If you are a fan of apple cider donuts, you are going to love this recipe! These whoopie pies are made with reduced apple cider, warm fall spices, and a spiced marshmallow filling. The tops are brushed with melted butter and a cinnamon sugar coating that will remind you of the apple cider donuts you…
Happy Easter! Today I am sharing a recipe for a tropical carrot cake loaf. It has bananas and coconut in the batter and it is topped with coconut buttercream and a sprinkle of toasted coconut. It is kind of like carrot cake, banana bread, and coconut cake all in one! Special Ingredient Notes Bananas: I…
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today I am bringing you a recipe for Irish Apple Cake. This cake features Granny Smith apples (something green!), a brown sugar streusel, and a vanilla bean custard sauce. The vanilla bean custard sauce with this cake reminds me of apple pie a la mode. I hope you enjoy this recipe…
Today I am sharing a recap of our experience camping at Camp Olowalu on Maui! Spoiler alert- we loved it! Olowalu is about 30 minutes away from where we live but it really feels like a get away. One of my favorite parts of camping is planning the food. Everything seems to taste better off…
Peppermint bark reimagined in ice cream form! This ice cream stands apart with its white chocolate ice cream base, dark chocolate fudge ribbons, and crushed candy cane sprinkled throughout. This is a great recipe for anybody who celebrates Christmas in warmer climates but if you are anything like us, you can enjoy ice cream year…
Welcome to my first Christmas recipe of the season! I dreamed of making a crème brûlée spiced with all the best gingerbread flavors. This recipe has a spicy, creamy custard base, a hardened caramelized sugar topping for the quintessential crunch, and the cutest gingerbread man stenciled on top to give a nod to the flavors…
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday 🙂 We celebrated our first Thanksgiving on Maui and we tried an imu roasted turkey! Continue reading to learn more about the history, process, and how it turned out! History An imu (pronounced “e-moo”) is an underground oven. It looks like a large pit in the ground,…
Ready for more tropical flavors while everybody else is posting pumpkin spice? Me too! This cheesecake has a crust made with both graham crackers and coconut flakes. The cheesecake batter has cream cheese and coconut milk- making it extra creamy and delicious with a nice coconut flavor. Then I made a gelée layer with mango…
Today is Julia Child’s birthday! She would have been 109 years old. In celebration, I made one of her favorite desserts- Crêpes Suzette! You start by making a stack of crêpes. Then you coat each crêpe in a caramelized orange butter sauce, fold them in quarters, sprinkle them with sugar and flablé with orange liqueur and brandy….
If you ever find yourself with a surplus of egg whites, this recipe is for you! Pavlovas are super easy to make and result in a stunning display piled high with whipped cream and fresh fruit. In this version, I put a simple vanilla bean whipped cream over the meringue base allowing for the lilikoi…
Today I am bringing you two recipes for the price of one! We are starting with a lemon curd ice cream which is creamy, lemony, and NOT AT ALL icy like a sorbet. I paired it with soft lavender sugar cookies because lavender and lemon are a match made in heaven. The lavender is very…
Is there anything more summery than a strawberry rhubarb dessert? A lot of people use strawberry rhubarb for pies but I wanted something that could be thrown together more quickly yet still satisfy that tart-sweet flavor that we all know and love! I also added lemon zest and vanilla bean paste to the batter and…
I am convinced that nothing beats a piping hot beignet fresh out of the fryer and quickly dusted with powdered sugar. I served these with a fresh lilikoi (passion fruit) curd which is the perfect light, bright, and slightly tart complement to the beignet. Feel free to use this beignet base on its own with…
Hello! This is my first post in 3 months- I cannot believe how fast time is going. What have you all been baking? I have really been missing time in the kitchen but I am back today with a new recipe for lemon white chocolate lamingtons! What are lamingtons? Lamingtons are an Australian dessert made…
Today is a virtual fundraiser for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer! A number of food bloggers will be posting Valentine’s Day recipes in order to celebrate the day and ask that you donate to the cause. I made guava macarons because they are festive and pink! I have been so inspired by the tropical flavors available…
Today is a very exciting day because I joined the group of ambassadors for Loyale Studio! About Loyale Studio Loyale is a San Francisco-based company producing responsibly-sourced and ethically-made fabrics. This is a special company to me because they have a beautifully-made product AND the company is rooted in strong business values like fair-wages, sustainability,…
Lilikoi Pork Pizza features a base of garlic aioli, shredded pork, sweet Maui onions, and red bell pepper topped with three cheeses (mozzarella, Romano, and parmesan) and drizzled with a lilikoi syrup. This is the perfect pizza to make when you have leftover pulled pork and want a little tropical flavor. Outrigger Pizza The idea…
History Today we are bringing back the tradition of eating cake to celebrate voting! Election cakes date back to the colonial period when “Election Day” was a holiday. The Puritans rejected religious holidays like Easter and Christmas and celebrated their ability to vote for local officials instead (source). It is thought that this cake was…
We all know and love the apple cider donuts you get at farmstands, still piping hot from the fryer! My personal favorites are from Cider Belly Donuts in New Hampshire 🙂 Where are your favorite donuts? This bundt cake is my attempt to recreate those same flavors at home… warmth from the spices, a slight…
These treats are made with simple, wholesome ingredients like pure pumpkin puree, natural peanut butter, and greek yogurt. Below I also provide the health benefits of these ingredients and give you tips on what to avoid. Our dog, Maggie, loved these treats and I am sure yours will, too! Ingredients and Health Benefits: Pumpkin Puree:…
This cheesecake uses both cream cheese and mascarpone for an extra rich, creamy, and smooth texture. It is spiced with cinnamon and a gingersnap crust and topped with brûléed figs. This is sure to be a stunner at your next dinner 🙂 Tips & Tricks These are my top tips for a smooth cheesecake: Room…
A party without cake is just a meeting Julia Child A cake for celebrations! Champagne is baked right in the cake batter, layered with strawberry preserves and coated with an elderflower frosting. The champagne flavor is very mild and not overpowering. This is a great cake for celebrating engagements, weddings, showers, etc! But if you…
These Rice Krispie treats use homemade salted caramel marshmallows, brown butter, and a little bit of salt to give you an extra ooey-gooey, salty-sweet little square of heaven! The key to a good Rice Krispie treat is in the ratio of cereal to marshmallow. In this recipe, I used more marshmallow and less cereal than…
This is a fun twist on the classic zucchini bread with flavors of ginger, freshly grated nutmeg, and lemon zest. To finish, the bread is toasted in brown butter and topped with a dollop of créme fraiche and a sprinkle of sea salt. Plus, the zucchini requires ZERO draining and wringing dry prior to baking!…
These s’mores are made with homemade graham crackers, homemade salted caramel marshmallow and Ghirardelli chocolate. We live less than a mile away from Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco so I have always been fascinated with the company’s history and iconic status in the city. The founder, Domingo Ghirardelli, was born in Italy in 1817 and…
Tiramisu is an Italian dessert with layers of espresso-soaked savoiardi (lady fingers), creamy mascarpone, and shaved chocolate or cocoa powder. In this post I will discuss the history behind tiramisu, weigh-in on common adaptations, and give you my favorite recipe! History Tiramisu translates to “pick me up.” It is a relatively new dessert dating back to the…
Williams Sonoma sells a line of celebrity-designed spatulas in order to support No Kid Hungry, a non-profit organization with the mission of ending childhood hunger in America. The sale of just one spatula is enough to provide meals for FORTY children in need. According to the USDA, more than 11 million children in the United…
The Black Beauty tomato is deeply hued, meaty, and earthy. The dark color comes from extreme anthocyanin expression (which is the same antioxidant in blueberries and blackberries). Some of the tomatoes are fully black, others have both red and black. What color do you think it is inside? Hint, see below 🙂 As soon as…
The base recipe for this focaccia comes from Sarah Jampel at Bon Appetit. As her title states, it is both “shockingly easy” and “no-knead.” Knead I say more? hehe This recipe is easy to follow, comes together quickly (not counting the rise times), and it has the most delicious flavor and texture. I don’t think…
Introducing your new favorite dessert for summer! This recipe features juicy peaches in vanilla bean paste, brown sugar, and freshly grated ginger. The topping is made with oats, ground ginger, and crunchy coconut flakes. Serve this warm with vanilla ice cream… You may never go back to a normal peach crisp! I used both freshly…
I love a good cheese plate! In fact, I could make a whole meal out of it! It is a great option if you do not feel like cooking anything 🙂 A cheese plate is also ideal for entertaining (whenever we can do that again) because you can prepare it in advance and you can…
This recipe for salted caramel cookies comes from Leeds St Bakery in Wellington, New Zealand. We went to Leeds St for coffee and breakfast one morning on our honeymoon and got their famous cookie to-go to eat “later in the day,” perhaps after going to the Te Papa museum. Let me tell you… we ate this entire cookie…
These zucchini blossoms are stuffed with ricotta, golden raisin, walnut, shallot, and garlic. They are coated in a batter made with sparking water which contributes to a super crispy bite. The dipping sauce is a sage-walnut pesto. This recipe is inspired by the fried zucchini blossoms we had a Rita in Wellington, NZ. My husband…
This seasonal interpretation of panzanella features grilled peaches, tomatoes, corn, and avocado. I also added a jalapeño for a little spice, goat cheese, and basil. All the flavors come together with a Dijon-shallot dressing. I hope you make this salad the next time you have ripe peaches! A bit of history…. Panzanella is a Tuscan…
I recently started learning more about making jam and how to properly preserve fruits. Now is a great time to learn because there is so much fresh fruit at the market that you can make into jam and enjoy all year long! This jam has about 50% less sugar than your typical recipe and has no added…
Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson opened Tartine in 2002 on Guerrero St in San Francisco. Since then, it has grown to over 10 locations throughout the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Seoul. They have written cookbooks including the original Tartine (2006), Tartine Bread (2010), Tartine All Day (2017), and Tartine: A Classic Revisited (2019). The morning bun is one of their most famous pastries. It…
This heirloom tomato tart features homemade ricotta, fresh basil, and zesty lemon. I know we say this about most homemade things, but this ricotta tastes nothing like the ricotta you find in the grocery store. It is rich and creamy, almost like a very soft cream cheese. It is also so easy to make (you…
I am so excited to share this lemon tart with you! It has a tender, buttery cookie crust, a layer of tart lemon curd, and a jammy layer of fresh tayberries. This might be my favorite dessert I have ever made! What are tayberries? Tayberries are a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry. They…
These fig cobbler macarons have a cinnamon oat shell, brown butter buttercream, and a fig preserve filling. Macarons are a fun weekend project requiring time, effort, and practice. The outcome is so rewarding and everybody will love these 🙂 It is important to find a macaron method that works for you. In addition to my…
I have said it before and I will say it again, stone fruit season is the best season! In addition to using peaches for pies, crisps, and cobblers, try putting them on your pizza. You will be surprised how good this combination is 🙂 You can use homemade or store bought dough, topped with olive…
Vintage 1940’s M&M Cookies made for the 4th of July! 🇺🇸 M&Ms were patented by Forrest E. Mars (of the Mars Candy Company) in 1941. These candies were originally sold exclusively to the US Military during World War II because they were heat-resistant and easy to transport. But their history dates much further back… Mars…
Introducing the brûléed fig salad with arugula, prosciutto, and pistachio on a bed of whipped mascarpone! A few years ago I took a cooking class with Chef Mat at Kitchen on Fire in Berkeley, California. I have been wanting to recreate this salad ever since. The theme of the evening was a “Culinary Tour of…
The strawberry scone from Big Sur Bakery forever changed my opinion of scones. I used to think scones were dry, tasteless, and crumbly. These are tender, buttery, and full of strawberry flavor. I am confident these scones will reform even the biggest scone opponents 🙂 The most interesting feature of this recipe is the method…
This is a recipe for Blueberry Tea Cake from the 1927 cookbook, “Any one can Bake.” We found this book at a library sale. It was packed with torn out recipes and handwritten notes on the margins of the book. I bet the previous owner was a really good baker 🙂 The recipes were complied…
Enjoy the strawberry season while it is still going strong! I used lots of fresh strawberries so you get one in almost every bite. The glaze is made with freeze-dried strawberries ground down to a powder giving you an extra intense flavor and that beautiful hue! The white chocolate drizzle is for good measure 🙂…
This is the custard pie recipe from “What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking,” published in 1881. This cookbook is thought to be the first African-American cookbook. Mrs. Fisher was born into slavery in South Carolina. She married a man from Alabama and they made their way to San Francisco after the Civil War….
This recipe comes together quickly and it can be customized with whatever fruit is in season. There is NO SHAME in using frozen puff pastry (especially if you are making these before your first cup of coffee). The cream cheese filling has just a touch of almond extract which is a nice compliment for the…
Grilled pineapple with coconut gelato is the perfect summer dessert. It makes you feel like you are on vacation and you do not need to turn your oven on in the summer heat! We tested a few methods for grilling pineapple and the best results came by brushing the pineapple slices with a brown sugar…
We are lucky to live in a city that is so food-oriented. Here is my list of favorite restaurants and activities in the area. I will keep this list updated as we discover new places. The restaurants are organized by neighborhood. We live in the Marina District so that is why you see more options…
My husband and I got married on November 10th, 2019! It was a magical day and it truly is the best feeling to see everybody together witnessing such a big moment in our life. We were surrounded by so much love and celebration. I will also say that after spending a year plus planning a…
Maui is one of six main Hawaiian Islands (the others being Kauai, Oahu (where Honolulu is), Molokai, Lanai, and the island of Hawaii (also known as the “Big Island”). Each island has its own personality and things to love about it. Maui is my favorite because it is a great balance of nature and outdoor…