We like Celestial Seasonings Teas here…just always have. I like that I can add sugar to one of the teas and end up with something the kids think is Koolaide.
I was making pancakes the other morning and I wanted something different for syrup. While I wish I could always serve my family real, organic maple syrup I just can’t. We go through almost a quart of syrup at breakfast and that kind of cash racks up. So, I make homemade syrup using a little organic maple syrup and organic maple flavoring for flavor.
But sometimes I want something a little different. …read more

The first time I ever put blueberry and lemon together was a light lemon-blueberry mousse I made when I was first married. For some reason I never repeated the recipe, I suspect I forgot how I had done it. But..from that point on I was a fan of blueberry and lemon combinations.
When I discovered Numi Mate-Lemon Myrtle tea I was an instant fan. It has a sweet lemon flavor that is lemony but not pure lemon. There is a complexity from the lemon myrtle and mate combination that is awesome.

So, it really was only a matter of time until I …read more

I made Erin’s baby shower cake last week from a cake mix. I had so much going on that there was no way I was comfortable having to think. I did doctor the mix up quite a bit for flavor but I was more concerned about the look of it than the flavor. If you missed the pictures from the shower here is the cake:
I didn’t want just “a cake” beneath all of that cool decor, though.

I obviously have been on an ice cream kick lately.  In fact, one day last week Erin and I fired ice cream flavor ideas back and forth.  There were flavors like:

chocolate chip mocha Irish cream
caramel apple with chopped peanuts
white chocolate blueberry pecan
vanilla apple pie

Eventually you will probably see all the flavors end up here.  One of the cool things about Erin and my relationship is that we can bounce those flavor ideas off each other..Lots of fun, and if you add the rest of the kids..well we can sit around and toss flavors back and forth the way some …read more

That is an amazingly long title..but Vanilla Caramel Truffle Tea Tart is harder to say than it is to make, seriously.  First of all nothing mysterious about the flavor.  I made it with a Lipton Vanilla Caramel Truffle tea infusion.  The flavor is absolutely amazing …I am almost at loss for words to describe it.  Almost.

Rich caramel with a vanilla midnote melting into black tea flavor on your tongue.  It is very complex, very sweet, very rich, and very good.  The filling is light and creamy, just the way a mousse should be, meltingly rich texture to compliment the flavor …read more

I wanted to do something a little different to go with lunch the other day. Usually scones are a breakfast item here, I just don’t think of them for lunch. But with a salad and some Brie these are a great way to round out a light meal.
They are sweet from the glaze. The vanilla mellows out the lavender to make a great taste combination. A few months ago I read about a technique where you grated cold butter into scones and biscuits to give a more tender product. This really does make a difference and I have …read more

You know, when I say, the best, I mean it right?
I like making pumpkin bread with home grown pumpkin because it is naturally sweeter I think. This past year I didn’t grow any, but it is on the garden plan for this year. Pumpkin is just so good for you, it is too bad that we have relegated it to pumpkin pie, and Autumn holidays. It is lower in carbs that winter squash and can be used just like acorn squash if you want. Plus it has massive amounts of vitamin A to help keep you …read more

I have something to tell y’all.
What do I like almost as much as baking and cooking? Coffee and Tea! I just launched a new blog all about coffee and tea, and everything that has to do with coffee and tea…as well as some amazing egg nog recipes that I just didn’t feel right about posting on a cooking blog!
Baking Delights and the new blog, Kettle and Cup, will compliment eachother and you will often find me referencing things there from here and vice versa.
Everyone that knows me IRL knows that Marc and I have a coffee and …read more