Hi friends, It’s been so long since I’ve written a new blog post to share with all of you and I’m dying to catch you up on all the excitement around here. So many things have happened–where do I begin? The very beginning, I suppose. WAY back in February 2013, I pressed ‘publish’ on my…
kitchen joy
Pressure Cooker Basics Part 2: Adapting Recipes for Use in the Pressure Cooker
Welcome back to my Pressure Cooker Basics series. In Part 2 I will be sharing some tips and hints to keep in mind when you’re trying to adapt your existing favorite recipes for use in the pressure cooker. These are just basic principles that I’ve picked up during my adventures that will help you feel…
Homemade Jellied Cranberry Sauce + Giving Thanks
My heart is full. As I sit here writing this I am in the midst of spending the week at our cabin in Northern Michigan with our little lady, looking forward to the family joining us later this week. A year ago she was in my belly and nobody knew it except a very small…
Apple Cider Caramels
Halloween has come and gone, and now that we’ve all eaten our weight in mini Snickers bars it’s time to step up our candy game. Homemade candy is in a whole other realm than store-bought candies. This recipe for Apple Cider Caramels is one you’ll want to share, but might just find yourself hiding in…
Maple Cinnamon Pecan Ice Cream (No-Churn Method)
This past weekend may have marked the official end of Summer, but it’s still warm outside and ice cream is never out of season. Maple Cinnamon Pecan Ice Cream was my tastiest accomplishment of a weekend filled with fun, food, and family. The flavor is incredible, and you don’t need to have a fancy ice-cream…
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Happy Friday, Friends! Please excuse my absence. Life has gotten in the way lately. I’m so happy to be back to the blog after such a long break. I hope everyone has been enjoying summer to its fullest in the meantime. It seems like we have had one party or celebration after another this summer,…
Reclaiming Joy in My Home
A few months ago I ordered a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. The title alone makes quite a claim. Life-changing? What can a person possibly have to say about cleaning and organizing that hasn’t already been said, and how could it possible change my…
Butter Pecan Cookies
Spring has finally arrived, friends. I can’t even begin to express my utter glee after a sunny weekend spent up north at our cabin the last few days. Sunshine + Cabin + Awesome Cookies = Best weekend in a VERY long time. I ate way more of these cookies than I would care to admit,…
French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus
Despite the name, a French Dip sandwich is not French. It is a California creation, and two restaurants claim to be its inventor. I have eaten a famed French Dip at one of the two, Philippe’s in Los Angeles. It was fantastic, although I didn’t get to do any of the”dipping” because the buns are…
Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake. It sounds like such a strange concoction that must have a storied history that involved frugality and ingenuity on the part of the baker. I am not completely sure of its origins despite my research, so I will just continue to enjoy the perfect balance of spiced cake and sweet cream cheese frosting. Not to…