December 25, 2020
If ever there was a day to bring it, it’s Christmas Day! So instead of a boring cake, I did my second Pom Pom cake for the special day. But I couldn’t stop there. It’s also a Polka Dot cake–a cake with colorful cake polka dots within. I never made Read more…
December 23, 2020
In the very much not mad dash of my current to-do’s, the bananas need a new form to avoid being discarded. I don’t need any rotten fruits and vegetables following me into the new year. So–whilst I prep for a supremely wacky Christmas cake for my family–a normal, nutty loaf Read more…
December 10, 2020
With a Christmas craft night planned, I decided to use a generous portion of my pumpkin puree. So a pumpkin chocolate chip loaf for the festive gathering! Every year I forget just how delicious VCTOTW‘s recipe is… While I was at it… and feeling fairly certain I’d see my students Read more…
December 7, 2020
A belated birthday Babka for my friend would be cause to make a huge mess in the kitchen today. Using the crazy-easy recipe from Make It Dairyfree, I created a gorgeously curvaceous loaf of chocolate babka. To follow are my hopefully helpful notes on the process… 1.) Check your yeast. Read more…
December 2, 2020
As a teacher, there is often cafeteria snacks in my fridge. I hate seeing it wasted and my students know that I take home the unwanted sliced apples and applesauce for baking endeavors. Despite teaching at home now, my applesauce stash was still substantial. I decided to make an applesauce Read more…
November 25, 2020
With the Thanksgiving meal taken care of, I’d need to make a sweet treat that traveled easily. I’ve been wanting to make Rainbow Cookies since I failed at them last Christmas. So now, a Thanksgiving version! Though they are a bit candy corn-ish… Thanksgiving (or Any Day) Rainbow Cookies Adapted Read more…
November 23, 2020
Yes, yes, I got bit by the Ube bug… the bright purple potato that has been sweeping the baking nation. But fresh ube, which many mistake for one of the several purple sweet potato varieties, is pretty hard to attain in these parts. Luckily, the Stokes Purple sweet potato would Read more…
November 21, 2020
Before I even got the coffee started, I was boiling pecans to shell. It’s been slightly irking me that the huge bag I bought when I was down south has remained unused. But there is a bit of legwork involved in their enjoyment. With autumnal recipe endeavors on the horizon, Read more…
November 19, 2020
And Boom! The winter coat is out. This year has passed with record speed… but its timestamps are upside down, half off the page and mostly indiscernible. My old trusty (this blog) will file away the months neatly for reference when the dust clears. So here are some things that Read more…
October 26, 2020
Some final Happy New Year to Me outtakes, starting with a Zoom birthday call from my motel in Kittatinny, PA! A surprise birthday card before my departure–when your classroom paraprofessional spends her free time making you stars… ❤️ My Mom scored some vegan cupcakes from Whole Foods for me, but Read more…
October 6, 2020
Fall is for roasted roots and vegetables the hue of the Earth in all its vibrance. And, thankfully, the busiest time of the year calls for the easiest dinner preparation–coat in olive oil, salt and pepper and set in the oven. Repeat. If only I can lesson plan this way. Read more…
September 25, 2020
The next V.V. Nostalgic Classic would be the Charleston Chew, a childhood favorite deep-seeded in my memory–like all of my V.V. Nostalgic Classics (new tag!) Like those other treats, the texture and taste has remained vivid for decades. But more importantly, the associations and related details also pour back. I Read more…
August 27, 2020
Nothing makes me feel more at home then filling up my sink with dishes and cooking up a storm. Of course having to adjust my spending necessitates my making my own meals, it is an option I miss on the road. First, potatoes. I have a hard time with them Read more…
July 19, 2020
July Birthday time! First on the menu, some summertime parfaits. This only made 3 because I was also making a cake, so feel free to double or triple. The Basil and Lime-infused Coconut Whip 1 can full fat coconut milk, chilled overnight 1/2 Tablespoon maple syrup (adjust for non-my sister Read more…
July 10, 2020
After not feeling much baking motivation as of late, today I got my groove back! I made another two loaves on this decidedly inside day. Using Lil Cookie’s Chocolate Babka recipe, motivated by an all-day binge-watch of The Great British Bake Off, my counter now has 4 loaves of bread. Read more…
After watching bread week on The Great British Bake Off, I longed for the waft of bread baking in the oven. The rainy day made for the perfect opportunity. That and I have bread on the grocery list. Inspired by the simplicity of this guy’s video and recipe, I made Read more…
July 4, 2020
Though I had just gotten home from my trip, I quickly got to work on an Independence Day treat for the festivities. I took a risk on veganizing these firecracker cupcakes. But I had no more all-purpose flour and subbed with cake flour and whole wheat flour. The result, a Read more…
June 23, 2020
No more pencils, no more books… oh wait! We haven’t used either since March! Though I have enjoyed seeing my students’ ceilings in our Google Meets, the school year is ending on a rather anti-climactic fashion. A trip to my school to pick up some curriculum planning stuff for summer Read more…
June 22, 2020
Oh, how I love to begin to smell the ripening bananas in my fruit bowl! Though they most often become my oatmeal, chocolate marble banana bread is an old favorite from Isa Does It. Chocolate and banana are a flavor duo I really enjoy. And so photogenic!
June 21, 2020
After using cacao butter in my s’mores babka, I knew I had to try to make a cake with it. Because if I passionately huff the stuff in ecstasy, it’ll most likely make a delicious cake, right? So on this Father’s Day, my first trial of a Vegan White Chocolate Read more…
June 14, 2020
June must go on! And that means rainbow Pride treats to celebrate LOVE in all its varied forms. Gazing upon a bright rainbow bundt, who wouldn’t agree that diversity is so much better than same-same. I must give some credit to McCormick who inspired this bundt, even though they are Read more…
May 30, 2020
I have gotten through my entire list of baking goals during the quarantine and have been less motivated to bake ever since. I just miss sharing my baked goods–it’s half the joy of baking! So with plans for a hike in the woods of New Jersey, an impromptu batch of Read more…
May 22, 2020
It’s the start of the patriotic treats time of year. Though this one is the most somber of the holidays, I embarked upon a red, white and blue vanilla loaf because I just love those colors. It’d be a hit at some festive gathering that you’re not allowed to go Read more…
May 18, 2020
Goodnight, bridge. {Recipe here.}
May 13, 2020
I thought I made this up. The idea was born in my brain and not in a Google search. Then I searched it and a few folks had thought of it, though mostly it was a reposting of the same recipe by The Nosher/My Jewish Learning by on several different Read more…
May 10, 2020
A beautiful day to celebrate Mother’s Day through the door… Let’s start with the cupcakes. Though I love to show my affection with tremendous baking undertakings, my Mom doesn’t like complicated baked goods. For her day, a basic vanilla and a fudgy chocolate frosting, reminiscent of Duncan Hines. They’re like Read more…