It's time to stock up on dipping chocolate because it's strawberry season in Georgia!!🍓😂  Anyone else see a bucket full of freshly picked strawberries as an opportunity for endless dessert possibilities? Ice cream, cakes, cookies, shortcakes, cobblers, crumbles and jams.🍧🍰🍫  

I love chocolate covered strawberries but believe it or not, I actually don't turn all of my fresh strawberries into desserts.  I also like freshly sliced berries on yogurt, in oatmeal, on waffles, in smoothies, on salads and drizzled with balsamic vinegar.😋  ​Strawberries just make everything better - and sweeter... aka better.😅  

My favorite time to pick strawberries is early April when the fields are absolutely loaded with giant, ripe red berries and it takes me less than 10 minutes to fill my bucket with berries.  I only wish that it was that I also had a farm near me where I could pick my own peaches.  Peach trees are far less common that you might think in the "Peach State." 🤣🍑

​Bake 16-20 minutes at 425.  

Ciao!

Is it just me or do other people think that we've taken random celebrations too far in this country?  Yesterday was national garlic day, national Amaretto day and national Hanging Out Day.  Not the kind of "hanging out" that I expected either.  It's not a day dedicated to gathering with friends, it's an initiative intended to encourage citizens to hang their laundry outside on a clothesline to dry instead of using a dryer.👕👗🤷🏻‍♀️🤣   In case you're curious, I did not eat garlic or hanging my clothes outside on a clothesline yesterday but I did in fact enjoy some Amaretto in the form of a cookie.🥃 

The next time you're googling random things on your computer or your phone, I recommend that you check out the national day calendar website.  In case you're curious, April 19th wasn't the weirdest national day that I found on the calendar.  Did you know that July 27th is national take your pants for a walk day?👖😂😳

Amaretti cookies are a traditional Italian cookies.   They have a chewy center and a crackled, sugary crust.  They're naturally gluten free and dairy free which makes them a great treat for any party with guests with dietary restrictions.  And most importantly --- they're delicious!😋  If you don't happen to be celebrating National Amaretti Day or you don't have any on hand, you can substitute 2 teaspoons almond extract for the liquor in my recipe.

Amaretti Cookies
​3 egg whites 
3 cups almond flour
1 1/2 cups minus 1 Tablespoon caster sugar
¼ teaspoons vanilla
2 Tablespoons Amaretto liqueur

For coating
1/4 cup caster sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Bake 15 minutes at 325.

Ciao!

As a general rule - I'm anti wrinkles. 🤣  I buy makeup to cover up the ones I already have and creams prevent new ones from showing up. My laugh lines are an exception - those are signs of a life well lived and I display those proudly.😁   Other than smiling, the only other time I'm excited to see wrinkles is when I'm baking cookies.😅 

Unlike me, there are certain cookies that look even better when they're covered in crinkles and wrinkles.😂  I've had a recipe for Lemon Crinkle Cookies on my blog since 2014 but I wasn't really happy with it.  In short: they just weren't wrinkly enough.😅  Hello, Lemon Crinkle Cookies 2.0 - full of wrinkles and bursting with bright, lemon flavor. 🍋 ​

Lemon Crinkle Cookies 2.0
2 and 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened 
1 cup + 2 Tablespoons sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla

For Rolling
3 Tablespoons sugar 
1 cup powdered sugar

Bake 12-13 minutes at 350.  

Ciao!

I live in a state where it seems like everyone is obsessed with Fall.🎃🍎🍁  Halloween, pumpkins, cozy sweaters, apple picking, hayrides - I like all of those things but Spring is still my favorite time of year.😬  And I feel like it's worth noting that I feel this way despite the fact that I have to take Zyrtec from February through May.  I said I liked Spring - I didn't say that Spring liked me.😅🤧

Digging in the dirt is one of my favorite springtime activities.🪴  There's something about having my hands in the earth that's therapeutic for me.  This month I planted  herbs and fruits in my newly upgraded garden: thyme, basil, rosemary, sage, parsley, mint, oregano, raspberries, blueberries, watermelon and a single pepper plant.🌱 I plant the things that I eat the most so herbs and fruit it is. 🤣🫐🍉

There's nothing like picking fresh herbs from the garden for my favorite Springtime recipes.  If you don't have fresh herbs in your garden though, don't let that stop you from making these Olive Oil and Herb Biscotti.  Fresh herbs are widely available in supermarkets and farmers markets this time of year so pick up your favorites and give this savory biscotti recipe a try.  

Olive Oil and Herb Biscotti
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
2 teaspoons black pepper
​1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Ciao!

I recommend that you find a spouse who will slow pour maple syrup over his sourdough pancakes at 7 am on a Saturday morning so you that can capture the motion in photographs before he even samples his first forkful.🤣🥞🫐  As if waiting until I've taken 30 pictures of the food on his plate before he can eat isn't bad enough - now I'm asking him to be a participant in the breakfast photography session.📸😬  And on a not unrelated note: has anyone ever been able to get decent lighting on a plate of pancakes before the sun comes up?😅  

What is it about making homemade pancakes on a Saturday morning that makes the weekend feel a little extra special?🥞  And while a hearty stack of pancakes for breakfast is great - no one wants to set an alarm to wake up extra early to fix pancake batter on the weekend.  Hello overnight sourdough pancakes.  They're perfectly light, fluffy and delicious AND you can prep the batter overnight.   These sourdough pancakes have a very subtle tang, with a beautiful light and fluffy rise.  If you're a sourdough enthusiast - you'll definitely want to add these to your weekend breakfast menu.  

Sourdough Pancakes
Overnight Sponge
1 cup (227g) sourdough starter, unfed
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups flour
2 Tablespoons sugar

Batter
overnight sponge
2 eggs
1/4 cup canola oil 
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt

Ciao!