March 3, 2018
Sometimes I make a double batch of cookies, then I make a batch of cupcakes with vanilla buttercream, then I make a lemon bundt cake (not pictured). Then, I bring them to my Mom for her birthday. Then I run the dishwasher. VCTOTW basic chocolate, of course. I tried to make Read more…
December 20, 2017
I’m so vanilla. I’ll take it over chocolate any day. But vanilla buttercream can be easy to mess up. And many do. So here are some tips to create perfect fluffy buttercream. 1.) Use Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s buttercream recipe from VCTOTW. It’s tried and true, and there ain’t no need Read more…
November 20, 2017
This is how I look when I wake up… next to a pretty large pumpkin I would go on to process. I used my head for scale, though I kind of have a big head. Processing pumpkin is one of my favorite seasonal rituals. The mind boggles with pumpkin opportunities… Read more…
September 3, 2017
So what if it was cold and overcast? The last weekend before the new school year is time to hit the cabana and hold on tight. That means eats, too. Cous cous salad with kale, basil and tomatoes from the garden. The last of the tiramisu. My last batch of Read more…
August 30, 2017
Tiramisu translates to “pick me up” in Italian. That’s adorable. Beside that, it’s such a lovely dessert. It is worth making just to sit a slice on a pretty plate and take a picture of. After seeing Seitan is My Motor‘s recipe, I was inspired to make it again. The Read more…
July 24, 2017
Despite being pretty organized and calculated in many areas of my life, there are other areas in which I am reckless, irrational, and possibly quite stupid. Eh, definitely quite stupid. One minor example of this is how I go veggie-crazy at farmers markets. I buy what looks good without regard, Read more…
June 30, 2017
I made this cute cake for a good friend of mine. I got a little cake-trendy with it. Besides the whole unicorn thing, I filled it with a mix of goodies that’ll pour out upon slicing… To do this, use a biscuit cutter to punch out the centers of your Read more…
May 14, 2017
Sometimes I make enough cupcakes, enough that I have to drive to work. With a staff potluck and a bake sale that I organized, this was the case this past week. Both events called for a special load of cupcakes. I opted for the nostalgic s’mores combination… Graham cupcakes, aquafaba marshmallow Read more…
February 18, 2017
The Canon G9X reminds me of my grandfather’s old camera, especially in this nifty case. It’s a great camera, but there’s no viewfinder… which kind of kills the whole nostalgic feel of it. But it sure takes a pretty picture. Another go at the Sprinkles red velvet for a work Read more…
January 1, 2017
Of all the vegan cupcakes I have tried all over the country, my favorite comes not from a vegan bakery but Sprinkles–the world’s first cupcake bakery! During a recent visit to a book store I perused their long-awaited cookbook, excited to see that my beloved vegan red velvet cupcake and vegan Read more…
December 26, 2016
Balsam Fir Yule log/Tree Torturing Franky Catnip wine, just out of reach L: Failed bundt cake; R: New York-style crumb cake
November 4, 2016
Did you ever see someone’s inbox and realize that maybe you’re a bit neurotic about clearing your inbox? I don’t like when I have drafts just sitting around. So here, a blog post that has no theme or elaboration that fizzles out text-wise but still captures some of the yumminess Read more…
October 30, 2016
Luckily, my birthday celebrations expand many weeks–there’s me-time travel involved (the sloths), us-time travel (London), family, friends. Eventually, all sides have been represented, leaving me smiling and grateful. I love October; and I love how my birthday delivers me to the excitement of autumn and winter holidays. And I love October sunrises, Read more…
July 4, 2016
Porno for pyros Pink, white & teal, close enough Fountainhead Marshmallow meringue parfaits Independent lunch–Field Roast burger, potato salad, corn on the cob Black-eyed Susan up, with ladybug superfly friend A Big Galoot snuck in to cool off. So handsome. Lilies are up. Tomatoes dropping already. Frank knows I’m heading Read more…
June 26, 2016
This year’s Pride celebration coincided with cake duty for a very special colleague who will be moving on to a new job. He is also fiercest gay man I know. Naturally, I’d express myself through cake, signing up for dessert at the goodbye potluck. It’s a language I am pretty Read more…
June 19, 2016
I look forward to making my Dad’s Father’s Day cake every year. My Dad, known for always ordering the weirdest thing on the menu, will try it all. So I enjoy the cake inspiration the special day inspires. This year, a coconut lemon bundt cake with a lemon glaze, a Read more…
May 8, 2016
I get my beautiful brown bangs from mom, as evident in this picture of my Mom and her twin brother on trike patrol. On her day, my mother requested a chocolate cake with vanilla icing. So that is what she got. I Read more…
March 9, 2016
The ocean next door. Without Pickle Shack, M.O.B. will have to do. Ground’s jewels. Complete protein. Roasted vegetable aftermath art. Happy cupcakes. Manmade on majesty. “Even if you’re on the right track…”
February 19, 2016
I was so excited to try this cake out after seeing BestofVegan‘s post in Instagram. Always on the hunt for new baking adventures and always having a lot of bananas to use up, this was perfect! To start, you need to make a chocolate cake. I doubled Isa’s basic chocolate cupcake Read more…
February 17, 2016
I kind of have a thing for impractical cake bakeware, specialized Nordicware pieces that are intricate and fun. Of course most of my pieces are from the Williams Sonoma Outlet, as 50$ for a cake pan is a bit steep. My latest 60% of Nordicware pan seemed most promising: the Shortcake Baskets Pan. Read more…
January 4, 2016
Guittard‘s Cocoa Rouge is a wonderful red Dutch processed cocoa powder, the first in my quest of finding a go-to cocoa powder. The reddish brown is Earthy and clay-like. The deep brown chocolate cake boasts the cocoa’s richness. Those light chocolate smears are melted chocolate chunks. Once the cake is Read more…
December 20, 2015
I hadn’t made vegan rainbow cookies for years! And since then my baking skills and kitchen set-up has improved a great deal. With dessert duty for a work potluck and inside the inspiration of the holiday cookie issue of Bon Appétit, I had to step it up. I used The Veg Life’s awesome Read more…
December 13, 2015
Upcycled bread box. Yellow and teal. “You don’t bring me flours anymore.” Coke bottle crate spice holder. Vintage aesthetic / modern function. Animals on plates. Black radish heart procession. In the train, out at the station, the slither of pink sunset. Christmas is here. Fir on the floor. Weekly banana bread. Read more…
November 26, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for a successful Thanksgiving meal created in our new kitchen. The renovated space improved work flow in a tremendous way. And the dishwasher–a game changer. Here are the food highlights: A flavor-packed stuffed seitan roast, mashed potatoes, apple pomegranate pumpkin rice, and creamed corn.Check out these amazing Read more…
November 22, 2015
Every year I take home the pumpkins in my classroom and turn them into cupcakes, highlighting the delicious circle of life. After baking the different pumpkin varieties until tender, I scoop out the flesh… …and blend away in the food processor. Ok, so I processed one of the pumpkins from the porch Read more…
