Homemade Giggles (like Snickers, but Funnier)

Since I started baking, I’m always seeking out bigger and crazier ways to challenge myself in the kitchen. I’ve participated in both an online and in-person competitions, gone a little topping crazy and stacked cookies on frosting on cupcakes to create the ultimate snickerdoodle experience, and I’ve taken my fear of homemade candy on full force to make a batch of caramels that I’ve since remade several times. 

When the light bulb suddenly went off and I realized I could make my own favorite candy bars from scratch (hello peanut butter cups and Snickers) I jumped on it the first chance I had — right now!

Strawberry Sriracha Margaritas for Summer

On a beautiful spring day in Boston, two days into my much anticipated stint of “funemployment,” I could think of nothing better to do than enjoy a Strawberry Sriracha Margarita with friends before heading to Fenway for a Red Sox game!

Since this “funemployment” business is news to most of you, let me back up a bit and update you. This past Friday marked my last day of work with ConnectedLiving, the social impact company where I was working primarily in marketing, but also occasionally in grant proposal writing, curriculum development and ultimately filling in wherever needed. I’ve learned so much in my time there and met some of the most incredible people, but now the timing is right to move on to some new endeavors and focus on shaping my career in a new direction.

I’m taking most of the month of May off to travel, which is why I’m calling myself “funemployed.” Come Friday, I’m off to South Africa for a safari adventure with my family. When I return, I’ll have just enough time to pack and move apartments before starting my next adventure at Boston’s Museum of Science in June, where I will be working in fundraising and development. All of these exciting changes have filled up most of my time in the last few months so I’m looking forward to a summer of more stability and of course, more time for baking!

How to Make Inspiration Come to You

Where do you find inspiration?

Sometimes I stare blindly into space for hours and no good ideas turn up.

Other times, prose starts pouring out of my head as I'm walking out of the subway station and I find myself scrambling to jot down notes on my phone as I walk across the cross walk… (I didn’t actually do this, Mom. Just – well, I stopped myself before I walked into oncoming traffic)

Turns out, you can’t stunt creative thought any more than you can force it. It shows up when it wants, and stays as long as it feels like staying and not a moment more. (Inset comparison to crazy relative here.)

While you can’t command or control creativity, you can train yourself to be ready for it. Always keep a pen and piece of paper on you, or since it’s the 21st century, never go anywhere without your smart phone. Seriously though, were you even considering it?

Final Four Maize and Blue Swirled Cupcakes

About a year and a half ago, I made Maize and Blue Swirled Cupcakes to celebrate the start of the Michigan football season. Now, I’ve done it again, switching up the recipe a bit and in celebration of a far more momentous event — the Michigan men’s basketball team is in Atlanta, GA for the Final Four!

I’ve been struggling to find the right words to express my excitement all week because I haven’t been a fan for very long. Without question, basketball has taken a back seat to my love of Michigan football and I’ve only tuned in to the bigger games and watched recapped of other games. I’m your quintessential fair-weather fan in that I hardly followed this season before Michigan secured their spot in the Sweet 16.

However, last week’s game against Kansas drew me in. 

Matzo Granola to Get You Through Passover

When you're keeping kosher for Passover, most of us hit a point during the holiday when we just think, "No!" "No, I can not eat one more piece of matzo! I miss bread, and pasta, and cereal, and granola!"

Matzo is a Passover staple and a sad, tasteless substitute for bread when you're avoiding all things leavened to observe the holiday. Over the course of Passover, I'll eat matzo with peanut butter, matzo with jam, matzo with peanut butter AND jam... Sometimes I'll make matzo brei and scramble broken pieces of matzo with eggs... Sometimes I make matzo pizza by slathering it with tomato sauce and cheese and then microwaving it until the cheese melts.

Five days into Passover, with half a box of matzo left, I'm don't even want to look at it! So, I crushed up five of my remaining pieces of matzo and mixed them up into this sweet and delicious Coconut Mango Matzo Granola!

Vegan Lemon Blueberry Poppy Seed Muffins... Say That 5 Times Fast

As spring sort of almost approaches Boston, my baking is jumping the gun. I'm ready for spring! Fresh berries and lemon remind me of spring, and the Blue and Maize color scheme of these Vegan Lemon Blueberry Poppy Seed Muffins plays a double role in supporting my Michigan Wolverines this March Madness!

Although I moved back up north so I would have four season — and I really do like and appreciate all four seasons — I'm over this winter. We've had enough snow, I've ruined and thrown out enough pairs of winter-worn boots, and I'm eager to pull my cute spring dresses out of the depths of my very shallow closet. Let's hear it for spring!

The Mint Leprechaun — Mint Cheesecake Cupcakes

A Limerick:

There once was a Young Idealistic Baker
Who was a fantastic cupcake maker
She'd whip up some treats
And once baked with beets
This girl was a true diet breaker

It's not a St. Patty's Day theme per say, but I wanted to very quickly try my hand at some Irish Limerick making this morning before wandering around Boston with my visiting friends and showing them my city.

Before we head out, I couldn't resist sharing the cupcakes we're snacking on this week. I'm calling these Mint Cheesecake Cupcakes the Minty Leprechauns.

Happy St. Patty's Weekend!