Chocolate Chip-Nutella Banana Bread

This is going to sound strange, and may possibly cause some of you to lose mad respect for me, but this whole Chocolate Chip-Nutella Banana Bread business began with last week's episode of Jersey Shore. Let me explain. In last week's episode, Snooki and Deena get in trouble, and in danger of being fired, for completely blowing off their job and disrespecting their boss Danny.  The usual stuff, right?  But to...

The Popcorn of Your Dreams

Here's a funny fact about me:  I'm obsessed with popcorn.  When I was in high school, I used to eat one or sometimes two bags of microwave popcorn each day.  It was my favorite snack for after school and/or nighttime.  Since then, my addiction has subsided to a normal person's intake of a few bags a month, and certainly with every movie I watched.  It wasn't until a few years ago that I learned about the...

Muffins for Mommy

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of meeting baby Otis, Randi & KC's bundle of joy who arrived on 10/27! I spent the day with mommy and baby and did not want to show up empty-handed!  I decided to continue in the fall spirit and whipped up some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. These were super easy and made about 15 muffins, so I was able to keep a few for me and The Hub to try.  Perfect for...

Triple Threat Brownies

If you're like me and your Book Club is really more of a cooking competition, then you need to make these Triple Threat Brownies for your next meeting.  This is my second time making these brownies and, just like the first time, they were a crowd pleaser!  I came across this recipe last year through one of my favorite baking blogs, Buns in My Oven.  They are not hard to make, but they do take some time.  The...

Super Easy Snack From an Almost Empty Fridge

Yesterday I came home from a long day of running errands absolutely famished!  Unfortunately, like Old Mother Hubbard, my cupboard was bare.  I was able to scrounge up a tomato from the Farmer's Market and one last piece of pita bread....not too appetizing.  But in 5 minutes, and with the help of my basil plant, I was able to turn my scraps into a delicious snack! Here's what you'll need: 1 large...

Haute Camping

When I first moved to California, my family was surprised by my enthusiasm for camping.  Weren’t there bugs?  Don’t you have to sleep on the ground?  But California has so many amazing places to pitch your tent that these drawbacks are easily overlooked.  Besides, there’s lots of ways you can camp and still be haute. First, I recommend a big tent and an airbed.  Bring along a regular set of sheets and...