Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Posted in Cookies, Desserts, Pumpkin by

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A good friend of mine is severely allergic to nuts.  Like EpiPen stat, rush to the hospital kind of allergic.  It’s a constant paranoia whenever I’m baking and sharing to make everyone aware if a dessert contains nuts. I warn everybody before they take a bite ‘- “WAIT – Those cookies have nuts, are you allergic?”  The tough thing is, I absolutely love nuts, of all kinds.  Hazelnut, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, pistachio nuts (I couldn’t help myself), and often include them in a lot of my baked goods.  So when my friend told me that she has a hard time finding pumpkin flavored desserts, one of her favorite ingredients, without nuts, I had to immediately fix this problem.   Continue reading →

Irresistible Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Last weekend, I did something I never in my life thought I would do – I ran a Tough Mudder.  For those of you not aware of the “Tough Mudder Competition” I encourage you to check it out on YouTube as it’s highly entertaining to watch.  The race is a 12 mile obstacle course, consisting of treks through uneven terrain, running through fire, jumping into ice baths, crawling through mud, running through an electric shock field, the list goes on.  The obvious question here is, “Why would anyone ever want to do that?”  Good question!  The answer is pretty simple:  I am terrible at peer pressure, and I have a serious fear of missing out.  FOMO as they call it.   Continue reading →

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes with Sautéed Apples

Posted in Apples, Breakfast, Fall Recipes by

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Hotcakes, Griddle Cakes, Flapjacks, whatever you’ve grown up calling them, Pancakes are an American staple that just about anyone can enjoy.  So it makes sense that a Brit has my absolute favorite recipe, right?  My sister gave me Nigella Lawson’s cookbook “How to be a Domestic Goddess” for Christmas a few years ago, and it’s been my go-to for quick, simple recipes for easy baked goods like pancakes, muffins, quick breads and desserts since.   Continue reading →

Spiced Pumpkin Crumb Cake

Posted in Breakfast, Cakes, Desserts, Pumpkin by

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Have you noticed everyone’s obsession with pumpkin lately?  It’s seriously everywhere – in muffins, doughnuts, pies, cakes, cookies, it’s now even in coffee!  Not that pumpkin coffee is a new thing, it’s been in Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts for a while now.  But every year when the days start to get shorter and the air is a bit cooler, I walk by these “coffee shops”, and can’t help but wonder why this has turned into a craze.  Maybe I’m just old fashioned in liking normal traditional lattes, but I wonder what a barista would do if you wandered into a cafe in Rome and tried to order a “skinny, soy, non-fat, pumpkin caramel latte, per favore.” They’d probably laugh in your face and serve you an espresso.   Continue reading →

Turkish Simit + a Traditional Turkish Breakfast

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I just got back from an unbelievable trip to one of the most beautiful and geographically diverse countries on earth: Turkey.  A country that spans both Europe and Asia, Turkey is incredibly rich in its culture and history, and is a culinary paradise for any foodie looking to taste flavors of the Mediterranean, mixed with Middle Eastern dishes that have been a staple for hundreds (even thousands) of years.  Each region of the country is unique in its landscape, but the flavors and ingredients that distinctly define Turkish cuisine stay relatively consistent everywhere you go.   Continue reading →

Sour Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

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ImageIs it just me, or did summer seem to fly by? I’m sure I probably say this every year right around Labor Day, but for some reason, this summer seemed to move particularly fast.  Though normally I’m a bit sad to see summer close up shop, the crisp, perfect fall air that we’re starting to experience in New York is getting me very excited for the coming months, particularly for all the amazing things I can make in the kitchen.  If you haven’t noticed, I’m a big advocate for cooking and baking with fresh, local ingredients when I can – and in order to do that, most produce has to be in season.  Of course I love all the fruits and veggies that summer provides, but most of my favorites actually come into season in the fall:  crisp apples, sweet acorn squash, and tart cranberries are just a few ingredients I’m already dreaming up recipes for.   Continue reading →

Sautéed Peaches with Microgreens and Burrata cheese

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A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of dining with my family at Roberta’s restaurant in Bushwick. Maybe because it’s in Bushwick, an “up and coming” neighborhood in Brooklyn, or maybe because a large majority of its clientele wears skinny jeans and thick rimmed glasses, Roberta’s has a reputation of being sort of a “hipster-haven.”  If you’re not sure of what a hipster is, or have never come across one in the wild, then (1) I applaud you, and (2) feel free to read up on them here.  One of my mom’s favorite activities whenever she comes to Brooklyn is to play “Hipster Spotting.”  Let me tell you, she had a field day at Roberta’s.  If you’d also like to play, it’s pretty easy.  In short, if you spot someone that falls into any of the following categories, chances are you probably “spotted a hipster”.   And no, these hipsters don’t count. Continue reading →

Salted Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies

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I absolutely love salt, and must admit I probably consume maybe a lot a little more than I should.  It can sometimes be difficult for me when I’m cooking for others – always feeling like I should be holding back on the sodium, knowing that others don’t love it quite as much as I do.  But seriously, nothing can ruin a dish more than if it’s under-seasoned, and in many dishes I cook that are simple with few ingredients, lack of salt can be a major mistake.  But of course too much salt can be a killer, so I’m always walking the fine line trying to keep a good balance.  After all, you can always add on, but you can’t take away in cooking and baking.   Continue reading →

Pistachio Petit-Four Cake

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This past weekend we threw my sister Sam a surprise birthday party, and oh boy was she surprised.  She had absolutely no idea that there were 30-40 of her closest friends waiting behind the door to her apartment.  Two of her friends did most of the work, setting up her apartment, bringing food and drink, decorating adorable mason jars with twine to serve a specialty cocktail, and adorning her entire apartment with beautiful flower arrangements that we asked each guest to bring. Continue reading →

Lavender and Toasted Walnut Scones

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I was recently invited to escape the city to spend a weekend in Montauk with very close friends of the family.  They have a beautiful home right on the Atlantic Ocean, and we spent the days lying on the soft white sand, and the nights laughing and reminiscing over dinner on the picturesque deck overlooking the water.  This place is heaven on earth, you can fall asleep listening to the waves crash on the beach, and wake up to the bright sunshine reflecting on the vast dark blue ocean.   It’s the kind of place where you can truly escape, no cell phone service, no TV, no need to pack anything but shorts, a t-shirt and a bathing suit.  It’s a place where you’re really able to let go, which is what I call the perfect getaway.   Continue reading →