Cardamom Cupcakes

Spices!  I love to incorporate spices into my cooking (especially Indian flavors) and now into my baking.  For awhile now I've been wanting to try using cardamom (isn't that a great name?!) in a dessert and I found an excellent recipe for cardamom cupcakes on the Alpine Berry blog and they turned out to be so delicious!  Such a warm, comforting flavor - reminiscent of your favorite chai tea latte (or perhaps a chai float?).

In lieu of the masala chai frosting I opted for a simple vanilla icing with a few sprinkles.  Although next time I will definitely need to give it a try!

These cupcakes are a wonderful alternative to the plain jane white cupcake/cake - I think I might know what I want for my birthday cake!

Hot Italian

Over the weekend a friend and I tried Hot Italian, a midtown eatery specializing in pizzas, calzones, paninis, salads, and Italian cocktails and beers.

We split a Rossi salad (crisp romaine lettuce, blood orange slices, and freshly grated ricotta salata cheese) and the Citerrio pizza (mozzarella, spinach, prosciutto, and parmigiano).  I also tried the prosecco blood orange cocktail.  Absolutely delicious!  It was a perfect break from my crazy tax-season schedule.

Chai Float

One of my most favorite comfort drinks is a chai tea latte.  Hands down!  I can't get enough of spiced-anything!  Add in some creamy vanilla bean ice cream and we have my new favorite dessert - a chai float!

And it couldn't be easier - just add a few scoops of vanilla ice cream and a splash of chai tea mix (or freshly brewed).  I like using Oregon Chai tea.

A cute mug from Anthropologie makes things that much sweeter!


What is your favorite dessert treat?

Home Cooked

What is your favorite simple dinner dish?  


I can't claim this one as my own creation but that doesn't make it any less delicious!  Hummus melts.  Yeah, like a tuna melt but with hummus.


I usually tweak the ingredients a tad but my standby combination is:  garlic naan bread, Tribe forty spices hummus, white onion slices, mozzarella cheese, green onions, freshly ground pepper, and a dash of paprika to top it off.  Broil for about 10 minutes and dinner is served!

I like mine a little extra crispy!  And then on to dessert...