Olive Oil Cake from the Italian restaurant, Maialino in New York City. (Though I have never experienced this firsthand.) A couple of summers ago my friend Carly brought this incredibly moist, citrus-infused cake to book club. She served it … Continue reading Italian Citrus Cake (A.K.A Maialino’s Olive Oil Cake)
About 23 years ago I went on a day trip with my team from the non-profit organization where I worked. We went whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River in North Carolina. I'm not a thrill-seeker by nature, but rafting with a group of friends/coworkers is something I'm in for. In fact, I would join most … Continue reading Cool Jules: A Food Memory I Can’t Shake
MLK Holiday is one I have cherished for years. Each January our family seeks to honor MLK Day in some way- reading a speech aloud, watching footage of Dr. King, baking a birthday goodie representing varying shades of skin tones, etc. We seek to somehow raise our awareness and honor the good work that he … Continue reading Honoring MLK Day & the Fight for Racial Justice (with Resources and Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies)
Since the very start of quarantine, loaves have been a dominant theme of my baking. One day, after repeatedly making this newfound Earl Grey Yogurt Loaf Cake, and tweaking a Banana Bran Bread recipe, and baking many many versions of artisan crusty bread, and my favorite cinnamon raisin bread, one of my kids said, "Wow, … Continue reading Lots of Loaves (#1 Must-Make Loaf: Earl Grey Yogurt Cake)
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