Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Maple Oat Scones

An easy recipe for soft breakfast scones featuring oatmeal, walnuts, and a sweet maple glaze. The perfect accompaniment to your morning cup of coffee or tea. Skip to recipe.

Scone Close Up with Walnuts from Maple Oat Scones by www.smokeandvanilla.com - An easy recipe for soft breakfast scones featuring oatmeal, walnuts, and a sweet maple glaze. The perfect accompaniment to your morning cup of coffee or tea. http://bit.ly/2oXG9px
Maple oat scone with walnuts

In college I worked in several different independent coffee shops. One of them sold these amazing maple oat scones with a light and sweet maple glaze and I probably averaged one scone for every morning shift I worked. I would have eaten them during afternoon shifts, but they always sold out. Yes, a similar product is (was?) available at everyone's favorite corporate coffee giant, but these were fresh baked daily and infinitely superior in every way (not that I'm biased).

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Better-Than-Chipotle Corn Salsa

A healthy, fresh, and easy recipe featuring jalapeño, red bell pepper, red onion, and a hint of lime juice. Better than a copycat and delicious served as a dip with tortilla chips, on its own as a side dish, or on top of tacos. Skip to recipe.

Veggies before chopping from Better-Than-Chipotle Corn Salsa by www.smokeandvanilla.com - A healthy, fresh, and easy recipe featuring jalapeño, red bell pepper, red onion, and a hint of lime juice. Better than a copycat and delicious served as a dip with tortilla chips, on its own as a side dish, or on top of tacos. http://bit.ly/2olfujf
Veggies before chopping and dicing.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago about my strong affinity for all things corn and while we were planning out which recipes to post over the next few weeks, we instantly decided this one needed to be included. I used to frequent Chipotle in college and grad school, but came to realize that my favorite thing about eating there was the corn 'salsa'. (I know this isn't technically a salsa and you probably know it isn't technically a salsa, but since that's what Chipotle calls theirs I'm going to go with it for continuity and clarity purposes).

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Loaded Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten free!)

A simple and easy recipe for chewy, flour-less, and gluten free peanut butter cookies loaded with oatmeal, chocolate chips, walnuts, and coconut. Skip to recipe.


Close Up of Loaded Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies by www.smokeandvanilla.com - A simple and easy recipe for chewy, flour-less, and gluten free peanut butter cookies loaded with oatmeal, chocolate chips, walnuts, and coconut. http://bit.ly/2o1yz9G
Loaded Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

I mentioned in an earlier post how cookies are my go-to dessert due to how quickly you can go from craving to warm, sugary satisfaction. What this means is that 1) I always have cookie fixings on hand and 2) I'm always up to trying out a new recipe. I've recently been interested in trying out gluten free recipes, not because of an intolerance, but because they often have interesting substitutions that are more nutritious than all purpose flour.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Mexican-Inspired Grilled Corn on the Cob

A grilled corn on the cob recipe with a Mexican-inspired twist that includes instructions on how to prepare in the husk, in foil, or with husks removed. An easy and healthy summer side dish featuring mayonnaise, sour cream, lime, chipotle, and Parmesan cheese.

Skip to recipe.

Mexican-Inspired Grilled Corn on the Cob by www.smokeandvanilla.com - A grilled corn on the cob recipe with a Mexican twist that includes instructions on how to prepare in the husk, in foil, or with husks removed. An easy and healthy summer food side dish featuring mayonnaise, lime, and Parmesan cheese. http://bit.ly/2o071EJ
Mexican-inspired Grilled Corn on the Cob

I love all things corn: on the cob, corn bread, corn pudding, corn tortillas, corn chips, that stuff that comes on the side of your plate at Chevy's and El Torito, tamales, sopes, etc. To me, nothing says summer like corn on the cob and being able to load up on it for 5/$1 at the grocery store. We moved back home to Northern California last summer and one of my favorite things to do here on a warm summer night is hit up the weekly night market for some elotes: husked corn grilled to perfection, brushed with Mexican crema and then coated with ground/dried chipotle and cotija cheese. Fresh, in-season corn already has a delightful sweet flavor and mixing in the perfect amount of char with the savory elements takes it to another level.