Kitchen Travels

Kitchen :: Homemade Lollipops

Did I tell you I started my own business recently? True. And no, it's not making lollipops. (Although that does sound like a pretty fun-filled way to spend the work day, doesn't it?) We'll talk about my new venture a bit more in the coming weeks, but long story short, it involves me finding the most scrumptious all-natural sweets and creating lovely dessert tables for special events. And despite all the hard work, it's pretty wonderful. Here's a peek at one of the tables I designed recently:

You can see more pics of my dessert table over at Amy Atlas' Blog!

Kitchen :: Totally Easy, Totally Delicious, Totally Vegan! Vanilla Cupcakes

So yeah... remember in my last post, how I promised to share some recipes from my Halloween dessert table in "a few days"? Do 90-something days count as "a few"? Probably not. What can I say? I've been busy. More on that later.

Kitchen+Travels :: So I Made a Little Halloween Dessert Table...

So I made a little Halloween Dessert Table for a Fall carnival at my children's school a couple weeks ago. Everything on the table, from the cake to the candies, was 100% natural. True! No artificial colors or flavors. It got a great reaction from the kids and parents, which made me so happy. Everyone just loved it, including...

Yes! The amazing Amy Atlas is featuring my design on her blog today! Can you believe it? I am overjoyed. What a wonderful way to start the weekend. Thank you, Amy! And for you, my lovely readers, I'll have recipes for desserts from the table up in the next few days.

Please drop by Amy's blog and leave a comment to let me know what you think of the dessert table. And if you are interested in having me style a dessert table for your upcoming party, contact me! I'd love to design something sweet for you and your guests.

Kitchen :: Pink Plum Jam + Homemade Jam Jar Labels

It's probably no secret that I really enjoy home canning, especially jams and curds.

I find the entire endeavor very fulfilling, in a terre à table kind of way. The bulk of my ingredients come from the local farmer's market, my yard, or as a result of my urban foraging efforts. Canning gets me outside and enables me to connect with the earth and the people who farm it. I like that.

Local Travels :: Esther's Cupcakes

Doesn't it seem like cupcakes have been popping up everywhere in the last few years? There are blogs, blogs, and more blogs, all about cupcakes. They show up at parties ranging from birthdays to baby showers. The Food Network regularly pits cupcake bakers against one another in the popular T.V. show, Cupcake Wars. Even the traditional wedding cake isn't safe from the cupcake craze. And you know what? All that is just fine by me. I love cupcakes, and I'm not afraid to admit it. Whew! I'm so glad I finally got that out in the open.

Kitchen :: Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today, I'm happy to be guest posting over at my friend Stephanie's blog as part of her Chocolate Chip Cookie Challenge.

Stephanie is the talented voice, baker, and photographer behind 52 Kitchen Adventures. We first met at a blog-related dinner event where, about 20 minutes into our meal, we discovered that Stephanie and my husband work together. Small world... again.

Bonus: you can join the 3C Challenge, too! Click here for all the details, then head on over to 52 Kitchen Adventures and check out my guest post with my recipe for Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. I promise you'll want to run right home and bake some of your own! Because whether you're gluten-free or not, these cookies ROCK. 

See you back here soon at Kitchen Travels!

Kitchen :: Cherry Plum Jam

Turns out, it really is a small world, after all. About three years ago (wow, has it really been that long?), I was thinking of starting a food blog. Knowing nothing about blogging, I was intrigued when I read on line that BlogHer would be hosting a food blog event in San Francisco. Maybe I could learn a few things to get me started on the right track.

Travels :: Sacramento's Got It GOOD {GOOD: street food + design market}

Sometimes, people just get it right. Such is the case with the GOOD: street food + design market, a new art and food event that premiered last Sunday afternoon in Sacramento.

When I first received the invitation to the GOOD event from Roshaun at Unseen Heroes, I thought it would be a great opportunity for my husband Randy and I to spend some time by ourselves. Like, on a date. But it was not to be. Our playdate plans for the twins fell through at the last minute, so we ended up taking them with us. On the upside, it was so nice to have some quality twin time, and any time girls can get a "tatoo" (aka: handstamp), it's a good thing.

Breakfast in Italy: Gluten-Free Artisan Bread

I know you're supposed to wait until it cools to slice it. I have no willpower when it comes to freshly-baked bread.

Before you get all jealous about my breakfast in Italy, let's be clear: I am most definitely not in Italy at the moment. Nor do I plan to be in Italy, sadly, any time soon.

That is, unless Nike rings me up and asks me to make a movie about what it means to #makeitcount, in which case... I'm there. Hear that, Nike? I'm available. Any time. Just say the word. Nike? Hello?

Buckwheat Pancakes with Caramelized Apples and Orange Syrup {Gluten-Free}

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong century. Does anyone else remember PBS's Frontier House? The series documented the experiences of three (modern) families who agreed to move to the Montana Territory for six months, and to live as the 1880s frontier settlers did. I was completely hooked after just one episode. Despite all the hardships, that kind of life holds a strangely powerful appeal to me.

Lately, especially, I've been pining for a simpler life. Not necessarily an easier life (pretty sure I would miss electricity and indoor plumbing), but a simpler one.