Allergy-Friendly Fruit and Seed Chocolate Bark

Time and time again, it happens.   I'll have my schedule planned out for all the goodies I want to bake for my friends and family.  I'll have my kitchen set up like an assembly line, with cookie sheets taking up every counter space available.  Gift boxes, treat bags, tissue paper and ribbon are scattered haphazardly all over the kitchen table.  If I'm ahead of the game, I'll have an early start in the morning and be finished by dinner.  But most of the time, I'm baking late into the night.  And then it happens.  Something always happens.  I run out of an ingredient and it's too late to go run to the store.  I burn a batch of cookies (or two) because I had my headphones on with my music too loud, and I didn't hear the oven timer (yes, I realize now I should be using my phone timer instead).  As a result, I don't have enough cookies to fill all the boxes.  And the biggest thing that happens...I run out of time.

But don't worry, I've got a backup plan...

Allergy-Friendly Popcorn Balls

Halloween would not be complete without this quintessential holiday treat.  These caramel-coated popcorn balls are just the right combination of sweet, salty and crunchy. Not only are they perfect for your little ghouls and goblins to enjoy, they're also so quick and easy to make.

Carrot Cake Cookies (Allergy-Friendly and Vegan)

Sooo what do you do when you realize you bought waaaaay too many carrots?  This was my silly little dilemma last week.  I know, I know.  I should've known better.  Who in their right mind buys TEN POUNDS OF CARROTS?

Lemon Blueberry Drop Scones (Vegan)

Whenever I make scones for my friends and family, I always get this reaction:"Oooh scones! Soooo FANCY! So Brrri'ish!!!"  It's pretty hilarious how this is immediately followed by everyone trying to carry a conversation in their best (or worst) British accent.  I don't know what it is about scones that make them act like that.  I'm just happy they get so excited when I make them.  

Egg-free and Dairy-free Corn Muffins

My sister and her 2-year-old daughter came to San Diego for a short visit last week.  My family and I were so super excited!  It's been a year since we last saw them and a lot has changed.  My sweet little niece is not a baby anymore (insert sad face).  She's now a bouncy, energetic toddler who talks in full sentences!  Awwwww...and she has the most adorably cute voice - she kinda sounds like Boo from Monsters, Inc.  Oh I can't stand it!  Too much cuteness!

Fudgy Triple Chocolate Cookies

"Do what you love."

Four little words that carry a powerful message.  Now, I know this sounds like one of those inspirational quotes you've seen on Pinterest, and I'm pretty sure that's where I found it or somewhere on Instagram or Facebook.  Either way, it really resonated with me and it got me thinking of what those words meant to me...

White Chocolate and Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

Christmas is just a few days away and I've been busily putting together boxes of goodies to give to friends and family.  But I thought I'd take a moment to share this quick recipe.  They're my shortbread cookies drizzled with melted white chocolate and topped with dried cranberries.  It's my simple yet festive way to dress up these classic cookies for the holidays :-)

Egg-Free Snickerdoodles

Every time my family and I go to Disneyland, we make it a point to go to Snow White's Wishing Well.  We went there on our first visit and now it's become sort of a tradition.  We all close our eyes, make a wish and drop our coins into the well.  This year, Hubby smiled at me and whispered, "I think I know what you've been wishing for...because I've been wishing for the same thing too..." 

Allergy-Friendly French Toast

Mmmmmmmm...French toast!  Slices of golden-brown deliciousness drizzled in glistening maple syrup.  Are you drooling yet?  THIS is what you should be making for breakfast this weekend.  These bad boys are light and crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.  Serve them with a side of fresh fruit and a cup of coffee and you've got yourself the perfect treat to enjoy on a lazy Sunday morning.

Grandma Ellie's Peaches and Cream Layer Cake

I've been feeling very nostalgic lately.  I guess with all the family birthdays going on this month, it's kinda hard not to look back and wonder where did all the time go?  Last week, my grandma turned 87 years old.  Wow.  87.  Really?  For some reason, in my mind, she just stayed this 60 year old lady in a cool sports car.

Allergy-Friendly Chocolate-Covered Coconut Patties

This was supposed to be my ticket out of "Worst Wife Ever" jail.  I really thought I was gonna score major points when I made these.  I was soooo sure it would work!   Well, it did...ummm...sort of.

Allergy-friendly Vegan Blueberry Muffins

The kids are on summer break right now, which means our mornings are a lot less hectic than usual.  No more dragging them out of bed to get ready, then rushing to finish breakfast so they can make it to school on time. You feel like waking up after 8 o'clock?  No problem!  You can even stay in your pajamas till noon because Mommy will still be in her pajamas too!  Hey, we're on vacation time :-) 

Allergy-Friendly Jam Thumbprint Cookies (Vegan)

Can I just take a deep breath and...whoooooooooo!  It's finally done.  We just finished renovating and it feels w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l.

Late last year, Hubby and I decided that we were ready to update our kitchen.  It was something I always wished for since we moved into our house, but we had to put it off until we had the money and the time to do it.  So after spending lots of time researching for materials and figuring out the cost and timeline, we decided to go for it.

Classic Chocolate Truffles

Over the years, I've slowly come to realize that when it comes to making holiday treats,  I need to simplify things.  As much as I'd love to make all my favorite desserts for everyone, it's physically impossible for me to do it.  I've tried!  Oh boy, have I tried! And it was not pretty.  All those late nights baking all sorts of cookies and making two or three or four different candies.  Not sleeping!  It was crazy!  And I was crazy for putting myself through it!  

Maple Syrup Cinnamon Rolls

There's just something magical about the smell of cinnamon. Whether you're baking a pie or a batch of cookies, this sweet and spicy scent will find its way into every corner of the house and beckon you to follow its trail back into the kitchen. To me, it's the quintessential scent of the holidays.  And these warm and cozy cinnamon rolls will definitely bring some holiday cheer into your home.  

Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan)

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

As much as I love being creative in the kitchen, sometimes trying to figure out how to make a recipe allergy-friendly can drive me downright crazy.  I try my best to make desserts taste just like the "normal" ones, but when a test recipe doesn't quite meet my expectations, I become almost obsessed with getting it right.  It practically consumes me.  Sometimes it even keeps me up at night.  I sit in bed thinking of what I could've done differently or what other ingredients I could've used.  It's kinda annoying really.  

OMG! Chocolate Cream Pie (No-Bake & Egg-Free)

Yes.  You read that right.  I named this the "OMG! Chocolate Cream Pie" and for good reason.  Not only are you gonna say "OMG!" when you see this gorgeous thing, you're gonna say "OMG!" when you bite into it.  Creamy.  Chocolatey.  Crunchy.  Yup.  OMG pretty much describes it.  

Lemon and Lavender Shortbread Cookies

I've kinda been daydreaming lately.  Hubby and I have been talking about redoing the backyard this year.  We haven't really done much to it since we moved in.  We have a nice lawn and some shrubs on the slope, but I think we're ready to give it a makeover.

Pandesal (Filipino Bread Rolls)

Growing up in the Philippines, I would always wake up to a familiar sound outside my window.  It would start out as a faint echo from a distance and as it came closer, it would become this big, bellowing voice that called out,"Teeee....naaaaaaaaaah....paaaaay!" It was Mang Tinapay! That was what we called the man who sold fresh bread rolls every morning.  Before the crack of dawn, he would fill the back of his bicycle with a basket full of tinapay.  Then he'd head out to our neighborhood, just when everyone was waking up.  Sometimes I'd wait outside with my Lola, clutching my money in my hand, ready to buy a bag from him.  When he'd reach the front of our house, he'd stop his bike and I'd politely ask him,"Isang supot po." He'd open the lid, pluck each tinapay out of his basket and drop them in a bag.  He had this cool way of closing the bag: he'd take each end and spin it around a couple times. That was always fun to watch. 

Egg-Free Vanilla Cupcakes with Salted Caramel

I've been asked many many times for an egg-free vanilla cupcake recipe...and so finally here it is!  I've actually had this recipe for a while but since I was trying to "veganize" all my egg-free recipes for my little guy, I forgot about posting this one.  I did mention it on my vegan vanilla cupcake post, but never bothered to share the recipe until now.  I know, I know.  I'm a dork.  But I think I might be able to redeem myself with these amazing cupcakes.