Updated Veggies: Buffalo Cauliflower

Let’s be real here. Vegetarian meat substitution products that claim to taste like the real thing really suck. Companies just can’t seem to make these frozen foods any good. And buffalo chicken wings? Best thing ever! But for those vegetarians or people watching their meat consumption, those spicy, saucy, finger-lickin’ good buffalo chicken wings have to be resisted. And that is one reason why this Buffalo Cauliflower is absolutely amazing! It tastes just as scrumptious as buffalo chicken wings, but is completely meat free! They are tender yet crunchy, smooth yet spicy. They are completely addictive and a healthier option to those tempting buffalo chicken wings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Chocolate: White Chocolate Mac ‘n’ Cheese

As I’ve proven when I made Chocolate Fried Chicken, chocolate isn’t just for desserts. And white chocolate, that sweet, creamy, luscious treat, has its place in the savory world as well dark chocolate. And what better pairing could their be than white chocolate and mac ‘n’ cheese? If you think about it, it makes sense. Mac ‘n’ Cheese is rich, decadent, creamy, and very salty. White chocolate is also rich, decadent, and creamy, but very sweet. Together, they make the perfect sweet and savory hybrid. So let’s get cooking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Rebel: Chocolate Fried Chicken

Chocolate isn’t just for dessert anymore. Chocolate can add depth of flavor, a hint of bitterness, and an extra somethin’-somethin’ to any savory dish when applied correctly. So why not combine two of the most extraordinary foods into one? This, ladies and gentlemen, is a match made in Heaven. Say “hello” to Chocolate and Fried Chicken’s baby, and don’t plan on saying “bye” anytime soon!

 

 

 

 

 

Another Croquembouche: Gluten and Dairy Free Coconut Macaroons

So I’m sure you noticed that the recipe for croquembouche (found here) uses a ton of egg yolks, leaving you with a ton of egg whites! What to do? Well, I found the perfect solution: make a batch of these extremely easy and quick coconut macaroons. It takes no time at all, and even little kids could whip up this recipe!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas: Croquembouche

Merry belated Christmas! (Can you say that? Or do you just say “I hope you had a merry Christmas”? Hm.) Anyway… after seeing croquembouche on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship and on Fox’s MasterChef Junior, I decided to take a try at making this Christmas tree-resembling, fancy French dessert. (Did you know that croquembouche literally means “cracks in the mouth” because of the crunchy, delicious caramel?) I love profiteroles, I love eclairs, and I love anything cream puff-like, so I decided croquembouche would be the perfect dessert to present as the last course of our fancy Christmas feast. It was surprisingly easy to make, and extremely delicious! Next year during the holidays, I urge to make this show-stopping, stunning dessert that I like to call, the leaning tower of cream puffs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday: Funfetti Sugar Cookie Cake

Ah, cookies… Those buttery, dense, morsels of awesomeness. But they’re so tiny! What about super-sizing these delicious flavor-bombs? Wouldn’t that be even more awesome?! I think so, and of course, you should think so as well. That’s why I have created a Funfetti Sugar Cookie Cake, packed with sprinkles, white chocolate, and vanilla (not to mention the fluffy and creamy vanilla buttercream on top)! This is perfect for any occasion, any season, but especially perfect for someone’s birthday! And what’s more, it is ridiculously easy to make! So let’s get baking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tis the Season: Completely Customizable Gingerbread Houses

Oh how I love Christmas and the holidays! Weeks of relaxation and happiness, filled with warm spices, the smell of pine, Christmas music, and holiday cheer. We have recently decked out our Christmas tree, strung with colorful lights, filled with many homemade ornaments, and topped with an angel. This year I decided to try something new, something festive, something fun. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is creating gingerbread houses. Oh, and not those lame gingerbread houses made from graham crackers, oh no. And not just one, but eight. That’s right: I decided to throw a gingerbread house making party, full of real gingerbread, fondant, royal icing, and candies galore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Out of the Oven: Giant Single-Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie

What could be more comforting than a warm, crispy-edged, fluffy-centered, chocolate-infused, giant chocolate chip cookie? Especially now that the weather has turned crisp and cool, there could be nothing better than a warm, sweet morsel of ultimate deliciousness to celebrate the holidays! This cookie takes no time to make and is foolproof. So preheat that oven, slip on your slippers, wrap yourself in a blanket, and get baking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oprah’s Favorite Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar’s Banana Layer Cake

I hope you all had an food-filled, family-filled, and love-filled Thanksgiving this past week! Every Thanksgiving my family and I go to our friend’s house and have the most wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, full of turkey, chicken, prime rib, gravy, cranberries, potatoes, veggies, stuffing, and of course dessert. It has always been my job to supply one of the many desserts, and this year I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try to create the most complex dessert I’ve ever made! The success of my Banana Cream Pie lead me to create another Momofuku Milk Bar Dessert, this one much more complicated (but perhaps even more delicious!). This cake, said to be Oprah’s favorite, consists of a moist Banana Cake, creamy Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache, Hazelnut Crunch, fresh Banana Cream, and fluffy Hazelnut Frosting. This cake may be intimidating, but the results are so worth it! Let’s get baking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin Spice Obsessed: Single-Serving Pumpkin Spice Microwave Cheesecake

Pumpkin spice. That’s probably the first thing I would think of if you said “fall.” Seriously, America is pumpkin spice crazy (and I am proud to admit that I am too)! Pumpkin spice everything, from the quintessential latte, to the humble bagel, to the sweet little donut, and to any and every cookie around. Pumpkin spice has contaminated everything (and yes, go to the store; I repeat: everything), and I couldn’t be happier!  But I’m going off topic. So let me swerve back on track.