Italian herb-encrusted focaccia roll; vine ripe tomato; fresh mozzarella; own-yard basil
I’m certain little else needs to be said.
I think I could quite contentedly eat this every day of the summer

So I’m trying out being a vegetarian for a while.  There are a lot of different motives for me and its something I’ve been contemplating for quite some time.  I think I’ve slowly been heading in that direction for years.  First I got rid of beef (mostly, except for when I moved to Texas but [...]

I spend Thanksgiving dinner with some of my lovely friends.  When I offered to bring a dish to contribute I was given the choice of a side or dessert or just my fabulous self!  It was also noted that they are big fans of chocolate too.  And there it was, my answer to what I [...]

I cook many things.  I develop new recipes.  I pour over cookbooks.  I relish new flavors.  I revel in culinary victories.
My kitchen is my studio, my laboratory, my sanctuary.
While some women delight in buying a cute new handbag that just went on sale or those sassy shoes that just went on clearance, I celebrate (and [...]

I love cinnamon rolls!  I have a place in my heart for all the different kinds: the orange-icing-refrigerator-from-the-can ones; the gargantuan ones I get at that place in the airport or mall; the make-the-night-before-and-let-rise-to-bake-early-in-the-morning ones; but my most favorite are the super quick roll-your-own-Bisquick ones.  Besides how easy they are, I love the contrast of [...]

So I bought these tiny cast-iron skillets on a whim from Ross.  The set of two were only $6.99 or something and I figured I’d use them now and then when I want to have a fun dessert with friends over.  Never did I dream they would become such a staple piece of kitchen equipment!  [...]

The other day I was making cupcakes and I ran out of regular sized cupcake wrappers.  I made a few cupcakes by pouring dough straight into the [greased] tin cups but I really didn’t like the extra grease.  So I took some parchment paper and cut it into large squares–maybe 5″ x 5″ and arranged [...]

The quest has been long and arduous.  Countless batches of cookies have been baked in Mav’s Minuscule Test Kitchen.  Numerous friends have volunteered their feedback for MMTK’s Research & Development Department.  Tens of recipes have been tried, created, altered, written, tweaked, tried again, crossed out, smudged with cookie dough, re-written, and finally I think I [...]

So a few weeks ago I was watching the Food Network (dangerous mistake #1) and I saw three back to back episodes on bbq, hot dogs, and steaks.  By the end of the 90 minutes I was drooling all over and my stomach was roaring for some savory deliciousness.  It was totally awesome that all [...]