Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens

Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens
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Every year, I try to come up with celebratory meal ideas for my small immediate family. And in turn I share with you, just incase you need a small but elegant menu. This might not sound like a rebellious exercise but it is. Everything surrounding the holidays tends to be a go-big-or-go-home situation. Whole baked hams? Plentiful. Multi-rib roasts? Ubiquitous. A nice reasonably sized and priced piece of meat that still feels splashy and lavish? Not so much. That’s why I’m trying to be the change. You don’t need to have in-laws to impress or multiple mouths to feed to make a special meal. And these Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens are proof of that. They look and taste special. But they won’t leave you stranded in the kitchen for a day and a half and they won’t saddle you with leftovers for the rest of your natural life.

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Apple Gingerbread Spoon Cake with Apple Cider Caramel

Apple Gingerbread Spoon Cake with Apple Cider Caramel
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It’s very rare for a kitchen mistake to turn into a culinary triumph but today’s Apple Gingerbread Spoon Cake is a shining example of this once-in-a-blue-moon event. This gooey, delectable cake started life as a failed attempt at a gingerbread version of apple cobbler. Don’t worry cobbler fans, I will give it another whirl at some point in the future. I do have a good idea of how to crack it. But the resulting dessert from my blunder was so delightful, that I decided to do it on purpose the second, and yes, third time around. It is the most moist and decadent bite I’ve had in a while. So let’s get into it!

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Triple Pickle Chopped Salad with Torn Mozzarella

Triple Pickle Chopped Salad with Torn Mozzarella
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Growing up, I was a pickle purist. The only pickle I truly liked was a kosher dill with extra garlic. But fortunately for me, I have since branched out. Chow chow or pickled green tomato relish was my gateway pickle to a whole new world. At this point, it’s difficult to find a pickle I don’t like. Bread and butter pickles and I are still touch-and-go, but other than that I’m across-the-board pro-pickle. So if I like them all why not pile them all in one place? And that place happens to be this Triple Pickle Chopped Salad with Torn Mozzarella. A salad that doubles down on what I think is everybody’s favorite parts of a salad – the pickle-y bits and the cheese. So without further ado, let’s tackle this briny wonder.

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Malted Snack Cake with Salted Vanilla Buttercream

Malted Snack Cake with Salted Vanilla Buttercream
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Easter is here and we have little to no plans, which is exactly how I like it. Nice and low-key with a quiet dinner at home. But just because we’re keeping things chill doesn’t mean we can’t have a lavish dessert. Well, maybe “lavish” isn’t the word for this particular cake. Loud and obnoxiously joyous is a little more fitting. But before we get to the vibrant decor, let’s talk about the cake itself. This is a Malted Snack Cake with Salted Vanilla Buttercream. The cake is spiked with chocolate Ovaltine powder and topped with a simple vanilla American buttercream dyed in a shouty, springy array of colors. The cake is finished with Whopper Easter eggs and cape gooseberries for a little extra whimsy. Sound good? Good! Let’s make it!

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