Fresh Pickled Beets, Fig and Tomato Grilled Pizza

I know what you are thinking...What????

                                             There is not much I can say!

My husband created this mixture on a whim during our Saturday night BBQ. 

The combination, of tart, sweet and salty all oozing together perfectly..will put a smile on your face. Grilled the pizza with some mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.

The combinations are endless....just how I wish the weekend was.

Labor day weekend in Seattle with my sister and her husband was too much of a good thing... food, drink and monkeys who could ask for anything more.

Pink Grapefruit Yogurt Cake

Thank you for all the suggestions for my Mom's birthday dessert. Life as suddenly become one fun filled event after another! I can't complain.... no complaining here! 

This pink grapefruit cake is the perfect combo of tart and sweet. Muddling the sugar with the zest created an aroma of pure goodness.... pure pure goodness. 

The cake requires no mixer ( added plus in my book) and stayed moist and delicious two to three days after the celebration. The grapefruit glaze made sure of that! 

Need Help....

What a week!! I Just got back from a fabulous trip to Chicago (the good part) and we also just found out our nanny is moving and we can't find anyone who can come close to replacing her... sigh. As you can see the dogs are very upset.

What I really need help with is that it is my mom's birthday this week and for the life of me I am drawing a blank on a dessert to make. I need something that I can make the day before and can be easy to present the next day along with a smile and a certain song. 

Any suggestions???

Aremenian "Barbary" Bread

So, life has been crazy... crazy busy..... you so know what I mean!!!

 I know you do!

     But some how I was able to slow things down and make some bread.

The whole process of bread making takes time. The proofing and raising can eat up most of your day, but the end product is worth every second.  Are you picking up what I am putting down?

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Chocolate and Peanut Butter are one of those combinations that are just like old friends. Old friends who like to hang out, grab a beer and sit and chat on the front porch. Old friends that don't have to say much to get across just how much the care about each other. You know what I mean... don't you?

Well these old friends started out with humble beginnings.

Some butter, two kinds of chocolate heated together..then some mingling...and then the magic happened!

Their friendship blossomed and swirled and screamed.... "time for some fun."Just like old friends these are so darn good!!!

Banana Bread Muffins

Whew!!! I have been so busy lately, so busy indeed. I even forgot about these bananas.

Well, you now know what has to be done. 

A quick and easy one two punch of bananas, melted butter, sugar and...ahem... bourbon.   Yes, these banana muffins are just what a busy week calls for..... I hear them calling!

Salted Oatmeal White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

These cookies do not look very glam. They don't scream the red carpet or Hollywood. They just look very well... plain.  Their "wow" factor does not come from their humble looks,  but it arrives during the first bite.

Mainly due to this.  A heaping mound of  white chocolate. I'm not the biggest fan of white chocolate, but if you buy a nice bar and chop it up. It can help to create a cookie that is buttery, sweet and sexy all in one bite!

The other secret is to sprinkle some kosher or sea salt on top of the cookie. It helps bring out the nutty flavors of the oats and the buttery smooth chocolate. Plain and simple just transformed into a glamour girl!