Easy, Delicious Plum Cake

plum cake
Michael is from Germany so often misses the delicious cakes and tarts he grew up eating. He complains that the desserts found in the U.S. are usually very sweet or topped with artificial sugary frosting (I can’t really disagree with him on this one). Hence, I am always on the hunt for an easy, delicious dessert recipe. I stumbled upon this plum cake recipe late one night when we both had a taste for something fruity, buttery and slightly sweet. We were also in the Alps with no store open at 10pm! This dessert has become one of my favorite cakes. Best of all, it is ready to eat in no time at all! I hope you give it a try because I know it will be a hit with your family and friends! Continue reading

Super Easy & Moist Pineapple Cake

pineapple cake
This incredibly easy recipe is the semi-homemade version of traditional pineapple upside down cake. It is so quick to prepare but so delicious and moist! Your guests will love how it looks and tastes, but will never have to know how easy it was for you to make! Your entire house will smell of vanilla and pineapple. Mmmmmm :)

I came across this recipe one day while watching Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network. She was making a lunch for her girlfriends and baked this cake for dessert. I was shocked when she took out a box of Betty Crocker cake mix! LOL. I thought to myself, “If Giada has no shame getting a little help from Betty Crocker, I sure as hell don’t either!”

I made a few changes to her recipe based on my preferences and what I had available. My cake turned out fantastic. Definitely give this recipe a try next time you’re in the mood for cake!  Continue reading

Pumpkin Bread


It’s been quite an adventure the last few weeks since Hurricane Sandy hit NYC, but I’m finally back (with electricity, water, and internet)! In the days leading up to the hurricane, I tried to use most of my ingredients in the refrigerator by making dishes that would last a few days at room temperature. One of the recipes I turned to was for this pumpkin bread, which is so incredibly moist it could even be a cake. It is one of my favorite recipes for the holidays because it’s so easy to make and actually tastes better over time (I’m not kidding)! Boy were we glad to have this delicious pumpkin bread to munch on for a few days while the power was out. :)

I love to use Trader Joe’s pumpkin puree for this recipe because it’s organic and inexpensive, but you can use any brand of your choice. Just make sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. Be sure to give this pumpkin bread a try this holiday season. A fun idea is to bake in mini loaf pans to give away as gifts! :)

Note: This recipe calls for 1 cup of pumpkin puree, which is about half of a 15 ounce can. Wondering what to do with the remaining half of puree? Don’t fret, try out my Pumpkin Mac and Cheese!

Continue reading