GOOD TASTE: Homemade Vanilla Extract & Free Printable Labels

Friends, I can't tell you how long making Homemade Vanilla Extract has been on my to-do list. I've been wanting to do this for years. 

GOOD TASTE: Candied Citrus Peel

Making candied citrus peel has been on my list for the longest time.

GOOD TASTE: Hawaiian Fruit Tea

 

I picked up this Hawaiian Fruit Tea at the Farmer's Market today. There's actually no tea leaves in it. It's all fruit; Pineapple, Apricot, Peach, Papaya, Cranberry, Hibiscus with Passion Fruit, Mango and Peach. 

GOOD TASTE: Leftover Candy Cane Sugar Cubes

I’m resharing this post from a few years ago because it’s such a handy after-the-holidays idea if you happen to have leftover candy canes.

GOOD TASTE: Easy Coconut Blueberry Granita

Making granita has been on my to-do list for the longest time. One of the biggest problems is deciding which flavor to make. After much thought, I decided on coconut granita and added some blueberries for a pop of color and flavor.

GOOD TASTE: Pantry Buster Homemade Granola

The other day as I stared into my pantry looking for something to snack on, I realized I had steel cut oats, some cereal that no one was going to finish, and some peanuts and chocolate. I could eat the chocolate and call it a day or whip up some granola.

GOOD TASTE: Baked Peaches with Vanilla Beans and Mint

Even though fresh peaches are a summer fruit there’s something about peach pies, peach cobbler and baked peaches that seem like fall.

GOOD TASTE: Easy Pasta with Pink Sauce Recipe

It’s back to school time in a lot of households and that means the schedule starts to get jam packed with activities, homework, and earlier bed times. It also means less time for meal prep. Pasta is always a winner in our house and this Pasta with Pink Sauce is easy to make and delicious. I can whip this up in a half hour and when the schedule is tight, every minute counts.

GOOD TASTE: Chocolate Crust Mini Ice Cream Tart

If you’re looking for a super simple summer dessert that looks fancy, this Chocolate Crust Mini  Ice Cream Tart should do the trick.

GOOD TASTE: Delicious Pineapple Coconut Smoothie

Meet my newest obsession. The Pineapple Coconut Smoothie. So refreshing and satisfying on a summer day.

GOOD TASTE: Italian Herb Salt

It’s that time of year. Time for the garden to start making it’s way to the table. My herb plants are way ahead of the vegetables and I don’t want to waste them so I’m going to start preserving them. One of the easiest ways is to make spice blends.

GOOD TASTE: Easy Beef Bourguignonne

Don’t let the fancy name fool you. This Beef Bourguignonne recipe is as easy to make as any family stew recipe.

GOOD TASTE: Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

For Christmas I received the most delicious batch of Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies from my friend Vicky. She always bakes delicious treats and these are definitely one of my favorites. The slightly tart cranberries and the white chocolate are the perfect combination paired with a a traditional chocolate chip cookie batter.

GOOD TASTE: Cranberry, Apple & Mandarin Orange Conserve

Even though Thanksgiving is a distant memory, my annual Cranberry, Apple & Mandarin Orange Conserve is the perfect side for your holiday table. This super duper easy dish looks festive and pairs perfectly with just about anything.

UPCYCLING: Grey Felt Fall Treat Tin

I’m so excited to finally be sharing some real fall projects. First up is this simple treat can. The combination of grey felt, beautiful, crisp  fall leaves and turquoise is quite possibly my favorite fall combination to date.

GOOD TASTE: Los Angeles Times Company Rice

Years and years ago, I was invited to the Los Angeles Times for a luncheon and presented with an autographed copy of Dear S.O.S.: Thirty Years of Recipe Requests by Rose Dosti. Dear S.O.S. was a popular column for years in the Los Angeles Times. Readers would request favorite restaurant recipes and the column would print them. Now there’s Pinterest and other food blogs where we can instantaneously get copycat recipes. But I still cherish this book and this recipe for Company Rice is one of my favorites.

It’s that old-school type of recipe, you  know, with soup and butter. According to the author, this recipe won her “My Best Recipe” prize in 1972! Yup, it’s an oldie but a goodie. Let’s make some…

WEEKEND INSPIRATION: Chocolate Chip Cookies–Muffin Style

I call these Mookies. Cookies baked in a muffin tin. This wasn’t actually intended to be a post here on the blog. I just made these “Mookies” for the family and decided to snap a few photos with my phone. The Mookies were such a hit with my family and my son’s friends, that I felt I had to share them with you.

GOOD TASTE: Asian Plum Sauce

I let the guy at the Farmer’s Market talk me in to WAY too many plums. I only wanted 3-4 and ended up with a bagful of amazing looking plums. The plums weren’t like any we’d had before. They were so juicy and sweet. The kind of fruit that drips down your chin when you bite into it. We happily munched on plums until we reached the day when they either needed to be composted or tossed. Or, of course, made into something. I love dipping sauces for pot stickers and egg rolls and so I grabbed the ingredients I’d need for homemade plum sauce.

GOOD TASTE: Roasted Tomato Salsa

Sadly, I didn’t have the best tomato crop this year. The tomatoes looked good but they didn’t have that home grown amazing taste and they were a tad on the mushy side. I was disappointed because I love fresh salsa and fresh thin sliced tomatoes on my sandwiches.

GOOD TASTE: Super Easy Patriotic Brownie Cups

If you’re planning a Fourth of July gathering, these Patriotic Brownie Cups are super easy, perfectly themed and absolutely yummy. I made these on a whim as a practice and okay, let’s be honest, I had to taste test them. Want to make some? Here’s how: