Pecan Pumpkin Spice Sourdough Monkey Bread

Not that I need ANOTHER excuse to bake something “pumpkin spice,” something super nice. But, I was gifted a gorgeous jar of Williams Sonoma Pecan Pumpkin Butter – and I just had to figure out a creative and unique opportunity for use – and to share. Karen, my sweetheart and 😇 friend knows me all…

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Apricot Orange Ginger Spice Cake

So, my dad really loves fruitcake. Me, not so much. But, I really love my dad. He requested Panettone this year, as well as a dense rum fruit cake. But, he was also dreaming of a friend’s version – with whom I cannot compete. When you grow up a gourmet foodie, have a mom who…

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Honeybee Vanilla Cupcakes and Honeyed Bread Pudding

More on the honeybees… Honey vanilla cupcakes filled to the brim with a bit of “buttercream” will send you buzzing. And with the leftover crumbs, crumbles, and canines ~honeyed bread pudding seems to be the answer. Look at those darling little honeybees. And another spoonful of yum! I’ve mentioned before how I despise the term…

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Blackberry Curd and Lemon Cream Tea Scones

The afternoon started off full. We were tired and sat on the kitchen stools together. “What should we do now?” “I don’t know. Let’s make scones!” So, we quickly whipped up a batch of Lemon (of course) Cream Tea Scones. You see, we both just adore the crumbly texture and not so sweet goodness of…

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Lemon Thyme Sugar Cookies

Springtime is in the air. I can just feel it right around the corner. Despite the blizzardy, blustery conditions this last week, the sun is shining and the weekend calls for 60 degrees! It’s time to celebrate spring ~ the plethora of pastels and the fresh and fragrant flavors of the season. Lemon Thyme Sugar…

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Cauliflower Cake

I love kitchen things. A dreamy afternoon for me could simply be a digital date with the virtual shopping cart of Williams Sonoma, or browsing the floor of Sur La Table. I know I’m not alone in this little obsession with high quality kitchen toys. I adore my kaleidoscope collection of colorful Le Creuset, copper…

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Winter Warmth – Mediterranean Fusion Chicken Salad

I adore salads. Fresh. Green. Crisp. Gooooood. I crave them. Yet, sometimes it’s just too cold. I like the cozy goodness of a nice warm meal in my belly. Thus, a salad with lots of greenery, but with the more than welcome accessory of nourishing warmth can and does soothe my soul – not to…

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Stacked Heirloom Sliders

Slippery sliders are an amazing treat. I love them with beef or lamb, for sure.  Really love them, actually. However, there are times when a garden fresh heirloom tomato does the meaty trick! With a splash of balsamic vinegar for sweetness and plenty of salty goodness sprinkled atop the veggie meaty mess of baby bellas…

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The Secret is in the Sauce

It’s definitely not a mystery nor a surprise that I am a creature of habit. Once I get myself into the groove of things, it often seems that the groove lines become deeper and deeper on a daily basis.  And in the words of the great Katy Perry, “there’s no goin’ back!” This trait of…

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Tuna Carpaccio

For years and years and years, any restaurant entree order of mine proved to be highly predictable.  Always, no matter where I ventured, assuming the restaurant selection suited my style, my meal of choice involved AHI TUNA.  Oh…heaven.  So fresh, so delicious, so amazing.  What a treat. Thankfully I’ve begun to expand my palate over…

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