Can we talk about chocolate frosting for a minute? When it’s good, it’s the best – but so often, it’s not that good. Too fudgy, too dark, too sweet, too thick, too sloppy, too chocolatey, not chocolatey enough… you get the idea. But this one, to me, is simply perfect. It’s what I hope for when I bite into a cupcake. And it is really easy to achieve at home.

The recipe is roughly the chocolate buttercream they use at Magnolia Bakery. The texture, taste, and sweetness are absolutely perfect. It is chocolatey, buttery, and sweet in all the right amounts. And it is super smooth and silky to boot. I have given amounts for different-sized cakes below, so you can make enough for what you need. [Read more →]

I got a donut pan for my birthday and have been experimenting with baked donut recipes like crazy. When I’ve tried standard flavors like chocolate and vanilla, I’ve been disappointed, frankly, because they aren’t fried like “real” donuts. But stacking the batter up with fresh berries changes the game completely. This is a cakey, muffin-y kind of donut that you can’t stop eating. Dipping them in a simple blackberry glaze just before serving makes them a near-perfect weekend breakfast treat.

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Summer is a wonderful time up in Sonoma wine country – with long days of sunshine, lots of swimming, great vineyard views, and fun time with friends. I’m always stumped about what to make for lunch, though. I often throw together some ahi tuna poke, since we have a great local source for ahi, everyone loves it, and it’s quick to put together. But in the summer, I strive to find creative ways to utilize all of the gorgeous fresh produce available at our local farmer’s market. Hence, this simple but lovely tart.

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Have you tried a donut muffin yet? While not as popular a craze as, say, the cronut or the cruffin, I think the donut muffin will yet have its day. I first had one at the inimitable Devil’s Teeth Bakery in San Francisco. This bakery is all the way out by Ocean Beach, but it’s worth the drive across town for so many of their fabulous items, not just their superlative donut muffin. The weird thing is that I don’t really love donuts or muffins that much, but somehow when their best qualities are melded into one baked good, it becomes a really special treat.

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I woke up around 2 AM this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. Does this ever happen to you? Man, insomnia sucks.

This cat is sleeping peacefully. Sadly I am not.

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Do you have enough labneh in your life? It really is delightful stuff. In case you’re not familiar with it, labneh is simply strained, full-fat yogurt – thick, creamy, tangy, and good on everything. It’s a staple of the Levant region (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan) and it should always be in your fridge.

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My friend Whitney wrote a beautiful post when she turned 40 a few years back, and it has stuck with me. It inspired me to write this, on the day of my own 40th birthday.

Articles like this always have contemplative pictures of sunsets. So here you go.

I am not afraid to turn 40, but I am a little afraid for the world that I am now what passes for a responsible adult! Once you’re 40, there is no more pretending you’re not really a real adult. I grew up thinking that adults–like people who are 40–have all the answers. I guess I’m still a little stunned that I do not have all (or even very many) of the answers.

But I have definitely learned some things here and there, so I wanted to share them on this special day.

15 Things I Know Now That I Am 40 

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff. I know, that is a cliche, but hear me out. Every time you allow yourself to feel rage at a person who cuts you off on the freeway, you are wasting rage that could be better directed towards something really important, like inequality, injustice, running out of sauvignon blanc, etc. [Read more →]

Do you ever look at Pinterest and think, “I could make that, if life had any purpose?” Here are five ideas for nihilist Pinterest projects you can start right now. 

1) THE HEALTHIEST GUMMY BEARS YOU WILL EVER EAT

Go to the store to purchase ingredients. Blow off work to spend 6 hours looking for tiny bear-shaped cookie cutter. Settle for large-ish poodle shaped cutter. Follow recipe. While waiting for them to cool, spend 20 minutes trying to decide whether they are spelled “gummy bears” or “gummi bears.” Taste gummy/gummi bears and recoil because they are disgusting, and far too large. Remember that you hate gummy bears, and your life. Eat gummy bears anyway.

2) DIY MISSING SOCKS SIGN [Read more →]

My Dad is good at cooking quite a few different things, but his shiitake mushrooms have got to be one of my all-time favorites. The thing about my Dad is that he loves the good things in life, so if he thinks that a whole mess of olive oil and butter will make mushrooms better, then he won’t be shy about making that happen. The main problem with these is that they shrink down so much so there are never enough and we always end up fighting over them!

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I just got back from a week on the Big Island of Hawaii and wanted to share some of my favorite places and things. I am not going to say that these are the twelve BEST things to do, because I am by no means an expert on the place. But here are some things that I thought were spectacular! I’d love to hear any recommendations for next time, too.

BEACHES & ACTIVITIES

Place of Refuge (Pu’uhonua o Honaunau) – Honaunau
A super special place by the sea, this national historic park is worth a visit. Learn about Hawaiian history with cool wooden carvings and replica houses on a palm-shaded seaside. It has a 500-year-old, 17-foot-thick lava rock wall and some neat tidepools, too. [Read more →]