Category Archives: Quick and Simple!
Banana Spring Rolls
So a friend of mine wanted to get lunch yesterday and it had been a while since we’d been anywhere for Thai. As an appetizer, we got these great vegetable spring rolls with a peanut sauce for dipping. It was pretty fantastic. After we were finished eating, I wanted something sweet. I browsed the dessert menu and all they had was a selection of ice creams and mochi. That really wasn’t going to do it for me… so I decided to head home and try my hand at making an Asian inspired dessert. 
That’s when I remembered that my favorite Vietnamese restaurant serves banana spring rolls. They’re the perfect kind of sweet, and frying the rice paper in butter gives it a completely different flavor from a traditional oil-fried spring roll. Say WHAT. They’re so delicious.
Super Skinny Milkshakes
I love milkshakes. I could probably write an entire post on why they’re amazing and delicious, but then there wouldn’t be any room to share recipes and that’s what I’m here for! So I won’t do that – we’ll just settle for the short version: THEY’RE AMAZING! End of rant. So what’s a person to do when he or she has an obsession for milkshakes but hates the calories and the result of all those calories? Make a skinny milkshake, of course! By using a simple ingredient called xanthan gum, we can make a really delicious, super creamy, filling and fulfilling milkshake with about 1/10 of the calories and no fat. Yes… no fat! Are you excited, yet?
Chocolate French Toast Bread Pudding – My New Favorite Breakfast.
This one started as an “Oops!” but quickly became a “Wow!” after taking that first bite. It’s dense and cakey, not custardy like a traditional bread pudding. It’s also only mildly sweet, and the marriage of chocolate and cinnamon is reminiscent of a Sunday brunch French toast. It’s also a true testament to how you can mess up in the kitchen and still (sometimes) end up with a great product. That being said, let’s explore my forgetful side for a minute… and that part of me that mistakenly thinks I don’t need a recipe for some things.
Rice Crispies Pops
Oh, Rice Crispies Treats… I love them so much. My childhood wouldn’t be the same without them and, let’s be real for a second here, neither would my adult life. I actually haven’t made them in at least a good 10 years, though. So I thought I should break out that old favorite recipe of mine and make these as a special treat for Sunday brunch with friends. Only problem is I couldn’t find that old favorite recipe… Good thing they have it inside the cereal box!
Deep Dish Cookie
Oh boy! This is one serious cookie! It’s kind of like a deep dish pizza, but better. I took my Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe to a whole new level. I added another 1/2 Cup of chocolate chips, stuffed it into a 9-inch round cake pan, and presto! One gigantic cookie! This one was pretty simple, too.
Bananas Foster
Bananas foster is a warm, buttery, gooey, lick-the-plate-clean kind of dessert and, I have to be honest with you, I’ve never been able to get the recipe just right… until yesterday. I’m not really one to brag (ok, yes I am) but this was so good I was wishing I’d made more – or that I hadn’t shared it.
World’s Best Shortbread
Shortbread is among the most coveted of baked treats. It’s buttery, smooth, just sweet enough, and a perfect compliment to pretty much anything. I served mine last night alongside a creamy homemade Vanilla Bean and Black Pepper Ice Cream, but you could just as easily (and deliciously) pair it with any other ice cream flavor. It would also be great as a base for lemon squares, the perfect partner for a cup of coffee or an Affogato, or simply a crumbly, buttery friend for some fresh fruit and whipped cream.
