I have a friend whom I love dearly. There were times when I wondered how we became friends, and stayed friends, because we are just so… different.
I’m a planner, she’s spontaneous.
I’m formal, she’s casual.
I’m kinda strict, she’s more laid-back.
I remember details, she doesn’t care much about that stuff.
I love to bake, she doesn’t.
When I teach [...]

I have said so many times before, I’m a cake person, not a cookie woman, and certainly not a pie lady. Or, at least I thought so… I’m sure there is a deep meaning to all of this. I never really put much thought into this matter but it feels like there’s a profound philosophical [...]

Have you ever virtually baked with anyone?

This is an easy, no mixer needed, mix by hand, kind of recipe, that I made in the speed of lighting with my 6 years old one evening for his dad’s birthday. We got home late and were in a big rush to bake some cookies in time before dad got home so we can [...]

It’s been a while, hasn’t it?! I haven’t posted anything for more than a week… I missed you guys and I missed blogging. I got busy and out of focus as we planned a little Thanksgiving vacation to sunny California. We visited family and went to the beach which was a lot of fun. And [...]

How would you like to have these for your holiday dinner?
Remember the Pumpkin banana cream pie? The recipe is here. So this is what you do when you don’t want pie (skip the dough step), or if you do make the pie but have extra custards.
I mentioned a shortcut in the pie post – if [...]

As far as my memory goes back in time, I can count the times I baked with someone on one hand. I don’t get too many opportunities to bake together with family or friends besides my son (who sometimes quits before the process is complete) or an occasional guest. Baking means a lot to me. [...]

A few years ago, or in December 1997 to be more specific, I was an M.A student, sharing a tiny two bedroom apartment with a roommate, working 2-4 temp jobs at a time, studying whenever I could (a.k.a when I did not work or party), and eating giant size salads for “linner” – I made [...]

You have probably noticed it too. Deep in your heart, you know it’s about to happen. But maybe you don’t like to say it out loud, just like me. And if you blink, they will be gone. Summer fruits. That’s it. Finished. Over. All done ‘till next year! A few more sunny days and any [...]

This post has been sitting on my desk, actually on my computer screen, open for the past week. If it were on paper, I would have probably torn it to little pieces by now. I can’t even remember, what was the point I wanted to make in this post?
In order to finish it, I need [...]

          
Oh, man, it seems like ages since I made this pie, right after the recent Dahlia dinner. But what can one say about a pie when life is a roller coaster?

Comfort food. That is what I need right now. Food that I don’t need to plan or think about too much. Food that doesn’t require instructions or a recipe. Food that everyone in the family loves.
My favorite foods, since childhood, are breaded and fried chicken cutlets or  breaded and baked chicken drumsticks with mashed potatoes [...]

I had my eye on this cake for a few weeks now. I first saw it when Diana posted it on her blog in April. I knew then that I was going to make it as a surprise for my son on his birthday. I still looked around for other ideas and asked my Twitter [...]

So what else happened during days 3-5?
My husband, L., is sure a happy camper this week… taking home-made food to work. I rarely cook lunch or breakfast. Our breakfasts are simple, mainly some bread, cheese, yogurt, fruit. If we have leftovers from last night’s dinner whoever wants them can have them for lunch.
On Wednesday night, [...]

I don’t know what to begin with. The usual Friday cake collection? Weekly meal plan? Next week’s Hunger Challenge? There’s so much going on…

1. In the photo above a Chocolate Chocolate Stout Cake which I will tell you about in a minute.
2. I have the winner of the Cake Collection Giveaway way way down below at the end of the post. The winner gets a copy of Ray’s Boathouse cookbook (read more about the restaurant, the book, the [...]

 
My friend L. stopped by my house yesterday morning for a chat and cup of coffee. We had a nice time but the minute I asked her if she would like to bake a cake with me she jumped on her feet and said she had to go…

I love that when I bake a cake at home the aroma of the cake can be smelled from the garage when someone comes home. It can be smelled even from the street. Imagine this – an aroma of freshly baked cakes coming out of each house on your street. Wouldn’t it be absolutely wonderful?
But [...]

I made this cake with my son (5 years old). It was easy and fun.
Kids can measure ingredients, pour dry ingredients, sift the dry ingredients, crack the eggs, and make the streusel, turn the mixer on/off – they love that! – but you need to make the rules and explain about safety, stand next to [...]