We all need a go-to angel food cake that doesn’t come out of a box. Here’s yours. You will need attention to the details, an angel food pan, and a wine bottle (yes, a wine bottle) for this cake. The Details Preheat your oven. Use fresh egg whites not the ones from a carton. Left […]
Everyone needs a delightful, buttery Shortbread Cookies recipe. Shortbread Cookies Makes about 60 cookies. 1 cup + 6 tablespoons high-quality unsalted butter, softened (European butter is best) 2 teaspoons salt 1 1/3 cup of powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 cups flour Place the butter, salt, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a mixer. Cream together […]
Berry Pancakes With Cream Cheese Filling. I cannot help myself. I have declared this summer the summer of drunken berry everything. It will be a very good summer. Enter stage left… or stage right… or does it even really matter which side of the stage they enter from? The drunken-berry-topped cream-cheese-filled pancakes. Berry Pancakes With […]
5 Tips for Buying the Best Measuring Spoons & Cups 5 Tips for Buying the Best Measuring Spoons & Cups Don’t buy cheap because you want accurate measurements. Don’t buy cute because they’re often not easy to use. Don’t buy plastic because they can melt. And, don’t buy ceramic because they can easily break. Stainless […]
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is the fanciest cake in all of the cake kingdom. As pretty as it is delicious. Just look at her, there, sitting upon her throne in all of her glory. Red Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Makes four 9-inch cakes for a lovely four-layer cake. Red Velvet […]
Lemon Curd is a delightfully refreshing treat that is so versatile. Lemon Curd About 8 lemon rinds. 1 cup fresh lemon juice (this will take about 2-3 juicy lemons to create) 1 cup sugar 8 large egg yolks 2 tablespoons arrowroot (or 3 if you’d like it to be firmer) 3/4 cup salted butter Using […]
Vanilla Cake With Raspberry Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting is a sight to behold. Swirly goodness and mercy she is a delight! Vanilla Cake With Raspberry Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting Serves 8-12 people. Preheat oven to 350°F. 1 recipe Raspberry Jam (or 13-16 ounces of store-bought is fine too) 2 3/4 cups cake flour […]
Watermelon Radish Salad is as healthy as it is gorgeous! Watermelon Radish Salad 2 watermelon radishes 2 English cucumbers 1 shallot 1 recipe Asian Vinegerette 8 ounces fresh sugar snap peas A handful of fresh microgreens (preferably ones that are sporting the same colors in this salad) Cut off the ends and then rough peel […]
Corn Salad… or as I like to call it Cornfetti Salad is one of the most festive salads you can make. Corn Salad 1 15-ounce can black beans 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 8 ears of fresh sweet yellow corn off the cob (or 2 pounds of frozen) 1/2 orange bell pepper, diced […]
Orange Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting & Coconut Orange Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting & Coconut Makes two 9-inch round cakes – about 8 servings. Preheat oven to 350°F. 8 ounces unsalted butter, softened 1 3/4 cup sugar 4 large eggs, room temperature 3 cups flour or cake flour 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 […]
Buttery croissants aren’t as difficult to make as you might think. You just need a little patience. Okay, a lot of patience… and love… and high-fat, high quality butter. and a thermometer. You can pack the process into one day by placing your dough in the refrigerator for two hours in between each lamination; but, […]
How to Make Deviled Eggs. It feels wrong to have deviled eggs on Easter; and, yet, it feels wrong to not have deviled eggs on Easter. What’s a girl to do? I suppose a girl just has to make the most heavenly deviled eggs she can. And that is what she did. And everyone said, […]
Some things are completely unnecessary, you know, like French Toast Cubes With Cream Cheese Filling & Triple Berry Sauce. Yet, they are glorious and scrumptious so we simply must splurge. French Toast Cubes With Cream Cheese Filling & Triple Berry Sauce Triple Berry Sauce 4 cups mixed fresh berries 2 cups sugar Juice from 1/2 fresh […]
This Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing is light and flavorful salad dressing is so easy to make and great to keep on hand! Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing 1 cup olive oil 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper 1/2 cup honey (optional) 1 tablespoon mustard or […]
Beautifulistic is the only way to describe this Roasted Acorn Squash Salad. It is a full-on summer rainbow on a plate. Roasted Acorn Squash Salad Makes two dinner salads or four side salads. Preheat oven or grill to 400°F. 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 acorn squash, sliced in 1/2-inch slices (outer skin is edible but […]
Behold Sparkling Grapefruit Ade, the most gorgeous and refreshing drink you will ever serve. Sparkling Grapefruit Ade 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups water 9 large fresh grapefruit 2 ounces fresh ginger, peeled & sliced 6 sprigs fresh basil 2 liters club soda Vodka (optional) The night before: To make simple syrup, pour sugar and […]
Homemade Maple Nut Granola Recipe is just what the soul needs on a fallish day. It’s sweet and crunchy and oh so satisfying! Perfect for yogurt parfaits with fresh raspberries, as a trail mix snack, or place in cute little packaging for gifts! Maple Nut Granola Preheat oven to 250°F. 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed […]
Strata Florentine With Sausage & Gruyere is so fancy. Why settle for flavored mayonnaise when you can have snobby custom-infused aioli? Why have a wine punch when you can refresh with a sassy sangria? And why have a breakfast casserole when you can have sophisticated strata? Strata Florentine With Sausage & Gruyere Makes about 6 […]
This Northwest Salad is a crowd-pleaser. Sweet pecans, lovely spring lettuce, and berries galore topped with lemon dressing. It’s dressed to impress! Northwest Salad 5-6 ounces spring lettuce 1 cup fresh blackberries (use 1/2 cup of blackberries, raspberries, & strawberries for Paleo or Keto option) 1 cup fresh blueberries, stemmed (leave off salad for Paleo or […]
There are few things on this planet as satisfying as blueberry smoothies. They’re healthy, refreshing, speedy to make, and yummy! Blueberry Smoothies Makes about four 8-ounce servings. 16 ounces frozen blueberries 1/2 banana, frozen 1 1/4 cups apple juice 1-2 tablespoon honey (optional) Place all of the ingredients in a blender. Secure the lid. Begin […]
My years spent sleeping on bakery shelves before grade school are paying off for you once again. Today, I share with you the Almond Coffeecake. Almond Coffeecake 5 teaspoons yeast 1/2 cup lukewarm water (110°F or lower) 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup instant mashed potatoes stirred together with 3/4 cup lukewarm water 1/4 cup shortening […]
The artichoke is one of the snobbiest and beautiful veggies in all the vegetable kingdom, especially after this recipe… Artichoke Dip. Isn’t she gorgeous? Artichoke Dip Serves 8 for appetizers or 4 for dinner. 4 large artichokes 1/4 cup fresh lemon, juiced (divided) 4 ounces cubetti pancetta or pre-cooked large bacon bits (leave out for […]
Lemon Thumbprint Cookies boast the comfort of a cookie with a refreshing lemon filling. Lemon Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Makes about 2 dozen cookies. Preheat oven to 350°F. 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups flour 1/8 cup poppy seeds 1/4 cup shredded […]
Learn here how to make scones. How to Make Scones Scone dough, just like pie crust dough, doesn’t like to be played with after the wet ingredients are added. Just mix the wet & dry ingredients until they can be formed into scones. If you over-mix, you’ll get rubbery scones. Always use cold butter and […]
When one goes to a fancy schmancy place, one feels fancy schmancy… that is, unless one doesn’t realize the appropriate attire for the Nutcracker at the Pacific Northwest Ballet is semi-formal and one arrives in jeans. Then one does not feel so fancy shmancy. But, that is a story for another day. Or, you know, […]
The most refreshing drink in all the cocktail kingdom is the Mint Mojito cocktail. She is light, beautiful, and more daring than she appears. If your mint has taken over your garden space as mine has, it is time to entertain your neighbors with mojitos. And fast. Mint Mojitos 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup fresh […]
Eggs Benedict with homemade hollandaise sauce. I’m on a kick lately. Back to basics… the traditional, if you will. The basics are good for the soul. Here are some others I’ve been in touch with lately: Take road trips. Be happy. Be kind. Be silly. Keep learning. There’s something about going back to the basics […]
White Limoncello Chocolate Cocktail. My friends on the east coast are shoveling snow while I’m over here in the Northwest with my door open to let the sunshine pour inside. This calls for a drink that brings us all together. Ahhhhh. I know, right? Winter and summer come together to create this dreamy springy cup […]
Spinach Salad With Honey Mustard Dressing and Fried Onion Crisps Glory. glory. I didn’t think I could love it any more than I do. And then I added homemade crispy, sweet fried onion strips. And. my life was complete. And, the point of having a salad in the first place became obsolete. Here’s a recipe […]
As the oldest child, I remember having special privileges – privileges like staying up late with mom to watch Dynasty. Once a week, we would make lemon bars, snack ourselves into the world of shoulder pads, and male stunt doubles in awful wigs playing the roles of over-privileged, fighting women. Lemon bars never made me […]
Flower Pot Pudding Dessert. Psst. Don’t tell the others, but these flowers are actually hiding dessert. Never mind soil, how about homemade chocolate pudding? That’s garden work even I can get into. Find the prettiest garden shovel you can find and have fun serving up your tricky dessert. These can also be made in mini pots […]
Grilled Nectarines With Cream Cheese Filling. This sexy little vixen was featured on New Day Northwest recently. You must try. Like, today. Grilled Nectarines With Cream Cheese Filling Nectarines Olive oil 3 ripe but firm white nectarines Filling 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice Garnish (all optional) […]
It’s strawberry season – a time for strawberry soup, strawberry tarts, and, of course, the ever-popular and completely adorable strawberry cut-out cookies. This year I thought I would jazz things up with a wee bit o’ rum for you. You’re welcome. The mojito is, perhaps, one of the most beautiful drinks. Ever. Add fresh strawberries, […]
Coconut French Toast with Orange Cream Cheese Syrup. What is extremely popular and a perfect breakfast for Mother’s Day or any day? This. This Coconut French Toast with Orange Cream Cheese Syrup is the talk of the town this month. There is nothing quite like her. She is nutty. She is comforting. She is refreshing. […]
When I was a little girl, the only thing I would eat at restaurants during breakfast time was strawberry and whipped cream-covered pancakes, waffles, or French toast. I was a picky palate and my grandparents spoke my language. I was their oldest grandchild and used it to my advantage when holding a breakfast menu. Oatmeal? […]
Blueberry Pancakes. I’ve never been one to get into food “holidays”. I mean, who celebrates Bread Machine Month? Please rise. National Pretzel Day? That’s just twisted. National Melba Toast Day? Anyone? Anyone? National Caffeine Awareness Month? Zzzzz. National Kahlua Day? Well, okay. Maybe that one is worth celebrating. But what kind of innkeeper would I […]
I made Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Quiche again today. This may or may not have resulted in a Hobbit-like second breakfast. Sweet baby Jesus, this is good. It’s bad for you. it’s good for you. It confuses the mind and comforts the soul. It is BLT quiche. Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Quiche 1 Pillsbury pie […]
Ever since we were featured in Evening Magazine, these homemade danish pastries have been my most requested recipe. It simply whisked across the screen for 30 seconds and people were in love. I don’t blame them. I figure I’ve frosted 58,923 of these in my life so far. They were popular at Scandia Bakery when […]
Ham and Cheese Quiche. Amen. They say Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche, but real men like this ham and cheese quiche. It’s simple, delicious, and surprisingly manly. Ham and Cheese Quiche Serves 6-8. Preheat oven to 350°F. 1 Pillsbury pie crust (or 1/2 this homemade recipe) 10 large eggs 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/3 cup flour 8 ounces […]
Have you heard met Parisian Hot Chocolate (also known as Le Chocolat Chaud) yet? Well, now you have. You’re welcome. Parisian Hot Chocolate Makes about 4 six-ounce servings. 2 cups whole milk 1 teaspoons vanilla 10 ounces 65-70% chocolate (I recommend Valrhona Chocolate Guanaja 70%), broken or chopped into small pieces Dash of flaky salt […]
Mini Almond Mazarin Tarts With Fresh Fruit. Buttery crust and almondy filling but the real topper is the glazed fresh fruit. Fancy yet simple. Plain yet colorful. Mini Almond Mazarin Tart With Fresh Fruit Preheat oven to 350°F. 2 sticks (one cup) butter 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar 2 cups of flour 1 teaspoon […]
These Cinnamon Rolls With Maple Cream Cheese Frosting are being brought to you after lots of practice. Practice making the dough. Practice making the filling. Practice making the frosting. And, well, you know. The practice of eating them warm out of the oven. I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve always been good at the […]
How to Make Perfect Pancakes… and then one day it dawned on her that she owned a bed & breakfast yet there was not a basic pancake or maple syrup recipe anywhere on her blog. And so she had pancakes to solve the problem. But, you know, she only had one. How to Make Perfect […]
Lemon coconut scones with cream cheese frosting are filled with refreshing lemon juice and topped with dreamy cream cheese frosting & toasty coconut. How to Make Scones Scone dough, just like pie crust dough, doesn’t like to be played with after the wet ingredients are added. Just mix the wet & dry ingredients until they […]
Frozen Lemonade Tarts are the best way to celebrate Girl Scout cookie season! I was a Girl Scout. I remember earning badges, skits that made us laugh, and quite literally crossing over the bridge from Brownies over to Juniors. I even remember learning how to cover matches with wax to protect them from the rain […]
We don’t ask much from our waffles, really. Do we? I mean, we want them to hold their shape when we decorate them. We want them to be flavorful – but not too flavorful should they outshine their toppings. And most of all, we want them to be crispy on the outside and tender on […]
Hollandaise sauce can make the home cook cry. Don’t ask me how I know this. I just do. Here is a sure-fire recipe that will not make you cry and will have your friends & family begging for the recipe. Again, I just know. You’re welcome, friends & family. Hollandaise Sauce 6 large egg yolks […]
A favorite dish at my B&B is my rolled omelet. And because it is Christmas. And because I love you, I am posting the recipe today so you can make it for your loved ones tomorrow. This recipe plays well with Orange Blueberry Scones for the perfect brunch. Rolled Omelet Preheat oven to 350°F. 12 […]
When I started making Baked Eggs, I had only seen pictures of them. I’d never tried them but they looked so delicious, that I finally gave them a whirl. They are easy to make once you learn the secret. Today, I’m sharing the secret. Because I love you. Baked Eggs Makes enough for 6 servings. […]
This sexy Chilled Strawberry Soup Recipe is perfect for the strawberry season but can be enjoyed all year with readily available frozen strawberries. Once I served it to my B&B guests, it became a most-requested treat. Swirly goodness and mercy. Chilled Strawberry Soup Makes about six 8-ounce servings. 4 cups fresh strawberries, frozen 1/4 cup […]
