This is so cliche’, but I’m gonna say it anyway – this year has flown by. And now that Thanksgiving is over, and 2020 will be here in a matter of weeks, I can hardly believe it’s been a whole year. Luckily I made these pumpkin cupcakes before Thanksgiving and my family has been enjoying…
Entertaining
lemon and blueberry brioche bread
I had big plans…. Summer is all about having fun, relaxing with your family, enjoying the weather, not having a to-do list. I, however, had big plans for the summer. It was gonna be my time to get back into blogging and baking, two of my favorite things. But summer had different plans for me,…
the best chocolate chip cookies
There’s so much going on! Do you ever feel like you’ve got too many hands in the cookie jar? I realize some things can be helped. But there are things that must get done. Like baking the best chocolate chip cookies. And taking care of our sweet canine buddy, Jasper. Last week we had to…
marionberry lavender layer cake with german buttercream frosting
You know it’s going to be a good day when you get to make a spectacular birthday cake for your mom. I texted her the other day to find out what she wanted for her special day. She sent me pictures of cakes with berries, so I decided to make her this marionberry lavender layer…
lemon creme fraiche pound cake with lemon lavender glaze
Spring is in the air! Can you feel it?! Just last week we were dealing with snow and ice and today it was close to 60 degrees here! Granted it started out at 28 degrees when I drove my son to school. But by the end of the day, I flung several windows open to…
meyer lemon bars
It’s meyer lemon season! It’s meyer lemon season! Ok. I’m back down to earth now. But seriously. Just when I think the grocery store can’t get more exciting, meyer lemons show up! And now I must make meyer lemon bars. Because meyer lemons are my jam. Oooh. Jam. *Makes mental note to make meyer lemon…
chocolate peppermint layer cake with ganache
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and whether you celebrate that with your spouse or hang out with your besties for Galentine’s, this chocolate peppermint layer cake is the perfect dessert for the occasion. I made this chocolate peppermint layer cake over the weekend. All of the forecasts for the Pacific Northwest showed seven full days of…
linzer cookies with marionberry lavender and cranberry fillings
I can’t believe I’ve never made linzer cookies before! Where have you been all my life?! These are very much a shortbread type cookie and I made two fillings because, well cookies. There were so many recipes that I wanted to make over the Christmas holiday, and there just wasn’t enough time to fit in…
brioche braided bread with chocolate filling
I’m posting so many recipes using the brioche dough from BreadIn5’s holiday book. The dough really is *that* versatile. Being able to keep dough in the fridge for 5 days really is a game changer. When I don’t have to prepare dough every time I want to make cinnamon rolls, or this brioche wreath bread,…
brioche cinnamon rolls with orange cream cheese frosting
I can’t stop making cinnamon rolls. There’s just no way to mess these up. The flavor combinations are endless, so until I’ve exhausted all possible pairings, I bake on. I love this dough from BreadIn5’s new holiday book. Check it out here if you haven’t seen it yet. They really are the best with bread…
brioche cranberry star bread
There are so many tutorials floating around Pinterest for star bread. I think I first saw them on Adventures in Cooking. I fell in love with Eva’s photography and found out she is from Portland! Small world. Her recipes are amazing and there are so many I’ve been pinning to save and try at a…
cranberry orange layer cake with orange buttercream frosting
So many cranberries, so little time. Baking with seasonal ingredients is such a great way to experiment and find new ways of using what’s available. Take cranberries. I have some frozen ones that I use for smoothies whenever the mood strikes. But having fresh cranberries is so much better. Frozen berries mean too much moisture…
chocolate espresso crinkle cookies
Every year the granddaughters on my in-law’s side get together to bake Christmas cookies. These chocolate espresso crinkle cookies are my take on a favorite the girls make every year. They’ve been doing it since the oldest (who is about 30!), was old enough to bake with grandma. The cookies are divided up and given…
mini pumpkin bundt cakes with maple icing
The weather has shifted, which means it’s socially acceptable to bake with fall ingredients. Pumpkin, being at the top of that ingredient list, gets used in cakes, breads, smoothies, and breakfast treats. When it’s summer time and I’m able to use all the fruit and berries that grow in my garden, I get sad when…
pumpkin brioche doughnuts
Love me a good doughnut. In Portland we have several well-known bakeries that are all about the doughnuts. My kids love going to VooDoo Doughnuts with all their weird flavors. Pips Originals is another one, but can you believe I’ve never been there? They give away a dozen doughnuts if you come in on your…
dulce de leche sandwich cookies
Everyone is making pie and here I am making cookies. Because there’s no wrong time for cookies. Let me hear an “amen!” I don’t dislike pie, but when I want something fairly predictable and easy to make, my answer is always a cookie. These Dulce de Leche cookies come courtesy of America’s Test Kitchen. I…
italian apple cake
This is one of those recipes you look at and go “hmm. I doubt anything just as simple as apples in a cake is going to be anything great.” And then you make it and go “good lawd – how did I go this long without making this cake?!?” Sometimes it’s the simplest things that…
gluten free apple pear and cranberry crisp
There is no question that fall has arrived in the Pacific Northwest. I absolutely love this time of year. You never quite know what to expect here in Oregon. There’s a joke that if you’re unhappy with the weather, wait five minutes. That’s pretty much how it is. We can have these beautiful days of…
blueberry and lemon sweet rolls
Here’s another recipe using blueberries. I had a few cups left from what I picked off the bushes in my yard. I saw a recipe on Pioneer Woman – when has she ever had a bad recipe?! I actually made the entire amount of dough in the recipe, and then realized that I do not…
bakery style baguettes
I like to bake a lot of things. But probably one of my favorites is bread, like these bakery style baguettes. Such a simple thing to enjoy baking. But there are really good reasons to bake bread. Your house smells good. Your kids wander into the kitchen, wondering what you are making, and you are…
cheesecake with lavender marionberry topping
It’s so fitting that I post this recipe today. It’s my 27th anniversary! HOW is that POSSIBLE? I am not that old. Ok. I’m old. But my brain keeps telling me I’m still the 22 year old young bride. This, along with any type of pie, is one of Craig’s favorite desserts. Too bad he…
pie crust
The products linked to King Arthur Flour in this post are there because I love those items. I do not receive compensation for these links. I just love their products! Ok you guys. Today let’s talk pie crust. Are you in the “all butter” pie crust camp, or “it’s shortening or nothing, baby”? And you…
strawberry shortcake
My motto is “there’s never a bad time for strawberries”. This is especially true in the summer in the Pacific Northwest. Strawberries are in abundance. In the grocery stores. At Costco. And at u-pick farms. I’ve been picking berries since I was a kid, and there’s just something about going to a farm, trudging up…
blackberry rhubarb tart
This. This right here is proof that this is the best tart I’ve ever had. Mostly because it contains my two favorite ingredients: rhubarb and blackberries. This is best made with fresh berries. Frozen is just not the same! Summer is the best time to experiment with berry recipes because I can go to any…