Alton Brown’s Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (Chocolate Chip Cookie #9)

Hey, it’s me, Leesha, your favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Specialist, back again with a batch of, you guessed it, Chocolate Chip Cookies! But not just any Chocolate Chip Cookies – these are super chewy, almost like those guilty-pleasure store-bought ones. Once again, the occasion for these was delivering a welcome basket to new neighbors. This…

Apricot Goat Cheese Spread

Is anyone else as obsessed as I am with the fancy goat cheese spreads at Whole Foods? They are soooo stinkin’ delicious! I love that you get sweet, salty, and spicy all in one bite. My only complaint is that they have a hefty price tag to match. This afternoon I came across a great…

Chipotle Guacamole

OMG you guys, have you heard the amazing news?! Chipotle released their famous guacamole recipe! This is a huge day for guac lovers (which I’m pretty sure is everyone) everywhere.  What a sweet Cinco de Mayo gift from our friends at Chipotle! After looking at their recipe, I can honestly say that my go-to recipe…

Scotch and Whiskey Truffles

A few weeks ago I asked one of my coworkers what he would like for a birthday treat, and he (after a particularly tough work week) insisted that the only thing that would make him happy was a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. We have a pretty laid-back office, but something felt questionable about dropping a…

Blueberry Cheese Danish

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed a post about the fantastic pastry I made for brunch a couple of weekends back. At some point on a Friday I decided I wanted to host friends for brunch on that coming Sunday, and shortly after issuing the invitation our list grew to a…

Valentine’s Day French Silk Pie

Is there an official food of Valentine’s Day? If not, I’m declaring it chocolate. I won’t get into the nitty gritty and specify which type of chocolate, or what should be done with it, but I’m positive chocolate IS where it’s at. My chocolate dish of choice this year? French silk pie. I think my…

Cookie Butter (from any cookie!)

I’ve never been one to hop on the decadent spreads bandwagon. For me, there’s something that feels wrong about the idea of spreadable cookies – pureed carbs mixed with fat and carbs, spread on more carbs? As some Minnesotans might say, uff da!! Even Nutella seems just a little too naughty. Natural peanut butter or…

Spiced Rum Pecans

First of all, Merry Christmas and Hanukkah Sameach!! I hope you have a fabulous holiday!! Things are crazy right now with last minute preparations, but I thought I’d check in with you guys for just a second to toss out a tip for those of you who are scrambling as much as I am. 🙂…

Quick and Easy Cranberry Sauce

Every year, I put home made jellied cranberry sauce into an elaborate mold for our friends thanksgiving, and every year,  it never sets up as well as I would like. I’ve tried apples, pectin, and vegan gelatin, and each time, my mold disintegrates into a shapeless blob on the tray. Sure, it is always flavorful…

Fresh Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Snap Crust

A few weeks ago my three year old nephew was telling me how much he loves the itty bitty pie pumpkin he got at the pumpkin patch, and I (not thinking about just how deep his attachment might run) suggested we turn it into a pie. Surprisingly, he was very enthusiastic about this idea, so…

Homemade Carvel Cookie Puss

If you’ve been following Mayhem in the Kitchen! for awhile, you might remember that my mum and brother have the same birthday. As a result, every year I find myself trying to bake two extravagant cakes to make sure that neither one of them ends up with Christmas-Birthday syndrome. Like last year, my brother requested…

90th Birthday Cake

This afternoon we had the joyous privilege of celebrating my grandmother’s 90th birthday! We gathered at her house for lunch and, of course, cake. 😉 I was lucky enough to bake for the occasion – I made an old fashioned yellow cake with almond icing, and, for one layer, an orange marmalade filling. Inspired by…

Vanilla Granola with Quinoa and Chia Seeds

Every morning, my husband and I wake up a little early to chat over coffee and breakfast before heading off to work (… though since this weekend it has mostly been leftover Easter candy for breakfast. Chocolate and coffee are just meant to be consumed together.) A few mornings ago we were working on finishing…

Homemade Salad Toppings – Croutons and Vegan Bacon Bits

Spring has sprung! (Well, here in Minneapolis we woke up to more snow, but the calendar says it’s spring! Work with me here.) Birds are chirping! Farmer’s market season is soon upon us! This time of year I find myself looking forward to the beautiful local produce,  wonderful salads, and vegetable-centered meals that come with…

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

A few weeks ago we picked up a pressure cooker, and since then, life has changed! OK,  that’s probably a little dramatic, but our life, as it relates to beans, has definitely changed. We’ve always used a lot of beans in our cooking, but prior to last week we were buying a lot of canned…