Winter Lemon White Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Welcome, 2015!

 These are all things I should have said weeks ago--but you know how it goes. I made these cupcakes for Christmas at my parents' house, and they went over well. I like the idea of lemon during the winter because it's a bright, fresh change of pace against some of the heavier, nuttier, cinnamon or chocolate-laden holiday dessert offerings.

Turkey Tamale Pie

Hi, friends! Are you in need of a way to use some of your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers? Look no further! The answer lies here, in this Turkey Tamale Pie! :)

So, like many of my great ideas, I stumbled upon this recipe completely by accident. When I was growing up, my mom used to make a really comforting, delicious Turkey Pie (which I now know to be "turkey pot pie")--and I've never made it as an adult. She's given me the recipe, but I was searching for other versions just to see what was out there.

Caramel Apple Cake Pops

What do you have to be thankful for this year? It's a tired question, I know, especially in the wake of the craziness that is Black Friday. In such a busy holiday season, I realize that it's very easy to overlook how wildly and ridiculously blessed we are, in part as compared to others; but also because we were privileged enough to wake up today, see people that we love, and enjoy the beauty of life.

I have tried, in my life, to make a point to notice the little things and live life as a grateful person; not in a "glass half full" kind of way, but in an authentic "I am REALLY thankful for _______" kind of way. Each day, I encounter something that reminds me how fortunate I am to live where I do, have the things I have, and live the life I live. When I remember to posture my heart in this way, I am consistently humbled by the million blessings in my life, and it perpetuates a grateful heart in me.

Fresh Peach Cobbler

OH. MY. GOODNESS. I have been waiting ALL DAY to post this recipe!! I saved the best for last! :) Last Saturday, I went with my friend Emily to a peach orchard about 45 minutes out of town. I have never picked fresh fruit from an orchard, so I was really excited! Immediately, I began brainstorming all the peachy, summery, delicious things I could make, like THIS and THIS.

Patriotic NOT Tie-Dye Cake

Alright, I know I'm not alone in being the kind of person who becomes a bit frustrated or annoyed when the cake picture she has in her head is DIFFERENT from the cake that comes out of the oven. In the kitchen (oh, who am I kidding?) IN LIFE, I tend to get annoyed when the real thing doesn't measure up to the perfect picture in my head. Can you relate?

Patriotic Cake Pops (and Bonus Funfetti Cupcakes!)

We celebrated Memorial Day this past Monday. With every year, I find that I appreciate more deeply the sacrifices that others made, allowing me to enjoy the life I live. It's so humbling to recognize how many of my freedoms were paid for by the blood of people I will never know. So special.

Holiday Recap

Guys. It's December 31, 2013. HOW?! Wow. For fear of repeating myself ad nauseum, I'll spare you the "this has been the toughest/weirdest/craziest/most challenging year of my life to date" spiel, and just say--2014, you're going to be a better year! :)

The past couple of weeks have been busy and full of family, fun, and naturally, food! Here's a brief photo recap of the holidays as I bid farewell to 2013 in anticipation of a wonderful, adventurous, exciting, and fulfilling 2014.

Vanilla Christmas Tree cupcakes (Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese frosting)

Red, White & Blue Cheesecake Cake

I'm feeling patriotic today, guys. I am an African-American woman living in the United States with the freedom to learn, work, achieve, and accomplish virtually whatever I want. I am free to vote, to travel, to speak freely, to love whomever I want, and to worship as I wish with no fear... What an incredible blessing. That was not always the case for women like me-- and for the sacrifices of those before me, who made my life possible, I owe a great debt of thanks.

Okay. Now. When I first saw this cake, I gasped. Seriously. The depth and richness of the colors amazed me--but knowing that the middle layer was cheesecake...that sealed the deal for me. The colored layers are vanilla cakes! It's like a vanilla  cheesecake sandwich! Gah!