One of my favorite restaurants to visit while living in North Carolina was Kindred. It’s located 30-minutes north of Charlotte in the small town of Davidson, NC. I enjoyed going for brunch, but dinner was an absolute favorite. Why? Because of their Milk Bread. Served only in the evenings, this bread is everything you want in a carb. It is warm, fluffy, soft and delicious! I’ve had daydreams about this bread - it is THAT good!
Read MoreRice Crispy Treats have always reminded me of my childhood. There was always someone’s mom who brought them to a class party or holiday event. Even today my high school friend, Tara, continues to make them whenever we get together (she knows I can’t resist!). I found this recipe which takes the original instructions and tweaks them just a bit to make a more nutty and flavorful rice crispy treat. Something as simple as toasting the butter and adding additional salt really makes this dessert POP! Plus, they are SO EASY. I put these together in less than 10 minutes and could not be more happy with the results. Enjoy!
Read MoreWe had plans with my brother and sister-in-law to come over for Family Dinner this past weekend and I wanted to have a unique fall dessert waiting for them after our main meal. After searching online for a fall cookie recipe, I settled on these Chocolate Chunk-Pumpkin Seed Cookies.
Read MoreOne of my favorite fruits are peaches and I truly believe there’s nothing better than eating a sweet peach on a hot summer day! As much as I love to bake, I have never tried to make a pie. Homemade pie crust has always scared me, and I prefer to bake things like cookies, cakes and brownies. However, with peaches in full swing at the farmer’s market a couple weeks ago, I decided to take a shot at my first homemade pie crust and bake a peach pie. I used this recipe for the crust and this recipe for the pie filling.
Read MoreIn an effort to pickle anything and everything I come across, I once again used a recipe from this book and made two jars of Bread & Butter Pickles. Thankfully, I was able to find "pickling cucumbers" at my local grocery store. Pickling cucumbers have a thicker skin, helping to keep their crispness once prepared. I think these will be good to throw on hamburgers or eat as is. There is a lot of sugar in them, so I'll reserve these for a special treat!
Read MoreI love a good pickled vegetable - pretty much in any form! From cucumber to okra to radish to carrot. If there are pickled vegetables nearby, there's a good chance I'm eating them. This is the second time I have pickled vegetables myself and used a recipe from this book. I usually eat them with a meat and cheese plate or on sandwiches, but they are delicious just on their own as well.
Read MoreSince moving back to the States, I have been itching to get back into baking! Currently we are living in an Airbnb, so I am without all my baking equipment. Luckily, the Airbnb host does have a few baking staples including: mixing bowls, spatulas, and oven mitts. I did have to purchase a few items in order to continue my love of baking, especially since my beloved stand mixer is in storage! For the time being, I ordered a hand mixer from Bed, Bath and Beyond and am doing it old school! I also purchased a large baking sheet, measuring cups/spoons and some parchment paper.
Read MoreI'm still getting used to our new kitchen and wanted an easier recipe to begin with. After some thought, I decided to whip up a batch of homemade granola. My mom always has homemade granola in her pantry at home and I love having it for breakfast when I'm in Omaha. I used this recipe and was pleasantly surprised with the end result! I did overcook it a bit, so in the future I would not let it sit in the oven as long (it turns golden pretty quickly!), but the taste was the perfect combination of crunchiness, nuttiness and sweetness. I can see myself making this again many times in the future!
Read MoreA few years ago, I was visiting my grandparents and my grandmother made this Cherry Crunch for dessert with cherries from her own cherry tree. It was so delicious I asked for the recipe right away. I've been making it every summer since with cherries I purchase at the farmer's market.
Read MoreWhile browsing the farmer's market, I came across a basket of key limes. I have always loved key lime pie and figured I'd take a chance at baking my own. Much to my surprise, it was very easy! I used this recipe and am happy to report it turned out delicious! It was just the right amount of sweet and tart.
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