💌 Hello Baking Buddy! Can you believe it's already August? The air is still warm, the tomatoes are ripe on the vine, and our gardens are overflowing with summer goodness. Whether you're savoring the last few days of summer break or prepping for back-to-school season, I've got just the treats to brighten your month. This email contains some affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links at no additional cost to you. I only link to products I use and...
28 days ago • 3 min read
Hello Baking Buddy! ❤️ It’s officially the heart of summer, and that means fresh fruit, chilled treats, and easy recipes that don’t heat up the kitchen. This month, I’m sharing my favorite no-bake recipes, refreshing cocktails and party dips, and a special deal on my most frequently used kitchen appliance. It's been scorching hot, so let’s keep things cool, sweet, and simple! Vibrantly pink beetroot hummus with herbs, spices, and a drizzle of olive oil. 🍹 Summer Sips & Dips 🌿 Whether you’re...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
If you wish cookies would magically appear every time you were craving one...same. This freeze ahead method is the answer you've been looking for. This brown butter chocolate chip cookie recipe is our #1 cookie recipe for a reason. It's absolutely ooey, gooey, and delicious. The brown butter lends a caramel-y flavor to these cookies that takes them to the next level. They are so easy to make too. No mixer needed and no chilling time before baking 🤯 (that is of course unless you want to). GET...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Meet your new favorite no-bake dessert in 3 different delicious base flavors! If you’ve never made panna cotta before, you’re in for a treat. This classic Italian dessert is silky-smooth, incredibly easy, and always impresses. I’ve got three no-fail panna cotta recipes for you to try: ✨ Vanilla Bean – the classic recipe with specks of real vanilla bean if you choose 🍫 Chocolate – rich, creamy, lightly chocolatey and oh-so-satisfying ☕ Coffee – the perfect pick-me-up with dessert-level...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Ever wonder what yogurt actually does in your baked goods? The short answer: moisture, tang, and tenderness. 🥣 Why Bake with Yogurt? Yogurt pulls double (okay—triple) duty in your bakes: Fat for richness and softness Moisture to keep things tender Acidity to activate baking soda and create a better rise and lighter crumb It’s perfect for muffins, cakes, quick breads, and even pancakes! 🔁 Need to substitute? No problem. Here’s a quick list for yogurt swaps. Instead of Yogurt, Use: Sour Cream:...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader! Say hello to our new favorite summer salad! 🌞💚 This Shaved Asparagus Salad is light, lemony, and full of flavor—no cooking required. After foraging for wild asparagus in our local area this past month, we've come home with almost 20 pounds (9 kg) of fresh asparagus. So naturally I started searching for recipes online that would help me use up my harvest. While we ended up blanching and freezing most of our asparagus for use later in the year, we added it to quiche and pickled some...
3 months ago • 1 min read
As much as I love scratch-made ooey, gooey brownies... I have a confession to make: I still love boxed brownie mixes too! Growing up, Duncan Hines was my favorite boxed brownie mix and still to this day, it can do no wrong. But through the years, I've found a few tips and tricks to make boxed brownies even better. Enjoy! Brownies topped with ganache. 6 Easy Ways to Improve Boxed Brownie Mixes: Use coffee instead of water (typically I just take the cold coffee leftover from my morning brew)...
3 months ago • 1 min read
🍰 Hello Baking Buddy! 🍰 As we welcome the summer vibes of June, this edition of “Sweet Life” includes my favorite fruits and flavors to kick off summer in all the best ways. Summertime feels like a “new beginning” because in many ways it gives us a fresh start, especially if you’re a student, new graduate, teacher or faculty finishing up the school year. Summer gives us more time to spend with our kids (or grandkids), and longer daylight hours to spend time outdoors. I wanted to take a moment...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Here's your sign to clean out the pantry... and the fridge... and your cupboards... and your countertops... We recently had friends stay for the weekend so I spent much of last week spring cleaning instead of baking. And in all honesty, it was time well worth it. I found ingredients in the back of my kitchen cabinets that I had been meaning to use for months (looking at you, vanilla bean paste). I have this awful habit of buying unique ingredients when they're on sale or they simply catch my...
3 months ago • 1 min read