General Desserts – The Clumsy Cook and the Excited Economist

Exploring California Part 7: Mount Diablo + Rosemary Cupcakes with Honey-Brown Butter Frosting

07/29/2018

We’ve been doing local hikes in the South and North Bay recently, but for our anniversary hike, Tyler and I decide to venture to the other side, the East Bay, and head toward Mount Diablo. It sits tall at 3,849ft above the ground in Mount Diablo State Park. We hiked to the North Peak via … More Exploring California Part 7: Mount Diablo + Rosemary Cupcakes with Honey-Brown Butter Frosting

On being loud and Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Banana Caramel

05/26/2018

“35,000 units of heparin are in.” “1/3 of the protamine is in.” Recently, in the OR, I was jokingly told that I have a “trumpet voice,” meaning I make sure what I’m saying is heard. It’s true, I have my teacher-voice. Not the, oh why are you on the table dancing around? voice, but the … More On being loud and Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Banana Caramel

Orange Blossom Brioche Pull Apart Rolls

05/04/2018

I’m in a bread phase. I’m enjoying making and baking bread, which is a new thing for me. I usually shy away from the yeast – rest and proof – beat back – second proof – roll into something – and finally bake. It just…seems like a lot. And it is, but boy, fresh bread…it … More Orange Blossom Brioche Pull Apart Rolls

Israel Part 1: What we packed and Caramel Cornflake Crunch

04/15/2018

We went to Israel! It was so much fun — the food, the weather, the people, the places. It’s our last international trip for awhile, and I’m happy we pick Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, there was a lot to experience. Though…I won’t recommend going over a 7 day period — switching our internal clock around … More Israel Part 1: What we packed and Caramel Cornflake Crunch

Lemon, Orange-Blossom Semolina Cookies

03/19/2018

Things are happening. Tyler’s finals are around the corner, vacation is around the corner, I’m reading books, the dogs are happy, and we bought a small table for the porch outside. I’ve taken to baking a lot more again, whether I post about it or not. Allowing myself to be absolutely present with the dough, … More Lemon, Orange-Blossom Semolina Cookies

Baking with Dorie: Remarkably Good Brownies

01/15/2018

The first bake of 2018. Or well, the first bake I’m posting. I bought Dorie’s Cookies for my friend Lili for the holidays this year to celebrate her love of baking. When the book came in the mail though, I was so taken by the photos and the anecdotes that came with each recipe that … More Baking with Dorie: Remarkably Good Brownies

Welcome to Fall Bars, Pulgas Open Reserve

09/17/2017

Milestone: we took Rain off leash for the first time in an open space. No fences, just us, our dogs, and their (relative) freedom. The moment we took the leash off, I expected her to bound off, but she just sat next to us, looking up. Slowly, she paced ahead, looking back every now and then. … More Welcome to Fall Bars, Pulgas Open Reserve

Gifts!: Soft Caramel Chews

05/15/2017

Caramels can be finicky, too high of temperature and the caramels can be too hard, too low, it won’t set properly. I’ve spent some time making caramel topping, hard caramels, and finally…finally tackled soft caramel chews. Those delicious bites, delicately chewy, sticking to your teeth in the just the right way, bursts of salt and … More Gifts!: Soft Caramel Chews

Lemon Cupcakes filled with basil-lemon curd

03/17/2017

It’s our 10 year anniversary. Mine and Tylers. How crazy is that? We’ve been dating for 10 years. Nuts. To celebrate, here’s some cake! Lemon cupcakes. I made these hoping to bring on true spring. Not ice storm spring. It’s been a wild ride in as an Intern thus far. Nights, the Newt, so many admissions, … More Lemon Cupcakes filled with basil-lemon curd

Simple Pumpkin Toffee Bread

09/30/2016

I walked into Trader Joe’s yesterday and was immediately hit by a wave of orange. Pumpkin to be specific. Pumpkin waffles, pumpkin bread, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin body butter…the list goes on. I’m not the world’s biggest fan of pumpkin flavored things. Don’t get me wrong, I love pumpkin pie. But Pumpkin Spiced Lattes end up tasting…well, … More Simple Pumpkin Toffee Bread