Approachable, everyday recipes
Happy Friday! I hope everyone is having a great week – it’s finally warmer and sunny in Columbus so we’ve been taking full advantage! I’ve been cooking and drinking some great things lately, many of which haven’t made the blog, so I thought I would share. I hope it inspires something delicious for you this weekend!
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My sister-in-law, Casey makes a version of this tart and I always love it! It’s what inspired me to make this. Plus, it’s the perfect appetizer because everyone loves it, it looks super impressive, but it’s secretly super simple to make.
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Is there anything more comforting or nostalgic than cinnamon and sugar? My mom used to make a version of this coffee cake when I was growing up and the taste and smell take me back to my childhood. I love it!
The sour cream makes the cake incredibly moist and tender. Plus it helps keep the cake moist for a couple days, so it’s the perfect thing to make a head of time for a brunch or holiday. Or to eat warm out of the oven on a snowy Tuesday because, why not?!
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Have you made homemade pizza in a cast iron skillet before? If not you’re missing out! It produces the most delicious pizza with a crust that’s crispy on the bottom and sides. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
The best part is how fun any easy they are to make. Either buy your favorite dough or if you’re feeling fancy, make your own. Then put on your favorite toppings. Perfect for a dinner party, an activity to do with your kids, or just a quiet date night in. Now open a bottle of wine (or champagne, our favorite drink with pizza!) and lets get cooking!
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Even though Valentine’s day will look different for most of us this year, there’s no reason we can’t make it fun and festive! Whether you’re celebrating with a significant other or family or a few close friends, I’ve got you covered with recipe and wine ideas!
To make it feel extra festive, why not buy a course, like an appetizer or dessert to support your favorite local restaurant and then make the rest. I also love the idea of ordering dinner from your favorite restaurant and making a fancy dessert!
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Have you ever pan fried gnocchi so they’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside? It’s my favorite way to eat gnocchi! I’ve been making gnocchi this way for a years – I posted a recipe for crispy gnocchi with pesto, roasted tomatoes, and goat cheese back in 2017, which I still love.
I have to say, there’s something about the combination in this recipe that I love. Cozy yet sophisticated, this is a dish I would be happy to get out at a restaurant. So bring the restaurant to your kitchen tonight. Pour a glass of wine, turn on some of your favorite music, and make this for dinner!
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I know this is a controversial statement, but I like blondies better than chocolate chip cookies. Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate chip cookies, but there’s just something about a blondie. The texture, the deeper flavor, I could go on and on!
I love them so much that they were the first thing I ever baked for my husband. We’ve been together for over 6 years so that must say something, right?
It’s my go to baked good to take to friends, family, and bake on a Friday night when we want something special. I hope you love them as much as we do!
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While 2020 might not have been the most normal year, there were some good things that came out of it. One of the good things is that people started cooking more, learning different techniques, exploring different cuisines, and many people even learned how to cook. You can only eat carry out for so long!
In the hopes that the cooking movement continues, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite cookbooks. These are some of my old standbys that I go back to again and again and new standouts that I’ve recently been inspired by and cooking from. When I look at cookbooks sometimes I’ll cook a recipe directly from it, but most of the time it will spark inspiration. I hope these cookbooks do the same – inspire you to cook something new and find something you love.
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A few years ago I was at Market 65 in downtown Columbus and grabbed one of their homemade granola bars on a whim. It was SO delicious – full of oatmeal, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. I went back the next day to buy one for an afternoon snack and stopped when I realized they were $4 a bar. $4 a bar!! I decided then and there that I would try to recreate them at home to avoid spending more on granola bars every week than coffee.
This recipe is a result of A LOT of trial and error – especially on the amount of nut butter and honey used to bind them. Outside the proportions, they’re extremely adaptable. Use whatever nuts/seed/dried fruits you like. Even add in some chocolate chips! Plus you can use whatever nut butter or combination of nut butters you like. I hope you like them as much as we do!
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Do you have something that just tastes like Christmas to you? These cookies are that to me. That’s probably because 1. my mom and I have been making them for as long as I can remember and 2. I only make them at Christmas. So I guess you could say these are a signature Christmas cookie?
The fudge cookie is a recipe my aunt gave my mom over 30 years ago and is truly unique. The texture is a cross between a brownie and fudge (hence fudge cookie!). I’ve never seen another recipe like it. They are great on their own, but the peppermint buttercream makes them so festive and special. I hope you love them as much as we do!
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