Cakes & Cupcakes

October 31, 2016

Super Simple Macaroon Tarts

Now that Halloween has come and gone, it’s time to focus on the next big event in the this holiday marathon: THANKSGIVING. A time when we come together with friends and family to loosen our pants and indulge on all the sweet and savory recipes we love, brimming with tradition and childhood memories. As well as lots and lots and lots of sodium. But before you toss Grandma’s casserole in the trash forever, take a breath. And then take a look around your kitchen and grocery store. Because there are plenty of food swaps and ingredient tricks that will help kick the sodium down a […]

May 6, 2016

Low-So Mother’s Day Ideas

Two posts in one week?! Something special must be a-brewing. And that something special is a big celebration on Sunday to honor all things Mom. You know — that amazing woman (or women) in your life who will pick up the phone at 2 am, drop everything to be by your side, and is pretty much always right. Or in other words: the ultimate boss lady. So I thought I give you some visual inspiration (and links) to some easy, healthy, flavorful, mom-approved meal ideas for this upcoming weekend. Whether you plan on having a family feast or just a intimate snuggle […]

October 29, 2015

Unprocessed Purple Sweet Potato Cupcakes

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: low-sodium diets have a major branding problem. Many people — with heart disease, kidney disease, menieres disease, and other health issues — can stand to benefit from eating less salt and sodium. And yet no one takes the bait. Because the bait still sounds pretty boring and bland and more like a prescription than something you want to eat. Here’s the thing, though: A low-sodium diet is food. FOOD! And while yes, it can be boring, any kind of food can be boring. So it’s up to you to make it exciting. To use spices […]

March 28, 2014

Weekly Obsessions 3.28.2014

Oh hot damn! Savory salt-free mini tarts. Homemade. Real deal. Let’s talk about it. If you’re like me you live at coffee shops. And while you love your cup of joe, you eye those golden pastries, nestled in the glass shelves, with longing. Maybe sometimes you sneak in a bite (no judgement – if no one sees you, it doesn’t count). But your low-sodium ways keep you from ordering the puffs and popovers and muffins and glazed thingamajigs. Sigh. Now if you’ve read this blog for a while, you know what I’m about to say – make them at home! […]

March 7, 2014

Strawberry Obsessions 3.7.14

This will not be shocking news to anyone who is a longtime reader, but I am pretty hopeless when it comes to baking. I mean, I get anxious just thinking about cupcakes. The words “baking powder” and “baking soda” make me dizzy. And my hands sweat at the notion of making something sweet for a loved one. Unless that something is a meatloaf muffin — yeah, that happened. But a three layered cake? You’ve got to be kidding me. The way I see it (slash, explain my lack of skills in this area) is that I am plain awful at baking […]

January 6, 2014

Breathing and Blueberry Banana Bread

As I kid, I announced new career aspirations as often as the months changed. In January, I wanted to be a veterinarian. By August, an archeologist. And come October, a mermaid. So let’s just say commitments and resolutions have never been my thing. Which is why each new year, I don’t make promises. I choose mantras. A word that helps define my every move for the days and weeks to come. A word that remains the same even as plans change and life does its twisty turny thing. And this year, I picked the word BREATHE. To remind myself to […]

August 30, 2013

Bake-less Low-Sodium “Cheese” Cake

Cheating as a kid is bad. I think I did it once and I’m pretty sure it didn’t make me feel very good. But when you enter adulthood, the rules totally start bending. And “cheating” a bit to make life’s to-do list a little easier, faster, and mostly easier starts being a good thing. And whether you call it cutting corners or life hacking or dry shampoo — taking a short cut every now and then is always acceptable, often genius, and when it comes to overcoming dietary challenges, totally necessary. So let’s do it. Let’s cheat on cheesecake. And let’s […]

August 16, 2011

Salt-Free Cake Pops

I’ve decided to give up sugar. Just kidding. Have we met? I love my sugar. And to celebrate the fact that I adore sweets of pretty much any flavor and variety, I made cake pops. Salt-free cake pops, to be specific. Now you may have seen these little sticks of dough and frosting on Starbucks counters or on bookshelves (Chronicle has published some pretty rad guides on how to DIY the little suckers). But please excuse me as I toot my horn for a moment and say this: I have been popping cake long before it was popular. Or at […]

February 14, 2011

Cute As A Cupcake

Last Friday, as soon as 5:00pm hit the clock, it was clearly the hour for happy hour. I rushed home, curled my hair, curled my lashes, and put on that favorite pair of jeans (not to be outdone by the high-heeled boots). TGIFriday had barely commenced, and I was already out on the town, painting it red. Or green. Or whatever color means that you are taking this city by storm and no one can stop you. Which would be great if any part of that was true. Because by 5:00pm on Friday, I was actually stuck in traffic after […]

October 28, 2010

A Pumpkin in the Oven

Last weekend was filled with one huge celebration after another. It was homecoming,my friends got engaged, and five years out of college…we are having our first baby! And by we, I don’t mean my manfriend and I, but my friend Dyani, her husband, and the rest of our girl gang. Baby doesn’t know it yet, but he has ten moms. Lucky boy. So to ring in the little muffin, we decided to take over our sorority house (sorry ladies and thanks for the punch) and throw Dyani a proper shower. And by proper I mean cakes made from diapers (see […]