Choco Coco Granola

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Choco Coco Granola

I used to make granola all the time in college thanks to acquiring the recipe of my favorite granola made at a local cafe. Strangely, I rarely make it now though, despite eating granola every day with yogurt. I have been wanting to develop a granola recipe for the site for a couple years now, but I always seem to fail whenever I attempt to develop one. I had a difficult time getting the perfect dry to wet ratio, and achieving the flavor and level of sweetness that I desire. I’m wondering if it is because I am being too critical of the recipes I have made, because after all I have sampled A LOT of different kinds of granolas. When I lived in Hawaii after college, my friend and I would frequently visit the local Whole Foods store with the sole intent to sample all of the granolas that they had in the bulk section. We did this nearly every day…

When reviewing my failed attempts, I realized that I was attempting to recreate granolas that I have enjoyed in the past. But I think that was my problem. No matter how good the recipe was, I was never going to be able to exactly recreate the flavors that I was attempting to recreate. So I decided to develop a recipe for a type of granola flavor that I had never had before in order to bypass my hypercritical granola taste buds.

Pulling inspiration from summer and our trip to Asia, I really wanted to incorporate a coconut flavor. After a couple variations, I landed on pairing the coconut with chocolate to create a rich and subtly sweet taste, which balances wonderfully with the creamy tang of a Greek yogurt. The best part about granola recipes are that they are easy to make. And one of the best things about THIS recipe is that while this granola is baking in the oven, your kitchen will smell like a coconut paradise! Seriously!

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Vegan Coconut Chunky Monkey Smoothie

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Vegan Coconut Chunky Monkey Smoothie

We went to Shady Shack, a very popular vegetarian restaurant, because I saw online that they had smoothie bowls. I had their Cacao Dreams Smoothie Bowl, which had a base of cacao, dates, bananas, cashew butter, and coconut milk. I loved it so much that I just had to share a copycat version with you guys! The dates gave the smoothie a perfectly thick texture, and when combined with coconut milk, it was extremely filling. The coconut milk also lends itself to creating a creamy and rich taste. The recipe only requires a few ingredients, and only takes a couple minutes to make. Like I mentioned already, the smoothie is rather filling, so feel free to save any remaining amount in the refrigerator for a treat later on!

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Belgian Coconut Liège Waffles with a Coconut Cream Topping

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Belgian Coconut Liège Waffles with a Coconut Cream Topping

If you have never had a liège waffle before, trust me when I say that they are wonderful. What makes a liège waffle so different from a regular waffle? Well, not only are liège waffles made from a yeast based dough, but that dough also has small pearl sugars infused throughout, so when cooked, the pearls create a lovely crunch and burst of sweetness. That being said, you will typically find liège waffles half the size of a normal waffle as they are much richer and sweeter.  Like I mentioned already, this waffle recipe is made from a yeast based dough. You will need to allow the dough to rise for 2 hours prior to cooking, or you can let the dough rise overnight so that it is ready the next morning. The strong coconut flavoring of these waffles comes from both coconut milk and coconut oil in the batter, and is further enhanced with a coconut milk based cream topping….

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Earl Grey Lavender Coffee Cake

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Earl Grey Lavender Coffee Cake

But enough about those troubles, let’s talk about this Earl Grey Lavender Coffee Cake! I have seen numerous recipes in the past that have been Earl Grey flavored and I have always been so curious about them. I decided to pair two tea flavors - earl grey and lavender- in order to create a unique and light coffee cake. The trick to getting these flavors infused into the cake is to steep them in warmed milk for 1 hour, after which you will strain. I was a bit skeptical that this would be able to sufficiently transfer the tea flavors to the batter, but boy was I wrong! This coffee cake is popping with earl grey and lavender flavors. The citrus undertones of the earl grey and the floral flavorings of lavender make this coffee cake…

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Challah Monkey Bread

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Challah Monkey Bread

Monkey bread is comprised of individual pieces of yeasted bread that are rolled in and coated with a butter-sugar syrup mixture and cinnamon sugar. Therefore, your home will smell amazing as the monkey bread bakes in the oven. You can either cut the bread into slices, or pull apart the pieces individually. This recipe can be made the night before - just look at the baker’s notes at the bottom of the recipe for instructions! And the best part about this recipe is that it can double as a brunch item and a dessert item. ;)

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Crème Fraîche Pancakes

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Crème Fraîche Pancakes

In light of Valentine’s Day next week, I wanted to share this recipe that would make for a perfect breakfast in bed! Crème Fraîche Pancakes. OMG, these pancakes are so soft, moist, and flavorful. I have never had crème fraîche pancakes before, but they really are different than normal pancakes. Crème fraîche is essentially a french sour cream. However, it has a higher fat content, is richer, thicker, and has a bit less tang than sour cream. So while you can substitute in sour cream if you can’t find crème fraîche, it won’t quite taste the same. I also added some tips and tricks in the instructions and baker’s notes that will help produce the perfect pancake. So as always, I recommend reading through everything before you start! These pancakes work well with any kind of pancake topping, so pick your favorite, and enjoy!

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Classic Cinnamon Rolls

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Classic Cinnamon Rolls

Now I LOVE cinnamon rolls. There is nothing better than the smell of cinnamon-butter-dough baking in the oven, and there is nothing more satisfying than unwinding a cinnamon roll as you eat it, only to come to the gooey-delicious center. The best part about these rolls are that they can be made the day before, and they will complete their second rise overnight in the refrigerator. That means come Christmas morning (or whatever special morning you wish to use this recipe for) all you have to do is allow the rolls to warm slightly on the counter, then …

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Orange Cardamom Coffee Cake

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Orange Cardamom Coffee Cake

I have now come to realize that orange cardamom is my new favorite fall flavor. The orange’s fresh citrus taste beautifully balances the cardamom’s sense of warmth and richness. The cake has a streusel center, which is like a little surprise of sweetness! This cake works great for a brunch or as a dessert. The recipe is easy to make, and will serve a large group of people…

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Orange Chocolate Scones with Toasted Hazelnuts

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Orange Chocolate Scones with Toasted Hazelnuts

So to celebrate the transition into Fall, I made these Orange Chocolate Scones with Toasted Hazelnuts. These scones are rich, satisfying, and packed with flavor. The hint of orange comes from a few teaspoons of orange zest, and it is the perfect amount for balancing the sweetness with citrus without being too overpowering. I doubled the chocolate flavoring by having both cocoa powder and chocolate chips in the batter. After baking, the warm scones are dipped in a powder sugar glaze, drizzled with melted chocolate, then, finally, topped with toasted hazelnuts. The chocolate drizzle and hazelnuts will certainly have you dreaming of nutella…

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Simple Fried Egg Sandwiches

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Simple Fried Egg Sandwiches

This simple fried egg sandwich recipe is layered with fresh ingredients, included avocado, lettuce, and tomato, and is balanced with the savoriness of crispy bacon. I chose whole grain bread for my sandwiches, but really any type of bread will do, from bagels to artisan bread. And let’s not forget out my favorite part - the lemon garlic aioli sauce. Slather the sauce on both the bottom and top slices of bread to add more flavor depth to the sandwich! And the best part about fried egg sandwiches, is that you can have them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

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Easy Overnight Blackberry Challah French Toast

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Easy Overnight Blackberry Challah French Toast

The challah bread, moist and infused with a hint of honey, is soaked in a vanilla/almond/orange egg mixture, then drizzled with blackberry jam. Fresh blackberries are added for additional sweet and tangy flavor. I made the dish in a round baking pan, but you can choose whatever dish shape you please, as long as the bread can stand up straight without falling over. I served the french toast with syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, but you could also add whipped cream or even more blackberry jam and fresh blackberries!

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Strawberry Black Pepper Scones

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Strawberry Black Pepper Scones

The calendar says it’s the first day of spring and we’re over here in Minnesota lol’ing. It “snowed” all day today, but none of the snow stuck to the already snow-covered ground because it was just slightly above freezing. Although, I will say that the amount of snow on the ground has reduced this past week, and as some of the ground underneath is exposed, there is...

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Belgian Liège Waffles

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Belgian Liège Waffles

Last winter Alex and I went to New York City to celebrate our 1 year anniversary (Read about it here!). Throughout the week we visited some of the restaurants and bakeries with infamous food items that I had been dying to try forevaaa. But one of the best things we ate was not planned at all. It was Christmas Eve, a cold, rainy morning, and Alex and I needed to get breakfast before we flew back home in the afternoon. All week we had been getting a quick bagel and cream cheese for breakfast, because who has time to sit down for breakfast when you have NYC to explore? But on the last day we decided to indulge in a normal breakfast, and wandered into a nearby restaurant...

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Dirty Chai Cinnamon Rolls

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Dirty Chai Cinnamon Rolls

Fall is here and I am leaping with joy! This truly is my favorite time of the year. Back home in California, fall was usually designated by when Trader Joe’s started stocking their plethora of seasonal pumpkin-related items. So when I experienced my first Midwestern fall last year- the colorful changing leaves, the crisp air, the being able to wear sweaters without sweating (I sweat way too much in California trying to make it feel like fall), the picking of apples and pumpkins, and then the fallen leaves that completely cover the ground, leading to lots of...

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Peach Almond Scones

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Peach Almond Scones

We have a lot of adventures planned for the upcoming months, and I couldn’t be happier! Tomorrow I’ll head out to California to meet up with my husband, who was fortunate enough to spend the past couple days there and get some much desired rest and family time. We’ll be in southern California, where Alex’s family is located, catching up with friends, family, and attending a wedding. But the travel that has been the most anticipated is…

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Coconut Honey Granola

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Coconut Honey Granola

Happy Monday, friends! This past weekend was one for the books. My husband was on spring break from medical school, which means that we got to go on errands together, cook together, sleep in, snuggle (practically all day, oops) - and this past Saturday he decided to plan a surprise date day for me - full of fun activities and delicious foods. When school is in session, Alex's studies take up almost all of his time. So our quality time together during this stage of life looks different than other married couples, but I found the key is to not compare our relationship to others, but rather to do what is right for our own relationship. One of which, includes taking advantage...

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Gluten Free Chai Protein Pancakes

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Gluten Free Chai Protein Pancakes

How would you describe your perfect weather? For me, it an overcast and quiet day. Sitting on my bed, covered in soft blankets, and listening to the rainfall. Windows open, I would feel the cool air travel into the apartment, prompting me to wear fuzzy socks to stay warm. Sipping on hot green tea with lemon and honey, while surrounding by fragrant burning candles as I read one of my favorite books. My husband finds me odd that ...

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Vanilla Scones with Salted Caramel Whisky Glaze

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Vanilla Scones with Salted Caramel Whisky Glaze

I am currently sitting in the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, awaiting my flight to LA. I am so excited I think I’m going to burst. Why you ask? Well, my college roommate who now lives in Hawaii (rough life, I know) is flying out to Cali for the weekend for a wedding, which prompted the rest of my college roommates who are still in Cali to organize a little reunion for the weekend! The 7 of us have not all been together since we graduated college, two and a half YEARS ago! The best part...

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