Vanilla Cupcakes with Pop Rocks

Posted by Raissa Nebie on February 1, 2010 | No Comments

Looks like the Fierce and Sweet bake-off win was the ego booster I needed to morph into a baking enthusiast. Up until then, I used to think that baking was an activity better left in the hands of the likes of Pierre Herme, Gaston Lenotre and Francois Payard. But after a series of successful experiments, I can say that I now fancy baking cakes. So for my friend’s birthday, I decided to surprise her with cupcakes. Since she likes simple flavors, I opted for vanilla cupcakes. This recipe has become my go-to recipe for cupcakes. Every now and then, I ditch the vanilla extract for amaretto, but the proportions remain the same. Read more

Filed under: Baking, Dessert

Zaatar Focaccia

Posted by Raissa Nebie on January 4, 2010 | 1 Comment

zaatar focaccia1

One thing I really miss about living in Cote D’Ivoire is the overabundance of great Lebanese food. One of my personal favorites was Zaatar Manaeesh, a pita-like flat bread topped with Zaatar (a thyme-based middle eastern spice mix). Manaeesh is a popular breakfast food in Lebanon where it’s eaten with Labne, a thick strained yogurt. For a while now, I’ve had a full jar of Zaatar that my friend brought me from Israel and I never got the chance to use it. So, when an Italian friend of mine asked me what he should do with Zaatar, the first thing that came to my mind was Manaeesh, followed by fond memories of my time in Abidjan. I looked for a recipe on the internet, but nothing was really convincing. Therefore, I decided to improvise and do my own thing. I figured flat bread… hmm why not Focaccia?  And BAM! I whipped up this Zaatar Focaccia. If you don’t have any Zaatar, you can easily substitute your favorite dry herbs. Read more

Filed under: Baking, Cooking, Italian

Bye Bye Summer Clafoutis

Posted by Raissa Nebie on September 25, 2009 | No Comments

clafoutis3

September 25, 2009. I can’t believe summer has come and gone already. Luckily, the weather is still relatively warm. Having said that, I must admit Autumn is my favorite season. Well… the beginning of it at least — when the cool autumnal breeze gently caresses our skin and the trees turn into golden beauties. It’s such a romantic season. So, as we enter the Fall quarter of 2009, let us bid a proper farewell to summer with a cherry clafoutis, the dessert that best utilizes my favorite summer fruit.

Read more

Filed under: Baking, Dessert, French

Fierce and Sweet: 1st Annual Brooklyn Bake Off

Posted by Raissa Nebie on September 15, 2009 | 2 Comments

fierceand sweet

Hello Friends and Readers,

I know it’s been a while since I last posted, but fret not. I will be back with more yummy stuff as soon as Ramadan is over.

Having said that, I wanted to share some exciting news with you. On October 11, 2009, Rachel and I are individually participating in Fierce and Sweet, a baking competition and fundraiser to benefit New York Cares, a leading volunteer organization that serves New York City.  This Brooklyn bake off will bring together amateur and professional bakers to compete in front of an audience of sweet toothed voters (ahem.. you).

This is my first baking competition, so I’m really psyched and looking forward it. These are the categories that we can enter for a win:

  • Most Surprising Ingredients
  • Most Delicious
  • Sexiest Baker
  • Best “Green” Goodies
  • Best Presentation

I don’t know what I’m making yet, but given my recent obsession with True Blood, it’ll likely be something vampiresque.  I’m still figuring it out. My stage name is “Draculinaria”… um yeah… Rachel made me do it :)

Anyway, it’s for fun and it’s for good.  So, if you’re free, come  show us some love and socialize for a cause.

xoxo

RN

Filed under: Baking, Dessert

Berry Oatmeal Muffins for Breakfast or Dessert

Posted by Diane Erwin on August 19, 2009 | 1 Comment

My husband picked up a rare treat one recent weekend: a carton of blueberries.

But he wasn’t about to use the whole stash for his fruit smoothie. I claimed a cup to make blueberry muffins.

Not just any ho-hum blueberry muffins, however. Berry Oatmeal Muffins.

Several years ago I cut the recipe out of a magazine — I can’t even remember which anymore — but I had never followed the exact recipe. Blueberries often are expensive, so I had always replaced them with the (free) red raspberries from my parents’ bushes. The results were delicious. Read more

Filed under: Baking, Berries, Brunch, Dessert
keep looking »

About Us

We cook, eat and drink on the cheap... Read More


Twitter Updates

Twitter Updates

  • Feed Yourself



    Tasty Links