Alice's Tea Cup & An Interview

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Leti of ‘Becoming Lola’ for tea and scones at the famous Alice’s Tea Cup on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The storefront is like a fantasy playroom for every little girl - knickknacks, pink tutus, and butterflies fluttering across the ceiling.

Leti emailed me a few weeks prior to our meeting and expressed that she would love to interview me for her sweet blog. As if that weren’t enough of a compliment, she confessed she had been a long-time reader of my blog, meaning she was reading when I thought my parents were my only readers! She must have loved the “Hi Mom!” comments.

It is no secret that my little blog has evolved quite a bit this past year and a few more of you lovely readers stop by my little home on the Internet each day. I cannot express how excited this makes me and I hope you are finding something to your liking.

I am also a devoted blog reader and love the thrill of stumbling across a new one to add to my list. But before I become a regular reader of any blog, I like to know a little about the person who’s words I am reading. I think becoming an invested reader of a blog is, on a very basic level, similar to beginning a relationship. Just a little glimpse into some one's life and a hint of what really makes them tick can be the beginning of a beautiful thing.

So, if you want to know a bit more about me, skip on over to read my interview on Becoming Lola. Stay awhile - as if the whimsical photographs and sweet words hadn’t already enticed you to linger.

Chocolate-Peppermint Cream Whoopie Pies

What is it about the month of December that makes me crave the combination of deep chocolate and creamy peppermint? During any other month in the year, a dessert boasting these flavors would not tempt me in the least.

But, with the first whiff of woodsy pine trees and the first glimmer of twinkle lights I instantaneously want the chill of peppermint on my tongue.

A mere one day after Christmas, when the presents have been unwrapped and the tree is looking somehow barren, peppermint does not cross my mind. So with only a span of 25 days each year, I think it is important to feed this craving.

Baker's Gift Idea: Inspiring Photographs & A Giveaway!

Let’s be honest, at various points in our lives in the kitchen, we all hit a roadblock, leaving us uninspired and yearning for an ounce of creativity.

We all have our own way of moving past this inconvenient obstacle and, for many people, it is through photography, transporting them to another place, having their breath taken away by a finished product, or reminding them of the beauty of a single ingredient.

I have always thought one of the best gifts you can give a cook or a baker is something that contains a plethora of these photographs - a cookbook or a magazine subscription.

But I also think a single photograph, framed and hung somewhere meaningful will have just as much power to inspire creativity in the kitchen.

So today, as Christmas day is rapidly approaching and we search for those last few gifts, I would like to give something to you, my readers, to inspire your own kitchen adventures in the coming year.

I am giving away one (1) 5”x7” print of your choosing from my Etsy shop!

Gingersnap Ice Cream

I love the boldness of flavors in a gingersnap cookie - the spicy ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom exquisitely balanced by the sweetness of the molasses - exploding on my tongue with the first nibble.

Not every person favors this flavor profile, in fact most people either love or hate this ginger-infused dessert. Fair warning: if you are not smitten with gingersnaps, you will probably want to skip this recipe.

Unlike many gingersnap ice creams, crushed gingersnaps are not mixed into a milder tasting ice cream base. Instead, this recipe infuses the custard with all the spices and sweetness you find in the cookie. The flavors are not shy, which is exactly why I love it so much.

If you are like me and crave complex, comforting flavors of a gingersnap whenever the temperature dips below freezing, you should spin a batch of this ice cream immediately.

Do not allow the cold weather deter you from enjoying a generous scoop of this frozen deliciousness. The spiciness will take the chill off any winter day.

Baker's Gift Idea: Dishcloths

Is it just me or is Christmas approaching extra rapidly this year? I somehow convinced myself an extra week existed in December, a conviction which I sadly discovered to be completely false as I glanced at my calender this morning.

So, if you are still searching for a few functional items to gift the baker in your life, here is another suggestion: good-quality, durable dishcloths.

Dishcloths! Perhaps not glamorous, but an invaluable item on baking days. I always have one nearby to keep my work space neat and tidy.

Many different brands make dishcloths, but my favorite are from Williams-Sonoma, which are available throughout the year in a variety of colors. If your baker has been extra good this year, you might consider throwing in the matching towels!

Williams-Sonoma Dishcloths, Set of Four (available in-stores) $8

Williams-Sonoma Dishcloths, Set of Eight, $16

Williams-Sonoma Dishcloths, Seasonal, Set of Eight, $18

Williams-Sonoma Towels, Set of Four, $18