This Gluten Free Granola is super easy mix, Bake, Yum.
Butternut Squash Soup
This is a classic Butternut Squash soup. No frills all flavor. Its hard to imagine that this is actually just a autumn vegetable soup. No added cream or butter required. This is pure veggies!! The key to this soup is to get it as silky as possible. to do so, I used an immersion blender …
Cast Iron Paprika Chicken
The hardest part of this recipe is lifting the cast iron skillet to be placed on the stove. Cause WOW those things are heavy! But the arm workout is worth the exercise cause there is no way to get quite the same flavor without the seasoning that comes with a cast iron skillet. I will …
Count Chocula Crispies
We are taking it to the next level with these Count Chocula Crispies
Sheet Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Chicken
Sheet Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Chicken
Candy Cane Crepe Cake
Candy Cane Crepe Cake
Maple Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cassava Cake
A twist on a classic that’s definitely worth a try
Kutya (Sweet Wheat Raisin Pudding)
Kutya is a rather polarizing appetizer and most traditional Ukrainian food. The flavors and textures are quite perplexing. The poppy seeds are sweet yet gritty, while the wheat (barley) is chewy and fibrous, the walnuts provide a crunch, and the raisins provide a subtle tartness to offset the sweet poppyseeds. Each of the four ingredient …
Standing Snowglobe Cookies
I wanted to cap by 2021 Royal Icing Cookie journey with these standing snowglobe cookies. The WOW factor for these cookies is that they stand up! I made a regular decorated cookie then propped the design up with a triangle piece of cookie to keep it upright like a real snowglobe. Consistencies and colors: Flood …
Snickerdoodle Cookies (Reindeer)
Snickerdoodles are always a classic Christmas throwback. Something about it reminds me of my childhood. I’m not sure if its the simple and uncomplicated flavors of vanilla and the edginess of cinnamon as a child. Or if its the name that always makes me crack a smile. But Either way its one of the most …
Pecan Praline Cookies
Tis the season to eat your weight in pecans. These Pecan Praline Cookies are pretty simple, easy and straightforward as far as pecan desserts go. And no need for the messy corn syrup like most pecan desserts call for. These cookies are chewy, and the chewiness offsets the pecan bite! In order to make the …
Gingerbread Biscotti
Biscotti is a fan favorite in this house. I always love trying different ways to make biscotti fun throughout the year. So for the holidays I’ve been playing around with some Christmas flavor. And nothing says Christmas like gingerbread. There is something about gingerbread that warms you up from the inside. Perfect for the start …
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Orange Cranberry Sauce is one of my favorite Thanksgiving sides to make, because its soo easy to make and only has a handful of ingredients. Plus this is one of the few recipes that are a lot of fun to make. The cinnamon and allspice makes it fragrant. The cranberry and orange zest makes it …
Apple Cider Chicken Wings
I had some apple cider left over from my over zealous fall farm purchases and thought Id incorporate it into another fall favorite, Wings!! This is a festive take on traditional tailgating favorite! The glaze is flavorful but not overpowering. So if you choose to spice it up, the flavors won’t clash like the teams …
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Tis the season for spice!! I wanted to spice up my breakfast literally and figuratively, in a healthy way. The ingredients has a healthy balance of fiber, protein and fat to start the day off on the right foot. Plus I usually have oatmeal in the morning, I can’t start my day without it. And …
Apple Cider Donuts
I love apple cider donut this time of year. But who has time and heart health to eat fried donuts? Not me. I opted for baking my apple cider donuts using a donut pan. I know, I know, another specialized kitchen tool you will use at most once a year. But let me tell you …
Condensed Milk Cookies
Low on ingredients, but craving cookies? Or looking for a way to use up some condensed milk? This chocolate chip cookie recipe is only 5 ingredients (aside from the baking powder and salt)! No eggs or fresh milk and it gains its substance from sweetened condensed milk, which you probably have an extra can of …
Halloween Cut outs
For Halloween I made some cute Bats and Cats cut out cookies and followed by classic cut out cookies and royal frosting. The mummies are pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate, with a candy eye and some white chocolate drizzled on top.
Matcha Crepe Cake
The matcha crepe cake is the original crepe cake and it has a reputation for a reason. This cake is incredibly delicious, but seems like a daunting task for most home bakers. I’m here to tell you that scary reputation is unfounded. This cake simply takes some patience to assemble and it’s definitely worth the …
Easy Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler is a quintessential summer dessert. Quicker than a pie, but just as decadent, this super simple recipe will quickly become one of your favorites! You could even do this with fruits when its not peach season.
Halloween Trash Cookies
Leftover candy and snacks? Look no further, chop it all up and throw it into these cookies, the sweet and salty combo makes for a playful and resourceful dessert. Check out our recipe for details.
Spanakopita
When I think of Greek cuisine, one of the first things I think of is spanakopita. The flaky layers of philo and cheesy spinach filling make it seem quite challenging to make. However, using frozen philo do and ensuring moisture is removed from your filling will ensure crispy, flaky layers every time! Check out our …
Coffee Cheesecake Oreo Pie
I made this Coffee Cheesecake Oreo Pie for my brother’s birthday. He loves coffee and cheesecake is such a classic and refreshing dessert. So I thought I would merge the two and make coffee flavored cheesecake. For this cheesecake we used regular coffee. But if you wanted a stronger taste, you could also use instant …
Double Chocolate Chip Chocolate Biscotti
My family LOVES biscotti. Normally I make my trusted and true Cranberry Orange Biscotti. But Today I wanted to mix it up and go a little sweeter….. and chocolate-i-er. Making a normal dessert in a chocolate flavor peaks pretty much everyone’s interest. Sure I’ve had biscotti… but chocolate biscotti!? Now this I have to try. …
Chocolate Mousse Brownies
These brownies are equal parts fudge brownie and a fluffy light mousse. The combination doesn’t seem obvious at first, in fact they are quite opposite. But the secret here is in the balance of not only texture and density but also in richness of flavor. The cocoa powder on top also adds in some much …
Canned Jalapenos
This summer we had a bountiful harvest of Jalapenos so much so that we didn’t know what to do with them and they were starting to turn. So I decided to can the jalapenos using mason jars so we can preserve them and use them for toppings all year long. The basics are that you …
Chocolate Banana Shake
Are you ever in the mood for a milkshake but don’t want the calories? Well the Chocolate Banana Shake takes care of that for you . The Banana gives this drink a ice cream texture without the sugar and calories. Its very simple to make too. Just stick an unpeeled banana in the freezer a few …
Ginger Ale Carrots
Ginger Ale Carrots is probably one of the simplest recipes, ever. All you need are carrots and a can of ginger ale. MAYBE top is parsley if you want to be fancy. But that is all there is to it! The ginger ale is a great way to cook and also season the carrots, the …
Savory Cornbread Biscuits
I wanted to take a break from the sweet treats this week, and make something savory that I could have with dinner. But I still had the urge to bake. So I landed on biscuits. These biscuits are SAVORY which makes them the perfect addition to dinner. Sweet Corn, Cheese, Garlic, Green Onion, all combined …
Strawberry and Blue Cheese Flatbread ( Gluten Free)
Don’t call it a Pizza or you will have soooo many people hating before they try it!! For this reason we are going to carefully call this a Strawberry Blue Cheese “Flatbread” . Aka a non traditional “pizza”. Or better yet, just make it, and put it out for guests to try without a label. …
Flamin’ Hot Dorito Chicken
We had some Doritos left over from a recent event and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. Sure I could eat them, but then I have the guilt of eating all of these chips when I’m suppose to be dieting. So instead I turned it into a flaky crunchy baked chicken cutlet crust. …
Buttermilk Broccoli Salad
Buttermilk Broccoli Salad is such a refreshing summer salad. It has a great combination of fresh, raw broccoli and sinful bacon and cheese. This salad is relatively easy to make. We start off like any typical salad gathering or making the ingredients, then putting it all together. We start off with some crumbled bacon using …
Cheeseburger Burrito
I was craving a summer burger but it was a rainy day and I didn’t have the time to form patties nor did I have the gusto to go out in the rain and fire up the grill. So instead I thought I would take the ground beef and make a cheeseburger burrito instead. It’s …
Blueberry Lemonade
There is nothing more refreshing than Blueberry Lemonade on a hot summer day. Why add blueberries to a classic lemonade? It reduces the dryness of regular lemonade, and adds flavor without adding sweetness. The added complexity of blueberries makes this drink a little more robust and gives off mock-tail vibes! (I’m sure you can add …
Blue Cheese and Date Stuffed Apricots
Blue Cheese and Date Stuffed Apricots is the perfect refreshing summer appetizer or snack. And its pretty simple to make. No Baking or cooking involved. Just chopping and assembling. Perfect treat to bring with you to the potluck BBQ. Everyone will be amazed at how sophisticated your dish is. The saltiness of the blue cheese …
Banana Oatmeal Breakfast bars
These breakfast bars are gluten free, filling and healthy! I usually have a bowl of oatmeal in the morning with some sliced banana. For some reason not having oatmeal doesn’t keep me as full through the day. So I wanted to make a “mobile” version for those days when I’m on the go and can’t …
Mac and Cheese Bites
Who doesn’t love baked Mac and Cheese? This dish is a classic Americana, and what is even better is that they are formed into individual serving sizes. Which makes it beautiful to display and also Covid friendly since there is no communal pot. Plus you don’t need to worry about getting your dish back since …
Strawberry Short Angel Cake
Angel food cake is ALL about the technique! Unlike most cakes, angel cake does not include any leavening agents like baking soda or baking powder. Instead it relies on the whipped eggs to and an ungreased pan to raise the batter. The most difficult part of this cake is getting the eggs whipped into soft …
Banana Split Pie
As a part of Christina Tosi’s Milkbar class we were challenged to make our own original pie recipe. We had to create a flavor story and mine was as a child eating banana splits on a warm summer day. So I thought of a flavor combination that reminded me of that experience. I created a …
Easy Cherry Pie
Cherry pie is a close second to apple pie in the race for classic American pies. This recipe, using frozen cherries, is fast and easy, especially using premade uncooked pie crusts. Full of flavor and ten times better than any filling from a can, you’ll be wondering why you haven’t always been making this from …
Bacon Wrapped Carrots
Carrots are not an exciting vegetable. There I said it. Its not that people dislike carrots, its just that no one looks forward to cooked carrots. I think it may be because no matter what cooked carrots always taste like carrots. Even when it’s slathered with butter and cinnamon. I wanted to break out from …
Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
As I’ve mentioned many times before, I’m a big fan of spinach and artichoke anything. So, when my mom wanted to make stuffed mushrooms recently, I had the brilliant idea of doing spinach artichoke stuffed mushrooms. They’re gluten free, cheesy, vegetarian and full of veggies. A perfect appetizer, side dish or entree for a light …
Gluten Free Cacio e Pepe
This recipe is so simple, I’m shocked it’s not in my regular rotation. Cacio e Pepe literally means cheese and pepper. And that is basically the recipe in itself. I opted for gluten free pasta, but regular pasta works just fine if that’s not something you need to look out for. Then its just pasta …
Gluten Free Vegan Banana Bread Muffins
If I didn’t tell you these muffins are gluten free and vegan, you’d never know. Moist, flavorful, fluffy and decadent, it’s hard not to go for seconds! Easy to pull together with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Don’t worry about the oat flour, you can easily make it yourself by blitzing rolled …
Lemon Blueberry Cake
I decided to take some principles that I learned from Christina Tosi’s Milkbar class and applied it to this delicious Lemon Blueberry Cake. I wanted to make a fruit based cake for my grandmother’s birthday. Growing up she always had raspberries and blueberries in her garden and we would pick them all summer long. Last …
4 Ingredient No-Bake Protein Bar
Love protein bars, but hate the options in the store, or can’t find exactly what you want? We’ve got you covered. Mix and match your desired nut butter and protein flavors with a rolled oat base to get the perfect combination. I prefer vanilla protein and peanut butter, but feel free to mix it up …
Chicken Saltimbocca
I always loved prosciutto. So when I passed a package of prosciutto in the grocery store I knew I had to make a recipe with it or else I would just the entire package by myself . I also decided to buy some mozzarella because of course it was right next to the prosciutto and …
Peach and Blueberry Yogurt Cake
I had some leftover Peaches and Blueberries from this summer and decided to make a summer cake as a pick me up. This Cake is dense almost like a bread which made it perfect for a hardy breakfast snack. But also a nice complimentary dish to have with milk after dinner. For this cake, I …
Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Any combination of peanut butter and chocolate and I’m there! I’ve always wanted to try to make a vegan cheesecake and this peanut butter chocolate rendition was the perfect first try. Creamy and rich, it’s got all the sensations of cheesecake that you love, without the dairy, eggs or gluten and no need to bake!
Sauerkraut and Kielbasa
A staple of Ukrainian Cuisine is Sauerkraut and Kielbasa. But what is Sauerkraut exactly? What makes it so Sour? Sauerkraut is cabbage that is pickled and fermented. The fermentation process removes the sugars in the cabbage leaves to make the distinctive “sour” taste. Kielbasa is often paired with sauerkraut as the saltiness of the kielbasa …
Tropical Passionfruit and Papaya Pie
I feel like I really went for it for this final recipe and I’m so glad I did! I really wanted to do passionfruit and papaya and this combo turned out just delectable. That tart punch of passionfruit curd topped with a creamy papaya mousse that’s just sweet enough and finally just a bit of …
Banana Foster Cake
Part of the Milkbar class I took this past January taught us the principles of combining flavors and choosing ingredients that are complimentary. We were challenged to take what we learned in making the famous birthday cake and make our own creation with the help of the given base recipes. I always liked the show …
Cauliflower Froggia
Coming from a big Italian family, we love to cook and I love exploring Italian recipes, sharing them with my family and making them my own. That’s how this recipe came about. My uncle and cousins decided to give this recipe a try and after hearing their success and rave reviews, I knew I needed …
Spinach Stuffed Chicken
I’m always looking out for a good chicken recipe to add to my repertoire. Something that its a combination of chicken and vegetables. This Spinach Stuffed Chicken is a best of both worlds. The chicken breast is kept moist from being cooked in the oven. And is also aided by the moisiure in the spinach …
Spaghetti Nests
Want an easy, but fun weeknight dinner that also stores and saves easily in individual servings? We got you, look no further than spaghetti nests. With only 4 ingredients and the muffin pan of your choice (I used double sized) this comes together in a snap and looks super fun and cute.
Popovers
I was chatting with some folks at work about our quarantine baking and how its difficult to divide recipes to reduce the baking scale. When my senior VP mentioned that he makes popovers since they are delicious and you can make 2 at a time. Naturally I had to find out for myself exactly how …
Italian Easter Bread
I love easter time, Spring is in the air, it’s no longer quite as cold, and of course the Easter Bunny brings lots of treats! While the Easter bunny doesn’t bring Easter Bread, it’s another sweet treat that’s perfect to enjoy with the family. Easter bread is common in Italian communities and has a lot …
Easter Cut-outs with Royal Icing
One of my goals for 2021 was to work on my Royal Icing skills and learn new techniques. First step in getting any royal icing cookie is to get get a solid foundation cookie. This cookie recipe is PERFECT. They are stable, not crumbling and retain their shape with crisp edges in the oven. I …
Roasted Red Pepper Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are a great appetizer for any party, but when you have guests that aren’t a big fan of mayo or mustard you have to brainstorm for some alternatives. Swapping the mayo for greek yogurt and changing the flavor profile to give it more of a mediteranead flare solves this issue. In this recipe …
Whipped Coffee Dip
I stumbled upon this recipe as I was prototyping another recipe that didn’t quite make the cut. I wanted to make a pie with a biscoff crust, chocolate layer and a coffee mousse filling. Unfortunately the chocolate layer was too overpowering and I decided to go in another directions. However I used the rest of …
Stuffed Mushrooms (Gluten Free)
I was looking for side side recipes when I came across stuffed mushrooms. These are surprisingly simple to make. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that these had flown under the radar for so long. BUT NOT ANYMORE! These are sooo simple to make and everyone loves them. I decided to adapt the recipe a little …
Salsa Rice
I love making easy renditions of mexican dishes for dinner and my absolute favorite thing to serve on the side is salsa rice. I love salsa rice because its super easy, customizable and is a good combination of starches and veggies. Simply cook your added veggies while the rice is in the microwave, combine and …
Homemade Pesto and Pasta
There is no better taste of homemade basil pesto. This was so fragrant, it was better than any spring candle I have at home. It was super easy to make too I can’t believe I haven’t made this before. The recipe is basically putting all the ingredients in the food processor then serving over pasta. …
Mexican Lentil Burgers
Mexican Lentil Burgers Looking for some ways to switch up the protein sources in your life, or trying more vegetarian or vegan recipes? Well if so you should definitely give these mexican lentil burgers a try. Packed with protein and fiber from delicious legumes and full of flavor, you won’t even miss the meat. I …
Barstool Cookies (with a gluten free version)
These Barstool Cookies I made as my individual project in the cookie section of Christina Tosi’s Milkbar class. Taking the principles we learned from the class we were instructed to create a recipe of our own to reflect a point in time. I wanted to make a cookie that is a complimentary late night snack …
Fajita Tacos
This is a recipe refresh, taking old recipes, mash it up with new recipes to create new flavors and simplifying for busy people. What makes this recipe different from the usual taco? We are taking elements from Fajita recipes and elements from classic Tacos recipes to make a flavor explosion. We are preparing the veggies …
Crispy Thai Fried Eggplant
Although eggplant parmesan gets a lot of the attention when it comes to fried eggplant dishes, this version using thai eggplants is sure to broaden your horizons. Crispy, crunchy and filled with flavors of ginger, sesame and a touch of spice, it’s a perfect appetizer, side or vegetarian star. The small size is especially nice …
Valentines Candy Heart Cutout Cookies
One of my goals for 2021 was to work on my Royal Icing skills and learn new techniques. First step in getting any royal icing cookie is to get get a solid foundation cookie. This cookie recipe is PERFECT. They are stable, not crumbling and retain their shape with crisp edges in the oven. I …
Tortilla Chip Corn Muffins
Love corn muffins? Have leftover tortilla chips and beer? Make these! I devised these corn muffins after hosting a Sunday football party when I had a bunch of leftover tortilla chips and cheap beer I didn’t want to drink. Let me tell you though, this was one of my best recipe experiments. The chips add …
Espresso Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
These espresso banana chocolate chip muffins are a whole new twist on the classic banana bread muffins. What I like about this recipe is that every special ingredient has a role in making this a super flavorful muffin. The chocolate chips make it sweet and gooey, the banana makes it soft, the espresso makes it a …
Buffalo Chicken Potato Skins
Potato skins can be a bit labor intensive if you do them all in one go, but I’ve learned that you can cut your prep time in half and kill two birds with one stone if you bake your potatoes ahead of time. Bake your potatoes a few days ahead and use the insides to …
Gluten Free Meatloaf
I used to love my mother’s meatloaf growing up. This meatloaf recipe has a fine consistency, so its almost like eating a tasty meatball. I was never a fan of chunks in my meat whether it be onion, pepper or anything else. To me, the chunks of veggies disrupted the consistency and were never cooked …
Nutella Stuffed Brownies
I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like Nutella. Its delicious. Creamy, rich, nutty, there is nothing better. Which is why this is the perfect twist to add to a classic brownie. This recipe is more of a baking hack than a recipe. I shortcut the time and ingredients by using a box mix. Don’t get …
No Yeast Seasoned Pizza Crust Salad Bowl
I’m all for simplification, so when I learned of this super simple no-yeast pizza crust I was sold! When I can’t get pizza dough or I’m craving something pizza-like this recipe is my go-to. Inspired by a pizza dough bread bowl I saw on instagram I knew I had to try it with this recipe. …
Beef Bourguignon
When I lived in the UK, eating out came in one of two styles. The first style was British, which was essentially pub food: meat pies, bangers and mash, pork pies, deep-fried fish and chips, Sunday Roast, gammon steak, and ploughman’s platter. While British cuisine doesn’t usually top the list of culinary experiences. It was …
Big Mac Salad
Let’s ease into this whole New Years Resolution diet thing slowly. No need to jump mouth first into the lettuce just to relapse back to burgers two days later. Successful diets usually have a slow transition and consistency. Which is why the Big Mac Salad is the perfect transition from junk food to healthy foods! …
Coconut Cake
Crazy for coconut? I am! This is the ultimate coconut cake, from the coconut cream cheese frosting topped with shredded coconut all the way down to the coconut flour used in the cake. You could serve this cake any season, but it feels especially festive in the winter because it’s reminiscent of a snowball. So …
Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread Cookies are probably THE classic Christmas cookie. Dating back to the 16th century these cookies have been widely popular in Europe for a while now. And it seems like every culture has adopted a variation of this cookie. Which is a testament to how iconic these cookies are. Its common that now a days …
Hot Chocolate Cookies
There is nothing better than curling up with some hot chocolate on a cold day and watch some Christmas movies on TV. There is something so warm and cozy about it all. These cookies have all the warm and cozy feels in cookie form. Light and chewy chocolate cookies with fluffy light marshmallows topped with …
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of those recipes where they aren’t fancy, but they are unique enough that they are a hit at parties. Especially at Christmas the allure of a green cookie gets the best of everyone’s curiosity. For this recipe I use the classic Andes Mints which are a thin layer of …
Not Your Grandma’s Fruitcake
I’ve never been a big fruitcake person, but I’ve always loved dried fruit and panettone, which is the Italian version of fruitcake. What I love about panettone is that it’s lighter than regular fruitcake, it doesn’t have that heavy dense feeling. My mom was craving fruitcake, and with a plethora of dried fruit in the …
Coconut Macaroons
The coconut macaroon is a harmonious cookies prominently featured at the big two December holidays: Christmas and Hanukkah. I love making Coconut Macaroons cause they are soo easy to make. With only 5 ingredients (6 if you choose to coat the bottoms with chocolate), this recipe is sooo simple. And its also naturally gluten free, …
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Peanut Butter Blossoms is a holiday classic. This recipe has been made for generations and generations. And I’m not one to break tradition. So I’m honoring the classic recipe below. What I love about this recipe is first and foremost the peanut butter cookie, secondly the melted chocolate kiss on top. And lastly, the left …
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
This Thanksgiving is different than most. COVID has made it difficult to gather together with family without the fear or possibility that we could be exposing our loved ones. With all the changes we made to be able to gather safely, I knew I needed a dynamite dessert to make everything seem alright again. So …
Apple Cider Spritz
The holidays always call for a celebratory drink. In honor of the flavors of fall and thanksgiving apple cider is the perfect base. Livened up with a splash of spumante and decorated with a cinnamon sugar rim this simple apple cider spritz is sure to spice up your holiday meal.
Maple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
Ooey gooey cinnamon rolls are the perfect treat on a lazy weekend morning and trust me, when you’ve had them homemade you’ll never be able to go back to the ones out of the can! Yes, there is some extreme time and effort involved, but it’s oh so worth it. As much as I love …
Pumpkin Cheesecake Crepe Cake
The last few years it’s become a tradition of going apple picking each fall with my friends and family. The farm we usually go to not only has traditional apple picking, but pumpkins, a farm stand, activities, live music and an array of food stands. One of these stands serves up samples and slices of …
Classic Apple Pie
This is a classic apple pie recipe. We are using Pillsbury pre-made pie crust for this recipe. Of course you can make your own crust. But after making it several times myself, I can tell you its not worth the time. Simply because its tough to get the right consistency with the dough, then it …
Baked Hush Puppies
Hush puppies, corn bread, corn muffins, I’ve always got to have one of these to go with a big bowl of chilli or some southern BBQ. I’m always testing out new variations and these baked hush puppies are a great savory corn option that is a bit lighter than the traditional fried version. They’re also …
Baguette French Toast
I’ve always loved fresh toast, but baguette french toast only became a thing when my husband started picking up a fresh loaf on our weekly grocery trip. Baguettes are awesome, but they can go stale overnight. One of the best ways to re-purpose an extra crusty baguette is by turning it into french toast. Crusty …
Pumpkin Chip Muffin Tops
“Top of the Muffin to you”! As Seinfeld said it best, the best part of a muffin is the top. So lets skip to the chase here. These baked goods are cake-like and moist inside, making them the perfect consistency for a muffin top. And best of all, no wasted muffin stumps! I used a can …
Apple Crumb Shortbread
I went apple picking this past week which left me with a lot of apples and a lot of baking possibilities. Apple Crumb and Apple crisp are by far my favorite. I love the taste of the apples with the cinnamon and spices. I decided to put a twist on a classic apple crumb by …
Mummy Dogs
Who doesn’t love pigs in a blanket? Those were always my favorite appetizers at family parties as a kid. So I figured why not go full-size and festive for halloween! Just as easy as the bite sized version, you really only need three ingredients and a few helping hands and these come together in just …
Green Monster Pistachio Cupcakes
Scouring my mind for a fun halloween recipe I knew I wanted to do something green and spooky. I opened my cupboard and saw a few extra boxes of pistachio pudding mix. Bingo! I love pistachio and of course it’s perfectly green for halloween! This was my inspiration for my monster cupcakes. To make them …
Peach Almond Pastry
I had a few peaches left over from peach picking this summer. And was going to meet some friends for an outdoor BBQ and wanted to use up the rest of them to make a dessert for the party. I ended up having some puff pastry in the freezer, so I decided to make these …
Instant Pot Apple Sauce
After making your own apple sauce you’ll never want to buy store-bought again, especially when the instant pot makes it so easy! I never liked store-bought applesauce to begin with, I was spoiled as a kid and lucky enough to make homemade apple sauce with my grandma every year. Her apple sauce is still my …
Cauliflower and Broccoli Gratin
I was one of those weird kids growing up that actually enjoyed vegetables. Broccoli? Yes. Spinach? Yes. Cauliflower? Yes. Brussels sprouts? Yes. And I still enjoy them to this day. Im always on the look out to figure out new recipes to keep the veggie side dishes interesting.  Since this recipe has cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, cheese, …
Pesto Chicken Meatballs
So what do you do when you have too much basil leftover from your farmers market haul? You make pesto! What do you do when you have lots of pesto? You whip up pesto chicken meatballs of course! An easy and tasty way to both use up your extra pesto and liven up your meatball …
Gluten Free Pizza (Garbanzo Bean Crust)
The pizza crust is made with garbanzo bean flour (chickpea). Not only is this gluten free, but the Garbanzo bean flour adds 20 grams of protein to the crust. The recipe for the crust is simple, flour, water, salt and a little oil. That’s it! With this recipe there is no need to knead or …
Butternut Squash Pie
I’m a big fan of pumpkin pie, but I also love all of the different varieties of squash available in the fall. That got me to thinking, why not try squash pie? They’re similar in taste and consistency, I bet it would be delicious. I had an extra butternut squash, so I roasted it up …
Broccoli Rabe
Broccoli Rabe also known as Rapini is one of my favorite Italian dishes. Its buttery, garlic-y, delicious and has a great source of iron, folate, calcium, and vitamin A, C K. Its a great option for those of you looking for a healthy leafy green to add to a meal. And you can usually find …
Italian Pepperoni Chicken Bake
I’ve developed some of my best recipes when I decided to combine mish-mashed and leftover ingredients in my fridge. That’s where this delectable, and oddly fancy seeming dinner came from. I’d ordered some chicken thighs on instacart, made some italian recipes earlier in the week, a small portion of spinach that wasn’t enough for a …
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes
I used to love eating raw cookie dough and any dessert that had cookie dough in it. Im not sure if I have ever met some who didnt like Cookie Dough. Which is why both the cupcakes and frosting are both cookie dough flavored. You can never have too much ! These have been a …
The BEST Falafel
In my hometown there was a Greek restaurant that I grew up going to. I absolutely loved their food, especially their falafels. They were different from falafels I would get anywhere else. They were light, not overly spiced, not greasy, covered in sesame seeds and a beautiful shade of green on the inside. After the …
Sweet Potato Fries
Admittedly this recipe was born from a different recipe that left me with a few extra sweet potatoes. I had to find another recipe to use up the other sweet potatoes. I ended up choosing sweet potato fries because it is simple, fast and didn’t require a lot of ingredients. This is one of those …
Spinach and Onion Quiche
I love quiche in all forms, big small, appetizer, entree, veggie or meat. It’s also an excellent way to use up some extra eggs, veggies or protein leftover in your fridge, or just another excuse to enjoy some flaky pie crust. This spinach and onion quiche is simple, satisfying and super simple to put together, …
Huevos Ranchero
Huevos Rancheros translates to ranch eggs, its a common dish that is made famous by its simplicity and quickness to make. Its simply a tortilla, black beans, eggs and some flavorful topping of your choice. The base it simple and you can make it as complex as you want.  What I love about Huevos Rachero …
Banana Pudding
I was never a big pudding person, and I was never big on banana desserts or candies because I hated that artificial banana flavor. That is until I had Magnolia Barkery’s banana pudding. That was the day my perspective on banana deserts completely changed! This banana pudding was out of this world and I was …
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Honey and Garlic is a classic combination. We see it everywhere and its especially popular on chicken wings. So why not apply the same taste to chicken thigh to get the same great taste without the bones. Searing chicken is a technique rarely used but it creates a delicious result. Similar to cooking steak, we …
White Chocolate Raspberry Honey Corn Muffins
One of my favorite places for brunch in New York City is Sarabeth’s. With their brunch they offer these delicious muffins, one of which is a raspberry corn muffin that I absolutely love slathered with lots of butter! Recently, while visiting my mom I had a hankering for muffins and thought it would be a …
Apricot Chicken Thighs
Don’t let the sweet apricot coating fool you! These thighs have some kick! I had bought some chicken thighs and wanted to make something new and different then my regular go to. While searched the fridge for what other ingredients to pair it with. I came across a jar of apricot preserves that has likely …
Crispy Eggplant
I was making eggplant parmesan and had a bunch of leftover ‘reject’ eggplant from the discarded ends and sides. I hate seeing food go to waste and so I devised this ‘crispy’ eggplant recipe to use up my leftovers and liven up your generic roasted version.
Mozzarella Encarozza
Like most Italian American families mine was close. Not just emotionally but physically. No grandparent lived more than 10 minutes away at any time. And this ensured that a large percentage of my childhood was spent in their homes. It also meant that a large percentage of my childhood was spent stuffed: the claims of …
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are a staple in my house, especially on football Sundays. However, I never really thought of them as a ‘main dish’ or ‘main protein’ when preparing a dinner. This all changed when I was preparing a family dinner and my husband requested a protein to go with eggplant parmesan. I thought the eggplant …
Key Lime Pie
Key Lime Pie is something I have always seen in movies. In my mind it was an all american dessert that cools you down on a hot summer day. But I never had a chance to try it. And I figured this food blog is the perfect excuse for me to try new recipes. As …
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
I love banana bread and I’ve made hundreds of recipes over the years. My coronavirus baking adventures brought along continued experiments and I’ve landed on this version as my new go to. This recipe is great because its simple ingredients that you’ll have in your pantry and contains, what I call the banana bread trifecta, …
Creamy Dill Potatoes
Growing up we used to go to church where they often time had a lunch afterwards in the community hall. There would be a tray of creamy dill potatoes. Potatoes, dill and sour cream are common ingredients in Ukrainian cuisine. So its no wonder that this is the base of this recipe. The recipe is …
Cilantro Avocado Dip
I was on vacation in the Hamptons for the 4th of July. While stocking up for the weekend I stopped at a local farm stand to pick up some produce and treats. While there a friend I was staying with picked up this cilantro avocado dip to share with our snacks. I enjoy cilantro and …
Pineapple Mustard Chicken
Mustard isn’t just for hotdogs, mustard is now being used to flavor ALL the meats. And of course, why wouldn’t it! Mustard is very low calorie and yet packs so much flavor. Its a great addition to “spice” up a meal. It also has selenium and magnesium which is known to be good for low …
Lamb Burgers
Greek has always been one of my favorite cuisines, but I have to admit I didn’t appreciate the flavor profile of lamb until I got a bit older. Over the past few years I’ve really grown to love lamb burgers, especially in the summer when paired with refreshing tzatziki, a crisp bit of lettuce and …
Classic Pound Cake
Pound cake is called pound cake because it requires a pound of each ingredient. A pound of flour, a pound of butter, pound of sugar, pound of eggs. Which makes this one of the most literal desserts, and possibly the heaviest dessert. At first I was very intimidated. I wondered if all the ingredients would …
Easy Strawberry Bundt Cake
It’s summertime and that means lots of fresh fruit! My mom and I are both big fruit fans, especially berries. When I was visiting recently and she requested I make a special dessert for dinner I knew I could whip something up with the fresh strawberries she had in the fridge. Since I was in …
Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats
Its Zucchini Season! And these Chicken Parmesan Zucchini boats are super simple to make. It’s a light twist to the classic chicken parmesan that leave you feeling full and satisfied. I also like that it pairs meat and a veggie which also answers the question of what vegetable should I make for dinner?. We start …
Leaf-boat Tuna Salad
I love tuna salad, its low is fat, high in protein and can be made ahead of time. Which makes lunch preparation a breeze. I decided to pair this tuna salad with romaine as a leaf boat instead of bread to cut down on calories and add some additional healthy greens to the mix. Also, …
Watermelon and Pineapple Smoothie
In the summer all I want to do is lounge by the pool with a cool drink and relax. Even if you don’t have a pool or a beach handy this refreshing smoothie will make you feel like you’re relaxing by the water. Simple and filled with fresh fruit it will quench any parched palette. …
Gluten Free Chocolate Croissants
Croissants are one of my favorite breakfast treats and I also love experimenting with puff pastry. Recently, while picking up some frozen puff pastry I noticed a gluten free version next to my usual Dufour variety. Knowing a lot of people with gluten issues and or wanting to go gluten free so I decided to …
Breakfast Quiche Wonton Cups
I had some leftover wonton wrappers so I decided to turn them into the crust for mini breakfast quiche cups. I took a muffin/ cupcake pan, greased the inside and folded the wonton wrapper into it. Then added some egg, broccoli, seasoning and topped it off with some cheddar cheese. If you have other veggies …
Low Calorie Wonton Soup
Normally wonton soup is made with pork which makes it super rich, fatty, and delicious. To make this lower calorie, I used ground chicken instead, which makes it less rich but healthier. This recipe is super simple to make. The hard part is mustering up the patience to fill and fold all of the wontons. …
Eggplant Parmesan
Growing up with Italian heritage eggplant was always a staple. I’m sure we had it at least once a week as a side dish, appetizer, entree. Our kitchen was never short on this deep purple veggie. Although eggplant parmesan is considered a quintessential Italian American dish it was usually reserved for special occasions at our …
Brocolli, Chicken, Penne Casserole
Let’s not call it a Casserole. Is there any word less sexy than Casserole? Instead lets call this a flavor party. When Broccoli, Chicken, Penne, Mushrooms and the life of the party cheddar cheese part’s together you get this one bowl flavor party. What I like about this dish is that you have your protein, …
Cinnamon Roll Braided Sweet Bread
I’ve had limited experience with yeast, but was feeling adventurous while cooped up inside during coronavirus quarantine. I figured it was the perfect time to begin experimenting and finally learn to work with yeast baked goods. I devised this recipe as a spin on a traditional italian easter bread, something I enjoy with my family …
Simple Mango Lassi
This Mango Lassi is a famous Indian yogurt based drink. This smoothie is full bodied, tasty and is super simple to make. This recipe only has 3 ingredient. Yogurt, Milk and Mango. The yogurt and milk gives a good amount of protein and calcium while the mango provides fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. There …
Lemon Poppy Glazed Brownies
Lemon Poppy Glazed Brownies! I never thought that you could make a brownie without chocolate in it. But here we are. I suppose one could call these bars, but I like the brownie reference since it perfectly describes the consistency to be like a fudge-y cake . This is the perfect summer treat. The lemon is …
Balsamic Pasta Salad
I’ve always loved my mom’s pasta salad. It was different from everyone elses pasta salad and reminded me of my Italian heritage. Loaded with artichokes, olive, pimentos, three bean salad, italian dressing and parmesan cheese, this was not the mayo-laden stuff served by the tub at your lunchroom cafeteria. I had a hankering for my …
Cranberry Orange Biscotti
Biscotti is one of the more versatile coffee shop snacks. Is it a biscuit? Is it a cookie? Is it a pastry? There seems to be no rules and no boundaries with biscotti. You can basically add in any flavors, fruit, nuts, chocolate to it. The dough is relatively neutral and takes on whatever flavors …
Quarantine Stuffed Peppers for Two
It’s quarantine, groceries are limited and you’ve got to get creative with what your instacart order delivers. Feeling like I wanted something sort of south of the border and with a few extra bell peppers and a pound of ground beef in the fridge I figured I could whip up some stuffed peppers. Typically for …
Orange Chicken
This is a healthier version of the take out orange chicken we know and love. Without the fried breading. Although it seems like a lot of ingredients and thus complicated to make, this can really be separated into 3 simple steps. Browning the chicken, mixing sauce ingredients and then putting it all together. Its a …
Pork Rind Crusted Garlic Parmesan Chicken
If you want to get on the keto trend or simply want to achieve crispy chicken this recipe is for you. Pork rinds often get a bad wrap for being unhealthy, weird, gross or a low class snack, but with the keto diet on the rise and plenty of boutique pork rind brands hitting the …
Classic Tiramisu
Is there a better combination than coffee and rum? I wanted to try a classic tiramisu with a shortcut of using store- bought lady fingers. By using premade lady fingers, this recipe becomes more about assemble rather than baking. Which is perfect for those who either don’t have an oven, or use their own to …
Crispy Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
Add ‘crispy’ to just about anything and it immediately sounds more appetizing. So adding crispy plus garlic and parmesan to brussels sprouts and you’ve immediately piqued my interest. With just a little extra seasoning this is an easy way to liven up regular roasted brussels sprouts and make a side dish the star of your …
Vanilla Bean Raspberry Cake
A few days ago was my grandmothers 95th birthday. I wanted to make her a giant birthday cake which would be a show stopper. She loves raspberries and grows them in her garden at home. So I knew I had to incorporate raspberry filling in the cake. I decided to go with a standard vanilla …
Everything Mini Bagels
I love bagels! There’s nothing quite like a fresh bagel with cream cheese and a hot coffee. Especially on a weekend morning. For me, that ideal bagel would be an everything bagel and I’d be sitting on a park bench in Central Park. Well, when I can’t have that perfect moment, or a fresh bagel, …
Souffle Pancakes
These fluffy jiggle pancakes have been roaming around pintrest and instagram for some time now. They are light, fluffy and full of flavor. I had to try to make them. These pancakes are famous for being soft, light, tall and fluffy. The trick to get these pancakes fully is to whip the egg whites and …
Funfetti Cupcakes with Simple Cream Cheese Frosting
Sprinkles make everything feel fun and like a cause for celebration. Birthday or not this super moist cupcake recipe will make any desert time feel fun and festive. This recipe comes together quickly and is paired with a simple cream cheese frosting, which doesn’t require the finesse and expertise of preparing a typical buttercream. It …
Easter ‘Trash’ Brownie Bites
Easter’s just passed and I don’t know about you, but I’ve got an awful lot of leftover candy that I’m not sure what to do with. Especially the marshmallow peeps. I like marshmallows and smores and peeps are fun to look at, but I don’t have a burning desire to eat them out of the …
Classic Fruit Tart
This recipe is great to make in advance for a party. In order to make a proper fruit tart you need to have the proper fruit tart pans. I know what you are thinking. Ugh another specialized pan I need to make something? Not necessarily, you could use a regular pie pan, BUT it just …
Easy Easter Oatmeal Cookies
I love the chewy satisfying flavor of oatmeal cookies, and wanted to make something festive for spring and Easter. While shopping at my local target I came across a delicious looking spring trail mix with nuts, dried fruit, chocolate & butterscotch chips and adorable pastel candy coated chocolate pieces. I was inspired and knew it …
Carrot Cake Muffins
Carrot Cake is my mom’s favorite cake, so every year I try to make her carrot cake for her birthday. Typically I go all out with the cake, cream cheese frosting and decorations. However, a whole cake can be a lot to finish, especially if it isn’t for the big party. This year I decided …
Blueberry Protein Donuts
I absolutely love blueberry donuts, but I also know your traditional blueberry donut is loaded with sugar, fat and probably not the best thing to have for breakfast or a snack. I wanted to create a treat like blueberry donuts that I’d feel less guilty eating. Luckily, my favorite protein brand came out with a …
Creamy Snap Peas and Pancetta
This Creamy Snap Peas and Pancetta dish is a “snap” to make. Its easy as 1,2,3. 1. prep the pancetta, 2 cook the peas, 3 add in the sauce. Its that easy! If your local grocery store doesn’t have pancetta or its too expensive for your liking, you can swap for bacon. Pancetta is a …
Banana Pancakes (3 Ingredient)
I love this recipe because it is super simple to make, and it’s fast with only 3 ingredients. Yes that’s right. Banana as the content, Egg as the binder and to make it fluffy and cinnamon for taste. You don’t even need a mixer for this one. Just mash a ripe banana with a fork …
Eggplant Boats
Eggplant is an Italian staple. Although eggplant parmesan is the popular recipe, my favorite is a slightly lighter option that my grandmother used to make, eggplant boats. With the option to be vegetarian and loaded with peppers, onions and mushrooms, this recipe lets the vegetable rainbow take center stage rather than covering them up with …
Shamrock Cutouts
It’s time for St. Patrick’s Day and what better way to celebrate than with some adorable shamrock cutout cookies. Our no fail cream cheese cutout recipe is perfect for this and easily adaptable too. To liven up the traditional recipe we thought we’d match a shamrock’s minty hue by adding peppermint extract into our cookies …
Shamrock Shake
The Traditional Shamrock shake is classic St Patrick’s Day dessert. Made famous by McDonald’s. Its essentially a vanilla shake with some added peppermint flavoring and some holiday color. Here I break down a simple recipe to make at home that is even better than the classic Peppermint shape that McDonald’s offers. The secret here is …
Shepard’s Pie
Shepard’s pie is a classic Irish comfort food that is essentially a layer of cooked meat/veggies and a layer of mashed potatoes. This “pie” is crust-less which means this recipe also happens to be gluten-free without any substitutions. This recipe became popular in the 1700’s because it was a frugal way to combine leftovers into …
Sweet Potato Cornmeal Pancakes
I love breakfast food, especially pancakes and waffles. I recently took a trip to Kentucky and at one of the inns where I stayed I had the most amazing cornmeal pancakes. They were buttery, thin and crispy but delicate and tender as well. After returning home I wanted to try and recreate that amazing breakfast …
Sesame BBQ Chicken Thighs
Using a slow cooker (crockpot) is my new favorite way to cook because it does most of the work for you. Maximum taste, minimal work. This recipe calls for chicken thighs to be seared prior to adding them to the slow cooker. Searing Chicken? Yes. This helps to brown the meat a little and retain …
Baked Lobster Tails
Lobster is the ultimate celebration food. Birthday’s, anniversaries, promotions, valentines day, lobster makes any occasion feel extra special. It can also be very intimidating to cook, especially when the lobsters are still live! That’s why I love this recipe, its simple, quick, and doesn’t involve live lobsters.  Lobster tails are easily accessible at your …
Almond Biscotti
Biscotti has always been the classic pairing for coffee and tea. The toasted crisp cookie biscuit that soaks up the flavor and creates some substance with your morning coffee. The secret to getting this crisp biscuit is to toast it a little longer in the oven on each side. Its the twice baked pastry. The …
Blistered Shishito Peppers
Shishito peppers have become a dinner staple for my husband and I. Since moving to New York nearly 10 years ago they’ve popped up as an appetizer on nearly every restaurant’s menu and I couldn’t be happier. They’re flavorful, zesy and very healthy.Fortunately, they’re also super simple to make at home. All you need to …
Turkey Chili
Chili is one of those foods that are impossible to mess up. It’s a large pot of meat (unless vegetarian), veggies and spices. that sits until the spices infuse into the meat and veggies. I love chili because it’s hearty, filling, full of protein, no carbs. This version uses ground turkey for lower calories, but …
Valentines Day Spritz cookies
These cookies are made with a cookie press. I never used a cookie press before but now that I have, I can’t wait to make this recipe for any and every occasion. The reason why it’s called spritz cookies is because it’s the German word for squirt as the dough “squirts” from the cookie press. …
‘Everything’ Bagel Chicken
This might be one of the easiest recipes I’ve ever posted. So easy in fact it doesn’t even seem like a recipe, but it was just so tasty I felt the need to share! I love everything bagels, so I had to try Trader Joes ‘Everything But the Bagel’ seasoning, but didn’t plan what I’d …
Buttered Rum Brittle
I found myself with extra corn syrup and pecans after making our delicious pecan pie bars. And I found this recipe for Buttered Rum Brittle. I know what you are thinking… brittle? really? bye. Bare with me here, this is NOT  your grandmas brittle. This recipe elevates the typical sugary brittle to be more complex …
Spinach Artichoke Cauliflower Rice
I think I’ve expressed my love of spinach artichoke dip before. It’s tasty, flavorful, and want to think it’s healthy because it has vegetables but also a bit fancy because it has artichokes. This recipe aims to combine my love of spinach artichoke dip with my need for a decently healthy lunch or dinner option …
Loaded Baked Potato Dip
Its almost Super Bowl Sunday, the day where we yell at all star athletes that we could do better then them. All while stuffing our faces with the impressive spread of pizza, wings, chips and dip. There is also a low key competition of who brings the best dip. No matter how your team does …
Buffalo Chicken Dip
I grew up in the land of buffalo wings, so naturally buffalo flavored food has been in my life since day one. Football has also been a big part of my life. Not that I played or am an expert in the sport, but I have a lot of memories of weekends spent at the …
Eggroll in a Bowl
I was searching for ways to make my meal prep more interesting when I came across this concept of an eggroll, unwrapped. This recipe switches the pork to ground turkey and removes the oil soaked wrapper. All while leaving the taste and flavor of one of my favorite Chinese foods. When we break it down, …
Bacon Wrapped Roast Duck with Cranberry Orange Glaze
Roast duck – now doesn’t that sound fancy! I won’t lie, this was a labor of love, roasting a whole duck isn’t your run of the mill dinner, it’s like prepping for thanksgiving. However, by how tasty this recipe is and the fact that it’s really not that many ingredients, it’s worth the effort, and …
Brownie Cheery Cherry Bombs
This recipe was a quick hit! With the help of a grocery store brownie mix you can elevate the normal, boring brownies into a taste explosion. More over deborah, with your store bought brownies. These are the hot new dessert on the block. And its rather simple to make. First we make the traditional box …
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Chocolate, peanut butter, these are my dessert kryptonite! As a kid I always loved ‘buckeyes’ the sweet peanut butter balls covered in chocolate. I could easily eat five or six, no questions asked. Now, as an adult, I could definitely do the same, but I know it’s not the healthiest option. In a quest to …
Apple and Turkey Picadillo
As I was searching for low calorie meals for meal prep I came across this variation to spice up some ground turkey. Ground turkey is an incredibly lean protein, meaning less calories for the amount of protein. Which is why its popular for calorie counting and for low calorie meal prep. However, it is also …
Savory filled Pastries (Ukrainian Pyrizhky)
The secret to this? Patience. This recipe is complicated because it takes a while for the dough to rise. A great baking activity for a rainy afternoon. There are several variations of this pastry most of which is with savory fillings. Sweetened Sauerkraut, Rice/Mushrooms, Cinnamon Cheese. The same dough also makes a sweet poppy seed …
Super Simple Cinnamon Rolls
There’s nothing quite like fresh warm cinnamon rolls on a weekend morning. The ooey gooey sweet goodness brings back great memories of watching Saturday morning cartoons or holiday breakfasts with my family. I was home visiting my mom recently and she really wanted to have cinnamon rolls. Our town doesn’t have a bakery where we’d …
Classic Cream Cheese Cutouts
This is by far my favorite cookie recipe. Cutout cookies aren’t necessarily my absolute favorite all the time, I love me a good chocolate chip, but this recipe is fool-proof. It comes out perfect every time, it can be adapted, and it’s always wowed my friends and family. I’ve been making these classic cream cheese …
Kolaczki Cookies (Jelly Filling)
I like these cookies because they are quick, easy and uncomplicated. With only 4 ingredients this recipe is a breeze and it makes you wonder why all other cookies recipes require any more ingredients. The jelly sets them apart from any other cookie on the cookie tray. Traditionally they are made with sour cream (as …
Ginger Cookies
For Christmas I have a few “classics” in my repertoire. This is one of them. What I like about these cookies is that they are chewy and soft, without being too sickly sweet, which is surprising for a cookie. Its dangerous how much you can eat because of this. I also love how the spices …
Peppermint Patties
The Christmas season brings with it a series of quintessential flavors, one of the primary ones being peppermint. Candy canes, peppermint mochas and one of my personal favorites, peppermint patties. The flavor epitomizes the season – fresh and crisp like the air yet somehow comforting and calming like a warm toasty fire. I’d always loved …
Peppermint Pretzel Salted Caramel Snaps
Being a baking lover and a New Yorker, it’s hard not to be a fan of Milk Bar. Milk bar is famous for their birthday cake & cereal milk soft serve, but they also have a ton of other extremely creative and out of the box desserts. One in particular that caught my eye last …
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
These are one of my favorite Christmas cookies to make and eat (even though I’m not suppose to). They are chocolate, with a secret burst of cherry which adds as a refreshing pick me up. The frosting is a 3 ingredient wonder that reminds me of homemade truffles. These are the first Christmas cookies that …
Eggplant Lasagna
Winter is officially here and that means warm, cozy & nostalgic home cooked meals are on the menu. When I’m looking to get cozy on the couch for dinner there’s nothing like a nice plate of lasagna. I love the warm cheesy goodness and the memories it brings back of cooking in the kitchen with …
Asparagus Strata
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables. My inspiration for this recipe came about when I got a bit over excited during asparagus season and bought several bunches from my corner produce stand. Searching for something that wasn’t just a side dish or an accompaniment to other veggies I decided to make an asparagus strata. …
Pecan Pie Bars
To me Thanksgiving is always about tradition. Every year we gravitate to the same kind of dishes, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes. The dessert table always features the classics, apple pie, and pumpkin pie. Sadly between these strong front runners, the classic pecan pie can sometimes get lost in the pie mix. Not. This. Year. This …
Maple Walnut Cutouts
I grew up in upstate New York, close to the Canadian border. We had long, cold, extremely snowy winters. Some of my best memories were during those snowy winter weekends when I’d make blueberry waffles with my mom. Of course those waffles would be smothered in maple syrup. Now, if you’re not from upstate New …
Mini Apple Pies
I have a not so small addiction to apple picking. I would go all weekend every weekend of harvest season if allowed. Now hear me out, Apples are SUPER healthy. It has more fiber than a bowl of oatmeal. Of which is Soluble Fiber which reduces bad cholesterol levels, thereby improving heart health. The pectin …
Pumpkin Spice Popcorn Crispies
Rice crispy treats will always be one of those great nostalgic childhood treats. To help ring in fall and pumpkin spice season I thought I’d do a fun sophisticated seasonal twist on the classic. Instead of puffed rice cereal I opted for popcorn and for some extra pizzazz and protein I threw in chopped pecans. …
Ratatouille
I came across ratatouille when I was searching for healthy veggie sides for my weekly meal prep. This dish is full of healthy veggies and most importantly looks beautiful. Perfect side dish if you want to show off your artistic side and bring the wow factor to your local friendsgiving. Ratatouille is a multiple part …
Pumpkin Spice Cutouts
It’s fall and naturally it’s pumpkin spice season. I’ve been going crazy with pumpkin recipes and that means I was bound to run out of actual pumpkin. I also wanted to do a batch of fun, cute fall cutouts. Cutouts are great, but it’s usually more for the look than the taste. To get in …
Pumpkin Tiramisu
Silky, Creamy Tiramisu but make it Fall? Say no more, I got the perfect recipe to satisfy the basic witch in you. Pumpkin Tiramisu. The great thing about tiramisu is that you don’t have to mess around with actually baking anything. This is a no oven recipe. Using the pre-made lady fingers saves you the …
Taco Lasagna
Tacos and lasagna, both amazing on their own, now combining them, what could be better! The baked gooey layered goodness of lasagna, but with all the flavors of delicious tacos. This recipe uses corn tortillas rather than pasta sheets layered with ground beef, veggies, salsa and cheese sauce. The corn tortillas give a delicious texture …
Matcha Monster Cutouts
Continuing in the halloween holiday spirit I wanted to make some spooky green cutouts. Of course they couldn’t be just regular cutouts dyed green, I wanted to get some flavor in them. Trying another adaptation of my classic cream cheese cutouts recipe I opted to add in some matcha to get that green color and …
Halloween Brain Cupcakes ( Chocolate Raspberry)
This Halloween I wanted to make something festive yet delicious. Is it possible to make a cupcake scary? Well I don’t know about that, but its definitely gory and gross (in a festive way). I thought the color of the raspberry puree would work well as fake blood, and would perfectly color and flavor the …
Halloween Bats – Chocolate Cutouts
Happy Halloween! I love fall and Halloween. I think it’s because I have great childhood memories driving though farm country in upstate New York. We’d buy fresh fall produce from the farm stands and make the annual trip to Kights giant pumpkin patch to pick out our giant pumpkin. By giant I mean giant, 30+ …
Creamcheese Stuffed Pumpkin Pecan Cookies with Pecan Streusel
If you wanted to put all of fall into a cookie, this is it! Pumpkin, pecans, spiced cream cheese, brown sugar and streusel topping! I’ve been feeling extra festive for fall this year and these cookies were my expression of my excitement for the season. A decadent brown sugar oatmeal cookie base dressed up with …
Dijon Mustard Chicken
Dijon Mustard chicken is a one pan wonder and meal prep friendly. This recipe came about as I was searching for meal prep ideas. The whole point of doing a healthy meal prep is to make something simple yet fast and healthy. Its the impossible trifecta. But I think I have cracked the code with …
Kale and White Bean Pasta Bake
My family is Italian and I love pasta. While I didn’t grow up eating pasta every day or even every week it’s definitely a comfort food. There’s just something about a bowl of pasta, of any variety that can just warm your heart. Looking for a healthier twist on the Italian American classic ‘Baked Ziti’ …
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes
Cinnamon Toast Cupcakes! Do you remember eating cinnamon toast crunch on a crisp Saturday morning as you watched cartoons? You were THE coolest kid on the block. For this reason, I decided to make a recipe that blends my love of being a kid and cupcakes. These cupcakes are great because they are individual sized. …
Savory Oven-Baked Brie
Cheese, it should really be its own food group. I love cheese and it’s even better when hot and melty right out of the oven! Appetizer or side with steak. For Steak recipes, check out our post on how to get the perfect steak. This is an easy recipe to jazz up the typical boring …
Borscht
My grandmother would always make this recipe, winter, summer, Borscht knows no season. Its a way of life. You can enjoy this hot soup in the winter and as a cold soup in the summer. I’d argue the real reason we have it all year round is because it pairs perfectly with sour cream and …
Turkey and Asparagus Roulade
My inspiration for this recipe also came about when I got over zealous during asparagus season and bought several bunches from my corner produce stand. It really is one of my favorite veggie! Organic ground turkey was also on sale that week and I’d been considering different stuffed meat recipes as basic baked and grilled …