Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownie Bars

Welcome to 2021. We had sort of, um…an abrupt beginning to the New Year. After a punishing 2020 where the pandemic pretty much upended everything in our lives, a lot of us were looking forward to some stability, seasoned with some optimism about the virus, but things took a decidedly different turn in a direction not many of us could imagine. I stepped away from…

Welcome to 2021. We had sort of, um…an abrupt beginning to the New Year. After a punishing 2020 where the pandemic pretty much upended everything in our lives, a lot of us were looking forward to some stability, seasoned with some optimism about the virus, but things took a decidedly different turn in a direction not many of us could imagine. I stepped away from a few things which allowed me a little time to get my mojo back and regroup.

The lockdowns (plural) and the pause for the holidays allowed me to sort through stuff in my kitchen drawers and clear a path to sanity in my office to face-down that pesky end-of-the-year paperwork. I organized the desktop on my computer (a task I highly recommend tackling), changed my newsletter service, deleted some passive-aggressive messages (still not sure I understand the point of those…) that were taking up valuable space in my head, retreated from the online world, bereaved the passing of a family member, took a step toward overcoming yet another leak as the plumber assured me the plumbing store would have toilets back in stock by the end of January (I hope he was talking about 2021), and emotionally regrouped to begin what I’m sure will be a fabulous a new year.

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Chocolate Marshmallows

Marshmallows are one (or some) of my favorite things. We don’t often use ‘marshmallow’ in the singular and we certainly don’t make them one at a time. When we talk about marshmallows, it’s generally in the plural since it’s hard to imagine just one, lone, solitary marshmallow. That would be triste, as you’d say in French, or sad. Except, of course, when it’s floating on…

Marshmallows are one (or some) of my favorite things. We don’t often use ‘marshmallow’ in the singular and we certainly don’t make them one at a time. When we talk about marshmallows, it’s generally in the plural since it’s hard to imagine just one, lone, solitary marshmallow. That would be triste, as you’d say in French, or sad. Except, of course, when it’s floating on top of a warm cup of hot chocolate. That makes me happy. And what makes me even happier is when the marshmallow is made of chocolate. In that case, I’m absolutely delighted.

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Black Fruitcake

Over the last several years, people suggested that I write a book of fruit desserts. I point out, helpfully, that I already have, but every year a few books of fruit desserts come out, mostly relating to pies or crisps and cobblers. So it was interesting to see one devoted solely to cakes, called (appropriately) Fruit Cake: Recipes for the Curious Baker. But no need…

Over the last several years, people suggested that I write a book of fruit desserts. I point out, helpfully, that I already have, but every year a few books of fruit desserts come out, mostly relating to pies or crisps and cobblers. So it was interesting to see one devoted solely to cakes, called (appropriately) Fruit Cake: Recipes for the Curious Baker.

But no need to worry that it’s a book of Christmas cakes with sticky green cherries in them. It’s by Jason Schreiber, a food stylist and recipe developer, who dreamed up with seventy-five cakes that feature fruit, everything from Key Lime Meringue Cake to a tropical fruit Panettone. There are also Pineapple Breakfast Cakes, his riff on the classic Sachertorte with chocolate and apricots, and a Jamaican Black Cake, that caught my eye for a number of reasons.

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December Events: Live and Online

Even though travel is interrupted, for the time being, I’ve planned several online events this month, and one in-person event in Paris: December 11: I’ll be signing copies of Drinking French at Café Méricourt in Paris from 3 to 4 pm. Copies of Drinking French will be available to purchase from the café for signing. (If you’d like a copy of L’Appart or The Perfect…

Even though travel is interrupted, for the time being, I’ve planned several online events this month, and one in-person event in Paris:

December 11: I’ll be signing copies of Drinking French at Café Méricourt in Paris from 3 to 4 pm. Copies of Drinking French will be available to purchase from the café for signing. (If you’d like a copy of L’Appart or The Perfect Scoop, click here to pre-purchase a copy for pick-up at the event.)

December 12: Join me for an interview and chat with pastry chef Melissa Weller, author of A Good Bake with Now Serving in Los Angeles. I’ll post the exact time and sign-up info on this page and on my Schedule page when they get it up on their site. Hang tight!

December 13: I’ll be offering a seminar on French Apéritifs: History, Cocktails, and Culture as a live online presentation with Context Conversations. I’ll cover the history and culture of the iconic apéritifs of France and demonstrate various drinks you can make with them, along with the recipes. Register here. (Note: Through Dec 6th you can use the promo code THANKFUL15 for a 15% discount on all Context seminars, including mine.)

December 20: ‘Tis the season for drinks and desserts! Join me baker Edd Kimber for this special holiday get-together live online with La Cuisine Paris. We’ll be doing some baking, making holiday drinks, and answering your questions. More info and register here.

Also, I’ve got several terrific guests this month scheduled on my Instagram Live Apéro Hour videos, including Michelle Polzine, Joanne Weir, Brad Thomas Parsons, Lesley Chesterman, Jean-Louis Charbonnier from Comté cheese, and Aurélie Panhelleux. Follow me on Instagram to get notifications when they’ll be happening!

Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Sheet Pan Pancakes

Sheet Pan Pancakes – essentially a giant pancake baked in the oven – is the most genius way of making pancakes! Lemon Blueberry Sheet Pan Pancakes This breakfast recipe is from the Skinnytaste Meal Prep Cookbook. Make them once and you’ll never make them any other way! No more waiting, flipping, and family members eating […]

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Sheet Pan Pancakes – essentially a giant pancake baked in the oven – is the most genius way of making pancakes!

Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Sheet Pan Pancakes on two plates.
Lemon Blueberry Sheet Pan Pancakes

This breakfast recipe is from the Skinnytaste Meal Prep Cookbook. Make them once and you’ll never make them any other way! No more waiting, flipping, and family members eating in shifts, all you need is a good-quality rimmed sheet pan and some parchment paper so they don’t stick. They come out golden and fluffy, speckled with blueberries throughout.

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Receive 10 Bonus Recipes When You Preorder 100 Cookies!

100 Cookies goes on sale August 25th, and as a special thank you for pre-ordering, you can receive an ebook of 10 bonus recipes! One of the new recipes included is the Brown Butter Cookie Dough Skillet Brownie creation that I posted on Instagram a few …

100 Cookies

100 Cookies goes on sale August 25th, and as a special thank you for pre-ordering, you can receive an ebook of 10 bonus recipes! One of the new recipes included is the Brown Butter Cookie Dough Skillet Brownie creation that I posted on Instagram a few weeks back (see photo below), as well as a handful of other recipes that didn’t make it into the book: Espresso Irish Cream Brownies, Lime Chocolate Poppy Seed Sables (and a new Pan-Banging recipe). I also have links to a playlist that I have been working on for two years while I tested recipes for the book – it is all the songs I listened to over and over during that time (over 11 hours of music). I have the playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify. If you have pre-ordered the book, all you have to do is click the ‘Let’s Go’ button on this page and fill out the form; the download will be sent to your email immediately. So… let’s get baking! Please share pictures of what you make from the ebook with me using the hashtag #100Cookies. Thank you so much for all your support! 

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Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Cookbook Cover Reveal

I’m beyond thrilled to give you a sneak peak of my fifth cookbook, Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Healthy Make-Ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life: A Cookbook. Skinnytaste Meal Prep Cookbook It’s finally available for pre-order! This has been the most challenging time to write, photograph and print a cookbook, so I’m beyond excited to […]

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I’m beyond thrilled to give you a sneak peak of my fifth cookbook, Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Healthy Make-Ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life: A Cookbook.

I'm beyond thrilled to give you a sneak peak of my fifth cookbook, Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Healthy Make-Ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life: A Cookbook.
Skinnytaste Meal Prep Cookbook

It’s finally available for pre-order! This has been the most challenging time to write, photograph and print a cookbook, so I’m beyond excited to finally share my new baby! Skinnytaste Meal Prep hits book stores and ships out Sept 15th! But you can pre-order now and be one of the first to get your copy.

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100 Cookies Cookbook Is Now Available For Preorder!

I’m so excited to share with you the cover of my new cookbook, 100 Cookies! My cookbook (originally slated to come oucookbookt October 2020) will be out August 2020, and is available for PREORDER. Chocolatey, fruity, crispy, chewy, classic, inven…

100 Cookies Cookbook

I’m so excited to share with you the cover of my new cookbook, 100 Cookies! My cookbook (originally slated to come oucookbookt October 2020) will be out August 2020, and is available for PREORDER. Chocolatey, fruity, crispy, chewy, classic, inventive—there’s a foolproof recipe for everyone in this book. The book is filled with 100 recipes, ranging from classics (like sugar cookies to oatmeal raisin) to next level (such as raspberry rye and triple chocolate mousse bars), to blondies + brownies. Plus, there is a WHOLE CHAPTER of pan-banging cookies! Find the book available for pre-order at your favorite local bookstore or any of these wonderful booksellers: AMAZON APPLE BOOKS BARNES & NOBLE BOOKTOPIA (AUSTRALIA) INDIEBOUND INDIGO (CANADA) WATERSTONES (UK) Cookies have always been a love language for me, the entire process: mixing, baking, eating, and sharing. Writing this book was both very hard and very fun – testing and retesting 100 recipes was a labor of love, but I enjoyed the entire process (and my children also were ecstatic to come home from school each day to find fresh-baked cookies). I have so many favorite recipes in this collection, and it was honestly hard to stop at 100 – there are […]

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Cassoulet Toast

I’m a big fan of traditional Cassoulet. And I’m not alone; a repeated question I get is “Where can I get a good cassoulet in Paris?” The short answer is: To the Southwest of France. Sure, one can pick up a jar of Cassoulet from Castelnaudary, or make it, which I sometimes do. For those who want to tackle the project, there’s a recipe in…

I’m a big fan of traditional Cassoulet. And I’m not alone; a repeated question I get is “Where can I get a good cassoulet in Paris?” The short answer is: To the Southwest of France. Sure, one can pick up a jar of Cassoulet from Castelnaudary, or make it, which I sometimes do. For those who want to tackle the project, there’s a recipe in My Paris Kitchen. But not everyone wants to spend a few days gathering ingredients and sauteeing and simmering them together, then baking, then reheating the behemoth in their oven.

While it’s one of my top favorite dishes in the French food canon, sometimes I don’t want to wait, and remain wary of the jar. So when I saw a recipe for Cassoulet Toast in Open Kitchen: Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings, I was intrigued enough to give it a try. Cookbook author Susan Spungen is one of the top food stylists (she famously styled the food for Eat, Pray, Love and the Julie & Julia film), who noted in the headnote of the recipe that she originally wanted to include a Cassoulet recipe in her book, but decided it was too formidable to hoist on home cooks, so came up with a recipe that captures the flavors that we love about cassoulet; the rich, velvety beans, the caramelized aromatics, and the tender duck confit, all on a slice of crisp, country-style bread.

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Tourtiere

I’m not going to beat around the bush here: The new Joy of Cooking is huge. When I first heard about it, I wondered, “Do we need a new Joy of Cooking?” First published in 1931, the book went through several revisions over the years, to become what has the most enduring of all American cookbooks. Yet I wondered if the book would (or could)…

I’m not going to beat around the bush here: The new Joy of Cooking is huge. When I first heard about it, I wondered, “Do we need a new Joy of Cooking?” First published in 1931, the book went through several revisions over the years, to become what has the most enduring of all American cookbooks. Yet I wondered if the book would (or could) still be relevant, in the age of the internet, and as several other books had come along through the year, that could also be considered “encyclopedias” of cooking. I had some doubts.

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