A Cake for a Special Day

When my boyfriend's mother's birthday rolled around, I decided to bring along a Chocolate Olive Oil Cake. This is one of my top two favorite cakes, and it has traveled with me from one birthday party to another. The beauty of this cake is that it can journey far without losing its shape, thanks to the olive oil that keeps it moist for days.

On the Amtrak train to Rhode Island, my boyfriend's family couldn’t stop raving about it. With its smooth ganache topping and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, this cake truly made a lasting impression.

Caramelized Onions for Every Meal

On a day with no big plans, I decided to stay in and make caramelized onions. Using Claire Saffitz's recipe, I created beautifully rich, dark brown onion slices. Instead of using broth or plain water, I opted for cocchi americano, which added a delightful sweetness and unique flavor to the dish.

Since that day, I’ve been adding caramelized onions to everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to my morning scrambled eggs.

Easy Spicy Honey Glazed Salmon

A friend of mine told me about Shilpa Uskokovic's spicy honey-glazed salmon. It sounded so tempting that I had to give it a try. All you need to do is brush a mixture of soy sauce, honey, garlic, chili paste, and vinegar over a piece of salmon and bake it until the surface is nicely charred.

I usually tear the salmon into large chunks and serve it with rice and sliced cucumbers. It’s simple yet incredibly delicious.

A Versatile Vinaigrette

I firmly believe that you don’t need a strict recipe to make vinaigrette; just remember the right oil-to-vinegar ratio. I often refer to the classic French vinaigrette, which is two parts oil to one part vinegar. It's easy to switch things up too—add some thyme or substitute mustard with miso for a tasty twist.

Adult Butter Noodles

You might think butter noodles are just for kids, but when you add paprika and almonds, they become something truly sophisticated. This dish is more than just butter and noodles; the flavor becomes much more complex after 30 minutes of cooking.

And don’t skip the salted almonds at the end—they're the secret ingredient that elevates this dish to something special.

A Cake for a Special Day