St. Patrick’s Day; always a great excuse to drink ridiculous amounts of beer, wear green and maybe participate in one of the fun runs or parades that seem to go hand in hand with the holiday. Continue reading a cake for a drinking holiday
Category Archives: Sweet Things
moonstruck strikes again
A couple of months ago I was at an event where I tasted liquid gold. It was in the form of drinking chocolate, from a carton no less. A good quality chocolate milk from a carton, you ask? I was surprised, but in retrospect, I should have expected no less from my favorite Portland chocolate company, Moonstruck. There are a lot more hip, up-and-coming chocolates to be had in Portland these days, but Moonstruck is just good, and has stood the test of time. Continue reading moonstruck strikes again
baltimore in cookie form
Once, a long time ago when I lived in Portland the first time around, my girlfriend met a guy who lived in Baltimore. She spent the first months of their cross country relationship visiting him in Baltimore a few times. During her visits, she was introduced to local foods of B’more, one of which she brought back to Portland and introduced to me. Continue reading baltimore in cookie form
abundant berries
Summer in Oregon means berries, berries, berries. I may be a bit biased, but I’ve always maintained that Oregon berries are better than those in other states. Although, when I lived in Southern California, I fell hard for strawberries grown in the sandy soil of Oxnard and Ventura County. Maine blueberries are pretty amazing-tasting as well. However, Oregon berries will always be my number one. Continue reading abundant berries
nutella in pie form
I don’t know about you, but for the last few weeks I’ve been hesitant to use anything that resembles an oven. Anything that may cause me to perspire more than I already do has no appeal to me in these 90+ degree Portland summer days. Continue reading nutella in pie form
three-day weekend milkshake
I remember going to a Red Robin (don’t judge, I was young!) in college and discovering the world of booze-filled milkshakes. At the time, Red Robin was a place to splurge on ginourmous burgers and bottomless soft drinks and lemonades. One visit, I made the choice to venture away from my favorite Very Berry Raspberry Limeade, from the bottomless beverage section, and opted for a Baileys Irish Cream milkshake. Booze and dessert in a glass, it’s efficient and delicious. Continue reading three-day weekend milkshake
the cheagan vegan
Since moving back to Portland I’ve made a point of taking in the Pacific NW that I somehow forgot existed. I’ve reconnected with the beauty of my home state through a series of hikes. One of the great things about living in Portland is that it’s easy to get to a number of spectacular hiking spots in 60 minutes or less. I’ve even taken to identifying wildflowers during my hikes. Yes, I’ve become that nerdy person. Getting into nature has reintroduced me to my surroundings and has given me a new appreciation for the Pacific NW. Continue reading the cheagan vegan
churn, baby churn
It has been unseasonably springlike in Portland the past few weeks. I’m talking between 65 and 70 degrees for days. I’ve got to admit, the Bay Area-like weather has made the transition back to Oregon a lot easier than I thought it would be. It also makes me feel like taking advantage of the weather in ways I didn’t in California. Because in the back of my mind I have this sinking feeling that the rain is waiting to surprise us in April. Continue reading churn, baby churn
a fast car and a cheesecake
Once upon a time my husband worked for the North American racing division of a German car manufacturer. Working for a German company had its perks. One of which was access to their products, i.e. fast cars. The company offered a lease program to its employees for a price we couldn’t pass up. We couldn’t lease a modest Honda for the deal we would get on this fancy, fast car. So we decided to take advantage of a company benefit. Continue reading a fast car and a cheesecake
traditions in a cake
Holiday traditions. Many of us have them, regardless of what holiday we celebrate this time of year. It seems that traditions, new or old, have a strong place in our hearts. One such tradition for me is enjoying my friend Mel and her brother’s chess cakes. If I had to categorize this on my holiday tradition continuum, it’s relatively new for me. But regardless, taking a bite of that chess cake signifies that the holidays are here. Continue reading traditions in a cake
planks and sticks 