Here is my annual Cake Day cake. I mention this every year, but I don’t make cakes all that often — I’m not very good at decorating / frosting, and even more so in the days of a global pandemic, making cupcakes as not to share food is better anyway. That said, one day out of the year, I do make a cake, so this year is no different. I love the combination of coconut and chocolate so this celebratory has both cake types and frosting types, in addition to garnet-colored sugar flowers as they are the January birthstone color. Here’s to being 50, I guess!
January 2022
Greek Style Sheet Pan Meal:
Shrimp with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes, Olives + Feta
Trying something different for a “one pot” meal — or a one pan meal, as it were. And this was so easy to do. Shrimp with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes, Olives + Feta. Took just about 30 minutes and would be easy enough to double to feed a crowd. The shrimp were super flavorful and juicy, combined with the just-warm olives and feta, and the cherry toms bursting with juiciness. Definitely a repeat. You could likely also do this (in this short of a time) with small pieces of fish as well.
Florentine cookies are definitely up there in the favorites department. It’s all about the thin and crispy. And these have more of those Jammy Bits (this time raspberry) from King Arthur Baking that melt into the cookies like little blobs of melted gummibears. So delicious and really really easy to make.
I love spinach. Like on the level of Popeye. There is a good chance that I eat something with spinach in it at least 3x per week. And creamy spinach combined with pasta and cheese is likely one of my absolute favorites: so here we have Baked Spinach Cheesy Shells. Sort of like a vegetarian lasagna, filled with 3 types of cheese and spinach galore, it is delicious. Total comfort food on a cold January day. You could add some sauteed mushrooms to up the protein level too.
One-pot meal from the CSPS girl: Triple Meat Ragù Bolognese — bacon, sausage and hamburger mince. This is my go to sauce, I make it at least once a month and can eat it for days with spaghetti, penne, in lasagna, etc. Shown here with parpadelle. Freezes really well too. If you are craving comfort food, this is the recipe for you!