Two and a half years ago, when I was first seriously thinking of moving to Portland, Oregon, I was out to dinner one night at a Portland restaurant on NW 23rd Avenue. I can’t remember what I had for dinner, but for dessert, my dining companion suggested we split a piece of huckleberry pie. I knew… Read More Huckleberry Pie + A Bittersweet Goodbye
Hello December, how I’ve missed you! Sure, December is a cold, wet month with the least amount of daylight. I will admit to loathing how during December, I leave home for the office in the dark each morning, and then leave the office for home in the dark each evening. It’s pretty depressing. But December also brings endless… Read More Gingerbread Layer Cake with Salted Whiskey Caramel
Autumn is a magnificent season. Even in the evergreen-filled Pacific Northwest, we still see some deciduous trees turn vivid colors of yellow, orange, and red. We wrap ourselves in cozy layers and drive out of the cities to pick apples and pumpkins. We stroll down the streets while smelling the warmth of roaring fireplaces. Eventually, a quiet but beautiful melancholy sets in. Autumn… Read More Simple Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
Newsflash: it’s autumn. Where did the time go?! Labor Day has come and gone, which (in my mind) means the unofficial start of fall. Many of my friends have expressed devastation over the loss of warm and carefree summer days, but fall has always been my favorite season. I’m looking forward to walks in crisp… Read More Spiced Chocolate Chunk–Pumpkin Seed Cookies
Oh look, another biscotti post. “Really, Mary Ellen?” Yes, really! They are my true love. Okay, maybe not my true love, but they are certainly my biggest baking vice. So imagine my joy when earlier this year, an entire book of biscotti recipes came out. It even has a cute name – Ciao Biscotti! It’s almost… Read More Chocolate and Lemon Biscotti