I have been loving Julia Turshen's beautiful new cookbook Small Victories. The picture of her free-form Raspberry Jam Buns with Crème Fraîche Frosting sold me on the whole project immediately. Along with the lovely images, it's full of smart tips and recipes I want to make right now. I'm such a fan. So I was thrilled when she asked me if I would participate in her campaign for No Kid Hungry this year.
Read moreSoft Pretzels
Between the ages of four and six, my price was a pretzel. Seated comfortably in the front end of a metal shopping cart, mouth full and therefore silent, I ate while Mom hunted for bargains at Caldor.
Read moreStrawberry Jam Doughnuts
Next week is a big week!
Read moreApricot Custard Cake
I love prunes. They’re sweet and chewy and delicious. I always travel with them (for obvious reasons). I once brought a huge bag with me on a trip to Sri Lanka. My adorable grandmother tasted a prune, presumably for the first time, and then asked me if she could keep the entire bag. I said yes because I also love my grandmother. I realized that if prunes didn’t have such a stigma everyone would be eating them all day like candy. That was my grandmother’s plan. I get it.
Read moreChocolate Almond Eclairs
I'm trying something new today. Live action video! I hope you like it. Thanks to the lovely Savvy team from Eater.com!
The custard-filled pastries aren't as intimidating as they look. In this video, Samantha Seneviratne (behind Love, Cake) walks through her recipes for chocolate-topped eclairs and cream puffs. Watch above to see how the pastry chef/cookbook author does it, starting with her fool-proof dough.
Chocolate Cream Pie Pops
It's popsicle week. I'm coming in just under the wire!
Read moreSour Cherry Almond Pie
I’ve been creating sad, superfluous loungewear out of old clothes for years. And that’s not my only problem. I’ve also been treating my parents’ home as a “haven for mementos”, and I have a deeply rooted book-hoarding problem. Marie Kondo has me figured out! I’m reading “The Life Changing Art of Tidying Up” and learning so much about myself.
Read morePortuguese Custard Tarts with Passion Fruit and Blueberries
We were just walking down the street when an elderly lady handed my dad a big, wide basket full of passion fruit. The bowl was lined with newspaper and filled to the brim. She had run out of her house as we were passing by and she beamed when my dad accepted her present. We were in Sri Lanka. I was eight. According to mom, who translated the transaction for me, the old woman had known my grandfather. The passion fruit were from her tree. They were her gift to my grandfather’s eldest son to welcome him back to the island after so many years.
Read moreAlmond Twists
Hey there. I’m sorry it’s been so many weeks since I last wrote. This past month wasn't so great and it was tough to to try to write about happy cakes when I didn’t feel all that joyful.
But things aren't all bad. They never are. I was lucky enough to take a solo vacation to Rome last month. And I even learned a few valuable things.
Read moreParfait Pops with Vanilla Custard, Granola, and Raspberries
The frozen yogurt craze of 2008 hit us hard. I’m referring to the Pinkberry and Red Mango era. While TCBY and Tasti D-lite were good for their time, they could never hold a candle to the faux-healthy yogurt treats that followed them. When a Pinkberry opened up right around the corner from our apartment we lost all control.
Read moreChocolate Cookie Sandwiches with Malted Cream
The last time my brother and I had dinner he brought me a present. A cutting from his lush wandering jew. He had planted the little stem carefully in a bit of soil and made a small newspaper pot to transport it. He had carried it in hands on the subway all the way to Brooklyn, where I was living at the time. It’s the last physical gift he ever gave me.
Read moreJam Rolls
If you have a moment, make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Use nutritionally void soft white bread. Eat the crusts off first. Then look at what you’re left with. Examine it objectively. Close your eyes and take a bite. It’s tender but toothsome with just the right amount of ooze. It’s soft and sweet. It’s creamy and tart. Be honest. It’s not really a sandwich, is it? It’s more like a perfect little layer cake. Dessert masquerading as lunch. And it’s really delicious. This exciting discovery has changed my life and my fridge.
Read moreBanana Hazelnut Bundt Cake
First, I owe you a big, fat thank you! As you have probably figured out from that new badge over on the right, Love, Cake is one of the 6 finalists in the Best Baking and Desserts category of this year’s Saveur Blog Awards. I’m really excited (and frankly a little shocked) to be included. The finalists make up a serious group of talent. Internet heavy-hitters. I know I made that list because of you and your generous nominations. So thank you a hundred times over. I’m so grateful. Click here to see the full list of finalists and vote for your favorites in all 13 categories.
Read moreRhubarb and Raspberry Crumb Bars
In 2001 my dressiest pants were a pair of gold velour bell-bottoms. Utterly misguided fancy pants. I can remember wearing them on two special occasions. First, the Rent audition I reluctantly admitted to a few weeks ago. Second, my very first real job interview for an actual position with benefits. Despite the hideous pants, I got that job.
Read moreSalted Pepita Caramels
“Titles stink and they’re too hard to figure out.” I was pouting from the moment I woke up yesterday morning. Gus said, “No. They’re an opportunity to tell your reader what you care about.” Oh. He’s so annoying and rational sometimes. My first cookbook goes to the printer next week (!!) and at the eleventh hour I’ve decided to fuss about the title. I’ve made extra work for my dear editors (I’m sure they’re cursing me), but I think it’s worth it. It may or may not change, but there have been a flurry of emails back and forth and now I can’t stop thinking/agonizing about it.
Read moreCoconut Raspberry Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream
For a good chunk of my life, I didn’t know that there was more to New York City than Chinatown. I assumed that the earth fell off at the edge of Kenmare Street, Frank Sinatra was singing about dim sum, and the Great White Way referred to Mott Street with its rows of fish markets full of pale creatures in white Styrofoam coolers. When I was little my family made countless day trips to New York City, but we never went to Macy’s or saw a show on Broadway. Instead we made a beeline for Chinatown and stayed there. After so many visits, I just assumed that the only thing to do in the whole of New York City was shop for groceries from busy street stalls and eat delicious Chinese food. That was my New York City and I liked it.
Read moreMocha Glazed Baked Gluten Free Doughnuts
First, a little request. If you like Love, Cake, and I hope very much that you do, please consider dropping her a nomination for the 2015 Saveur Blog Awards. You can nominate Love, Cake by clicking here. Thank you!
Ok. Now, imagine a guy with a body like Vin Diesel and a face like Rodney Dangerfield. If you dare. Let me explain. I’ve been thinking a lot about jobs lately. My current job, which is to finish the manuscript for my gluten-free cookbook, is flying by far too fast. I’m deep in it right now. That's where this week’s doughnut recipe comes from. And my friend Merritt's excellent book called First Jobs comes out next month. Hearing her stories has made me reflect on all the jobs I’ve had and loved over the years. My first job out of college is still one of my favorites. And that guy, Mr. Rodney Diesel, made me love it even more.
Read moreButterscotch Blondies
Our Whole Foods has a cookie bar. It looks like a salad bar but it’s stocked with cookies. Genius idea. I don’t know what the cookies taste like. Shockingly I’ve never succumbed to their calls. But they look appetizing. No matter how stale they must be. No matter how dry I’m sure they are. Piles of cookies look unbearably good. And seeing a setup that usually holds spinach and arugula replaced by shortbread and chocolate chips just makes the brain short circuit a little.
Read moreVanilla Ice Cream with Sauer-und-Süss Bärchen-Pärchen
I know there has been a lot of awards-season buzz about this, so I'm happy to announce that it's true: Gus is guest-posting this week with another special dessert for Valentine's Day.
Wow. It is already time again for my annual culinary paean to St. Valentine. Can you believe it? That year just flew by. Now I know exactly what my wife means when she says that the blog sneaks up on her every week.
The good news is that I am really feeling romantic this year for a change. Why is that, you ask?
Read moreOrange and Cardamom Churros
I’m a proud former chorus nerd. Most of my friends know that in the midst of a post-college what-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-life freakout I auditioned for the Broadway musical Rent in New York. Maybe I’ll just be a Broadway star!? The nice lady who was subjected to my audition stopped me mid-song and thanked me for coming in.
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