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Earl Grey Cupcakes

Earl Grey was the first real tea (i.e. not powdered iced tea crystals) that I ever tried, and I have loved it ever since.  I remember my grandparents drinking orange pekoe tea, black, every afternoon, but it never appealed to me.  However, when my friend made me a cup with  a bit of sugar and a splash of cream, I was on my way to a lifelong love affair with tea,

One of my coworkers also happens to love Earl Grey, so I made him these special cupcakes to celebrate his Spartan trifecta success.

K&C's Tomato Ravioli Soup

One of my best friends recently announced that she and her husband are moving across the country to be closer to his family - cue the waterworks - which got me thinking back to when we met in college.  We met through a mutual friend and happened to have the same break between classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Many a lunch hour was spent together in the college bar and grill, talking, laughing and even crying over our standard order of grilled cheese and tomato ravioli soup.  Every time I eat this soup, it reminds me of those days.

Overnight Oats

I have always loved a good bowl of porridge - simple, warm and comforting.  Instant oats just never tasted quite as good, but cooking breakfast just doesn't work for me most days.  I am usually in the office by 6:30, I don't want to eat right when I wake up, but I don't like skipping breakfast.  Once I learned how to make overnight oats, I was hooked.  They are the porridge of my childhood, all grown up!

Tortellini Salad

I still remember the packaged pasta salad kits that were sold when I was a kid - and how much I disliked the weird dressing mix!  However, my dad's company always had an annual family picnic and they always served an amazing chilled tortellini marinara.  Pasta salad, but better, right?

I like to combine those childhood memories and use delicious, cheese-filled tortellini with a simple, creamy dressing!

Sauteed Greens and Mushrooms

Sometimes the best part of a meal is the side dish, and I love it when mine is full of vegetables.

I love peas, in almost any form, including shoots and leaves.  I found these snow pea tips at the grocery store and I was instantly curious about how the would taste, how to cook them, etc.  I was so excited to try them that I actually tore into the bag as soon as I left the grocery store.  These tips taste like garden fresh peas and are so refreshing.

One of my favorite combinations is cooked peas and mushrooms, so I had to throw some in with these pea tips!

Rice Vermicelli Bowl

Rice vermicelli bowls are one of my favorite light meals to pack for work.  They are easy to make, very flavorful and, I actually think they taste even better the next day!

Steak Butter

I know that you're probably thinking "butter on steak?  Is she crazy?"  I know it might sound strange, but it is really amazing!

Make the butter in advance to allow the flavors to really blend.

Cheesy Green Pizza

There are so many ways to eat more greens and, if you don't normally love them, throwing them into the cheesy goodness of a pizza is a perfect way to change your mind!

Tropical Streusel Spice Cake

One of my favorite parts of my mom's coffee cake was always the streusel.  We would actual double the streusel so that we got that much more cinnamony goodness in every slice.  This streusel added to spice cake with some tropical flavors makes a really unique treat!

Best Ever Tomato Balsamic Chicken

Love chicken?  Love tomatoes?  Love great tasting things mixed together?  This is for you!

Fresh tomatoes and good seasoning are a perfect chicken topper, while the secret ingredient (i.e. mayonnaise) keeps the chicken perfectly moist.

Easy Grilled Peaches

Grilled fruit is something that not a lot of people actually think about, but I swear it tastes amazing!  Peaches and caramel are a delicious combination and it takes so little effort to prepare these treats.

Balsamic Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower has become the mighty "hidden" vegetable ingredient in so many items, but it really should be celebrated for how delicious it is on its own.  I am a sucker for almost any roasted vegetable and cauliflower is no exception.

Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad

Summer is coming, and with it barbecues, picnics and potlucks.  A good guest always brings something to the party and a quick salad is always a winner!

You can chop the cucumbers and tomatoes in advance and premix the the dressing ingredients, but it is best to mix everything together right before you are ready to serve the dish.  If you do want to make it all in advance, you should seed the tomatoes and cucumbers to remove the excess liquid and keep the dressing thick enough.

Zesty Pull Apart Buns

I love freshly baked buns, and the frozen ones from the grocery store are convenient, delicious, and easy to spice up for a meal.  I love the simplicity of prepping them before work and being able to bake them with dinner when I get home from work.

Smooth Cream Cheese Frosting

As much as I love a good buttercream, some cakes were just made for cream cheese frosting!

The key to a nice smooth frosting is making sure that the ingredients are at room temperature.  Cold cream cheese or butter will just make lumpy frosting.  I also like to use the whisk attachment on my mixer; it may take a little bit longer, but it really helps break up any little unblended bits in the mixture.

My Kitchen Essentials

A few weeks ago I received an unexpected - and very kind - e-mail from BlueStar Cooking, asking if I would be interested in talking about my kitchen essentials.  Basically, what tools do I love and which ones do I wish i had?  Sounds easy, right?  Well, it was actually a challenge for me.  To quote my favorite Disney princess: "I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty.  I've got whozits and whatzits galore."   It is unreal how many little tools I have amassed over the years and how many other ones I would still love to have in my kitchen.

Before i get into it, I have to say a huge thank you to BlueStar for being so patient with me.  I have a full-time job that keep me very busy, but they never once pestered me to finish this post!

So, what are my kitchen essentials?

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Summer is coming, which means that those of us who live in colder areas can finally start breaking out the barbecues.  Some of my favorite things to throw on the grill include fruits, vegetables and seafood.  One thing I can never turn down is a good shrimp skewer!

Homemade Protein Chocolate

Chocolate . . . Do I really need to say more??  I love chocolate, but I have found that chocolate bars just aren't what they were when I was a kid.  I swear that the chocolate itself just tastes and feels different.

It is actually really easy to make chocolate at home, although it takes some time to get used to it when you are used to the store bought goods.  However, I have found that the more that I eat my own, the less I buy other chocolate.  Not that I won't indulge in a good bar of dark chocolate now and then.  Mmmmm, chocolate!

Chai-Infused Custard

The other day I woke up thinking about custard, which is strange, because I haven't had any in years.  I like a nice thick custard, but sometimes I am too lazy to make it from scratch.  Thank goodness you can get the powdered kind!

Chai tea is one of my absolute favorites, so I used it to add some extra flavor to the custard.  It's spicy and flavorful, but not too sweet.

Grilled Halloumi Sandwich

If you've never tried halloumi cheese, you are missing out, trust me!  I tried it for the first time a couple of years ago and I was instantly hooked.  It is firm and salty, and grills up so perfectly.

Kicked Up Tuna Salad

I don't care what anyone says, I love a good tuna sandwich.  I was that kid that was more than happy to take it for my school lunch, regardless of any complaints about the smell.  I used to just mix it with mayonnaise and pepper and call it a day, but now I like to add a few more ingredients for extra enjoyment.

Chocolate Chip Surprise Cookies

I am a chocolate chip cookie girl at heart.  I'll eat all of the other kinds, but my happy cookie must have chocolate chips in it.  I'm also slightly picky about the texture of the cookies: the have to be soft, not crispy, but they can't be soggy.  They need to be able to hold up if you want to dip them in some milk.  I am also the kind of girl who could eat chocolate hazelnut spread straight from the jar.  Add those to my cookies and I am blissfully happy!

These cookies are loaded with my beloved chocolate chips, and have the added bonus of a nice chocolate hazelnut center!

Nutty White Wine Sauce

Most people know pine nuts from pesto, but these little goodies are so delicious that I could eat them by the handful.  They are soft and mild and make an excellent addition to so many dishes, especially if pasta is involved.  They add such an incredible nutty flavor to this white wine sauce!

Guacamole Veggie Pizza

I am definitely a pizza girl, with all of that gooey cheesy goodness and an infinite selection of toppings.  But, sometimes I like a little change from the typical tomato sauce, and I have discovered that guacamole is a great substitute,

Red Velvet Banana Cake

I am not a fan of bananas, which is why most of my friends are surprised that I love banana cake.  It is always soft, moist and full of flavor.  Mix in some red velvet, and it just takes it to the next level.

Roasted Artichokes

I feel like artichokes are sadly underrated vegetables.  Most people eat them in dips, but rarely ever buy artichokes on their own.  The good news is, they are so easy to prepare!

Turkey Broth

My mom has always been a fan of cooking up a turkey when it's not a holiday - no stress, no pressure, just good food.  And with a good turkey, comes a good turkey carcass that can be used to make a delicious broth.

Cherry Chocolate Cream Cheese Balls

Cream cheese anything is delicious, in my opinion, and I especially love it in any sort of dessert.  These little balls are bite-sized goodness that are very simple to make.

Mandarin Orange Crackle Cookies

Mandarin oranges are one of my favorite fruits, and in winter they are fresh and abundant!  Orange also happens to be a delicious dessert flavoring, and fresh juices make the flavors perfect!