Healthy Cooking Adventures

Pretty much all of my life, I would pretend I didn’t know how to cook. My parents and brother would laugh and tease me, but I was the one laughing (secretly, that is). There they were slaving over hot home cooked meals, and my contribution was to compliment the chef. Don’t get me wrong, occasionally I was forced to “try,” but I would purposely forget ingredients or burn things just so no one would bother trying to teach me again. Read More

Choose Your Own Adventure: Exploring Europe & the Western U.S.

One of life’s greatest adventures is taking risks. Stepping outside what is normal, and comfortable. Taking a plunge into the unknown. Doing something a little crazy.

So when my work contract in Washington, D.C. approached an end in late May 2012 (I had been living and working there for 8 months)– and my husband’s job as a high school teacher in Orlando, FL was beginning to wrap up for the summer – the perfect little opportunity presented itself: Read More

A Spectrum of Color for Easter

Okay, so I’ll admit to you all right now: I realize that my “adventures in trying” are turning into my “adventures in trying cupcake recipes.” But my taste-testers aren’t complaining, so I’ll just continue right along this road. And thanks to my shiny new, candy apple red Kitchenaid Artisan mixer – they’ll only get better from here on out.

With Easter is just around the corner, I figured my co-workers deserved a colorful treat. I didn’t test any new recipes – but instead just had a fun experiment in decorating a classic yellow cake with buttercream icing. While they may take you about an hour longer than usual to make, I don’t think you’ll hear any complaints. Read More

Orange Creamsicle Delight

I found this recipe via Pinterest (of course!) on one of my favorite blogs, My Baking Addiction. She calls them Chocolate Cupcakes with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting. But we were all convinced this frosting tasted just like a creamsicle, hence the name change-up. If you like light, moist cakes – this is one of the best I’ve had. Enjoy! Read More

Spiked Cupcakes for St. Patty’s Day

If you’re looking for a crowd pleasing treat for St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, look no further than these adult-friendly Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes. I’ll admit, they took awhile to make, but they were relatively simple considering the number of elements. Thanks goes to Quick Feets, Good Eats for posting this treat on Pinterest (recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen). Enjoy! Read More

Put a Bird On It

A couple weeks ago, I stumbled across this video from the series, “Portlandia”. I don’t know if we’re just bored, but my co-workers and I are thoroughly amused by it. In fact, we’ve even “put a bird” on several items throughout the office. After all, everything is better with a bird on it. Even a boring office door. Or Justin Bieber. Read More