Cake

Two things that can make a cake remarkable are olive oil and polenta. Olive oil is used to make cakes moist and deepen the flavor profile. Like olive oil, polenta can also be added for texture as well as flavor. Although polenta and cornmeal are both golden in color and used interchangeably, there is a […]

Two of my favorite things to bake (and cook) with are olive oil and polenta. Olive oil because it adds complexity and richness and polenta because it adds texture and flavor. I have blogged about my two desserts with olive oil so far: my pear olive oil cake and my chocolate mummy cakes, but I thought […]

This is my chocolate honey cake for the upcoming Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah. In Judaism, Rosh Hashanah means “head [of] the year“, and is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, also known as the “Days of Awe“.  According to the teachings of Judaism, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the civil year and […]

I have been eating this type of cake for years without knowing exactly what it is. My go-to favorite cake has always been a lighter, less sweet version of the popular July 4th favorite, strawberry shortcake. But only recently did I learn of this lovely cake’s true origin. This strawberry shortcake is similar to a […]

This is a lovely rhubarb-almond snacking cake and it’s the perfect brunch cake for warmer months. This recipe is not mine, it is from Bon Appetite, but I have lightly adapted it. The original recipe can be seen here. With rhubarb season in full swing, below are a few rhubarb basics you should know about. Rhubarb […]

If you have ever baked for Passover, I think it’s fair to say that dietary restrictions can be challenging. The absence of leavening agents leaves most home bakers bewildered at the prospect of an overly dry, leaden Passover dessert no one wants to eat. Enter the old reliable; flourless chocolate cake. This dessert has rightfully […]

In the United States St. Patrick’s Day is typically a big deal. I happen to be part Irish, but I am astonished by how elaborate this holiday has become in the States. Instagram goes green weeks before and recipes from green burgers to green cinnamon buns with green frosting flood my feed as I recoil, […]

This is a holiday icebox cake, my new favorite, effortless no-bake retro dessert. The term “retro desserts” has been popular for a while now. Food, much like fashion, is often circular. Food trends swing far and wide, but those with real roots, often circle back within a decade or two. Retro desserts pay homage to […]

Yes, believe it or not, there is a National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, it’s October 21st. It’s funny, I would have thought it was closer to Thanksgiving. The Fall baking season is in full swing, holiday meal planning has begun and pumpkin desserts are now more popular than ever. So naturally, a dessert combining two of America’s […]

People don’t typically invite former professional chefs over to dinner. I’m totally serious. That sounds funny I know, but it’s true. I have other chef friends who say the same. Honestly, it’s a thing. Truthfully, what people should know is that chefs make excellent guests because they eat everything and are extremely appreciative of not […]

I have always loved bananas.  As a kid, I preferred them over apples. Straight-up, on top of cereal, with ice cream, you name it, I’m a fan. Like banana bread, frosted banana cake was a treat and something I always looked forward to having. Some things never change. This is one of my all-time favorite […]

Halloween is not just for kids. Some of my adult friends are clearly more into Halloween than their children. A few couples in particular reliably dazzle neighbors and friends with their well-thought-out, elaborate, and creative costumes. My husband and I are not that couple. Don’t get me wrong: when required, we can put forth some […]

Funnel Cake will forever remind me of strolling through crowded street fairs in NYC as a kid. Funnel cake, which is essentially fried dough batter with powdered sugar sprinkled on top, is a food popular in North America at carnivals and street fairs.  But this treat is believed to have traced back as far as […]

This recipe is based on a recipe I recently saw in The Jewish Weekly in a special food feature about Rosh Hashanah (which starts tonight) the Jewish New Year–also known as the first of the High Holidays. As someone who celebrates the Jewish holidays, I welcome new foods to make during the celebration. This cake captivated […]

I’ve recently become obsessed with hummingbird cake.  First, I love the name: it sounds pretty.  Second, it’s almost a cross between four of my favorite sweets: coconut cake, frosted banana cake, carrot cake, and banana bread.  It’s sweet, but not overly so.  It has texture but is super moist.  It’s rustic, yet elegant.  Best of […]