A Side of Sweet

NY Times + Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies

A recipe for freaking fantastic chocolate chip cookies by Jacques Torres, via the New York Times. Absolutely worth the planning and fancy ingredients!

A few years ago, I published a recipe for chocolate chip cookies and called them the best I’d ever made. At that point, this was true. I still make that recipe all the time. I almost always have a bag of them individually partitioned in the freezer ready to pop in the oven for those unexpected guests.

That being said, they are no longer the best cookies I’ve ever made. This recipe is both the best chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever made and the best I’ve ever eaten. They are perfectly soft but still chewy and féves, or discs, of chocolate, make every bite packed with melty chocolate. They are insanely delicious…. Read More »

Southern Style Cheddar Biscuits from FIVE Berkeley

A recipe for perfectly flaky southern style buttermilk cheddar biscuits from FIVE restaurant in Berkeley, California. Try to eat just one!

Even though cooking at home is one of our favorite ways to spend time together, Pat and I also love exploring the amazing cuisine of the San Francisco bay area. We average about one meal out on the town a week, which you can see more of on my Instagram account or my San Francisco restaurant reviews page. Even though there are so many options for dining in San Francisco, we try to explore the cities that surround SF as well…. Read More »

How I Edit Food Photos for Instagram

A quick tutorial for how to edit food photos (or any photo!) for Instagram and social media – using FREE apps that are available for iPhone and android.

I’m back with another food photography post for you! Last time, I shared all of my favorite backgrounds for food photography. Today, it’s all about how to easily edit your cell phone photos so they look like they were taken with a professional camera.

I’m going to show you step-by-step how to go from the photo on the left to the photo on the right. The best thing is that all I used are two FREE apps.

Brûléed Pear Burrata Crostini Appetizer

Vegetarian

This brûléed pear burrata crostini is elegant and fancy, but it’s so easy to make! It’s sure to be a favorite appetizer at your holiday party this year.

Pear and burrata cheese are perfect crostini partners, but the layer of caramelized sugar on top of the pear really makes the recipe. It makes me want to get in the habit of brulee-ing everything. I already make these greek yogurt ‘creme brulees’ all the time and my most recent recipe for Bruleed Pear Burrata Crostini has sealed the deal. The possibilities of what are next are endless! Brûléed cheesecake? Or donuts? Brûléed cookies? YUM…. Read More »

Fall Apple Cream Cheese Rustic Pie

An apple cream cheese rustic pie is the perfect fall recipe. The addition of sweetened cream cheese to the galettes is the perfect match for tart apples.

This rustic pie, or galette, recipe is actually a companion to another recipe that you may recognize, my mini apple cream cheese galettes. I thought it would be fun to show you a larger version for another spin on this delicious fall dessert! Depending on the occasion, you can make the small ones (brunch, perhaps?), or one massive galette (to adorn your holiday dinner table?)…. Read More »

Lasagna Crackers with Feta & Delicata Squash

Vegetarian

A great fall appetizer recipe featuring baked lasagna crackers with feta and delicata squash. An easy and healthy way to use up leftover lasagna noodles.

What’s so different about this recipe?

You’re going to love this recipe! It’s such a fun spin on the usual cracker appetizers. Crackers made from baked lasagna noodles are crunchy and delicious, and so easy to make. Add some delicata squash, feta, and pomegranate seeds and you have a great fall appetizer perfect for your Thanksgiving feast.

This recipe is also a great way to use up leftover lasagna noodles. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Your lasagna dish is assembled and ready to go in the oven, and you have a stack of leftover cooked noodles!