Under Construction (Oh, and open-faced brie sandwiches)

We’re currently in the process of doing a complete overhaul of the layout and design of Simply Sumptuous. My goal is to make the blog more accessible and much easier to navigate than it was before.Here’s where all of you come into play: If you have any comments or suggestions… Read more »

Make breakfast even better with these home-made golden raisin and caraway scones!

No morning is complete for me without a cup or two of rich, full-bodied coffee. There’s something I love about that sharp, bitter aroma as seeps in through my senses and starts to clear the fog that’s settled in overnight. I even wake myself up early so I can have… Read more »

A quick tour of food blogs on the interwebs

Today I’m going to provide a quick look at how I do what I do here on Simply Sumptuous. (No worries, though, I’ll be back Monday with something especially delicious for all of you.)I suppose the most compelling question has to do with where I look for recipes. Contrary to… Read more »

Giada De Laurentiis' lemon cookie cakes with lemon frosting

Personally, I think Giada De Laurentiis is just divine. I love her Food Network shows, and I love the surprising dishes and treats she comes up with—so I decided all this was reason enough to finally try out one of her recipes. I chose this recipe for lemon cookie cakes… Read more »

Light, healthy cuisine: Zucchini-ricotta cheesecake with savory parmesan, dill and ham biscuits

I think spring is the perfect time to incorporate fresh produce and herbs into lighter, healthier dishes—as opposed to the heavy comfort foods so characteristic of winter. For me, this zucchini-ricotta cheesecake is emblematic of all things spring, and our recent gorgeous weather calls for such a season-appropriate dish.I pulled… Read more »

Ah, the bygone days of mysongynism... and excessive consumption of lard

These ads were once in circulation.I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.Question: What the hell was in Kellog’s PEP vitamins?I wonder at what point the Lard Council had to retract their ad campaign due to the health problems that befell people who really loved their lard.They’re dead… Read more »

You've failed me, Martha... Also, curry carrot salad

I was paging through February’s issue of Martha Stewart Living (No, I don’t subscribe, thank you very much.) when I came across a recipe for olive, apricot, and pistachio couscous. First, I was surprised by the unintuitive mix of green olives, dried apricots and toasted pistachios, but then I was… Read more »

Notice something different?

Simply Sumptuous.New name, same idea.That’s all.… Read more »

More healthy baking strategies: Banana-oatmeal granola bites

I think I’m hooked on the idea of healthy cookies. I loved last week’s vegan carrot-oatmeal cookies, so this past weekend, I tried out another healthy cookie recipe from Heidi Swanson. This one is a lot heavier on the oatmeal, so it seems more like a granola masterpiece to me… Read more »

Easter brunch: An occasion fit for delectable desserts

Aerial views of Milwaukee from the rooftop deck of The NewportI’m headed home to Milwaukee this weekend for the annual Easter brunch with my family, and I’ve used this occasion as an excuse to take a brief break from the healthy initiatives in favor of showcasing my renditions of a… Read more »

Cornbread with honey-orange butter

Cornbread is an incredibly versatile quickbread; there are quite a few sweet and savory versions, but I was looking for the simplest recipe out there. I found exactly what I was looking for on TheFreshLoaf.com, a user-friendly forum for baking enthusiasts like myself. Cornbread is a light, crumbly bread often… Read more »

My dinner is better than yours: Chicken cacciatore and cornbread with honey-orange butter

Hello all, the time has come for a savory feast! I spent a few hours Sunday putting together the chicken cacciatore in the crock pot—crock pots are not just for your grandma anymore—and whipping up a batch of cornbread and fresh honey-orange butter. The cornbread with the sweetened butter nicely… Read more »

Something new and a bit strange: Vegan carrot-oatmeal cookies

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I’ve designated April as the month for cleaning up my eating habits—for eating well-rounded, home-made meals, lots of fresh produce, and perhaps a few sweet, but not overly indulgent, treats. As usual, I place the emphasis on the “treats” part, but I consider… Read more »