amaretti

March 28, 2013
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For long-time readers, it comes as no surprise that though I’m not Italian, I am an Italophile. My passion for Italy’s language and culture extends to its cuisine, of course! Italian almond macaroons originated in Venice during the Renaissance; the name amaretti translates as “little bitter things” (though these crescent-shaped cookies are anything but bitter!). ...

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cadbury easter egg phyllo cups

March 26, 2013
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I’m usually filled with willpower around candy, but Cadbury Mini Eggs are another story: I can’t seem to resist their charms. Last year I used the pastel eggs in a decadent Cadbury Easter Egg bark; this year I opted for a fresh spin on the traditional Easter nests by swapping the nests for flaky phyllo ...

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yummy pics: a food blogger’s guide to better photos (review + giveaway)

March 25, 2013
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Today I have a special giveaway for you. The incredibly talented Nancy of Spicie Foodie recently released Yummy Pics, a food photography eBook designed especially for food bloggers. If her blog is new to you, I highly encourage you to visit. Nancy creates original recipes using seasonal ingredients (she makes her home in Europe), and ...

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toblerone cookies

March 21, 2013
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If you’re as impatient as I am, you won’t be thrilled to hear that the dough for these Toblerone cookies must be chilled overnight. In the baking world, cookies are akin to instant gratification. However, this baker is here to tell you that some things are worth the wait, so stash the dough in the ...

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honey-almond bundt cake

March 18, 2013
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With Easter on the horizon, this honey-almond bundt cake is a lovely alternative to the ubiquitous pound cake. Sicilian honey, almond paste, and Meyer lemon zest all flavor the ribbony yellow batter, which bakes up into an incredibly fluffy cake with a tender crumb. Imagine my surprise when slicing into the cake and finding each ...

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baileys irish cream mousse

March 14, 2013
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A few years ago, I happened upon a recipe for 5-minute chocolate mousse with only two ingredients: chocolate and water. If you’ve worked with chocolate at all, this sounds completely counterintuitive, yet the method works! This mousse absolutely melts in your mouth, and makes for one incredible dessert, especially when spiked with Baileys (use your ...

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salted caramel-cashew bars

March 11, 2013
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If you happened to see my salted caramel-pecan bark last week, these bars will look familiar – they’re simply a spin-off of that recipe. I swapped the chocolate layer for a brown butter shortbread crust, kept the brown sugar caramel layer (no need to touch perfection!), and used roasted cashews plus sea salt as the ...

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maple-glazed carrot spice scones

March 7, 2013
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I’m a person of habit: I thrive on routine, and this carries over to my eating schedule as well. Every afternoon about 3:00 pm, I need a pick-me-up to carry me through the rest of the day. Caffeine is a must, along with a snack; one of these maple-glazed carrot spice scones would do nicely. ...

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