{RECIPE REcap} Homemade Halloween Goodies

Halloween is right around the corner, why not get creative in the kitchen with your chocolate skills or your sugar skills! The FSC Time Machine starts us out with the Becky Show with all of her fabulous posts from October 2011 from her D.I.Y. Halloween Candy Series, then we move into other sugary items that…

{recipe} Curau de Milho

Corn was and is a major stable on our table. I have many family recipes that call for fresh to dried corn. I make them often, but there is one that neither my husband or kids care for very much, but I still take the time to make for myself every year when fresh sweet…

{recipe} Raspberry Rhubarb Crisp

I remember the moment that I realized there were raspberry and blackberry bushes in the back yard of my newly bought house a few years ago. Pure joy. I have always loved fruit picking – it’s one of my favorite pastimes. Over the past few years we’ve planted fruit bushes and trees in our third…

{reflections on food} My Independence Day

Last 4th of July I began my independence from sugar. I went to the parade on Avenue A, the street where I grew up. The parade began with my generation, in the thick of the centennial spirit of the mid-seventies. One year I wore the bridesmaid gown I wore at my uncle’s wedding. The next…

{recipe} Vatrushka, Russian Tea-Time Snack

I asked my husband to write down some of the recipes he misses from his childhood in Estonia. He wrote Vatrushka on our family message board and it was there for over a year. I am on the third version and we are all happy with how it came out.  My starting point was a…

{candy} Gimme a Break: Homemade Twix Bars

Chocolate. Caramel. Shortbread. Three of the loveliest words in the English language. And bringing them all together is America’s beloved Twix bar. As I was preparing for my annual homemade Christmas gift extravaganza, I stumbled across a recipe for homemade Twix bars, and they have proven themselves to be a fan favorite. They were such…

{diy project} Homesick Horchata

I’ve lived a lot of places but grew up mostly in Phoenix. Phoenix is a very interesting place. The things I love about it are pretty much what most tourists would find really stupid, or just plain odd. Since my whole family still lives there (How can they possibly still live there? It’s so hot!!)…

{diy recipe} Roasted Chickpea Flour (and Brownies!)

For my contribution this month, I figured I’d share one of my favorite go-to brownie recipes, and introduce its secret ingredient – roasted chickpea flour. Roasted chickpea flour is orders of magnitude different than plain chickpea flour as it comes from the bag. Roasting the garbanzo flour gives it a nice deep rich nutty flavor,…

{gf recipe} Chocolate Chip Cookies, Two Ways

…(Or a how to make perfect chocolate chip cookies)   Chocolate chip cookies are great conversation starters. People are passionate about them. Some folks like ‘em crispy, others chewy, then there’s the whole “with nuts or without” debate. And don’t even get people started on their feelings about raisins in chocolate chip cookies. (I’m firmly…

{recipe} Sweet and Spicy Chocolate Black Bean Dip

Yes you read that title right- Sweet and Spicy Chocolate Black Bean Dip. I feel like you need to understand my inspiration for this recipe before I go on… So a few years back during one of my many health kick phases, a.k.a. damn my ass got big I need to do something about it, I…

{gluten free recipe} Irish Soda Bread Cakes

I’m about to share a recipe flop with you. Enticing, isn’t it? Let me explain. Lately I’ve been playing with whole-grain/rice-free gluten-free recipes and I turned my attention to Irish soda bread. Years ago, I created a recipe that makes a large loaf of Americanized soda bread. It’s delicious. Among other things, it contains caraway…

{FSC Time Machine} DIY Valentine Hijinx

 I say that ALL home cooking is a way to someone’s heart but if you want to focus on sweets & treats, here’s a couple recipes to inspire! -Christina Elizabeth’s step by step guide on baking cut-out cookies. +++ If you missed yesterday’s piece by Becky H’s on DIY Chocolate Bars- get to it! +++ Becky…

{diy project} homemade chocolate bars

AHHH…chocolate. If my best friend was a food this would be it.  So amazingly satisfying on many different levels with so many options in flavors and taste. Milk, dark, bitter, organic, fair trade; the spices and flavorings are endless.  Little does one realize though, chocolate is simple, easy, and quick to make yourself. You just…

{baking basics 101} Let Them Eat Birthday Cake

I have a very large and scary birthday coming up in two weeks.  Last fall I pledged to lose twenty pounds to confront it and, while I did manage to lose 8 pounds, I am  painfully aware that I fell short of my goal.  I think I will drown my sorrows in birthday cake. I…

{baking basics 101} How to Make Cut-Out Cookies

Is it just me or does a plate piled high with cut-out cookies look both elegant and homespun at the same time? Over the years, however, I’ve had many people tell me that they avoid making cut-out cookies. Due to bad experiences, they only make drop cookies. And while drop cookies are wonderful, it’s nice…