Comfy Belly

Strawberry Shortcakes

Strawberries are starting to appear (organic ones too) in the markets in and around Seattle, which is a sure sign of spring for me. Being a berry fiend, I have already started to think beyond strawberry slushies and smoothies.

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Happy Valentines Day, almost. And happy birthday to M! If you like cranberries, you'll appreciate this cake. It is very similar to the upside down apple cake, with the added tartness of the cranberries.

Frosted Cake and other Holiday Treats

We celebrate a lot of holidays, including Christmas and Hanukkah. And if you like to bake, the holidays are an invitation to go to town making baked goods. I'm not baking oodles of cookies as I've done in the past, but I do have an addiction need for sweet stuff. For the first night of Hanukkah, I made a simple chocolate frosted cake. Here is a quick list of holiday treats from this past year, and some even make great gifts (like the biscotti).

Whoopie Pies

A whoopie pie is a great treat for anyone who likes cake and frosting, and portability. These are easy to stash in a lunch bag or wrap up for later. They even taste great right out of the refrigerator. Here are two recipes for the whoopie cake, spiced and chocolate, and two frosting recipes as well - marshmallow and creamy.

Ice Cream Cake

We had a birthday this week! Happy Birthday, S! This post is indulgent for many reasons, and I wanted to add it because I have always wanted to make an ice cream cake, and I finally did it, with some of my current favorite ingredients - ice cream (coconut) and brownies (protein rich, gluten-free).

Brownie Heaven and the Tour de France

Brownies are definitely not seasonal. I can eat them any time of year. So you might be thinking, how does one turn a brownie into something healthy? It's not hard, and, for a treat, this recipe provides a great shot of protein and nutrients.

Valencia Orange Cake

Orange cake goes back centuries. It originates from the traditional Spanish sponge cake that uses Valencia oranges (or other oranges). It is thought that the best oranges are produced in Valencia, Spain. This reminds me that the best clementines I've ever had were from Spain, but they are hard to find here in the United States. But not Valencia oranges - they are grown here as well. So you shouldn't have a problem finding some sweet, organic Valencia oranges.

Cheesecake (with yogurt and crème fraîche)

This is my first attempt at making cheesecake, AND making cheesecake with yogurt and crème fraîche. There are so many great sources for cheesecake that I never had the need to spend several hours creating this treat. But I'm glad I did. This is a nice alternative to the standard recipe - creamy, with a slightly lighter weight to it.

Fluffy Cupcakes

These are wonderfully light, soft, souffle-like cupcakes that can be frosted or filled. This recipe tickles my inner science nerd because there is a step where you see the chemical reaction of the lemon juice and baking soda working together to lighten the batter, almost magically. So, suffice to say, this recipe is fun for the kid in everyone!

Refrigerator Cake

It was my birthday a few days ago and I made myself a cake - mostly because I make most of the cakes around here, and I knew exactly what I wanted. An almond flour cake, chocolate ganache, and strawberries, refrigerated for a few hours. That's all. Oh, and our dog, Dexter, singing Happy Birthday along with the gang.

Upside Down Apple Cake

I've been looking for a way to bake apples and a cake together, and I was inspired by a recipe I read at La Tartine Gourmande. I use almond flour, however you can substitute your flour of choice - the amount of flour necessary may vary depending on the type of flour you use. It came out so moist and delicious, my son asked to have just the cake again, or add other things to it. I can imagine putting raisins and walnuts in the cake, or eating it alone as a pound cake. In any case, this cake recipe is definitely a keeper.