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I signed up to be one of Cooks Illustrated's recipe testers. This recipe came to me a few months ago by email from them and I was eager to try it out. The end product is a chunky, crunchy, not-too-sweet granola with lots of goodies in it. What makes it so great is that unlike other granola recipes, you don't have to rotate the pan and toss the granola every few minutes in the oven. This is WAY eas
This copycat cheesecake takes inspiration from the childhood favorite ice cream flavor. I love how it looks decorated with Oreos on top. It's fun, festive and delicious. My family loves cheesecake, so I'm always experimenting with different kinds. This one was not too sweet or rich, but delicious all the same. As with all cheesecake recipes, it is best to start with all ingredients at room tempera
Two of the very yummiest baked goods are cinnamon rolls and banana bread. When you combine them into Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls, they become total awesomeness! Finish them off with cream cheese frosting and you've got some pretty amazing buns!These rolls have pureed bananas mixed right into the dough. A great recipe to keep on hand for those overripe bananas, especially now that the weather is ge
This bread is as much fun to make as it is to eat. Kids love to help wrap the dough around the cubes of cheese and dip the pieces in butter before dropping them in the baking pan. Once baked, the bread can be sliced for sandwiches (as shown in the picture) or pulled apart, bubble bread style. As a prettier alternative, you could use a bundt pan instead of two loaf pans. The recipe called for froze
Quiche is one of those foods that appears more difficult to make than it is. I can't believe when you go to a café and they charge $5 for a slice when it is so darn easy to make! My husband thought he was a quiche-hater until he tried one of these quiches. This recipe is so versatile and can easily be suited for anything from an easy lunch to Christmas morning breakfast to an elegant tea time tre
I am officially a married woman as of December 1, 2012!!! The wedding went beautifully and it was everything I had ever wanted in a wedding. Despite it being in December and having the forecast say 90% chance of rain, the clouds parted and the sun shone through just in time for our photos and our ceremony. Now that the stress of wedding preparations is behind us, I will have more time to devote ba
After a wonderfully warm September on the west coast, the rainy season has finally set in. Last weekend standing out in the rain watching my son's soccer practice was a definite reminder that yes, fall is indeed here! If I had to pick one flavor to represent this season, it would be cinnamon. I made these cookies a few weeks ago, using handpicked apples from Washington State! They were the cutest
I love Asian style breads. They are so soft and fluffy with a hint of sweetness. I also like the perfect square shape of the loaves which are often baked in Pullman Loaf Tins. However, I don't have one of those, so I bake mine in a regular loaf pan. This is a super easy recipe with wonderful results. There are other more complex recipes that look like they produce great breads using the Tang Zhong
Why I love this recipe: It's made with Raisin Bran cereal. The kind you buy when you start a new healthy eating food kick, then end up forgetting in the back of your cupboard a week later. You can save leftover batter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week and the muffins taste even better after the batter has sat overnight! You have the option of making fresh muffins any mo
TGIF!!! I am off work in precisely 36 minutes and will be heading to Washington to visit my wonderful hubby to be this weekend. We are meeting with a potential caterer to discuss our wedding menu and maybe look at some centerpiece ideas. I'm usually a very organized person but when it comes to wedding planning, I'm lost! I'll have to rely on my little sister's help over the next few months.Let's t
I am such a sucker for breadsticks. What can I say, I love carbs! These twisty garlic breadsticks are wonderful when served with a side of hot pizza sauce for dipping. Mmmm... Heavenly! They are soft, buttery, cheesy and garlicky. I might even like these better than pizza!Twisty Garlic BreadsticksMakes 12-16 | adapted from Our Best Bites1 1/2 cups warm water1 tablespoon sugar1 tablespoon yeast1/2
I love this! Great for a birthday party or porluck. It is usually done with orange flavored gelatin powder but it is so much more fun to mix up the flavors for a fun rainbow of colors. If you have kids, they could easily help.Jell-O Orange Wedgesidea from Pinterest8-9 medium oranges 4 (85 g) boxes fruit flavored gelatin powder (various flavors)2 1/2 cups boiling water 1. Slice the fruit cleanly in
This recipe is my go-to for homemade Mac n Cheese. It is so easy, so fast and my son's absolute favorite. It's his job to shred the cheese while I'm making the sauce. This recipe comes from the 1946 edition of "Fannie Farmer's Boston Cooking School Cookbook". With time on it's side - this recipe is hands down the best for traditional, homemade baked macaroni & cheese - comfort food. Fannie Farmer
Only 5.5 months until the wedding! I miss blogging and the wonderful community of foodies I've found online, but sadly I have not been able to post very much lately because I've been so busy planning and organizing. I've still been baking, but the photos I've taken of the baked goods have not made it from my camera to my computer nor to this blog yet. Thanks to you all for continuing to follow me
In keeping with my very busy schedule, I now present to you another super-quick and easy recipe:Cake Mix Cookies!What could be cuter than pink cookies? These are made with a strawberry cake mix, but you can use any cake mix and add food coloring if you like. I also added white chocolate chips, which really made these cookies stand out. For the best taste, I usually go for butter flavored or yellow
I am so sorry I haven't updated for almost a month! Life has been going way too fast for me. It's MAY already! Exactly 7 months until the wedding and I feel like there is so much stuff left to do. Mainly the details like the menu and the invitations and centerpieces and flowers. Just the kinds of things I do NOT like doing. I'm more of a big picture kind of girl. When it comes down to the details
In his attempt to eat more healthfully, my dear fiance bought a big bag of pears from Costco. I commend him for his effort but 2 weeks later the bag was still over 1/2 full and the pears were rapidly ripening. I started searching for a recipe to use up the delicious pears and came across this easy, pretty pear tart.I love the simplicity of the rustic style. No pie plates needed. No crimping of the
Exactly 1 year ago today my life changed. On March 31, 2011 I walked into the bank to apply for a Visa card and unexpectedly met my future husband. He was the personal banker helping me with my Visa application. I knew right away - sitting across from him at the desk - that there was something special between us. That day I got so much more than I ever could have imagined. He is now my fiancé and
March 6, 2012 was OREO's 100th Birthday!!! I actually made these for that day but forgot to post until now. Oops!Did you know that when Oreos were first launched in New York in 1912 there were 2 flavors: Original and Lemon Cream. They are made by Kraft Foods (USA) and the Christie Brand (Canada). Over the past 100 years they have experimented with many other flavors including Strawberry Milkshake
I wasn't surprised when I was asked by several people for the recipe for this cake after I brought it to work. This is one of my favorite apple cakes! The recipe uses a generous amount of apples, making this cake incredibly moist and a good keeper. I love the slightly chewy, dark golden brown crust. Baked in a tube pan, it stands statuesque and proud.Do not substitute a Bundt pan! This is not a ca
You might be able to see from the photo that these scones were very flaky with many many layers. They seemed like a cross between a scone and a croissant. I skipped the glaze on these and they were still fantastic. However, for the real Starbucks experience, go for the glaze.Starbucks also sells a mini version of these. If you want to make those, divide the dough into thirds before rolling out and
These pretty little pretzel kisses are so easy to make and so yummy. The pretzels have just enough salt in them to make these pop. I especially like the ones made with the white chocolate "Hugs". I think they look so adorable with their stark stripes.What I like best about this recipe is that it can be customized for any occasion with the color of M&M's you use. Pink, red and white for Valentine's
So lemony and so tangy. You could serve this loaf without any frosting and it would still be delicious, but take my word for it - it is to die for when topped with cream cheese frosting.The frosting recipe below is the best cream cheese frosting recipe I have ever tried. It has the perfect ratio of cream cheese to sugar and complements the tartness of the loaf. There is definitely no skimping on c
The last weekend was so relaxing. We spent it at my future parents in law's place discussing wedding themes, colors and centerpieces. It was a lot of fun looking at wedding blogs and on pinterest. I also feel a lot better now having made some decisions about what direction we want to go with decorations.Ok, now let's talk about these yummy bars! Sweetened condensed milk is an amazing and vesatile
Maybe it's because I'm Canadian... but when I'm looking for a comforting treat to bake, I often reach for the bottle of maple syrup in the pantry. It adds a lovely depth to any baked good, even if the maple flavor is not front and centre. Maple brings out the warmth in any cake or muffin. However, in these muffins, Maple is the star.Sour Cream Maple-Walnut MuffinsMakes 12 small | adapted from food
Today my little darling is 5 years old! He is really into hockey - like a true Canuck - and is taking skating and hockey lessons at our community centre. It is beyond cute to see him in all those layers of hockey equipment.He wanted a hockey party but a lot of the kids at this age don't know how to skate yet, so we settled on a swimming party instead with a hockey-themed cake. In the party room we
Fat Witch Bakery is in the lovely Chelsea Market in New York City. I have previously mentioned how wonderful that trip was with my then boyfriend, now fiance. It was on that vacation that we knew we were meant to be. Through the overwhelming humidity and frustration of navigating the subway system, we grew closer and learned to laugh at ourselves and enjoy the time together even when we got lost f
Yes, I'm a tree hugger. Yes, I'm that person who always reminds others to recycle. I'm a pack-rat at times, hoarding things that I could possibly use for some other purpose in the future. I load scrap paper in the printer so that I can print on the back side of page. My fiancé sent me this link last week. I loved the idea so much that I had to share it here.It is a lot like the Copco gadget that y
Some flavors are meant to be together. Peanut butter & grape jelly, maple & walnut, and here, raspberries & almonds. What are your favorite flavor pairings?This coffee cake is elegant and easy. It starts off with your basic sour cream coffee cake with a layer of jam and a tangy cream cheese filling. Then it gets topped off with an almond crumb topping. The jam and cream cheese remind me of the Dan
Happy Valentine's Day!!! I feel incredibly loved today. I curled up under a comfy blanket on the couch and watched the Magic Schoolbus with my son this morning before sending him to preschool. Later tonight I am seeing my wonderful fiancé! A nice treat since he lives across the border and we only usually see each other on weekends. Wishing everyone a fantastic Valentine's Day! If nothing else it i
Here is yet another great recipe from Cook's Illustrated. Orange and cranberry flavors are natural partners, while the walnuts are outstanding little gems within the muffin. They were light and flavorful and smelled wonderful as they baked.Remember, if you’re short on time, you can melt the butter, mix it with the eggs, and stir it into the dry ingredients. When thoroughly mixed, beat in the yogur
Here are the famous clones for February 2012! Thanks for participating! If you have any copycat recipes you would like me to include next month, please email them to me.Lofthouse Sugar Cookies by "The Baker Chick" at www.the-baker-chick.comCPK's Kung Pao Spaghetti by Tia of www.buttercreambarbie.com Homemade Girl Scout Cookies by Michele of SomethingNewisCooking.blogspot.comCarraba's Champagne Chi
I love the familiar smell of cinnamon and sugar baking in the oven. Yum! These little twists are very similar to cinnamon buns but shaped into twists instead of rolls. They feature a sweet yeast dough covered generously with butter, sugar and cinnamon. 3 of my favorite ingredients!My boyfriend fiance sometimes works on Saturdays (I still have to get used to the word "fiance", lol). I made these fo
These look more difficult to make than they really are. The recipe was from Gourmet Magazine (December 1993). Oh, the 90's. They don't even seem that long ago but the recipe was printed almost 20 years ago! Wow, I sound old... reminiscing about days gone by and I'm only 27! They are a traditional recipe that was once known as "London Bars" although I'm not sure why.Not only are they easy to make,
"Petit Fours" literally means "Small Oven". French always makes everything sound fancier and prettier, doesn't it? These classy little cakes are traditionally eaten after a meal, served with coffee or tea. Please excuse the poor quality of the photos as they were taken with my Blackberry. I left my camera in a different purse that day.The version I'm posting here is a fun, kid-friendly one. It is
I've been sitting on a piece of news for a little while now because this is a baking blog and I don't usually talk about personal stuff here. BUT... I can't keep a secret any longer. I'm too excited and I want to share it with everyone. I am engaged!!! My fiance's last name is Baker. Couldn't be more perfect for a girl like me who has always been a baker at heart.I adore my amazingly sparkly solit
Have you ever noticed that Reese's PB Cups have a saltiness to them that harmonizes beautifully with the sweetness of the chocolate coating? I tried to copy that salty-sweet flavor in these cookies by using crushed pretzels. The dough surrounds chunks of milk chocolate in a giant cookie. These turned out to be 4-5" in diameter!To make them even more decadent and a little bit fancier I suggest dipp
One of my New Year’s resolutions this year is to do more cooking. I usually do a lot of baking and desserts and not a whole lot of cooking (thank God for fast food and pizza!). Here is my first step towards my resolution!On our first visit to California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) the first weekend of December, we ordered this delicious pasta dish and I have been meaning to try replicating it ever since.
I started this Copycat Club in 2010 because I love making restaurant recipes at home and wanted to find others who also enjoyed this. However, as life got busy, I stopped doing the round-ups. Here we are in 2012 and I'm going to try and get this started again. For more info, click on the link just below my banner. Basically, on the 7th day of each month I will post a collection of cloned/copycat r
This recipe is case in point for why I love old cookbooks and compilations from years gone by. I especially enjoyed this one, published after Conde Nast stopped publishing the magazine (so sad!) The Gourmet Cookie Book (The Single Best Recipe from Each Year 1941-2009).Other good compilations are:The Essential NY Times Cookbook- Classic Recipes for a New CenturyBaking Illustrated by Cooks Illustrat
Happy 2012!!! May this year bring you much happiness and good times in the kitchen challenging yourself to new recipes and techniques. I spent the day learning to snowboard. This is something I have wanted to do for over 5 years and today I finally did it! I think my arms, legs, butt, shoulders will be sore for the next few days. Judging by the way the year has started, it's going to be a good one
This is my last blog post of 2011! It's amazing how quickly time goes by. I remember starting this blog in 2009, not knowing that it would bring me such joy and friendships. One of the best parts about blogging is the sense of community: Women (and some men) connecting over a love of food and creating in the kitchen. 2011 held some important life events. I bought a condo, turned over a new leaf in
These brownies are the perfect embodiment of s'mores. A graham cracker crumb base is covered with a layer of brownie batter followed by another layer of graham crumbs then baked. Mini marshmallows get sprinkled on top and broiled then the whole thing gets sprinkled with a covering of chocolate chips. They look fantastic and taste even better. They are chewy, crispy and gooey all at the same time.M
It was Christmas Eve and my boyfriend and I we were in Fred Meyer picking up some stuff to make dinner when we decided to make some Almond Roca. He usually makes it with his mom, so he called her up and got the super easy recipe, picked up the ingredients and off we went. Note: This is his first time cooking for me and it was delicious!I have made toffee before and have vivid memories of it sticki
I just had to share this link to an article in the Washington Post featuring the Tuesdays with Dorie (TWD) group that I have been a part of since I first started blogging two years ago. It is sad to close the chapter and say goodbye to what has been a wonderful baking experience through the book "Baking" by Dorie Greenspan. Read the article here: TWD Comes to an End - Washington Post, December 26,
I hope everyone had a great Christmas filled with sugar and delicious baking. I am pretty sure everyone has either made these or eaten these cookies at some point in their lives. Easy, pretty and always welcome at any gathering. If you happen to be someone who has not tried one, NOW IS THE TIME! Especially since holiday chocolates are now 50% off everywhere. Buy yourself a bag of Reese's mini PB c
This is really and truly the best gingerbread cookie recipe you will find. You simply MUST try it. Go. Now. Bake gingerbread! I have used it for over 10 years and it is a no-fail every time. It gets rave reviews and my best friend asks me to make her a batch every year. If you are making a house with the dough, I recommend tripling the recipe so you have enough.The dough can be refrigerated for up
I am a lover of blueberries when when they are sandwiched between delicious buttery base and sweet crumbly topping like in this bar. Funny how I prefer banana bread to fresh bananas and that I love blueberries in pies and pastries but not so much when they are freshly picked.These bars taste like the Nutrigrain Bars you can get from the grocery store. They freeze well and are perfect for breakfast
There are two camps of people: vanilla people and chocolate people. I am most definitely a vanilla person. I prefer white chocolate over dark, angel food over devil's food cake, vanilla bean ice cream over double fudge and of course BLONDIES over brownies.I made these blondies for an office cookie exchange. I can't say enough how wonderful cookie exchanges are. You get a whole array of cookies for
For this week's TWD rewind, I made this bread because I had two overripe bananas in my freezer waiting to be turned into something delicious. (However, next time I will use 3 bananas or add some milk or yogurt because it wasn't quite as moist as I like it).I chose to do a marbled version of this chocolate banana bread because it's prettier and because I was skeptical of the cocoa-banana combo. Tur
