If you’ve never paired the flavors of peaches and almonds, you’re going to fall in love with the duo in this Almond Peach Dump Cake. *this recipe is sponsored by my friends at Imperial Sugar Based on the vintage recipe calling for canned fruit and cake mix, this updated, from-scratch version features frozen peaches, almond flavors, a homemade cake mix layer, and sliced almonds for a bit of crunch. Melted butter stirred together with the dry ingredients ensures there will be no dry patches. Oh, and the vanilla ice cream on top is mandatory. The result is tart and sweet. Warm and…

Summer and s’mores go hand in hand…unless, of course, it’s still 90 degrees at 8pm and standing over a fire is just out of the question. Also, mosquitoes. The solution? S’mores brownies. Ooey, gooey, sticky, and sublime, S’mores Brownies consist of a buttery, graham cracker base with a rich, fudgy brownie layer, topped with milk chocolate bars and thick marshmallow cream with a crisp, crackly top. The brownies are baked, topped, then popped under the broiler for a couple of minutes to brown the marshmallow and give that over-the-campfire look and taste. All without stepping into the elements. Yay! How to…

Whether you see it called Espresso Powder or Instant Espresso, you’ll want to have it in your baking arsenal. This is a STAPLE in my kitchen – I’m never without it. What is Espresso Powder? Espresso powder is ground coffee that’s been brewed then dried. While at first glance, the powder might look like finely ground coffee beans, they’re not. The coffee flakes are softer than ground beans and dried in a way that dissolves easily in liquid. The flavor is concentrated, so if you’re making a cup of espresso using it, you’ll get a deep espresso taste. This isn’t…

If  you’re looking for a gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip dessert, maybe even a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie, I have just the recipe for you. This is a take on a perennial favorite around here: pumpkin chocolate chip bars. I make them every year, my sister makes them every year, many of YOU make them every year, too. They’re soft, cakey, and full of warm fall spices. This gluten-free version makes the bars a bit softer but still oh-so-good!  I bet you have people you love in your life who eat gluten-free for any number of reasons. So, when my aunt told…

You might say we have a little love affair going with Trader Joe’s. (We even started another blog dedicated to our infatuation of all things Trader Joe’s.) At the holidays, one of our favorites is the Mini Dark Chocolate Mint Star Cookies. The tiny, crisp, chocolate peppermint shortbread cookies are enrobed in dark chocolate and sprinkled with white nonpareils. It wouldn’t be hard to eat half the box in one sitting. Don’t ask me how I know. I think they were one of the first products we reviewed in our weekly segment here. The thing is, they sell out fast…and boy, is it a long…

Before you think, “Applesauce? How boring!“…let me assure you that this applesauce is like no other. (Well, it’s like one other. Let me explain.) First! How does this slow cooker applesauce taste? Guys! It’s incredible! Sweet and tart with notes of vanilla, I reach for this INSTEAD OF DESSERT! I’m not kidding! There are so many ways to use it, though, besides just scarfing it with a spoon straight from the bowl. More on that in a minute; scroll to the bottom of the post for ideas. I never thought I would be the type of person to look forward to…

If you follow along on Instagram, you might have seen that Mark and I were in Germany back in November. The trip was like a fairytale – the castles, the mountains, the buildings, the shopping, the towns, the markets…the FOOD – it just all made for an incredible trip. *this recipe was created for my friends at Imperial Sugar [Here are some Germany travel highlights from my Instagram. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Garmisch and Neuschaanstein Castle, and Frankfurt Christmas Market.] I visited many a bakery while Mark was working. And did, in fact, eat a cherry cake. But, it was a chocolate-cherry layer cake with…

A guaranteed hit with the whole family, serve with a green salad and some garlic bread Servings 4 Preparation Time  5 mins Cooking Time  25 mins Total Time  30 mins Course  Main Cuisine  Italian Ingredients 300g fusilli or penne pasta 2 tbsp olive oil 2 chicken breasts, sliced 1 onion, sliced thinly 2 red peppers, sliced thinly 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander ½ smoked paprika 1 tsp jalapeno peppers, finely chopped plus 2 tsp vinegar from the jar of jalapeno peppers (optional) 450ml tomato passata Salt and pepper 100g mozzarella cheese, grated Method Bring a…