I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I am not the biggest slow cooker fan. While I understand the convenience and comfort it gives to so many, I’m just always very underwhelmed by the results of most slow cooker dishes. There are a few exceptions to this, two of which involve apples and almost exactly the same method: Apple sauce (Haven’t made any this year but when I do I’ll snap some photos and post it here) and apple butter. Continue reading
These muffins are full of sugar, spice, and everything nice. Oh, and they’re stuffed with cream cheese! They are delicious anytime of year, but especially as the weather gets cool and we all start craving those nostalgic, warming spices. No mixer required for these babies either. Let’s make some! Continue reading
These Triple Berry Crème Fraîche Scones are pretty much my dream scone. Berries, vanilla, and butter are all things that make me swoon and these scones have them all. This recipe is a riff on my vanilla bean scones (linked below), which are a favorite around here. I make these a little thicker, and they are just so soft, tender, and bursting with a combo of sweet, juicy strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. The dough is scented with one of my favorite flavors: fresh vanilla bean. And with a nod to my French heritage, they are made just a bit more elegant with the addition of crème fraîche. These scones are the perfect treat for Mother’s Day or really for any breakfast or brunch that deserves an extra special touch. These would also make great shortcakes with some freshly whipped cream and berries sandwiched between. Maybe 4th of July? Oh man. And just like that, an idea for another post. Continue reading
Can you imagine winter without citrus? I can’t. Just the smell of an orange being peeled immediately transports me to my childhood Christmases. My love of winter citrus is firmly planted in my psyche undoubtedly because Santa always left oranges in our stockings, (thanks, Santa!). I think this used to be a bigger tradition than it is now, although I did have a chat with a super-friendly produce lady at Wegmans one day who said she also used to get oranges in her stocking. So maybe it wasn’t just my family? Anyway, I walked away from that conversation with a big box of satsuma oranges, still with their pretty green leaves attached. I’m a sucker for those seasonal beauties! And for Cara Cara’s, which are the star of this recipe for Cara Cara Orange Scones. Continue reading
If you’ve never swirled jam into muffin batter, what are you waiting for? You must do it. It’s about the easiest way to add fruity flavor all year long, especially in the dead of winter when it seems like there’s no such thing as fresh, in-season fruit. This recipe was born out of my desire to create a cardamom-scented muffin. It’s an intriguing, very unique spice and I had a jar sitting in my pantry begging to be used. Did you know cardamom is the world’s 3rd most expensive spice? Vanilla and saffron come in 1st and 2nd. Interesting little foodie fact. Anyway, blueberries were an obvious choice; Cardamom somehow makes blueberries taste more like blueberries, but a little goes a long way, so don’t be heavy-handed. I found 1/8 teaspoon to be just right. I wasn’t sure how my kids would feel about the spice, but judging by the way they wolfed these down, still warm from the oven, I’m thinking they approve. Give these Blueberry Cardamom Jam Muffins a try! Continue reading
We are on the 3rd day of polar vortex school cancellation and we’ve been busy. Busy making delicious things and staying warm, that is. On the 1st day we made homemade strawberry pop-tarts; They were so fun—more on that in another post. On the 2nd day (yesterday) we made these beautiful doughnuts. And today, the 3rd day, as I’m typing this at the kitchen island, my darling husband is making his beer crust pizza dough and his famous peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies. Sigh. Read on for the recipe for these pillowy, gorgeous Brioche beauties. Continue reading
I didn’t realize how great cinnamon rolls could be until I made these—or how easy. I think I’ve always liked cinnamon rolls, but I L.O.V.E these, and so does everyone else in the house. In fact, these cinnamon rolls were the cause of “The Great Cinnamon Roll Incident of 2018.” More on that later. With the irresistible flavors of brown butter, dark brown sugar, and vanilla echoing through the dough, filling, and frosting, I’m not sure how anyone could resist them. Just make them and you’ll see why these Frosted Brown Butter and Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Rolls have become a constant around here. Continue reading
Happy New Year to you all! I decided to start the new year off doing my favorite things: cooking, eating, and writing. It only seemed natural to use one of my favorite flavors and ingredients: vanilla bean. Sigh. I can’t get enough of the flavor and those gorgeous little flecks. They just make everything so special, including these Vanilla Bean Scones with a Vanilla Bean Glaze. Let’s make some. Continue reading
This is the first recipe I came up with after a recent peach-picking trip to Hollin Farms with my kids. On the drive home, my son was already devouring a peach, and I was already thinking of what I would make with the fuzzy beauties. I love making muffins, and my kids love eating them, so these Peach Muffins were a natural choice. Continue reading
I realize it’s not really the season for pumpkin recipes, but it’s kind of a dreary day and I felt like baking something. So, I started rustling around in my kitchen, looking for inspiration. Of course I had a single, over-ripe banana staring at me from my fruit bowl, and upon further investigation, I found a lonesome can of pumpkin purée lingering in my pantry. I decided to introduce the two, and this is what I came up with. Continue reading
