Posts Categorized: Blog

Poppy Seed Cake

Warm honey syrup's poured over poppy seed cake once baked

I wanted to make a poppy seed cake for my husband’s birthday, but he hadn’t been too thrilled with the original recipe. Fine. He was right. The first cake was not exceptional. So I pushed myself to create a better dessert. “Poppy Seed Honey Cake” sounded awesome, so at least I had a good name.

I searched the web, but didn’t find anyone else who had used honey in a simple syrup to pour on while the cake’s still warm. But that was my plan. In my research, I did find an article about the virtues of not over-heating honey. Supposedly, the flavor is better when the honey isn’t baked into the cake, and it’ll retain more nutrients. Perfect—my plan was to thin the honey in a bit of warm water, then pour it over the baked cake. If it would have even more flavor this way, hurray!

Pasta Salad w/ Honey Mustard Dressing

Pasta Salad w/ Sweet Potato, Homemade Dressing

This pasta is so cool! There’s a tiny, tiny hole in the middle of what looks like fat spaghetti. So yummy- I love the texture! And something about homemade honey mustard dressing, with a touch of tarragon, thyme, orange, and smoky flavor. I’m a bit squeamish about eating mayo-based salad dressings, but when it’s made with olive oil, I am so OK with that!

Mayonnaise (AKA “Aioli”)

Make mayo w/ olive oil, healthy!

I use extra virgin olive oil and garlic in my mayonnaise (it’s so much healthier than the alternatives), but that means it’s almost “Aioli”. Which sounds so classy. Aioli is an emulsion of garlic and olive oil, sometimes containing egg yolk to help it emulsify. Use refined olive oil for a lighter flavor. (Or even coconut oil!)

Golden Milk AM Blend (w/ Power Herbs)

Golden Milk Mix for easy drinks, health

Like a lot of health-foodies, I got into making my own golden milk. I also created a blend for the morning, which includes matcha green tea, gelatin, and some serious power herbs. (The benefits of these herbs are impressive, as a quick word-search will prove!)

This recipe is not the one you stir together in the evening, in some “relaxing” ritual. (I don’t have time for that myself!) No, this is a quick, handy version, to get optimal nourishment in minimal time, Perfect for those of us who need to stay healthy and keep up with a tight, rigorous routine.

White Chocolate Cake w/ Strawberries

White Cake with Poppy Seeds, White Chocolate, Strawberries

I originally made this cake with cake flour. Well, I don’t make too many cakes, so the next time I went to use it, ew–it had bugs in it! So…I’m much happier with the alternative: using less regular flour and adding a bit of cornstarch. That brings the protein level to that of cake flour, and makes quite a light cake in the process.

Tres Leches Cake w/ Coconut

Tres Leches Cake with Coconut- no leftover syrup

My husband says a cake can use a fancy name, to distinguish it from any average cake. Of course, a good recipe helps too! There are a lot of recipes for this type of cake, but I wanted one that wouldn’t leave me with pools of leftover Tres-Leches liquid. Yes, we managed to gag down…

Chocolate Sponge Cake w/ Raspberry

Fancy First Birthday Cake decorated w/ roses

So…I don’t make cakes this fancy all the time. But, for a first granddaughter’s first birthday, let’s do this! The recipe’s for 15-20 people, ’cause–do we really want to make almond paste and spread layers with flavored fruity syrups, AND frost it, if it’s not for a decent number of people?!

Risotto Plus Variations (+ Make-Ahead Tip)

Aborio Rice + Mushrooms, Peas, Herbs, Garlic

I took a picture showing all the possibilities for risotto–a perfect vehicle for mushrooms, peas, garlic, herbs, etc. After I took the picture, I made husband Tom and I a batch, adding all the pictured ingredients. He asked the question you want to hear: “What makes this so creamy?” (Since he knew it was “just rice”…) I could tell him about how it’s the special way you cook this special rice. So good!

German Potato Salad (Good Starch?!)

Cold_Potato_Starch_Equals_Healthy

I always figured potato salad wasn’t exactly healthy. But what if it WAS? Turns out, cold potato starch (along with other “resistant starches”) can improve gut health, which can help with obesity, inflammation, mood (etc., etc.). Wow–sign me up, right?! Not only is potato salad a great comfort food and party food, to get scientific, cold potato starch contains certain “prebiotics”, which are highly beneficial. Hooray- a superfood for the digestive system, that tastes awesome!

Lemon Curd: Whole Egg, Honey-Sweetened

Lemon Curd w/Whole Egg (& Peel of Lemon)

I filed this recipe under “Healthy” AND “desserts”, since it seems to be both. So good on top of yogurt! It’s usually used for fancy teas, with scones and clotted cream, but I’m thinking this version will go well in my smoothie even- ha! I mean, it doesn’t contain sugar, and I used Kerry-gold pastured butter, and a neighbor’s fresh chicken eggs. Of course it’s good for me, right? Oh, plus it uses whole egg. Protein! This lemon curd seems a tad lighter than the traditional- a bit more like custard. Yummm…