Frosted Chocolate Spice Muffins

December 16, 2012 | 8 Comments

Chocolate Spice Muffin

Ah, chocolate. You really are a celebrity at this time of year, aren’t you? No need to be humble, you know it’s true.

Something just feels right about enjoying chocolate when there’s a chill in the air.
Something just feels right about enjoying chocolate when you’re surrounded by friends and family with whom you can share.
Something just feels right about enjoying chocolate when you can simply promise to work it off in the New Year.

Messy

I especially like chocolate when it’s flavoring a delectable bread or cake, which should then be topped with some sort of creamy frosting, preferably also favored with chocolate.

So, you know, these Chocolate Spice Muffins are pretty much made for me. What a coincidence!

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Blueberry Mostachon Cake

August 24, 2012 | 12 Comments

I don’t want to distract you with a whole lot of blah-blah-blahbibbity-blah today:  we’ve got the matter of this cake to attend to. And I want to make sure that you aren’t distracted.

Put your full focus on this cake.

In case you’re not familiar with a mostachon cake, it’s a traditional meringue-style cake from Monterrey, Mexico. It typically includes cookies or crackers in the meringue.

But here’s a secret:  I don’t like meringue. Apologies, apologies, apologies – I just don’t.

So I flipped the script on a traditional mostachon and made it much more like a conventional cake. I kept the cookies in the mix, incorporating sweet, crisp Maria crackers. And then I threw in some bursting fresh blueberries and topped it off with a tart goat cheese frosting.

You’re going to want to make some room in your weekend for this cake. Pretty amazeballs.

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Sriracha & Mexican Lime Donuts

August 13, 2012 | 15 Comments

Sometimes things will come onto your radar and stay for just a little while:  legwarmers, high-waisted jeans, Garbage Pail Kids trading cards, New Coke…

And then sometimes things will come into your life and stay for a long, long time. You’ll make space for them in your dresser, tuck them away in your wallet, and create special shelves for them inside your fridge.

I’m no longer trading Phony Lisa for Scotty Potty and I’ve (thankfully) hung up my high-waisted jeans. But from the moment I first tasted Sriracha it was love at first bite, and the Red Rooster has taken up permanent residency in my kitchen.

I’m convinced it’s the successful marriage of savory & sweet, flavor & heat, and consistency & color that makes Sriracha so dang addictive. I put it on anything and everything and I’m not ashamed to say so. I put some Sriracha on my New Coke yesterday in an attempt to make it taste more like Old Coke. It didn’t work, but the New Coke did taste a lot better.

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Milk Bar Mondays: Birthday Layer Cake

June 18, 2012 | 21 Comments

A. and I have this thing called the Sleep Chamber. No, it’s not our newest anti-aging mechanism! We’re pickling ourselves with salsa verde and queso for that, silly goose!

The Sleep Chamber is where you go, at least metaphorically speaking, when you just want to coast through a specific period of time that is standing between you and greatness.

You’ve got a big fiesta coming up on Friday – you Sleep Chamber through Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
You’re going on a shoe shopping spree on Saturday – you Sleep Chamber through Friday afternoon and Saturday morning cartoons.
There’s a pizza party on your Saturday evening schedule – you Sleep Chamber through toast and egg salad sandwiches.

The Sleep Chamber is your mental express pass to the destination, event, or pizza feast of your choosing.

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Chocolate Chile Pumpkin Cookies

October 28, 2011 | 34 Comments

I’ll keep things short today. Because, you know…  #itsFriday

#andyouhaveimportantthingstodo

#likebuyingmorecandy

#andstitchingupcostumes

#andIclearlyneedtospendlesstimeonTwitter

#whatever

Seriously, the time suckage around here is epic.

There are tweets to be tweeted, pins to be pinned, statuses to update…

And then there are the jack-0-lanterns that need to be carved, candy that needs to be taste-tested (for safety, of course), and certain doggies that need to sit still for their final costume fittings.

What can I say? #IcantwaitforHalloween

So we need to be efficient today, right? Right.

It’s time to bust out our go-toiest go-to recipe. That one that’s sure to please and simple to prepare. You know? Yes, you know.

#ChocolateChileShortbread

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Mezcal Cupcakes & A Love Story

October 18, 2011 | 51 Comments

Once upon a time (ye olde 1990′s), in a land far, far away (Boston), there lived a Girl.

This Girl was in school, getting into life, rocking floral prairie dresses and combat boots to class (whatever – it was a phase).

At the same time, in the same place, there lived a Boy.

This Boy was also in school, getting into life, rocking a mullet to class (whatever – it was a phase.).

The first day of class rolled around and Girl showed up in style, red prairie dress flowing, combat boots polished. Boy was already seated in the back row, mulleted locks glistening.

What was this? The desk next to Boy was available. Girl took it. Cue the shy conversation and sidelong glances.

Class ended and Girl worked up the courage to invite Boy to her next 90210 viewing party. Just keeping it cool, classy and sophisticated-like.

Boy accepted.

Girl scurried off to plan a 90210 viewing party.

The night of the party arrived, and so did Boy, proffering a brand new bottle of mezcal.

And guess what? This bottle had TWO worms in it. Two worms for two silly people. It must be fate.

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Back To School Cinnamon Bread

September 6, 2011 | 51 Comments

Can you smell it? The fresh plastic scent of your brand new Trapper Keeper…

Can you feel it? The hot vinyl of the school bus seat sticking to the back of your thighs…

Can you hear it? The shrill shriek of the day’s first class bell…

That’s right, it’s time to go back to school. And to celebrate, this entire week on SB will be dedicated to just that – going back to school in delicious style.

Whoa. That’s me in the middle. Somewhere in Massachusetts sometime in the 1980s. Now might be a good time to review our First Day Checklist.

1. Get your hairs did. CHECK. My baby sister, B., is on the far left. B. enjoys eating Wheat Thins, running marathons, and, clearly, she too appreciates the value of utilitarian hairstyles. Points for practicality.

2. Proper equipment is vital. CHECK. That’s my Peanuts lunchbox, which preceded my ThunderCats lunchbox, which preceded my New Kids On The Block lunchbox. It seems that I was able to keep up with the trends far better than my friend there rocking the Members Only Jr. jacket and NASA lunchbox. Trend adherence is critical when it comes to proper equipment selection. Obvi.

3. Eat a good breakfast. CHECK. CHECK. Cinnamon Bread shows love. Cinnamon Bread gives comfort. Cinnamon Bread calms First Day jitters. It’s a natural. Let’s get it done.

I just love quick bread recipes like this:  flavorful, simple and so incredibly satisfying.

Some people may be allergic to cinnamon, or maybe just not care for its heat. No biggie. This recipe is so versatile that you can swap the cinnamon out for the spice of your choice.

Maybe ginger? Maybe some cardamom? You’re the Spice Boss. Go for it.

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Coconut Almond Rice (Horchata) Cake

July 28, 2011 | 47 Comments

Did you go into the kitchen yesterday morning to have a large, healthy glass of water?

Of course you did.

Because you’re smart, and good, and nutritional-like.

Did you decide to throw yourself a bone and amp your water up by turning it into your favorite agua fresca? Perhaps. Innocent enough.

Horchata is made with ground rice and almonds. It’s cool and refreshing. And it’s a water-based beverage so no harm, no foul.

Did you think about the lovely flavors of Horchata while you were mixing your drink and come to the conclusion that they would make an excellent cake?

Fair enough. We’re just thinking here. No confectionary steps have been taken.

No ovens have been preheated. No pans lined and greased. No batter has been mixed. Not a single shred of coconut has been toasted.

And certainly no frosting has been whipped. None. Absolutely, positively none.

Because you’re good. And nutritional-like.

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