chicken + waffles

You know the saying, “if you want something done right, do it yourself”? I’m usually a pretty firm believer in that. One could also say, “if you want something you’ve never eaten before, cook it yourself”. Now that’s an idea I can totally get behind! It has been the case with many things I’ve eaten in the past (French macarons, Cuban sandwiches, brioche ice cream sandwiches, to … Continue reading chicken + waffles

raspberry-vanilla moscato floats

Labor Day weekend traditionally is summer’s last hurrah, when everyone tries to scramble out of town for last-minute beach vacations, or backyard pool parties and barbecues with friends and neighbors before the weather (finally!) starts to cool down. I, myself, actually have a three day weekend, which is nearly unheard of in the restaurant industry. How am I putting this free time to good use, … Continue reading raspberry-vanilla moscato floats

banoffee pie with pretzel crust

As it often happens, I’ll be dining out at a restaurant and love something so much that I want to recreate it at home (case in point, my super favorite Pita Jungle cauliflower and tahini)! This banoffee pie is no exception, but I had no idea it would be so easy to create. It barely requires any cooking at all, and can be ready to eat … Continue reading banoffee pie with pretzel crust

national ice cream month: carrot cake popsicles

DID YOU KNOW? JULY IS NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH! TO CELEBRATE, AND TO BEAT THE HEAT, I’LL BE BRINGING YOU RECIPES FOR FROSTY, SWEET TREATS ALL MONTH LONG! FROM POPSICLES WITH AN UNEXPECTED INGREDIENT, TO A frosty little ice cream cake, STICK AROUND CAUSE THIS MONTH’S SURE TO BE TASTY! In my ever-growing list of recipe ideas, there’s one recipe that has been taunting me … Continue reading national ice cream month: carrot cake popsicles

national ice cream month: monster cookie ice cream sandwiches

Did you know? July is National Ice Cream Month! To celebrate, and to beat the heat, I’ll be bringing you recipes for frosty, sweet treats all month long! From popsicles with an unexpected ingredient, to a frosty little ice cream cake, stick around cause this month’s sure to be tasty! I’ve eaten my fair share of ice cream sandwiches. Those classic little rectangular ones are … Continue reading national ice cream month: monster cookie ice cream sandwiches

german chocolate tea cookies

When I’m not making all manner of cakes and retro cafeteria pizzas at home for fun, I’m making donuts at my day job. Do you realize the number of times someone has said to me, “Time to make the donuts”? It’s endless. I’m pretty much just like that guy, waking up at 3:30 AM so I can sleepily make my way to work and create donut goodness … Continue reading german chocolate tea cookies

chocolate cherry soda, two ways

Most of you may not know this, but I was an art major in college. At the end of every quarter, each student’s work was offered up for critique by our fellow classmates. We would have been toiling for weeks on our projects, trying to inject meaning and substance along the way, and then on the day the projects were due, each student would get to present … Continue reading chocolate cherry soda, two ways

blueberry banana bread

A few years back, I used to go on weekly breakfast outings with my friend Evan. Working restaurant jobs, we both shared a common day off in the middle of the week which gave us the perfect excuse to wake up early and check out different breakfast places around town. One day he recommended Marie Callender’s, of which I was skeptical. I didn’t recall much about the … Continue reading blueberry banana bread

fresh mango-cantaloupe salsa

GEORGE: Salsa is now the number one condiment in America. JERRY: You know why? Because people like to say “salsa”. “Excuse me, do you have salsa?” “We need more salsa.” “Where is the salsa? No salsa?” – Seinfeld, Episode 43 “The Pitch” It’s already begun. The ubiquitous gearing-up-for-summertime-heat, and the dread that sets in around this time of year in the Phoenix area because of … Continue reading fresh mango-cantaloupe salsa