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Za’atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts, Dates, and Thyme

November 3, 2018

I am a well-known lover of cauliflower, but even I was surprised by how fervently I fell in love with this recipe.  I tried it kind of on a whim, just to mix things up from my normal grill foil packet cauliflower (which is bomb, and I’ve made literally every night for like four months).

But I took one bite and said out loud (in a room by myself), “OH MY WORD THIS IS AMAZING!”  My cats looked at me weird.  Whatever, they’re totally missing out.

Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts, Dates, & Thyme | finding time for cooking blog

The flavor combo of this roasted cauliflower is crazy and intense.  It’s such a perfect blend of sweet, savory, crunchy, and earthy.  I would never have thought to pair really ANY of these together, but the result is absolutely sublime.

Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts, Dates, & Thyme | finding time for cooking blog

And you know what’s bonus??  It’s super easy too.  There’s very little hands-on time, and it can all come together in under half an hour—basically the time it takes for the cauliflower to roast.  It makes a perfect side dish alongside simple things like grilled or baked chicken, and I’ve even had it as a lighter vegetarian dinner as well.

Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts, Dates, & Thyme | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes, Side Dishes & Veggies, Super Healthy

Cherry Almond Scones

October 14, 2018

This recipe is…there are no words for how good these scones are.

No. Words. 

Cherry Almond Scones | These amazing, fragrant scones are perfect for breakfast or brunch, and super easy to make. Easy brunch recipes, best scone recipes! | finding time for cooking

I’m a noted lover of scones (as seen here, here, and here), and there are very few flavor combinations I love more than cherry and almond.  So as I was poring over various cherry recipes to use my plethora of fresh cherries (and awesome new cherry pitter), I came across this one and it immediately jumped to the top of the “must make” list.

Cherry Almond Scones | finding time for cooking blog

I made a few small tweaks to the original recipe, most notably cutting way back on the glaze.  I don’t think they need a ton, just enough to get a bit of extra sweet and a punch of almond flavor.  I’m well known for adding almond extract to EVERYTHING.

Cherry Almond Scones | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

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Absolutely Addictive Marinated Feta Cheese

October 4, 2018

Marinated feta where have you been all my life?!

That was basically what my brain was yelling the first time I made this.  It was meant to be just an ingredient in garlicky farfalle with marinated feta and arugula (now a fave of mine), but I pinched a little bite while I was cooking the pasta, and my mind was blown.

Easy, Amazing Marinated Feta Cheese | finding time for cooking blog

Since then I’ve made it on its own, either for tossing in a salad, for eating on crackers, or for just obsessively snacking on by itself.  The key to making it especially amazing is to use a really good block feta (not the pre-crumbled stuff).  Any block will do—and don’t go fat-free, bring on that fat—but I recently fell in love with the Pastures of Eden feta at Trader Joe’s (and wherever else you can find it).  Amazeballs.

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Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks, Foods I'm Obsessed With, How-Tos

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread

September 20, 2018

Every time I go to Chicago for work lately, I’ve stayed at The Godfrey for convenience, and had a lovely run along the River Walk in the early morning.  Then, as a reward, I’ve stopped at Beatrix and gotten the biggest latte they have a morning bun. 

Their morning buns are an inspiration, like a cinnamon roll’s way cooler cousin…dough that’s slightly sweet with some lamination and a hint of orange zest, a cinnamon-sugar filling that’s positively gooey inside, and some sugar on the outside.  No frosting, nothing overly sickly.  Perfection.

So I’ve been lingering on this particular recipe on Pinterest lately, since it ticks the same flavor boxes as my beloved morning buns.  I finally decided to tackle it a couple weeks ago and was SO happy I did!

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread | Delicious, fragrant twisted wreath bread, with bright orange and cinnamon-sugar filling, and an orange glaze. Perfect brunch recipe, for dessert, breakfast, or snacking!

One of the biggest changes I made was adding orange zest into the dough itself, versus just in the glaze.  That slight hint of orange in the dough with a subtle cinnamon-sugar filling is just sublime.  Additionally, I adapted the glaze by eliminating the butter and decreasing the amount quite a bit.  I think the changes work SUPER well and make it a little less sweet, which is more my style.

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread | finding time for cooking

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread | finding time for cooking

I’d also recommend not being daunted by the number of steps in the recipe.  It’s not a difficult recipe, and other than braiding the split layered dough ropes (it’s a bit messy!), it’s totally doable as long as you have the time.  Don’t rush it and it’ll be a breeze!

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread | finding time for cookingREAD THE POST

6 Comments CATEGORIES // Bread Recipes, Breakfast Goodies, Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With

Bourbon Cherry Crisp with Brown Butter Streusel

September 12, 2018

This is one of the better ideas I’ve had in a while…

Bourbon Cherry Crisp with Brown Butter Streusel | finding time for cooking blog

I’ve been totally obsessed with cherries lately, partly because they’re absolutely delicious and have been everywhere at the grocery store, and partly because I recently got a cherry pitter and can now have this fruit candy easily anytime I want (without hand-pitting and looking like I’ve murdered someone…).

Bourbon has also been everywhere in my life lately, since starting my new job at Brown-Forman in Louisville.  Pretty much any bourbon will work for this, I used the bottle that happened to be open, which was a lovely Old Forester 100 proof.  Combined with the brown butter, cinnamon, and cherries, this was BOMB.

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Easy Side Dish: Fried Baby Potatoes

August 12, 2018

I moved away from home when I left for college, and only get back to Kansas once or twice a year.  Usually that’s around Thanksgiving, but on the rare occasions it happens to be during the summer, my mom invariably asks if there’s anything in particular I want to eat, and I invariably answer “grilled chicken and steak with fried baby potatoes”.

It’s our thing.

It’s nice that some things in life are consistent 🙂  This is barely a “recipe”, but I’ve never really had these quite the same anywhere else so I wanted to share how we do this.  The reason that summer is key is because we want to get fresh new potatoes if possible (red is best), and the key is SMALL.  Yes, you can make regular potatoes this way, but it’s only with smaller potatoes that you get the right ratio of buttery crispy goodness and soft fluffy innards.

Innards.  Mmm.

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Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Family Secret Recipes, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes, Side Dishes & Veggies, Super Healthy

Cheesy Rosemary Sweet Potatoes on the Grill

July 29, 2018

Guuuuuyyyyys.  I know I haven’t posted a non-dessert recipe on here in a while.  That’s mostly because I haven’t been cooking—I’ve been GRILLING.  Ever since I moved in and have been getting settled, I’ve started using my awesome new grill non-stop.  A lot of that has been slapdash marinating or brining and then throwing things on the grill as fast as I can.  Not really “recipes”, per se.  But *this* is the real deal, and I couldn’t wait to share it.

Behold, cheesy rosemary sweet potatoes on the grill.

Cheesy Rosemary Sweet Potatoes on the Grill | finding time for cooking blog

I mean, that’s just ridiculous.  I’ve been experimenting a lot with foil packet veggies (it’s my fave way to do cauliflower on the grill), and this is my favorite find yet.  You can still make these if you don’t have rosemary (or could substitute fresh sage), but the rosemary really elevates it.

Cheesy Rosemary Sweet Potatoes on the Grill | finding time for cooking blog

I *am* working on a bigger post on grilling for first-timers.  I definitely can’t claim to be an expert yet, but I’ve done a lot of experimenting and reading up, with a lot of success, so hope to make the subject feel a little less daunting for other first-timers.  I’ll share my favorite marinades and rubs, different ways to prepare veggies, tips for moist and not overcooked meat, and how to make sure you cook things to a safe temperature.  So stay tuned!

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Cinnamon-Walnut Challah…And Some New Digs

June 16, 2018

Oh hello there!

Yes, I know it’s been a hot minute since last we met here.  But things have been a little insane around here, due to relocating (in my tiny Corolla), living in a temporary furnished apartment for a couple months (with the WORST kitchen supplies! Also, the cats were not fans…), house hunting, finalizing my move from Atlanta, and closing on a house here in Louisville.  Oh yeah, and starting a major new job.  So yeah, a lot’s been happening.

But I have a mountain of deliciousness to make it up to you today.

Cinnamon-Walnut Stuffed Challah Bread, how to make braided stuffed bread

The great news is that I’m back in a fully-functioning kitchen and raring to go.  I had to have them pipe in a propane line and install a new gas range because I was not dealing with that electric stove nonsense.  Isn’t she pretty????

So that’s where I’ve been hiding for the last couple months.  And without further ado, I bring you the yummiest stuffed challah bread you’ve ever had.  Butter and walnuts and cinnamon and brown sugar meld into a magical mess inside a soft enriched dough (yes, I’ve been watching GBBO).  But it’s surprisingly easy to pull together and got rave reviews from my co-workers.  Totally worth the little bit of extra effort.

Cinnamon-Walnut Stuffed Challah BreadREAD THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Bread Recipes, Breakfast Goodies, Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With

Garlicky Farfalle with Marinated Feta & Arugula

March 18, 2018

Pasta recipes used to be a staple on this blog, but in the last couple years I’ve had to waaaayyy scale back on the pasta for health reasons.  But I LURVE pasta and was super excited to try out a new recipe that was 1) super easy and 2) super delicious.

Garlicky Farfalle with Marinated Feta & Arugula | super easy, delicious weeknight dinner | vegetarian dinner recipes, easy dinner recipes, vegetarian pasta recipes, meatless monday #pasta #meatlessmonday #recipe

I’d never marinated feta before, and boy, is *that* dangerous knowledge to have now!  You have no idea how hard it was not to just eat that marinated feta straight out of the bowl.  YUMMM.

I’ve done a separate post just on how to make marinated feta as well, so save that bad boy.

Garlicky Farfalle with Marinated Feta & Arugula | super easy, delicious weeknight dinner | vegetarian dinner recipes, easy dinner recipes, vegetarian pasta recipes, meatless monday #pasta #meatlessmonday #recipe

One thing that’s great about this recipe is its simplicity.  Other than making sure you have high-quality feta, the rest of the ingredients were ones I generally have on hand or can easily grab at the grocery store (like the arugula).  But if you’re having it for a date, make sure you both eat a ton because it is super garlicky, so you want to have an even playing field 🙂

Garlicky Farfalle with Marinated Feta & Arugula | super easy, delicious weeknight dinner | vegetarian dinner recipes, easy dinner recipes, vegetarian pasta recipes, meatless monday #pasta #meatlessmonday #recipeREAD THE POST

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Recipe Experimentation

Brown Butter Cinnamon Chip Oatmeal Cookies

January 28, 2018

This recipe did something I didn’t think possible—I think I might have a new favorite cookie.

For years, my family’s molasses cookies have occupied the main cookie-shaped place in my heart, with their combination of warm spices and biting dark molasses.  And these brown butter cinnamon chip oatmeal cookies definitely share some of the same DNA.  Subtly sweet but not overpowering, spiced, textured, and soft, these will make your house smell amazing and bring all the co-workers to the yard.

Brown Butter Cinnamon Chip Oatmeal Cookies | super delicious & easy oatmeal cookie recipe, Hershey's cinnamon chips, easy cookie recipes, best cookie recipes #cookies #recipes #brownbutter

In fact, the first time I made this recipe, my only note was something I never thought I’d say, which was, “Waaayyyy too much cinnamon chip.  Pull that crap back.”

So I cut the cinnamon chips by more than half, and am completely in love with the result—the more subtle cinnamon chip presence allows the brown butter flavor to really shine through in all its rich, nutty glory.  Add the oatmeal texture and you have a cookie made in heaven.

Brown Butter Cinnamon Chip Oatmeal Cookies | super delicious & easy oatmeal cookie recipe, Hershey's cinnamon chips, easy cookie recipes, best cookie recipes #cookies #recipes #brownbutterREAD THE POST

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Korean BBQ Cauliflower & Chickpeas (vegan, gluten-free)

January 3, 2018

I’ve been completely obsessed with this this recipe for a couple months now.  I’ve seriously made it three or four times in six weeks.  And I cook like…maybe once a week?

This dish is super healthy done right—it’s so delicious that you don’t feel like you’re giving something up, and so easy that you don’t have to work hard to convince yourself to make it.  Another bonus is that the main ingredients are really affordable, which isn’t always the case when using fresh, healthy ingredients.

Korean BBQ Cauliflower & Chickpeas | easy, delicious meatless recipe, healthy and naturally gluten-free, vegan dinner recipes, vegetarian dinner recipes #healthy #vegan #meatlessmonday

Given how hectic things have been lately, I’ve tried out a couple of meal prep delivery services to see if they would help me be better about cooking and eating healthier—rather than relying on UberEats.  I recently tried Terra’s Kitchen and focused on largely paleo and vegan recipes for my first box, to try and counteract the rest of my life.

This is a slightly adapted recipe of the first meal I made from them, and it was a WINNER!  If you are wanting to try out a meal delivery service that has a lot of really healthy, fresh options, you might give them a try.  This code will get you $40 off your first box (just a referral link, not a partnership of any sort).

Korean BBQ Cauliflower & Chickpeas | easy, delicious meatless recipe, healthy and naturally gluten-free, vegan dinner recipes, vegetarian dinner recipes #healthy #vegan #meatlessmonday

The star of this dish is the sweet, tangy, spicy sauce that coats everything.  But don’t underestimate how awesome the different textures are in combination—solid yet tender cauliflower, chewy chickpeas, crunchy peanut pieces.  Nom nom nommity nom!READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Gluten-Free Recipes, Go-To Recipes, Main Dishes, Side Dishes & Veggies, Super Healthy

Bourbon Pear Crumble Pie

December 28, 2017

“This is the best dessert I’ve ever had”.  Actual quote from my dad.

I don’t know that I can disagree.  As I was trying to figure out what to make for Thanksgiving this year, I knew I wanted to make something fruit-based (because no one else was, and that’s my jam), and since my mom had about 17 pounds of fresh pears sitting around—and I loooove pears—figured it would be pear-based.

Bourbon Pear Crumble Pie | delicious, easy fruit pie, one of the best fruit desserts I've ever made, perfect for Thanksgiving or a special occasion, easy fruit desserts. #fruitdessert #pearpie #bourbonpearpie #bourbon #pears #pierecipes

This wasn’t my first pear rodeo—I made a super delish caramel pear pie with oat crumble one year (a bit sweet for me but still soooo good) and one of my go-to recipes is a healthy pear-apple pie with streusel topping. 

But I wanted to try a new recipe out, so with that in mind, I pored over my Pinterest dessert board and hit upon this recipe.  I knew I had a winner…bourbon pear pie was already going to be amazing, but add that crumble topping and there’s no way it won’t be amazing.

Bourbon Pear Crumble Pie | delicious, easy fruit pie, one of the best fruit desserts I've ever made, perfect for Thanksgiving or a special occasion, easy fruit desserts. #fruitdessert #pearpie #bourbonpearpie #bourbon #pears #pierecipes

I ended up accidentally making quite a bit more filling and topping than could fit in my pie crust (I should have used the deep-dish pan), so I just poured the extra filling into a small pyrex dish, threw the extra topping on, and baked it as its own little bourbon pear crisp.  It was amazing, so if you have extra I highly recommend going that route.

And when you tell people that you’re bringing a bourbon pear pie, they end to get pretty excited…READ THE POST

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash with Dijon Vinaigrette

December 17, 2017

I am obsessed with this side dish.  It is one of the few things I went back for seconds on at Thanksgiving, and has become one of my go-to side dish recipes—particularly when I need to feed a big group.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash with Dijon Vinaigrette | perfect holiday side dish, make ahead side dish for Thanksgiving, healthy side dish recipes, delicious and healthy | finding time for cooking #brusselssprouts #butternutsquash #sidedish

The hands-on time is minimal, just prepping and chopping the veggies.  After that, you briefly toss in olive oil, season, and pop it in the oven.  The vinaigrette takes all of two minutes to put together, so this is a perfect dish to make when you need to focus on other things in the kitchen.

One of the best things about this dish is that you can easily make it ahead, and it warms up and travels well.  The flavors feel indulgent, but it’s still really healthy…which was one of the things we needed this Thanksgiving.  I looked at our family’s Thanksgiving dish list and realized there were no green vegetables (no, green bean casserole doesn’t count!).  So I whipped this bad boy up, and it got rave reviews.

You can also easily increase or decrease the amounts to feed only a few people or a horde.  Basically, this is the perfect side dish and you need it in your life right this minute.READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes, Recipe Experimentation, Super Healthy

Chocolate-Almond Tartine with Jam Swirls (gluten-free)

December 10, 2017

I have a well-documented love for a moist chocolate almond cake (I’ve written rhapsodies about this fancy loaf cake thing).  One of the downsides of that recipe is that it it has to bake for almost an hour, so it’s difficult to just whip up or fit into the line-up when you’re needing the oven for other things.

Enter *this* cake.

Chocolate Almond Tartine (cake!) swirled with jam & topped with whipped cream | super easy gluten-free dessert, delicious, quick naturally gluten-free cake #glutenfree #gf #chocolatecake

It’s a similar idea as the fancy loaf cake, with a few key differences.  One is that you don’t have to whip the egg whites (great for a lazy person like me) and the flavor profile is a bit different (this doesn’t have the cinnamon and coffee).  But the best part is it bakes in about half an hour, so if you’re asked to bring a gluten-free dessert to a party in a few hours (ahem, not that that’s happened to me…) you can whip this bad boy up.

Chocolate Almond Tartine (cake!) swirled with jam & topped with whipped cream | super easy gluten-free dessert, delicious, quick naturally gluten-free cake #glutenfree #gf #chocolatecake

This got rave reviews from adults and kids alike, my friend even mentioned to me that her kids were asking about it a week or two later.

Chocolate Almond Tartine (cake!) swirled with jam & topped with whipped cream | super easy gluten-free dessert, delicious, quick naturally gluten-free cake #glutenfree #gf #chocolatecake

This cake is especially perfect for people who can’t decorate cakes (*raises hand*).  One thing I will say, if you’re taking it somewhere else, I would wait to assemble the cakes and put the whipped cream on til you’re ready to serve.  That’s simple enough, just wrap up each layer in plastic wrap and stick in the fridge, and bring the whipped cream in a container.READ THE POST

2 Comments CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Recipe Experimentation

Dark Chocolate Stout Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting + Happy Birthday to Me!

October 29, 2017

My tradition of ugly but delicious birthday cakes continues…

A cake decorator I will never be.

Dark Chocolate Stout Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting...easy, yummy, moist, perfect for a birthday or special occasion | easy cake recipes, birthday cakes, chocolate cake recipes | #cake #recipe #chocolate

This cake, however, is suuuuuper delish.  I really wasn’t feelin’ it this year.  I was so tired and stressed that I didn’t even know if I wanted to bother making something.  My birthday was on a Tuesday (blah) in a super crazy week (among other things we were moving offices, had big deadlines, and I was getting ready to leave the country), and I knew it would be a super long day.

So looked for something simple but that really tugged at me.  And, man, peanut butter and a dark chocolate stout cake can get me every time.READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With

Lemon Raspberry Cake with Raspberry Frosting

August 27, 2017

I want to eat this cake all day, every day.  Lemon + raspberry is a match made in heaven.  Add those to a light, buttery cake and you’ve reached something truly sublime.

Lemon Cake with Raspberry Jam Swirl & Raspberry Icing

When I first made this recipe, it was actually as lemon cupcakes with a raspberry frosting, for my friend Casey’s birthday.  But even as I was making it, I was mentally adapting it into a cake.  Because let’s face it, cupcakes are a pain in the rear.

Lemon Raspberry Cake with Raspberry Frosting

And then as I was making the cake, I had the idea of adding some jam swirled throughout.  1) Because I’m a huge fan of jam, and 2) because it does add a lovely moistness and complement to the lemon.

Jam is my jam.

Lemon Cake with Raspberry Jam Swirl & Raspberry Icing

This dessert is perfect for the winter months, because it tastes of springtime and warm days and lemons are usually plentiful.  But it would be just as appropriate in summer for a light group dessert.  Basically this is a year-round winner.  YOU’RE WELCOME.READ THE POST

2 Comments CATEGORIES // Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With

A Healthier Take on Strawberry Shortcake for a Big Group

May 14, 2017

I want to eat this all day, every day.

It’s no secret that there are a few select foods that I could literally could eat every single day and not get tired of them.  Nachos (and I do), a good burger, and my homemade strawberry shortcake.  My homemade strawberry shortcake is sublime.

I stumbled upon this recipe years ago when I needed to come up with a dessert for like 15 people.  Individual shortcakes would have been way too time-consuming (and quite frankly they’re kind of dry), but I had it stuck in my head that I wanted to use the pounds of strawberries that my mom had.  And then I found the original recipe I’ve adapted here…as my original post mentioned, I’m obsessed.  It’s literally the best.

healthier-strawberry-shortcake-for-a-big-group-nessa

But, as with many recipes, I wanted to see if there was a way to make it just a tad more healthy—cut down on the calories just a bit, but also bringing in some healthier elements.  And the fact is, I might like this version even just a bit more.

I cut the sugar a bit, and it definitely doesn’t lose anything.  And then I’ve substituted half of the flour for whole wheat (or white whole wheat, which is a bit softer), which gives it a great heartiness and also a slightly nutty, warm flavor that I really love.  You can make this ahead of time when feeding a big group and it’s the most moist, fragrant, yummy summer dessert I can think of.  Pair it with fresh strawberries and a bit of homemade cinnamon whipped cream, and you’ve got yourself a winner!READ THE POST

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Chocolate, Cinnamon, & Almond Loaf Cake (gluten-free)

March 5, 2017

My dessert tastes don’t always quite jive with other people’s.  I don’t like things super sweet, I tend more toward fruity desserts rather than super chocolate, I will always choose dark chocolate over milk (and don’t even talk to me about white chocolate and its lies…).

Chocolate, Cinnamon, & Almond Loaf Cake | Finding Time for Cooking

I was blown away by the complexity of the flavors in this cake, yet how subtle they were.  I cut back on the sugar quite a bit from what the recipe called for, and for me that made it perfect—letting the chocolate have more of a bittersweet quality and the cinnamon shine through.  Also, whoever thought to put cinnamon in whipped cream is a genius and I can’t believe I haven’t done that before.  But I assure you I will forever moving forward…
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4 Comments CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Gluten-Free Recipes, Recipe Experimentation

Almond Magic Cake

February 5, 2017

It’s been a long time since I’ve been so obsessed with a recipe.  I pinned it years ago, and somehow forgot about it, though the idea was fascinating.  Then over winter break this year I stumbled back across it and knew I had to give it a try.  So behold, almond magic cake.

Almond "Magic" Cake | I'm obsessed with this almond-flavored magic cake...one batter becomes three different layers while it bakes. Custard-y goodness and so easy. #almond #easydessert #magiccake

Because I did make one major change to the recipe.  The original is for a vanilla cake, but my M.O. in life is, why make something vanilla when it can be almond-flavored instead??

This cake is really easy to throw together, and yields the most amazing, creamy, custardy, flan-y cake.  I ended up making it again a few days later, in a gluten-free version (to be posted here later once I’ve perfected it).  Give this a try, you won’t be disappointed!READ THE POST

10 Comments CATEGORIES // Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With

Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread

January 22, 2017

This bread is the BOMB!

Snickerdoodle zucchini bread...cinnamon-sugar is my kryptonite

Cinnamon-sugar is my kryptonite in general, so it’s no surprise that I was drawn to this recipe.  It’s all the best things about my snickerdoodle bread (which is amazing, but also will make a major dent in your calories for the day), combined with a bit of whole wheat flour and fiber from zucchini.  

Make no mistake, this is definitely a breakfast dessert, but it’s now only a bit of splurge rather than a complete diet derail.

Snickerdoodle zucchini bread...plenty of sweet, with a bit of healthy mixed in

The hardest thing is finding the cinnamon chips—if you see them, buy like 6 bags!  (Though this may be part of the scarcity problem…).  I think Hershey’s discontinued theirs, so I’ve been buying them on the Amazon black market, and will need to look elsewhere soon.  

Cinnamon chips are seriously the best, and appropriate in all manner of delicious breakfast and dessert recipes.

Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread | A delicious and (mostly) healthy cinnamon-sugar zucchini bread recipe that's fast and easy. Full of fiber, great way to use up zucchini. A sweet quick bread that's perfect for any occasion. #snickerdoodle #zucchini #zucchinibread #cinnamonsugar #healthydessert

This was a hit at work.  And I had trouble keeping my hands off it.  I had a piece with my morning espresso, but went back several times throughout the day for another bite.  I probably had three pieces total, one bite at a time!READ THE POST

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Bread Recipes, Breakfast Goodies, Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Super Healthy

Maple and Oat Scones

December 31, 2016

This is my new breakfast obsession.

oat-maple-scones-done

I don’t know the last time I found a scone recipe I was so into.  Don’t get me wrong, I love scones, but they’re generally more of just a vehicle for condiments, an excuse to slather on jam or honey.  The scone itself is not so much the point.  But these scones are completely the point.

oat-maple-scones-baked

These are absolutely divine with a tiny bit of honey, but they’re honestly even amazing without anything at all.  There’s butter and maple syrup baked right in, so they really don’t need anything.  And they only took a few minutes to whip up and get in the oven.  Perfect for company, or just for you to devour by yourself with coffee and a blanket on a cold winter morning…READ THE POST

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Birthday Vanilla Spice Coke Cake with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting

October 10, 2016

Every year (minus last year), I make myself a special birthday cake.  I try to pick something that’s really captured my imagination, that seems a bit fancy and more complex than I’d usually convince myself to tackle.  Something special.

This year, for reasons I can’t even quite explain to myself, I made a vanilla spice Coke cake with salted peanut frosting.

Vanilla Spice Coke Cake with Salted Peanut Frosting

Yes, you read that right.

It’s kind of conceptual…while I’m not a fan myself, boiled peanuts in Coke is considered a Southern delicacy.  Consider this the deconstructed cake version.  But without the weird texture issues.

vanilla-spice-coke-cake-with-salted-peanut-frosting-sliced

It was really a gameday decision.  I’d pored over my whole Pinterest dessert board and nothing was really jumping out at me.  But then I finally got it into my head that this vanilla spice Coke cake was going to be my base.  I’ve never had a traditional Coca-Cola cake, but my understanding is that it’s almost always chocolate.  When I ran across this recipe from Local Milk, I was intrigued…the way the flavor profile was described so beautifully, and as an interesting transition into fall,I decided it had to happen.

vanilla-spice-coke-cake-with-salted-peanut-frosting

But the frosting that went along with it was just way too finicky for my exhausted and busy self to deal with.  I looked at tons of different recipes but nothing really felt right, until I saw this salted peanut frosting.  Since I love all things peanut butter, I was on board right away, and I thought that it would be a fun complement to the cake.  While this was a bit overly sweet for my tastes (or maybe that was because I also ate a gallon of queso, so I felt a bit ill), the flavor was bomb and the cake was insanely moist.

I’ll definitely be revisiting this recipe down the road, and not just for a special occasion—the cake base itself (minus frosting the layers) was super easy and fast.  As you can tell, frosting cakes is not my particular skill set.

So happy birthday to me, and cut yourself a huge slice of cake and pour a Coke!READ THE POST

2 Comments CATEGORIES // Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With

Apricot Linzer Torte

August 14, 2016

I don’t mind admitting when I’m wrong. And BOY, was I wrong about this apricot linzer torte.

The Best Homemade Apricot Linzer Torte

See, for the past two or three years, basically every time I’ve gotten with my friend Shalya for dinner, the conversation has eventually turned to food (okay, fine, it’s on food 92.5% of the time), and every single time she’s begged me to make an apricot linzer torte.

Every single time.  And I always told her she was a weirdo, because who is obsessed with linzer torte, but fine, yes, I’ll make a linzer torte if she comes to my house.  But that day finally came.  

AND IT WAS GLORIOUS.

Apricot Linzer Torte slice - how to make the best homemade linzer torte

See, in my (limited) experience, linzer torte is basically just a simple buttery pastry crust with some jam in it, and a lattice topping.  Something that’s fine adorning a bakery case somewhere, but not something that anyone ever really chooses.  

Fine, and sturdy, but not setting the world on fire.  Which just goes to show, I have been eating the WRONG LINZER TORTE all my life.

Apricot Linzer Torte | This homemade apricot linzer torte is delicate, spiced, fragrant, delicious, & so much more surprisingly easy to make. Perfect for a special occasion (or any day of the week), this is the best linzer torte recipe around! #linzertorte #apricot #dessertrecipe

This linzer torte recipe is anything but “fine”.  The dough basically punches you in the face with a combination of spices so aromatic my house smelled like heaven.  

Pair that moist, tender spiced pastry with slightly chunky, tart apricot jam, and you have a simple and perfect match made in heaven.

Apricot Linzer Torte slice closeupREAD THE POST

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Creamy Sweet Corn & Chicken Sausage Pasta

July 3, 2016

It’s sweet corn season!!!

Creamy Sweet Corn & Sausage Pasta

I was so stoked when my CSA box this week included four ears of sweet corn.  Fresh corn is the best.  It can be a side dish, elevate even the most mundane pasta, and even become a dessert (and yes, you better believe this is happening in the near future).

creamy sweet corn & sausage pasta corn sliced

In fact, I was so excited about the first corn of the season that I actually cooked on a Saturday night.  That may not sound earth-shattering, but anyone who knows me knows that Saturday night is reserved for Chinese food.  Specifically, one of three dishes from House of Chan five minutes from my house.  I call at around 5:02, pick it up 15 minutes later, and am comfortably ensconced on my couch shortly thereafter.  So for me to choose cooking on a Saturday night is pretty major.

Creamy Sweet Corn & Sausage Pasta finished

And this pasta is totally worth it.  The sweet corn, summer squash, and onions meld with the mascarpone, Parmesan, and starchy water to make a comforting yet not heavy-feeling chunky sauce that covers the noodles and sausage for the perfect pasta marriage.  Add a little fresh basil and I’m in heaven.  The fact that it all came together in less than half an hour?  Even better.READ THE POST

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Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting

June 29, 2016

I think I’ve found my new favorite cupcake recipe.  These are as close to a perfect texture and taste as any cake or cupcake I’ve ever made.

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting done

Someone described them as “bomb-ass”, and I’m not going to argue with them.  I mean, it would be rude.

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting

We wanted to do a special girls’ night for Casey’s birthday a few weeks ago, and I heard through the grapevine that she was obsessed with some Publix lemon raspberry cake, so the flavor palette for her cake was easy enough.  I was super excited, because usually people want chocolate or something super sweet, so the chance to make a fruity dessert was one I wouldn’t pass up.

lemon cupcakes with raspberry frosting lemons

And it’s a good thing these were basically perfect, because they were pretty much the only thing that went right that evening.  The restaurant ended up being a nightmare (45 minutes to order, hour and a half for food to come, took two hours to get a second drink order in), so by the time we left our numbers had dwindled by half and it was already quite late.  Thankfully, three of us persevered and went to our friend’s Midtown high rise for wine and cupcakes and a great rooftop view.

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting finished

Right call.  The cupcakes are the most insanely moist, dense crumb you can imagine, packed with super tart lemony flavor that never tips over the line into that weird cloying fake lemon flavor that I hate.  Even without the icing they’re perfection.  But the icing is a work of art itself.  Fluffy buttercream taken to the next level with raspberry jam adding some fruity goodness and tanginess to the frosting’s sugar overload.

In other words, you should make these TODAY.READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Recipe Experimentation

Exploring Argentina’s Food and Wine

April 16, 2016

It’s no secret that travel is my crack.  Few experiences can compete with setting foot in a new country, seeing how the people live, soaking up the culture, and—of course—eating and drinking everything in sight.  So imagine my excitement when my friend Sarai and I decided on Argentina for our girls’ trip this year.

This was basically my face the whole time.

IMG_4024

So, without further ado, here are some highlights (a little heavily food/wine focused, because…well, duh) from Argentina.  I hope it gets you as excited to try and visit this amazing country as it did for me.

Our first taste of Argentina actually was a medialuna and kind of sad coffee hastily bought at the airport before jumping on a bus that took two hours to take us across the city to the domestic airport. It actually was pretty darn good, but then once we got to the airport we were STARVING. On the great advice of someone from the TripAdvisor forum, we eschewed the airport food and walked across the street to one of the food carts.

IMG_3370

One hamburgesa and a grapefruit soda later, we were content to bask in the sunlight and watch old men fish while waiting to check in for our flight.  Our first stop was in Puerto Iguazu, where we spent the next day exploring the absolutely amazing Iguazu Falls (from the Argentinian side).

IMG_3691

THIS IS REAL LIFE.READ THE POST

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Chicken Massaman Curry

December 29, 2015

Massaman curry has somehow become one of my go-to comfort foods.  When I’m cold, stressed, tired, or just annoyed, this particular curry—with its combination of soft and crunchy textures, its creamy sauce and slightly spicy bite—are like a warm, yummy hug.

Easy Chicken Massaman Curry Recipe

[Some recipe photos updated January 2023]

For years I went to the same Thai restaurant and ordered the same thing (Bangkok chicken, “baby mild”, no baby corn…it’s the BOMB), but then one day I decided that I needed to branch out, and this was the least spicy of the curries.  

Plus, it didn’t have green peppers, which are truly disgusting, so that was a deciding factor.  One taste of this, with the silky avocado and the crunch of the onion, and I was in love.

I’m not sure what took me so long to try making this myself.  Maybe it’s because I tend to find that ethnic dishes are just better at restaurants, so it’s worth shelling out for them on occasion.  

Plus I’m lazy, and I tend to take one look at the long list of ingredients and get overwhelmed (not to mention my grocery store doesn’t just have this particular curry paste sitting around).

Chicken Massaman Curry | How to make massaman curry...this cozy comfort food is easier than you think!

But you shouldn’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients.  Most of them are ones you already have around, and the others are easy enough to pick up (and are great in other recipes).  I order the masaman curry paste on Amazon, most stores carry the Red Boat fish sauce (the best!), and everything else should be at your grocery store.

Prepping the ingredients will take 15-20 minutes with one set of hands, but is quite easy, and then the dish comes together very smoothly.  It makes amazing leftovers, and can feed a serious crowd.

How to make massaman curry from scratchREAD THE POST

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Gluten-Free Recipes, Go-To Recipes, Main Dishes

Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow with Sea Salt

December 20, 2015

In general, puppy chow is at the top of the list of “foods I’m never, ever allowed to have in my house”.  Because I will eat it ALL—I love it.  But I think this specific recipe may literally be my favorite food in the world.  It is that good.  Life-changing, even.

Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow with Sea Salt

When I first saw this recipe on Food 52, I was obsessed, and couldn’t wait to try it out. The dark chocolate twist was right up my alley (I’m definitely dark vs. milk), and I knew the sea salt would add a perfect balance to what can sometimes be an overly sweet snack. I also made a few changes based on my own preferences…I decreased the amount of powdered sugar and increased the peanut butter (and the chocolate chips, a little) to tailor it to my exact tastes.

Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow with Sea Salt done

And I done good. Now *this* is what I call a Sunday night…

Dark Chocolate Puppy Chow with Sea Salt finished

I took this into work (okay fine, what I hadn’t already eaten the night before) and we devoured it in no time flat. READ THE POST

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes, Recipe Experimentation, Snacks

Apple Pie Scones

December 6, 2015

I had other things I planned on posting this weekend, but I just couldn’t keep this recipe from you for a minute longer.  This recipe needs shared IMMEDIATELY.

Apple Pie Scones

I spent almost a week home with the family for Thanksgiving, and it involved a fair amount of cooking and baking.  Sabbath morning my mom asked what I’d like to make to go along with our awesome chili-cheese omelettes.  I needed something simple and fairly quick, since we were all starving, and scones felt like the simplest option.

apple pie scones wedges ready to bake closeup

I was really tempted by a cinnamon scone recipe I’ve been eyeing for months, but then this jumped at me.  I took a chance, and BOY, did I make the right choice?!

apple pie scones baked

The strangest thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t include any milk or buttermilk.  That made me nervous, and I was worried these would be dry or wouldn’t rise well, but I was totally wrong.  The shredded apples and the applesauce gave them all the moistness they needed, and the texture was perfect.  They’re pretty healthy as scones go, and have such a great flavor.READ THE POST

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Almond Cake with Fruit Compote (gluten-free)

November 21, 2015

I’ve amassed a fairly impressive arsenal of gluten-free dessert recipes over the past few years, since my friends John & Bridgette went GF.  And one of the biggest things I usually look for in these recipes is that they’re naturally free of gluten, rather than using weird ingredients to try and approximate the texture and taste of wheat recipes.

Almond Cake with Fruit Compote done

That’s why I’ve developed quite an affinity for almond meal.  It’s super yummy, plus it has an awesome grainy texture—not perfect for every type of recipe, but helps provide a “crumb” to certain cakes and pastries.  It’s also pretty easy to work with and really forgiving.  I’ve kind of been on an almond cake kick lately for myself, because the flavor is perfect for this summer-to-fall transition time we’ve been in.

Almond Cake with Fruit Compote

Which brings us to the uber-moist flavor bomb we’re talking about today…

Almond Cake with Fruit Compote sliced

This recipe is from Cookie + Kate, and as soon as she posted it, I was dying to give it a try.  The almond cake is the star, and is taken up a level by the combination of orange zest and cinnamon in the batter, and the maple syrup makes it super moist.  It’s also literally the easiest batter to throw together.  Then the slightly-sticky cake is stopped with a roasted fruit compote, which provides additional juice dripping down into the cake.  I went with pears and raspberries, which in hindsight was way too much juice to deal with.  But you can use whatever strikes your fancy.  This is awesome as leftovers, particularly for breakfast.

Don’t judge.READ THE POST

2 Comments CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Recipe Experimentation, Super Healthy

Fried Squash Blossoms

July 5, 2015

Not gonna lie, I’m pretty proud of this one.

Fried Squash Blossoms

These little babies feel so fancy and seemed like they would be a ton of work. Surprisingly, though, they were really simple to throw together and were WELL worth the effort.

Fried Stuffed Squash Blossoms

Fried squash blossoms and stuffed squash blossoms are one of my favorite Italian dishes—any time I see them on a restaurant menu, I have to order them. And unless you have a garden overflowing with squash and zucchini (I don’t), they’re nearly impossible to get your hands on fresh.

fried squash blossom fresh blossoms

So when I saw them at the farmer’s market last weekend, I pounced. I didn’t know how to prepare them or what I was doing, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to have my very own fancy blossoms. When I got home I looked a few recipes up on Pinterest to get a feel for ingredients, proportions, and how to prep them. The prepping part is easy, just a little exacting—you have to gently separate the flower petals and reach in to pull off the stamen. It’s not hard, but my chunky fingers kept tearing the delicate buds.

fried squash blossom fresh blossoms closeup

I went back and forth on whether to stuff them or not, and decided to split the difference. I had some leftover honey goat cheese, so I softened that, chiffonaded some fresh basil, and stirred that together with a splash of lemon juice and some sea salt. The stuffed ones were out of this world…a solid 10 on the flavor-meter. My only complaint on this recipe is that there was a lot of waste for one person (I stuffed myself, but could only eat so many and they’re not good leftover), so next time I make these will definitely be for a group!READ THE POST

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Easy, Awesome Challah Bread

April 26, 2015

ISN’T IT PRETTY?!?!  

When I saw a recipe that claimed to be easy challah, my reaction was…”sure, easy for some people, but for a bread novice like me not so much”.  This was before I had ever really gotten into baking bread (several years ago), and this was really one of my earliest bread experiments.  It went so well, it boosted my confidence for future yeast-based baking.

awesome easy challah bread - 2 loaves baked

Seriously, this bread is just beautiful. And it’s not just beautiful, it’s amazingly soft and flavorful and perfect.  And easy.

I’d never had challah bread before this, but basically it’s a yeast-leavened, lightly-sweet braided dough made with eggs, then brushed with an egg wash before baking.  It can be soft or dense, made with many different grains, created into other shapes (spirals, circles, birds, etc.), but at its heart it’s just a slightly-sweet, eggy bread.

And I can’t imagine that it gets much better than this recipe!  First-try bread recipes can be tricky sometimes, and rarely are they absolutely perfect the first time.  But this easy challah recipe lived up to its name…it was super forgiving, the braiding was super easy, and the final product made me want to eat ALL THE BREAD. 

And I’m not even a bread person…

easy challah dough, so soft and squishy

Let’s just look at it again, shall we???

(As a side note, challah makes the most AMAZING french toast…here’s my favorite small batch recipe!)

Easy Challah Bread with Honey

Save for later:  A Tool to Decide What Bread to Make Based On How Long You Have…

Okay, moving on…

[Note:  I’ve updated the instructions and photos, September 2019]
READ THE POST

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Single-Serving Cherry Crisp

March 8, 2015

Sometimes I get obsessed with things.

Single-Serving Cherry Crisp

Sometimes that’s just obsessed with eating something. Sometimes it’s creating something that I can’t find. Other times it’s finding the perfect version—which may mean making it a TON of times. Homemade pad thai. Black bean brownies. Dreamy scones.

This is one of those things. I love fruit crisp, but sometimes it’s not worth the effort to make a whole pan (plus, then I eat the whole pan, which…).

Single-Serving Cherry Crisp done

I first got the idea when I made a sweet dark cherry pie for Thanksgiving last year. I’d never really worked with cherries before, always sticking instead to apples, pears, and peaches. I kind of winged it (wung it?) and made up the recipe after reading a few different ones, and it turned out great. And then one night recently I was jonesin’ for something sweet, and the idea of fruit crisp hit me (I wasn’t in the mood for chocolate for some reason). All I really had, though, was a bag of frozen cherries for smoothies. I decided to give it a go, and made two—one in the oven and one in the microwave. Shockingly, I liked the microwave version and it took WAY less time.

Single-Serving Cherry Crisp finished

Since then I’ve made it several more times because I couldn’t quite get the flavors exactly like I wanted. This is a pretty fluid and forgiving recipe. You can add a little honey or sugar to the filling if you feel it needs it (or are using tart cherries), but mine is plenty sweet. Also, you could make it gluten-free by using a flour alternative like oat flour, coconut flour, almond meal, etc.  I tried a few different spice combinations in the filling and topping (cardamom, ginger, etc.), but ultimately found that simpler was better—cinnamon and some almond extract.READ THE POST

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Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting

February 7, 2015

“Life is too short for self-hatred and celery sticks.” ~ Marilyn Wann

That quote basically encapsulates my struggle right now. I love food. I don’t believe in diets, because I think that permanently denying yourself foods will just make you want them more. Plus, why take all the fun out of life?? But I am trying to be good most of the time right now.

And looking at these pictures is pure torture, because I remember how GOOOOOOD these Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls were.

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting | These incredibly indulgent cinnamon rolls are the best I've had, & are not difficult to make. I provide step-by-step instructions and photos so you can make the best cinnamon rolls ever. #cinnamonrolls #pioneerwoman #maple #brunch #breakfast

But I have a secret. I’m not really into cinnamon rolls. Except *these* cinnamon rolls. These cinnamon rolls are like if you just took the gooey center of the roll (the only good part) and made it ALL of the roll.

THESE CINNAMON ROLLS ARE EVERYTHING.

Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting done

People had raved about The Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon roll recipe, so when I decided to try my hand at cinnamon rolls I knew I had to try these ones. I was scared, honestly. Cinnamon rolls look like so much work, and I’ve never thought they were worth the effort. Boy, was I wrong.

These are 5-star levels of gooey, they’re sweet, they’re maple-y, the bread is moist and soft. Perfect. They’re perfect.

And they were actually not that hard to make. Yes, there were a few steps, but they weren’t hard or even super time consuming. I just had to plan ahead in terms of starting them the night before, but otherwise they came together pretty easily.

Here are a few kitchen tools I find really helpful for this recipe:

  • My multi-purpose scraper tool (keep dough from sticking, divide, cut the rolls…does a little of everything)
  • Silicone pastry brush
  • Handle-less rolling pin
  • Silicone pastry mat for rolling (depending on what your counters are made of)

cinnamon rolls with maple frosting cut2

How decadent are these cinnamon rolls with maple frosting??

Well, I polished off the last four (DON’T JUDGE.) the morning that I gave blood (so I could start eating healthy the next day, naturally), and when my cholesterol results came back they were like 50 points higher than normal. It was insane. Granted, I’d also had like seven of them the day before. Still. Crazy.

Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting 2

You might like:  The Kitchen Tools Every Cook or Baker Needs

READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Breakfast Goodies, Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With

Churro Popovers

January 12, 2015

Oh my word, THESE POPOVERS.

Churro Popovers

These are heaven. They are light, puffy, buttery, cinnamony-sweet heaven. And they’re so fast and easy!

Churro Popovers done

I halved the recipe, since I was only cooking for me (yes, it still made 7 popovers, DON’T JUDGE ME). It’s so insanely fast, you just blend up the ingredients in your blender (or with a whisk) while the oven heats up, and like 20 minutes later you have piping hot popovers. It’s impressive, really.READ THE POST

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Pear Cake with Honey Glaze

January 2, 2015

Isn’t it great that breakfast means you can have all kinds of dessert-y things but it’s totally fine because it’s breakfast? Like, people would find you weird if you ate chocolate cake for breakfast, but coffee cake? Totally cool.

Pear Cake with Honey Glaze

This is one of those super-good-desserts-but-also-totally-appropriate-for-breakfast recipes. It’s adapted from an apple cake I made a while ago—I remember thinking at the time that I just HAD to try it with pears (one of my favorite fruits), but never got around to it.

This winter break I found myself with several insanely juicy and fragrant Harry & David pears and knew right away what I must do with them.  I’ve even made a version of this with pears, hazelnuts, and a delicious rosemary honey glaze.

Pear Cake with Honey Glaze done

This cake really is the best of both worlds. It’s my kind of dessert—lightly sweet, hearty, a mix of warm and comforting flavors. But it’s also really quite healthy.

I use white whole wheat flour entirely, which not only gives it lots of fiber but also a wonderful nutty flavor and great texture. It’s made with oil, I cut back on the sugar the original recipe calls for, and it’s full of fruit and nuts as well.

As breakfast goes—from time to time—you could do worse.

amazing Harry & David fresh pears

Look at these guys…aren’t they gorgeous?!READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Super Healthy

Easy Drop Biscuits from Outlander Kitchen

December 25, 2014

These biscuits are SO easy and SO good!

Easy Drop Biscuits from Outlander Kitchen

It’s no secret that I adore biscuits. They’re buttery and flaky and warm, you can put jam and honey on them, and they feel so good in my belly! But there are two things about biscuits that I don’t love. I really hate having to cut cold butter into flour—it may be irrational, but I really hate it. And while biscuits are amazing straight out of the oven, they’re usually dense, dry balls of bread that get stuck in your windpipe and try to choke them to death when you eat them as leftovers.

Easy Drop Biscuits

But no more! For Thanksgiving this year I needed to make another kind of bread for our hungry horde. We already had rolls, so I thought some kind of biscuit. The problem is that making regular biscuits for a big group is time consuming, and if they have to sit around for a while they’ll start to get dry and stale. Enter these amazing, easy drop biscuits…

easy drop biscuits raw

These use melted butter, and stirring everything together takes a couple minutes tops. You get this shaggy dough that you can use a spoon or ice cream scoop to plop directly into the pan, so no cleanup from having to roll out and cut the biscuits.

And the taste and texture! Not only are they amazing right out of the oven, but we re-heated them for dinner that night and scarfed the last couple the next morning, and they still were light and fluffy as leftovers. So basically perfect.  They’re definitely on my list of best Thanksgiving recipes! READ THE POST

5 Comments CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Recipe Experimentation

Apple Pie German Pancake Bowls

November 22, 2014

German pancakes, where have you been all my life?!?!

Apple Pie German Pancake Bowls done

A few weeks ago, I realized on a Thursday that the next morning was my breakfast day. But, in addition to working long hours, my co-workers and I were going out for a department event, so it was going to be a late night. I racked my brain for something I could easily throw together the next morning, but that would be hearty and unhealthy enough for my (probably slightly hungover) co-workers. This recipe was perfect because it was pretty easy, and had a baking break in the middle where I could also throw the frittata into the oven.

apple pie german pancake bowls apples chopped

While I’d heard of Dutch babies (another name for German pancakes), I’d never made them and I’m not sure I’d even had them. But they are awesome! There’s no sugar in the actual batter (some recipes I’ve seen have a tiny bit), but you load them up with whatever awesome fillings you want. Because they have a lot of eggs in them and a lot less flour, they also stick with you longer.

apple pie german pancake bowls struesel topping2

These have a delightful homemade apple pie filling and then some streusel on top, and are entirely decadent (yet surprisingly not that bad for you). This has opened a whole world of German pancakes and Dutch babies to explore now that I can’t get them out of my mind.READ THE POST

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Chocolate Stout Cake with Ganache…Birthday Celebration Part 2!

September 28, 2014

Let me start by saying that this cake is way easier than it sounds. There’s something about “ganache” that sounds so fancy and unattainable.

Chocolate Stout Cake with Chocolate Ganache | finding time for cooking

This was the birthday cake I picked out this year, something kind of fancy but also quite simple—just good chocolate and good beer. (Although I’m sensing a theme of chocolate + alcohol birthday cakes…).

This is a Smitten Kitchen recipe and it’s basically perfect. The cake itself has a dense richness, a little bittersweet from the combination of the stout and the darker Dutch-process cocoa.

I also went a little scant on the sugar so the sweetness wasn’t overwhelming. I went ahead and frosted mine right away, which made the inside moist and fudgy, which is how I prefer my cake.

Chocolate Stout Cake finished

I’d never made a ganache before and thought it was going to be complicated and temperamental, but it was really quite simple and very fast. You want to use good quality chocolate to get the smoothest, creamiest texture and rich flavor.  (I now have a more detailed post on how to make ganache, including two different easy methods.)

Overall, I would make this cake again in a heartbeat!

chocolate stout cake jamie bottle

And then there was this gloriousness. That’s right, my co-worker wrapped my birthday wine bottles with the one and only James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser. They get me. They really get me.

*sigh*

Chocolate Stout Cake w Chocolate Ganache

Okay, back to this chocolate stout cake…READ THE POST

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Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream

September 1, 2014

I found a way to make something awesome EVEN BETTER.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream

I raved about the peanut butter, honey, & sea salt ice cream I made a few weeks ago. It is seriously the best. So naturally, peanut butter & jelly was the logical next step. Take sweet, peanut butter-y creamy goodness and cut strips of tangy strawberry jam through it, and you have the world’s best lunch update.READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes, Recipe Experimentation

Peanut Butter & Honey Ice Cream with Sea Salt (Dairy-Free)

July 18, 2014

Summer in Georgia. Crazy humidity. The smell of rain on concrete. Fireflies. And bare legs sticking to your leather couch.  In other words, folks, it’s been hot & humid up until the cool spell we had this week.

The last thing I’ve wanted to do lately is turn on my oven, so to get my sweet fix I’ve had to turn to cool treats. I’ve never made anything but frozen yogurt in my frozen yogurt maker, but didn’t see any reason this wouldn’t work. And the sea salt, peanut butter, & honey ice cream flavor combo is one I seriously can’t resist.

Salted Peanut Butter & Honey Ice Cream | This dairy-free peanut butter ice cream is so easy to make, just a few ingredients (including coconut milk), & you have the perfect cold summer treat. Summer dessert recipe, gluten-free dessert, dairy-free dessert recipe.

This ice cream is amazing! The texture is super creamy, with the mild sweet honey and peanut butter blending perfectly, with just the hint of sea salt to cut it.

I sat on my hot couch on a Saturday night in my pajamas and ate a giant bowl, then contemplated eating the rest…then reminded myself that then I would have eaten an entire can of coconut milk in one sitting. So I resisted, but it was touch-and-go there for a while!

Peanut Butter & Honey Ice Cream with Sea SaltREAD THE POST

5 Comments CATEGORIES // Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Gluten-Free Recipes, Super Healthy

Pasta with Fresh Sweet Corn Pesto

July 6, 2014

This pasta with sweet corn pesto is seriously one of the best things I’ve eaten in a while. I had such high hopes for this recipe, and am inordinately happy that I wasn’t disappointed.

Summery Pasta with Sweet Corn Pesto | This delicious corn pesto pasta is a perfect summer recipe, a great way to use all that fresh corn.  An easy alternative pesto that's indulgent and so easy, a great weeknight dinner idea. #sweetcorn #freshcorn #pastarecipe #summerrecipe

Sure, traditional pesto is made with basil, garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan, but the word basically comes from the Italian verb pestare, which just means “to pound or crush” (i.e. what you do with all these ingredients).

Typically you’d make pestos with a mortar and pestle (from the same verb) but most of us are way too lazy to do that on a regular basis. Because food processors are magical.

pasta with fresh sweet corn pesto corn ears

While I’ve tried kale pestos, spinach pestos, and all kinds of different nuts in the sauce as well, this is a very different take on the traditional dish.

You start with sweet, juicy fresh corn cut right off the cob. Cook some bacon and leave the drippings in the pan to start the flavor profile. Saute some minced garlic in it to release its amazing aroma.

Add a dash of red pepper flakes for just a hint of bite. And finish it off in the food processor with pine nuts, fresh parmesan cheese, and olive oil to make a creamy sauce that clings to the noodles like its life depends on it.

pasta with fresh sweet corn pesto corn sliced

This dish doesn’t take long overall—the longest part is cutting the corn off the cob, which I’m pretty slow at (partly because I value my fingers). Once that part’s done, the rest moves quickly and you can have it on the table in less than half an hour.

While you could use many different kinds of pasta, I think a long flat pasta like linguine or tagliatelle is best for this (though I break most of the noodles in half before cooking).READ THE POST

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Main Dishes, Pasta Recipes

30-Minute Mongolian Beef

July 4, 2014

What’s a more patriotic way to celebrate Independence Day than Americanized Chinese food?  This super easy Mongolian beef is one of my new favorites and was what I was craving this year along with my fireworks.

30-Minute Easy Mongolian Beef

It’s  funny, I looked through all the recent recipes I’ve made but not posted yet, and there’s not a single one I’d classify as American.

Apparently I’ve been on an Asian kick, though. And this one’s a doozy—the most delicious, successful Asian recipe I’ve made since this super easy sesame chicken.

30-minute mongolian beef green onion

The sauce is obviously the hero of this recipe—you could switch the beef out for chicken and maybe wouldn’t even notice (update:  I did and it’s amazing!). It’s a little sweet and salty and garlicky and super tangy. It’s got bite.

I honestly don’t know that I’d classify it as a traditional Mongolian beef sauce, which I think of as a little more mellow. But no matter what you call it, it’s awesome. And as a bonus, this recipe creates a lot of sauce to soak into the rice, which is one of my non-negotiables where Chinese food is concerned.

30-Minute Mongolian Beef | This super easy Mongolian beef is the perfect weeknight dinner, full of flavor and ready in just half an hour, with ingredients most people already have. A great Americanized Chinese dish for every day. #mongolianbeef #30minutemeal #easydinner #dinnerrecipe

READ THE POST

6 Comments CATEGORIES // Cooking for One, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Main Dishes

Dreamy, Creamy Scones

March 4, 2014

OH MAN, are these cream scones good!!

A while back, I was really excited because I tried a cream biscuits recipe without butter that was amazing. I stand by that, and I loved that it didn’t require cutting the butter into the flour. Let’s face it, I’m super lazy.

These cream scones are in a similar vein, except they have both cream AND butter in them, which makes them double awesome. I think they’re the best scones, texture-wise, that I’ve ever made.

The Best Cream Scone Recipe | If you want to take brunch to another level, these cream scones will blow your mind. Soft, fluffy, rich, & buttery, they're perfect fresh out of the oven or as leftovers! And they're super easy to make.  #scones #cream #brunch #breakfastrecipes

They were also shockingly good as leftovers the next few days, heated up with a little raw organic honey for breakfast at work.

And that is a victory, because it’s hard to justify making a whole batch of scones for myself when usually the leftovers are like trying to eat ceiling insulation. But these, these are magical.

Dreamy Creamy Scones with HoneyREAD THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Bread Recipes, Breakfast Goodies, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes

Mac & Cheese with Kale, Roasted Butternut Squash, & Chicken Sausage

February 23, 2014

As the whole country knows, Atlanta has had some winter weather troubles lately. A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough not to get stuck in the 24-hour city-wide traffic jam—only took me an hour and a half to get home (vs. 20 minutes usually).

I hadn’t had the foresight to check the weather ahead of time, so I ended up being stuck at home for a few days with only the food I had stocked up in my pantry and fridge. (I did have wine this time…a few years ago I got snowed/iced in for five days without wine. #neveragain)

Mac & Cheese with Kale, Roasted Butternut Squash, & Chicken Sausage | It sounds kind of healthy (& does have veggies), but this is the ultimate comfort food...a decadent mac & cheese recipe perfect for any occasion! #macandcheese #kale #butternutsquash

I started poking around to see what I could make. I was craving comfort food but knew I needed to eat somewhat healthy. Unfortunately I hadn’t bought many fruits and veggies, but I found a butternut squash in the fridge and had some wilted kale, so I figured I could make something work.

This is a true McGyver meal, but I think it came out pretty darn good. It was creamy and warm, with the salty sausage and the kale adding different textures. It’s since become one of my go-to comfort food dishes.

So BEHOLD, I give you the best mac & cheese with kale, roasted butternut squash, and chicken sausage!

Mac & Cheese with Butternut Squash, Kale, & Sausage baked

Can you tell I’ve been craving comfort food? Seriously, I could have chosen to make a quinoa casserole or something, but instead I ended up with a steamy, creamy mac & cheese.READ THE POST

2 Comments CATEGORIES // Family Secret Recipes, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes, Main Dishes, Pasta Recipes

Amazing, Fluffy Cream Biscuits

January 16, 2014

These cream biscuits are the bomb diggity.

Bomb. Diggity.

Easy & Amazing Fluffy Cream Biscuits | These super easy biscuits are perfect for anyone who hates cutting cold butter into flour for scones or biscuits...a fast, easy brunch recipe that makes great leftovers. The best biscuits around! #biscuits #brunchrecipe #breakfast #heavycream

I love biscuits. Basically all biscuits (except Chick Fil-A’s…their food is awesome except their biscuits which are sad). But I tend to get lazy about cutting butter into flour. It’s so annoying!

Sure, maybe it’s not the most difficult thing ever, but for some reason it always makes me feel like a failure. Then I ran across this recipe. The cream provides the fat for the biscuit, so no butter-cutting necessary.

Easy & Amazing Fluffy Cream Biscuits | These super easy biscuits are perfect for anyone who hates cutting cold butter into flour for scones or biscuits...a fast, easy brunch recipe that makes great leftovers. The best biscuits around! #biscuits #brunchrecipe #breakfast #heavycream

I was skeptical that these could possibly be as good as biscuits made the old-fashioned way, though. But I needed to throw a side bread together really quickly the other night and decided to try the recipe, and was stunned by how good these are.

They’re light and fluffy and buttery on top, took five minutes to throw together, and are even almost just as good leftover.

cream biscuits cut butter

That’s right—GOOD LEFTOVER BISCUITS. It’s a January miracle.

Save for later:  A Tool to Decide What Bread to Make Based On How Long You Have…READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Bread Recipes, Breakfast Goodies, Foods I'm Obsessed With

Most Popular Recipes in 2013

January 4, 2014

2013 was a pretty crazy year for me on several fronts…including major hip surgery, an insane year at work, and buying my first home, which was a huge learning experience and has been pretty amazing. (Also stressful…I mean, when my garbage disposal threatens to go out, I have to fix that nonsense myself. Ugh, being a grown-up.)

And then there’s this blog, which blew my mind this year by growing exponentially. Seriously, visits grew over 1200% in 2013 (that’s insane!), without me doing anything that different. What was surprising is that some of the most popular recipes in 2013 were some of the ones I posted back in 2012. So in case you missed some of these, here are the top 10 recipes everyone seemed obsessed with in 2013. Excited to see what delicious goodness 2014 has in store!

Baked Potato Soup (a.k.a. the best soup ever!)

I don’t accept soup as an actual meal, but this stuff is amazing and easy and healthy. Also, bacon garnish.

baked potato soup finished

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

Again, easy (check), fairly healthy (check), crockpot (check), bacon (check)…I’m sensing a theme here.

crockpot breakfast casserole finished

Roasted Okra

Mmmm, okra. Tastes just as good as fried, and okra’s surprisingly awesome for you.

roasted okra finished closeup

No-Bake Cookies a.k.a. Haystacks

You can never go wrong with no-bake. Or a peanut butter-chocolate combo.

haystacks finishedREAD THE POST

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Family Secret Recipes, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes, Super Healthy

Baked Pasta with Broccolini, Kale, & Sausage

December 21, 2013

Mercy! It’s been over a month since I posted a real, honest-to-goodness main dish recipe here. I’ve had sweets and breads and pancakes, but nothing that’ll really stick to your bones.

Melty Baked Pasta with Broccolini, Kale, & Chicken Sausage | This easy & delicious baked pasta recipe is a perfect weeknight meal and the definition of comfort food.  A perfect 30-minute meal for any day...curly, crunchy, gooey pasta.  You can use broccolini or broccoli rabe. #pasta #bakedpasta #30minutemeal

I feel like I’ve been saying it all year, but it’s been utter madness lately. Work’s crazy, some travel, add in Thanksgiving, all the extra food and drinks around the holidays, and trying to finish everything up for the year.

That means I’ve been keeping long hours and not eating remotely normally. Pretty much no fruits and veggies, and I don’t remember the last time I cooked a real meal. But last weekend it was so cold and dreary and I really wanted to get back to real life.

baked pasta with broccolini kale & chicken sausage baked

I wanted comfort food, but healthy, and this baked pasta with broccolini, kale, and chicken sausage fit the bill. It’s got greens and crunch, tossed with golden sausage and firm pasta, all in the warm hug of creamy, garlicky béchamel and dots of gooey fresh mozzarella.

Basically, it’s perfect.

Melty Baked Pasta with Broccolini, Kale, & Chicken Sausage | This easy & delicious baked pasta recipe is a perfect weeknight meal and the definition of comfort food.  A perfect 30-minute meal for any day...curly, crunchy, gooey pasta.  You can use broccolini or broccoli rabe. #pasta #bakedpasta #30minutemeal

And fairly simple, all things considered. I was able to saute up the sausage and kale while the water boiled, then get everything else ready while the pasta and broccolini cooked, then stir everything together and pour it into the pan.

Twenty minutes later, I had a big, golden, slightly crunchy masterpiece on my hands.

Melty Baked Pasta with Broccolini, Kale, & Chicken Sausage | This easy & delicious baked pasta recipe is a perfect weeknight meal and the definition of comfort food.  A perfect 30-minute meal for any day...curly, crunchy, gooey pasta.  You can use broccolini or broccoli rabe. #pasta #bakedpasta #30minutemeal

The original recipe from Smitten Kitchen calls for broccoli rabe, which I couldn’t locate at my grocery store. I used broccolini instead (which isn’t quite the same, but can do in a pinch) and added some sautéed kale for some extra health and texture. Everything else was just right!READ THE POST

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Foods I'm Obsessed With, Main Dishes, Pasta Recipes

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes Ever

December 7, 2013

Paaaaaaancakes!  Specifically, buttermilk pancakes.  When they’re good (and not that terrible IHOP pre-fab stuff), they are one of my favorite foods. Hot and fluffy, a little gooey center, nutty whole grain taste, and slathered in peanut butter and syrup. It pretty much doesn’t get any better than that.

They’re also one of the easiest things in the world to whip up, and endlessly versatile.

I realized a while back that—while I had posted whole grain pancakes, healthy apple cinnamon pancakes, ricotta pancakes, gingerbread pancakes, cinnamon polenta pancakes, and bourbon banana pancakes—I had never posted the recipe that started it all, my awesome basic buttermilk pancakes.

The Best Easy Buttermilk Pancakes | Easy and delicious recipe for breakfast or brunch, ready in just 15 minutes. Add whole wheat flour for some extra fiber and healthy options! #breakfast #pancakes #brunch

Does anyone else put peanut butter on their pancakes and waffles? We always did it, and I assumed everyone else did.

But going to summer camp growing up, I found out that this was considered somewhat weird.  It’s so good, you have to try it! It’s my goal to convert the entire Southeast to the gospel of peanut butter on pancakes.

buttermilk pancakes make great leftovers

In all my focus on trying and posting new recipes, I’ve neglected some of my tried and true favorite recipes, so I’m working on rectifying that.  My mom’s lasagna, simple coffee cake, buttermilk Belgian waffles, chocolate chip cookies, and our family buttermilk pancake recipe.

It’s not an exaggeration to say we made these the majority of my sabbath mornings growing up. Occasionally we’d throw in some waffles, french toast, or biscuits, but mostly we made delicious, fluffy pancakes!READ THE POST

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Breakfast Goodies, Cooking for One, Family Secret Recipes, Foods I'm Obsessed With, Go-To Recipes

Obsession Alert: Marian Burros’ Plum Torte

November 18, 2013

Smitten Kitchen, man…she never lets me down.  Her take on Marian Burros’s plum torte is now going down as one of my new all-time faves.

Addictive 1-Bowl Plum Torte | Marian Burros' plum cake is so delicious and so easy to make...I used Smitten Kitchen's version and it takes only one bowl and 15 minutes to get in the oven! A perfect make-ahead dessert recipe, as it's better the next day, easy dessert idea for any occasion! #plums #plumtorte #easydessert

Plums have never been high on my list of fruits—they look cool but are fairly bland tasting. But cut them in half, sprinkle them with cinnamon-sugar, and bake them into a fluffy cake batter, and apparently these babies soften into sweet, juicy gems.

Plum Torte finished

One of the shocking things was how easy this recipe was. No complicated instructions or finicky ingredients, just mix up a very simple batter, place the plums cut-side down, and sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar. It only took maybe 15 minutes total to assemble, then into the oven it goes!

Marian Burros' Plum Torte - a delicious and easy plum cake recipe

If you can stand it, wait to eat the cake until the next day, which allows the juices to seep into the surrounding cake and meld everything into the most amazing texture and flavor.

Plum Torte closeup

This plum torte recipe was so good that I now want to try making it with ALL THE FRUITS!  (I did try it with pears and it’s so good!)READ THE POST

3 Comments CATEGORIES // Desserts, Foods I'm Obsessed With

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About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

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Recent IG Adventures!

While I eagerly await warmer weather, I snuck in o While I eagerly await warmer weather, I snuck in one last winter cocktail...here's some Sage Advice! It's a winter-y version of a whiskey sour bringing both cinnamon and sage, and then skirting the line of daiquiri with the substitution of lime juice for the traditional lemon. 

Tap the link in my IG bio & pick this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking
#cocktailrecipe #bourbon #bourboncocktails #whiskeysour
Forget your run-of-the-mill double chocolate cooki Forget your run-of-the-mill double chocolate cookies 🍫 These TRIPLE dark chocolate cookies (with a hint of whiskey & balance with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt) are rich indulgence without being sickly sweet. They're also soooo easy...no special tools, no dough chilling. Delish cookies in under 30 minutes! 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the full recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#chocoholic #chocolatecookies #darkchocolate #cookierecipe
A recipe that gets me to eat broccoli every day?? A recipe that gets me to eat broccoli every day?? SOLD. And it is so fast & easy that it can barely be called a "recipe"...these cumin roasted broccoli bits in the air fryer (though you can use an oven instead) are crazy fast, healthy, & delicious!

Tap the link in my IG bio & pick this photo to see the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#airfryer #broccoli #easysidedish #airfryerrecipes
I've been making these healthy 5-ingredient browni I've been making these healthy 5-ingredient brownies on REPEAT for a couple months now. And knowing that they only take a few minutes to make has been a bit dangerous on random Tuesday nights when my sweet tooth strikes! 

Oh, and I forgot to mention that they're naturally gluten- & grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, and (optionally) no sweetener added? 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 

#healthydessert #healthybrownies #glutenfreerecipes #vegandessert
This cranberry snack cake is seriously my platonic This cranberry snack cake is seriously my platonic ideal for a cake. I DREAM of this cake. A soft, moist, dense buttery vanilla cake batter is studded with tart fresh cranberries, with a tiny crunch of raw sugar on top. A perfect dessert or snack for pretty much any occasion...including with a cup of tea on a random Tuesday afternoon...

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! 
--> @findingtimeforcooking 
#cranberrycake #cranberries #cranberryrecipe #bestdessert
These super easy marinated white beans are packed These super easy marinated white beans are packed with flavor & only take a few minutes to make! Even better?? They're best when made ahead of time (in 5 minutes!) and left for a day or two in the fridge for the flavors to really meld & intensify. 

This has become a go-to plant-based recipe, but I often throw some grilled salmon or chicken on top for a full meal. 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this pic to get the recipe!
#veganrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #whitebeans #plantbasedrecipes
A lot of people don't realize how easy & cheap it A lot of people don't realize how easy & cheap it is to make your own kombucha at home...you can have an entire gallon for less than the cost of one bottle at the store! 

I can't even keep a bamboo plant alive, yet have managed to keep the same "scoby" starter healthy & active for well over a decade. 

Here are easy step-by-step instructions for making your own kombucha at home, & the tools you'll need to do so! Tap the link in my IG bio (@findingtimeforcooking) & click on this photo to see the whole post.
#homemadekombucha #kombuchabrewing #healthyguthappylife #scoby
I'm not generally a soup person, though I'm trying I'm not generally a soup person, though I'm trying to be more 🍜 But this Turkish corba (a spiced red lentil soup) has always been one of my exceptions.  It's CRAZY easy to make, full of veggies and the protein from the lentils, and just feels like a warm hug in a bowl!  A great vegetarian dinner idea, perfect on any detox protocol, and just a great cozy recipe for the winter months.

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe!
#corba #redlentils #souprecipe #drcabraldetox
Today, we FANCY. But also lazy. When I first saw a Today, we FANCY. But also lazy. When I first saw a recipe for the "lazy person's kouign amann", I was intrigued...and it definitely lives up to the hype! The texture isn't quite the same as the much more time-consuming and complex authentic French pastry it's hacking, but it's darn close and absolutely delicious. 

To see the recipe, tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#kouignamann #frenchpastries #bakingfromscratch #frenchbaking
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