• Baking

    Chocolate Granola

    Add a little chocolate to your breakfast or simply snack on this homemade granola. With Halloween approaching, this is also a healthier treat to enjoy throughout the day. Sweetened with pure maple syrup, the combination of oats and mix-ins in this chocolate granola recipe become even more delicious when tossed with cocoa powder and baked until toasty.  As a final touch, I add some chopped chocolate toward the end of baking. Sprinkle on more or less depending on just how chocolatey you like things. On the weekend I may flip some ricotta pancakes or make a more extensive breakfast, but granola is my preference midweek, and I make lots of…

  • Lemon blueberry muffins
    Baking

    Lemon Blueberry Muffins

    Bursting with molten blueberries, these muffins have bakery style tops with tender middles made even more delicious with the use of lemon sugar, granulated sugar rubbed with lemon zest. I love the way the citrus shines in each muffin but still allows the blueberry flavor to take center stage.   For a bit of added texture on top, I sprinkle homemade blueberry muffins with turbinado sugar before baking though this step is optional.  The flavored sugar is a step I would not skip when making lemon blueberry muffins, since it introduces a bright and complex flavor that is quite different from lemon juice.  There are many ways to make a delicious…

  • Ricotta pancakes
    Food

    Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes

    A stack of fluffy pancakes with custard-like flavor needs nothing more than butter and pure maple syrup, though I have speckled these with sweet blueberries on occasion.  With just the right amount of ricotta, they cook up tender and soft on the inside.  Vanilla rather than more traditional lemon in this ricotta pancake recipe keeps them on the custardy side. For the most round, perfectly golden pancakes, I prefer to cook these one at a time in a skillet, though a griddle can be used for making multiple.  Once you get a good feel for scooping the batter, flipping, and making these golden pancakes, repeat using the same rhythm until…

  • Pumpkin bread
    Baking

    Pumpkin Bread

    Pumpkin bread made with sweetness, spice, and olive oil satisfies the need for simple and delicious baked goods that can be enjoyed throughout the day.  A thick slice is perfect with morning tea or coffee and even with a seasonal lunchtime salad, which is how I have been eating it lately.  While I won’t be ready for pumpkin pie (or rather my strawberry pumpkin tart) until Thanksgiving, this pumpkin loaf recipe keeps me inspired with cinnamon, nutmeg, and all the cozy spices. Olive oil lends both moisture and a lovely, nuanced flavor to the bread, but feel free to spread some butter on top for extra deliciousness.  When selecting an…

  • Breakfast bars on blue and white background
    Baking

    Breakfast Bars

    Get a glimpse of my kitchen as I share the breakfast bars I make most often.  They feature oats plus a variety of seeds and dark chocolate chips, making them a delicious morning treat.  Just sweet enough, they bake up crunchy and firm.  Use the video as your guide and cook along with me, or check out the written recipe, both of which you’ll find below. Ingredients 1 cup old-fashioned oats¼ cup ground oats⅓ cup mini dark chocolate chips⅓ cup pepitas¼ cup sunflower seeds2 tablespoons sesame seeds¼ teaspoon kosher salt3 tablespoons canola oil or another neutral oil2 tablespoons brown sugar (leveled but not packed)2 tablespoons honey2 tablespoons maple syrup Begin…