This was the perfect cake to take to the beach.
***

I really have nothing else to add to that.
I made H. go into the kitchen to bake a cake! With his mom! (The in-laws visited us.We haven’t seen them in a long, long time.) You know, to snoop around and learn her secrets…

But really there are [...]

No, no beer-braised squirrel in that pasta dish. Don’t worry.
I told you about my snail, beer, and a beer stealing squirrel problem. And I have received some advice. Thanks!
Crystal commented that what I have are slugs and not snails and suggested “A tried and true method I have used to make a beer trap is [...]

Blintzes… I’ve been making them since high school. That’s… never mind how many years ago.
I’ll be 40 in a few months! I hear the preparations for the celebrations are underway. (No pressure, Suburban cowboy.)
Back in high school, I used to make a batch of these crepe-like yummies and take them with me to my room [...]

A cloud of baked marshmallow-like egg whites with a lemon hint
A fluffy pillow of whipped cream
Juicy fruit, fresh mint
I’m living in a dream
Need I say more?

Ok, I’ll say more.
First, it’s the first time I’ve written a little poem for food, so that says something.
Second, I promise you we did not coordinate the clothes to match the [...]

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 [...]

A few weeks ago we went on a little family vacation just before school started. Vacations with kids, you probably know (or can imagine), are a lot of fun, but can be very tiring. To minimize energy waste, we like to get a room with a small kitchenette or at least a (mini) fridge. Why? [...]

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?

Let’s cut to the chase, shall we?!
Summer.
Tomato = Fruit.
“Heirloom tomatoes” is the password.
Make those ripe, even overripe ones.
Go to the farmers market or a farm stand, ask about the hidden box containing very ripe and juicy heirloom tomatoes for only $2 or so per pound. Double sweet deal! Just like the markets in the old [...]

Each year, a few days before my birthday I start getting all excited and nervous, like a little girl, wanting to know what kind of surprises and presents are waiting for me (if any, I worry). I start nagging and trying to get any clue I can out of my husband and son. But they [...]

Every time I manage to create something delicious using leftovers, I think about my grandmas. Such resourceful women. They lived, worked, raised a family during such hard times, wars, depression, very little rights for women… and A LOT of hard work each and every day. I don’t think they ever went on a vacation. You [...]

“Where is the photo of the banana bread?”, you might ask. And who is this person in the photo? (Photo was taken by my cousin).
I told you in my recent “a happy place” post that my father gave me an envelope with letters from my childhood years. I read them but will need to re-read [...]

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…

Let’s talk about quiche.
Every now and then I like to have a good quiche and eat it too. Of course.
But not just any quiche. Not one with a soggy bottom, ahem ehhm, or one that is waaay too rich and makes you feel so stuffed and guilty after eating it, or one that…. Oh, let’s [...]

No, I am not going to give you another decadent chocolate dessert recipe for Valentine’s Day. They seem to be all over the place as it is. You don’t really need another one. Do you? On the other hand, what are you going to have for dinner before the dessert? Or is it going to [...]

I’m in love with this cake. Can you tell? I think I already had 3 pieces today. And it’s only 8:26 pm… The night is young.
Pphhh, forget about new-year’s-dieting- resolution.
The first time I saw the recipe for this cake was a few weeks ago on Orangette blog, and then a few days ago I found [...]

Holidays season means… party time, and if you’re lucky, then it’s parties. Here are a few ideas to make your party stress free.
What you see in the pictures is what I served for my birthday party in August. That was outside in the backyard… But, regardless of the weather, all the ingredients I used then [...]

If you think you don’t like eggplants, think again. Or, at least, give it another try, OK?
Recipe for one eggplant:
1 large eggplant, sliced to 1 – 1 ½ – inch slices
Extra virgin olive oil (evoo)
Salt
Preheat oven broiler.
Brush the eggplant slices lightly with evoo and sprinkle with salt, on both sides. Place on baking sheet.
Broil in [...]

Meet my new best friend – truffle oil. It sure deserves a red carpet (or table runner). A few drops of this oil and you are in heaven. I keep myself from putting it in or on everything I eat. I want to put it in my coffee! But coffee and truffle oil don’t really [...]