The week between Christmas and New Years has always been my favorite week of the year. When growing up, I remember hanging out all week in the living room--yes, the room we rarely touched the rest of the year. The tree always stayed lit, and holiday music was played. My sister and I each claimed… Continue reading The Romjul Week
Tag: baking
Imbolc Essential Oils
Imbolc is the sacred midpoint between winter and spring. It’s the celebration of the return of the light and the turning over of nature from February 1st through the 3rd. There is more light in the day as the afternoon seems a bit longer with sunlight. Imbolc means “in the belly.” Traditionally, Imbolc represents the… Continue reading Imbolc Essential Oils
Bad Moms Brownies
I am a Hallmark Christmas movie enthusiast. I used to laugh at the idea of all the sappiness, but then I got sucked into the first one I dared to watch. I sat down just for a couple of sarcastic laughs, but I ended up crying and smiling with joy. Holiday spirit does exist! But… Continue reading Bad Moms Brownies
Lemony Cheesecake Squares
My family loves homemade desserts. I need non-complicated ones right now, especially mid-week. Cheesecake Squares don't last long around here. I should remember to make a double batch next time. I also enjoy making this recipe because it can be a nice switch from a chocolate dessert. Now, my husband and daughters are all huge… Continue reading Lemony Cheesecake Squares
Monkey Bread: It’s sooo good!
Monkey bread was the main dish of our Easter breakfast this year. I should really make it more often! Monkey bread, also known as pull-apart bread, is a simple baked sweet dough recipe. Small bites of dough are coated in butter, cinnamon, and sugar. They then layered in a bundt pan. Once baked, the dough… Continue reading Monkey Bread: It’s sooo good!
Molasses Banana Cake
Can banana dishes be associated with the holidays? Of course they can, with the addition of warm, spicy ingredients like molasses, cinnamon, and clove. Instead of powdered spices, I used the essential oils of cinnamon bark and clove in my cake. As I have mentioned in previous posts, when cooking with essential oils, you must… Continue reading Molasses Banana Cake
Mango May
I seem to be drawn to this tropical fruit each spring. A mango is such a bright and happy color, and it reminds me of warm sunny days in the not-too-distant future! A previous year I wrote about a mango cake to bridge the spring-to-summer months for me. Today the feature is a mango quick… Continue reading Mango May
Berry Breakfast (or snack? or dessert?)
It's berry season! Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, then blueberries ripen in that order for us in New Hampshire. The strawberries have just peaked, and now the green raspberries have a touch of pink to them while growing on their canes. I always make berry jam every summer. It has a touch of sunshine in its flavor,… Continue reading Berry Breakfast (or snack? or dessert?)
Doughnut Day
One day I just really wanted donuts. Or doughnuts. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, here's "What to Know" about this word: In most dictionaries donut is an accepted spelling variant of doughnut. The spelling of donut without the "-ough" has appeared in enough textual references, and been made popular by brands such as Dunkin Donuts, to the point where it… Continue reading Doughnut Day
Gingerbread Magic
Gingerbread is an iconic smell and taste of Christmas time. Its flavor can be found in a wide range of baked goods and is characterized by a mixture of ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. With its warm and spicy notes, gingerbread is the equivalent of wrapping yourself up in a quilt made by grandma. Therefore,… Continue reading Gingerbread Magic
The Pink Lily Pad and Two Tadpoles 