German Stollen, also called “Christstollen” has been around for nearly 700 years and is considered one of the most famous Christmas treats. Sweet bread and cakes flavored with candied fruits and nuts are perhaps the hallmarks of the Christmas baking season in many countries around the world.  Examples of this include; fruitcakes which are traditional […]

Vanilla and chocolate cream cheese spritz cookies are my holiday go-to this year. Soft, buttery, petite cookies in decorative designs, baked to perfection. Straight up or topped with glaze and festive holiday sprinkles make for a classic holiday cookie that’s easy to pull off during that crazy time of year. These make a wonderful cookie […]

Babka, (Yiddish for “little grandmother”), is one of the most iconic Jewish sweets there are. Considered part bread, part cake, babka is traditionally baked in a loaf pan, but can also be braided into a wreath shape (called a krantz). The secret to making a great babka is making sure there are lots of sugary twists, […]

This simple drink oozes elegance. There is no fancy name, no long story behind it, and no unusual ingredients, but this pear-thyme Prosecco cocktail is a tasty one and a fun seasonal cocktail for the cooler months. I have always been a fan of bubbles.  The trend of serving sparkling wines and campaigns with any […]

Let’s talk about pie. Most love it. I have learned to enjoy it. My husband can eat it anywhere, anytime. I’m just more select. I’m picky about the crust, the filling, and the topping, so if I’m going to eat pie and truly enjoy it, it better be worth it. This apple crumble pie is […]

I love Fall. And with the exception of the holiday decorations coming out at way too fast of a clip, I enjoy all aspects of it. But personally, I think the pumpkin craziness gets a bit more glory than it deserves. Don’t get me wrong, I love a great pumpkin cookie, pumpkin muffins are my […]

The key to extra-juicy rib-eye steaks, according to chef Renee Erickson, of the restaurant formally known as, Boat Street Café in Seattle, is to “baste them with butter while they sear“. That is what I learned in culinary school and why this pan-seared rib eye recipe was a must-make recipe for me when I read […]

Food can be a powerful thing. I’ve said it before and I believe it–food connects us. Sometimes it’s a simple ingredient, a subtle flavor, or just an aroma that can remind us of someone or something special. Food can trigger memories and bring you back to a specific time or a place within seconds. I […]

Winner winner chicken dinner. Can anyone ever have enough chicken recipes? Here is a fantastic one and one that has been on repeat in my house for some time now. But before I tell you why I love this dish so much, I need to offer a little backstory on this popular phrase that everyone […]

Swoon-worthy chocolate chip mochi waffles, as if breakfast couldn’t get any better. The main ingredient in these waffles is a sweet rice flour known as Mochiko, and this is what creates the amazing chewy texture mochi is known for. The other ingredients used in this waffle batter are similar to other standard waffle recipes such […]

Hello fall! There are many things I love about the fall season, the warm days with cool nights, the crisp air, sweaters of any kind, fall vegetables, Thanksgiving, my birthday, and almost anything involving apples. I also adore sangria. So that is how we got to this new fall favorite of mine, hard cider sangria. […]

My love of oats is no secret, if you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m a big overnight oat fan. Oats are a great addition to many things in the baking world, power bars, smoothies, dessert bars, cookies, and of course, muffins. Oats add texture and I’m a big fan of that when it comes […]

Sarah Kieffer’s pan-banging chocolate chip cookies are now world-famous and rightly so. Kieffer’s recipe for these insanely delicious cookies first appeared in her cookbook called Vanilla Bean Baking Book. They were later featured in the NY Times, and the rest they say, is history. Kieffer is a self-taught baker and one that I admire very […]

Chicken kreplach soup is a dish my husband has asked me to develop for a while now. Kreplach (pronounced krep-lakh) or “krepel” if singular, is the Yiddish name for the traditional triangular pieces of dough filled with ground meat or chicken, similar to dumplings. Also known as “Jewish wontons“, kreplach, just like Chinese dumplings, can be boiled and served in chicken soup […]

Rice pudding is something my mother loves. Although she never made it from scratch, I have always associated rice pudding with her. My mother did not teach me how to make this classic comfort food, ironically I learned how to make it at my first job out of culinary school. Although hired as a saucier, […]