Recipes

I Think Thursday 2.2.17

February 2, 2017 by mollygilbert520 1 Comment

The news keeps getting worse and worse, and I’ve yet to give you any recipes this year. But soon! Because I think sharing a meal together might do us all some good about now. Tomorrow is for meatballs.

But today, some links!

Curried Coconut Chicken Soup is all I want to eat right now.
Seattle peeps, come to my book launch party? It’s on Tuesday!!
This is fascinating to watch. Could you do it?
Some fun ways to decorate large, blank walls.
There’s a new And Eat It Too up today! (Finally.)
Hmm. Do you have one of these? Color me intrigued.
Hah.
Just wanted to remind you that this movie exists and is great. (Happy Groundhog Day!)

I Think Thursday 12.22.16

December 22, 2016 by mollygilbert520 Leave a Comment

Three days til Christmas! Four days til Hannukah! This train’s moving fast. I feel bad that I didn’t get you anything except these links:

Eggnog Marshmallows are a thing! Try one in your coffee. 😍
I’m late to this party (always), but have you seen this? 💅🏼
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, throwing it down! (Pie rumors.)
Chocolate sales are up? Guilty.
How to get the smell of frying out of your kitchen. #HannukahProblems
This is fun.
Adding to my “to make” list…
Heh.

Holiday Cheer!

December 16, 2016 by mollygilbert520 Leave a Comment

The holidays are upon us! In full force, y’know? There are string lights to deal with and parking spots to yell over and crowded stores to shove our way through. Oh, and treats to make! For the neighbors and Santa and everyone. If you’re looking for something festive to whip up this weekend, don’t fret! I’ve got you covered:

Salty Rosemary Toffee Crunch is the not-really-baking baking project you need right now.

Spicy Molasses & Brown Sugar Cookies are THE holiday cookie of holiday cookies. They’re the coziest.

My Favorite Cut-Out Sugar Cookies are the best in the biz. Perfectly textured, not too sweet. You heard it here!

Chewy Holiday Spiced Snickerdoodles are a big YES.

Chocolate Candy Cane Crackles are meant for Santa’s plate. Or your mouth. Whichevs.

These White Chocolate Gingerbread Blondies are maaaajor.

And finally, Christmas Gingerbread! The fluff, fluffiest cake of the year.

Happy holiday baking, everyone!

Gin & Ginger Fizzy Lifter

November 14, 2016 by mollygilbert520 19 Comments

So, let’s not sugarcoat it — last week was rough.

I won’t dive too deeply into my feelings on the election here, one because this is a food blog and you’re probably not here for my political commentary, and two because I’m not even sure I have the right words to describe the depth of my heartbreak and fear, but I’ll just say that, in light of our impending political landscape, I’m vowing to be better. Going forward, I’m going to be more informed, more active, more protective of the causes that matter to me, louder, bolder… better. This is my country and, no matter who our president-elect is, I’m going to have a say.

Can we toast to that?

This sharp and bubbly little cocktail is my contribution to the DRY virtual Holiday Pairing Party, which is happening all week. Have you heard of DRY Sparkling? They are a Seattle-based company putting out fun and refreshing sodas that are class AF. Think real cane sugar, cute glass bottles, and flavors like lavender, cucumber, juniper and lemongrass.

And now there are two new, limited-edition bottles on the shelf for the holidays – cranberry and ginger! With that in mind, a few of us bloggers are celebrating with fizzy seasonal drinks and tasty holiday food pairings, so if you’re looking for a parade of fun cocktails (and some festive nibbles, too), check out my friend Amber’s blog this Thursday for the full roundup.

I’m partial to DRY’s ginger flavor (so sharp! so refreshing!), and when I saw the fun new bottle, I wanted to dive right in. It pairs so nicely with gin and a generous splash of citrus – the Fizzy Lifter, as I’m calling it (having just finished reading Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Calder, and also holding fast to the concept of rising above, just now) is at once light and fresh and bold and biting. It’s the perfect drink to get you through Thanksgiving meal prep and/or America’s political imbroglio.

Let’s be bold, shall we? Gin & Ginger Fizzy Lifters for everyone. Cheers!

And while we’re at it, let’s give some stuff away! Check below the recipe to find out how you can win a DRY Sparkling prize pack of your own!

Gin & Ginger Fizzy Lifter…

Rich Beef Stew

November 7, 2016 by mollygilbert520 2 Comments

Tomorrow is election day and I’m feeling aaaaaaall the feelings. Are you voting? Please vote!

I also had a moment in a restaurant the other day where I thought Calder was choking and proceeded to turn him upside down and rap him on the back (I just took an infant CPR and safety course, because #safetyfirst, so this scenario was fresh on my mind), then sat him in my lap and searched his tiny face — are you breathing? Are you okay? His little eyes looked up at me skeptically (who is this nutter, anyway?) and then his gummy mouth smiled widely, assuring me that he was, actually, just fine and definitely not choking, THANKS MOM.

And then I burst into tears.

…Is this what parenting is? JEEZ.

At any rate, my nerves could use a break, and I’m planning to soothe them with big, steamy bowls of rich and brothy beef stew, yes please.

Chunks of tender beef, creamy potatoes, sweet carrots and mushrooms, swimming in luscious, salty, simmered-for-hours broth — as the weather gets chillier and the rain comes in droves, this is pretty much all I want to eat. And if the election goes poorly (please, please don’t let it go poorly, America!), at least dinner will taste good? That’s what I’m telling myself, anyway.

Let’s do this, people. Beef stew for democracy!…

Sheet Pan Halloween Candy Bark

October 28, 2016 by mollygilbert520 2 Comments

Happy Friday, peepsicles!

We’ve only got a few days until Halloween, so I thought you might like a SUPER easy and festive weekend baking project — candy bark! All dressed up for hallow’s eve.

The only ingredients we need for this gem of a treat are some chocolate chips of your choosing, a handful of Reese’s Pieces (some for the bark, some for your face, you know the drill) and a boatload of Halloween-ish sprinkles. Sprankles. And some candy eyeballs, probably, for spooks and giggles.

This might be the simplest recipe I’ve ever posted, so get your sheet pans out and get barking.

Grab the recipe (along with accompanying video) HERE! #sheetpansuppers #4eva

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Chocolate Icebox Cake

October 24, 2016 by mollygilbert520 28 Comments

Happy virtual pumpkin party Monday!

So, yeah. I may have gone too literal here. I didn’t originally intend to shape this softly-spiced pumpkin chocolate icebox cake like an actual pumpkin, but I started frosting and stacking and frosting and stacking and before I knew it, there it was. A mound of cocoa-y chocolate wafers and fluffy, pumpkin whipped cream, begging for a jagged chocolate “stem” and a curly vine of carefully plucked sprinkles.

I couldn’t resist.

My dad is the original icebox cake maker in my family. He makes one every year on Thanksgiving (along with a giant, multicolored layered jello mold — #midwesternforever), and it’s always the first dessert on the table to go. Probably because it tastes like a giant, cool-whip ensconced Oreo cookie?

Yeah. Ensconced.

I wanted to up the ante a little bit here. Real, fresh cream, whipped to soft peaks. Roasted pumpkin purée and warm spices. The original chocolate wafer cookie. In the shape of a pumpkin, WHYNOT?

It’s just my contribution to the giant, blogger-wide effort (lead by the fearless Sara and Aimee) to saturate the interwebs with all things pumpkin today. Which, by the way, is working. Check it:

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One Pan & Done!

October 17, 2016 by mollygilbert520 11 Comments

Hi friends! I’ve been starting and restarting this post for awhile now, trying to figure out the best way to tell you, so maybe I should just tell you?

…I wrote another cookbook!

eeeeeeeek!

It’s called One Pan & Done, and I really (really, really!) hope you like it.

Check out that cover!

I couldn’t be prouder of this book baby. It’s all about cooking with ease and simplicity, making delicious and do-able meals, whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, with just ONE pot or pan. For maximal flavor with minimal fuss! (Is maximal a word? I’m going with it.)

Aside from getting to work on the kinds of recipes that I just love to cook, I got to work with the beautiful and oh-so-talented Aran Goyoaga (of Cannelle et Vanille) on the photographs, and I was pretty much starstruck for the entire shoot, which was totally fun (and also probably awkward for her – sorry, Aran.) I was also lucky enough to have Jenn Elliott Blake help with styling, so pretty much just the dream team?

(Here I am smiling at my baked potatoes, like a normal person)

One Pan & Done is set for release on February 7th, 2017 (although you can preorder it here, here and here!) and I can’t wait to get it into your cute kitchen mitts.

Stay tuned for more updates as pub date draws nearer… and in the meantime, dust off your sheet pans, cast iron skillets, Dutch ovens, baking dishes, and muffin tins, because I’m coming for ya!

October Baking

October 14, 2016 by mollygilbert520 1 Comment

With Halloween around the corner (not to mention the upcoming election, the thought of which makes me want to stress-eat a bunch of cookies like whoa), it’s time to get BAKING! We’ll use all the pumpkin. All the miniature candy bars. The future of America depends on us!

Baked Cinnamon Sugared Pumpkin Doughnuts are a big YES.

Owl Cakes! Need I say more?

A loaf of Carrot Bread is always appreciated.

How about some ooey gooey goodness? Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Rolls deliver the goods.

What’s that? Did you say Pumpkin Ginger Cake with Salted Maple Glaze? YUP YUP YUP.

While we’re on the pumpkin train, let’s keep riding. Pumpkin Mousse Anyone?

‘Tis the season, people. We need treats. Happy baking!

Pesto Pasta Salad with Slow Roasted Tomatoes

September 27, 2016 by mollygilbert520 Leave a Comment

Hello, friends! Fall has come to Seattle in all its glory, and I find myself invigorated by the crisp, sunny days, fire-colored trees, early sunsets, and ample opportunity to pumpkin spice just about everything (not sorry… well, ok, a little bit sorry.) Still, there are pieces of summer that seem to be holding on tight – as evidenced by the (still!) exploding tomato plants in my backyard – and I’m fine with that, too.

September always feels a bit in-between-ish to me – the sun hasn’t yet given way to the dark, misty drizzle of true Seattle winter, but days are shorter, new routines are starting, and everyone seems to be hunkering down for the season – which, at least in my case, means getting back into the kitchen. It feels time to stock the freezer with easy meals (this and this come to mind), time to bake too many cookies (I’ve got my eyes on these ones, next), that first can of pumpkin to use up (always a good choice), and all those tomatoes! They want to be roasted.

A big batch of puckered, candy-sweet, roasted tomatoes can (should!) be covered with olive oil and stored in the fridge, to use in myriad forms of deliciousness – eaten straight up, smushed over a hunk of crusty bread, maybe, or tossed into a frittata or scrambled eggs, layered in a veggie lasagna, or thrown into a quick pasta, either hot or cold. Maybe with fresh pesto, tangy olives, creamy cheese and sharp arugula? Yes, yes, yes and yes. As the air cools and days shorten around us, we’ll be happy to have these sweet, juicy remnants of summer at our fingertips.

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