Categories
DIY Preemie

How to Create a Wild One Cake Smash

wild one cake smash with birch tree cake

Your little ones first birthday is here! The time just seemed to fly by, didn’t it? It seems like only yesterday they came into this world, and now it’s time to celebrate! Cakes smashes have become increasingly popular over the years. Nowadays there are hundreds, if not thousands of different themes for a cake smash -but here’s how to create a Wild One.

Creating a Wild One cake smash comes down to five different aspects. The cake, the outfit, the decorations, the background, and photography. 

The Smash Cake

The cake is the star of the show, besides your little one of course! Keep in mind that the cake itself doesn’t need to be super extravagant. A smash cake is created for the little one to play in, get messy with, and snap some cute, memorable pictures. You can create one yourself, like this birch tree cake or you can order one from your local bakery.

Typically smash cakes are vanilla, confetti, or any other white cake topped with buttercream frosting. This allows them to get messy, without being overly distracting from the final images.

Some ideas for decorating a wild ones smash cake could be: a tree, buffalo plaid, or woodland creatures.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a cake for a cake smash. 

  • Cakes created heavily with black or red food coloring can stain the skin. Although harmless, your little one could spend the next couple days looking like he or she was caught red handed!
  • Keep in mind that chocolate cakes, although delicious, can end up looking like something else altogether when smashed up and spread around. 
  • A child can get a handful of buttercream frosting in their mouth without issue, but a handful of fondant is chewy and poses as a potential choking hazard. The artistic, fondant cakes should be reserved for the big cake.
  • If ordering a cake, don’t call the day of, or even the day before. Your local bakery will need a minimum of 2-3 days to create a custom smash cake. 
Tools and accessories florists need for making up a bouquet

The Wild One Decorations

Time to set the scene for your little party animal to let loose. How you choose to decorate is really up to you, but here are some ideas to help pull the theme together.

  • Bring nature in: Add logs, twigs, or live plants to your set up. 
  • Crates: Add a rustic touch.
  • Wild One Balloon: Nothing says ‘Wild’ like this giant balloon (literally). You can couple this with a balloon arch as well! 
  • Where The Wild Things Are Book: A timeless classic, and a picture perfect prop for a studious wild thing.
  • Woodland Creatures: Whether you’re going for safari animal wild or Canadian wilderness wild, a couple stuffed animals help set the scene.
  • Signs: Such as ‘Stay Wild’, ‘Wild Child’ or ‘Wild and Free’.

The ‘Wild Thing, I Think I Love You’ was a custom sign built by www.ourcountrycreations.com. I wanted a large one with rustic feel, that captured my love for this little wild thing -while also playing off my love for older music. 

Unrecognizable mother and baby walking outside.

The Background

When choosing the background it’s important to keep it simple. After all, the main focus is your little one. The best background for a wild one cake smash would be the great outdoors, with all the trees and flowers acting as the perfect backdrop for your little one to rumpus in. If you are taking pictures outside, try to avoid taking pictures at noon when the sun is at its peak to avoid harsh shadows.

However, if you were blessed with a winter baby like myself, and outside photos are not an option -go for a plain, black or white paper backdrop. This gives your little one the center stage, as well as making for easy cleanup after its all said and done. 

Stay away from backdrops that have a picture printed on them to set the scene for some far off land. These are often busy and distracting. If you must go with a pictured backdrop, go easy on the decorations, and be aware that they are more difficult to clean. 

The Cake Smash Outfit:

There are a variety of outfits out there for your little one to sport during the photos. From suspenders and bow ties, to party hats, or flowy dresses. You can dress your baby however you see fit. Just try and avoid paying too much or getting too attached to an outfit that’s gonna be worn during the photoshoot – it might not make it another day. Especially if the cake uses deeply pigmented food coloring!

If all else fails, a diaper works just fine too.

The Photography:

For high quality pictures, you need a high quality camera and proper lighting. Be sure that this is already set up, before bringing your baby in for the photos -since their patience (and consequently time to take pictures) is low. If this isn’t your forte, a professional photographer can take care of it all. Just bring your little one, the cake, and some decorations and let the photographer capture their special day! 

baby birthday

Limit The Number of People:

Keep the amount of people at the photoshoot low. I know everyone and their dog wants to watch as the little one discovers the wonder of cake for the first time, but too many people create a distraction, bring conflicting opinions, and can get in the way of the photographer.

Plus, there is very little opportunity to visit the little one while the photoshoot is happening, and even afterwards. There’s only (roughly) a 30-45 minute window of opportunity for pictures, and then after that its straight into the bath. After all that excitement, the little one is likely pretty tuckered and ready for a snooze.

For your money’s worth, just record a video of them at the shoot to show friends and family later. We held our sons cake smash on his actual birthday, that fell on a Thursday, and then threw him a birthday party on one of the following weekends. This way, we got pictures to capture his first birthday and everyone was still able to visit and celebrate with him in the days that followed. 

Enthusiasm:

Bring a smile and excitement. If you feel stressed or anxious, your baby will feel the same way. Take a deep breath, smile, and enjoy the moment no matter which way it goes. 

Lastly, when all else fails… add a wooden spoon! 

wild one cake smash with birch tree cake and wooden spoon

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

Categories
Desserts Kid Friendly Recipes Uncategorized

Birch Tree Cake With ButterCream Frosting

Birch Tree Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Birch Tree Cake

All my childhood I’ve been somewhat of a baker. I remember creating coffee mocha cakes, brownies, and cookies of every kind. And in what seems to be a cruel turn of events, everything I once loved to bake -I can no longer eat. So you can imagine my bittersweet delight when I was able to go back to my roots and make an actual cake -with flour. This particular cake I actually made for my son’s first birthday and his wild one themed cake smash.

I’ve been out of the cake game for a long time, so honestly I’m a bit of a rookie when it comes to them now. I’m not used to measuring properly. I’m not used to following directions exactly, or following those strict rules that promise a perfect cake in return. But luckily for us, there is no such thing as perfection when it comes to birch tree cakes …and I think that’s what makes them so wonderful! So what if your birch tree cake is leaning a little? Or it’s got some weird marks on it? Or it flat out fell over? Now its a log cake – embrace it.

Wanna get right into it? Jump to the Recipe

Before we get started, there are just a couple things you’ll need that will make creating this cake so much easier.

Steps For a Good Crumb Coat

A crumb coat is a thin layer of frosting that traps stray cake crumbs, helps fill in any gaps between the cake layers to create a smoother working surface, and keeps loose crumbs from ‘messing up’ your final frosting coat.

For best results:

  • Make sure the cake is completely cooled; a hot cake will melt the frosting.
  • You can use any kind of buttercream frosting to crumb coat your cake, as long as it is thin enough that it won’t tug and break the cake’s surface.
  • Work from a separate bowl when crumb coating. This way you can avoid crumbs into the frosting you’ll use for the final, perfect coat. 
  • Don’t worry about visible crumbs or a ‘uneven’ coat. This layer should be thing enough to see the cake and crumbs through it. Just smooth the frosting as best as you can, and let chill before applying the final layer of frosting.

Decorating A Birch Tree Cake

There is no right or wrong way to create these patterns and lines, but here is what I found helped along the way:

  • Pull up a reference photo.
    • Let this be your guide. Having a reference will help you get a feel for the patterns, marks, and distinct ‘eyes’ of the birch tree.
  • Don’t smooth the cake.
    • Birch trees are rough and have texture. Mimic this by leaving the cake a little rougher around the edges.
  • Use a toothpick or a paintbrush.
    • A little gel food colouring goes a long way, and the black pigment in particiular is exceptionally strong. Even the finest of lines get exponentially larger when touched and smudged. Go slow, you can always add more colour later.
  • Let nature play a part.
    • Gather and wash some small sticks, wrap the ends in plastic wrap and stick them into the cake for a pinch of realism.
  • Add personal touches.
    • A ‘carved’ heart, initials, arrows – the possibilities are endless!
Print Recipe

Birch Tree Cake With Buttercream Frosting

Prep Time2 hrs
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time2 hrs 30 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: birch tree cake, buttercream, cake, frosting
Servings: 4 People
Author: Savannah

Ingredients

Maple White Cake

  • 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup butter room temperature
  • 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ tsp maple extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Maple Buttercream Frosting

  • 6 large egg whites
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 cups salted butter
  • 2 tsp maple extract

Decorations & Assembly

  • small twigs & sticks
  • brown & black gel food colouring

Instructions

Maple White Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch glass baking dish (are my cake pros screaming yet?). 
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Add buttermilk. Add maple (or vanilla, or peppermint, or whatever kind of extract you want your cake to taste like, really!).
  • Slowly combine the flour and sugar mixture.
  • Bake for minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Allow cakes to cool for a several minutes, before transferring onto a wire rack.

Maple Buttercream Frosting

  • Mix egg whites and sugar together in a small bowl. Place bowl over a pot with 1-2" of simmering water. Whisk constantly until the mixture is hot, reads 160°F on a candy thermometer, or is no longer graint to the touch. Approximately 3 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and beat mixture on med-high until the meringue is stiff and cooled.
  • Slowly add cubed butter and mix until smooth.
  • Add maple extract.

Decorating & Assembly

  • Once the cake has cooled, cut the cake into three 6" diameter circles -I used a small serving bowl as my guide. Save the rest of the cake mixture for cake pops (or enjoy it now, who am I to judge?). See how the pros do it here: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-cake-pops/
  • Place the bottom layer of cake on a serving tray. Top with approximately 1/4 cup of frosting, and repeat for each of layer. Crumb coat the cake and chill for minutes.
  • Frost the sides of the cake. It doesn't need to be smooth, the texture helps create a more realistic birch tree! Also, the rougher texture helps hide blemishes, and accidental touch marks …which is perfect for cake noobs like myself.
  • Place a small amount of gel food colouring into 3 individual, small dishes -one with black gel colouring, and two with brown. It's easy to over do it with color here, especially with black, so add a small amount at first. You can always add more later. Add a touch of hot water (½ tsp or less) into each dish, enough to thin the gel to make it easier to apply.
  • Take ½ cup of frosting and place into a piping bag (or a ziplock with the corner cut off works just fine too). Mix in one of the brown gel food colorings. On the top of the cake, pipe in circles, starting at the center and working your way outwards to mimic the rings of a tree.
  • Take a toothpick, or a unused paintbrust and paint on the patterns and lines of the birch tree with the remaining brown and black food coloring. Take a spatula to blend and smudge the lines for a more natural look.
  • Add your finishing touches! Twigs, pinecones, figurines, or a hand 'carved' heart.

That’s all there is to creating a birch tree cake! Trust me, if an absolute noob like me can do it, so can you!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

Categories
Recipes

Peanut Butter Cookies | Dairy Free

Dairy free, egg free, gluten free peanut butter cookies

Finding desserts for us poor unfortunate souls with food intolerances and allergies can be a challenge. Finding good desserts without major allergens and sensitivities can be a downright rarity. Thus, we’re stuck always settling for alternatives like ‘nice cream’ or ‘energy bites‘. While those are all good, yummy, and have their place…sometimes enough is enough. Sometimes your inner cookie monster comes out and all you want is a freaking cookie. Is that so much to ask!?

Apparently, cause these still got peanut butter in them.

Sorry peanut allergy sufferers! Don’t despair, my devilish sweet tooth and inner cookie monster are almost never satisfied. When I figure out another delicious, peanut and allergen-free recipe you’ll be the first to know. I promise!

For us who can tolerate peanut butter in just 20 minutes and 8 ingredients, you’ll have these easy dairy free, gluten free, and egg free cookies in the palm of your hands. These cookies melt in your mouth, fill your tummy with peanut buttery goodness, and quiet down your inner cookie monster.

So get excited! We don’t have to be poor dessert avoiding souls anymore!

If you can’t see this coming already we’re going Disney on this one -Turn up “Poor Unfortunate Souls”  from The Little Mermaid. and let’s start singing, awkward two-year-old dancing, and my favorite -cooking!

Dairy free peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips
Print Recipe

Dairy Free Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies melt in your mouth, fill your tummy with peanut buttery goodness, and quiet down your inner cookie monster.

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Author: Savannah

Ingredients

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup Icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp Honey or Maple Syrup
  • 1 tbsp ground flax seed
  • 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp of Sel Gris or Himalayan Pink Sea Salt
  • 1/3 cup Enjoy Life’s Mini Chocolate Chips or any other dairy free chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In a large bowl combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed. Steal a few bites of cookie dough…you know…as a…routine quality check.
  • On a prepared baking sheet, drop cookie dough by the tablespoon full and flatten them out to your desired cookie thickness (I go for about 1/2″ thick). These cookies don’t spread by themselves. Bake the cookies for 8 to 12 minutes or until the bottom edges are browned.
  • Avoid temptation and let the cookies sit for 10 – 15 minutes before moving them (and eating them!). Unlike cookies with flour, these need time to firm up before we can scarf them down.

Notes

Once the cookies have cooled, grab the cookie with the most chocolate chips and enjoy it’s peanut buttery goodness.

That’s all there is to these gluten free, dairy free, egg free cookies to satisfy that inner cookie monster!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

  • Tags cookies, dairy free, , peanut butter
Categories
Health Preemie

Our NICU Journey – 26 Week Micro Preemie

A new year is upon us, which means new resolutions, new opportunities, and new beginnings.

I know that I’ve been quiet on here for a long time, but not without good reason. For me, 2019 was one hell of a year, becoming one of the most stressful, frightening, exciting, happiest, and wonderful year of my life all at the same time. Let me explain.

As everyone was kicking off the New Year, I lay in hospital bed, catching small glimpses of the fireworks and celebration happening far away. I had already been there for two days. January 1st went by quietly with family coming and visiting me in the hospital, playing games, and keeping me company. They spent a majority of the day with me, and as the night crept in – I smiled and waved everyone goodbye, hopefully counting down the hours and minutes.

Every minute was precious, and every one that passed meant a higher chance of survival… but now it was time.

Within minutes the room was a blur of activity. I blinked back my tears, and tried to swallow the lump in my throat as my body shook uncontrollably. My fiancé held my hand tight and met my gaze. I could see the fear in his eyes too, but he put on a brave face as be told me it would all be okay before they wheeled me into the operating room.

They told us that he might not cry, that he might not survive, but to our surprise the room erupted with the sweetest sound we have ever heard as our baby boy took his very first breath on his own.

Our baby boy, our little 950g wonder -born prematurely at just 26 weeks and 2 days gestation was here, making his grand entrance on January 2nd, 2019 at 1:06am.

And so began 2019, our NICU journey, our first taste of parenthood.26 week preemie

He was so impossibly small -nothing but skin and bones, hooked up to endlessly beeping machines. His eyes were still fused shut and his skin was so delicate that we were unable to hold him for a week. I cried every single day. The goodbyes were the hardest, and I dreaded when I had to leave his side to try and catch a moment of sleep.

We spent 113 long days in the hospital, and during that time we rode the NICU rollercoaster. From the highest of highs, cheering him on for every small step – every gram of weight gained, him opening his eyes, first cuddle, his first bath, moving out of his incubator to a big boy bed, drinking his first drops of milk, then his first bottle, getting off oxygen, and finally coming home. To the lowest of lows. The tears, the hard times, and the ‘close your eyes and pray that the devil doesn’t know you’re there’ moments. From reintubation, a ripped off and re-sewn on ear, chemical burns, brain scans, brain bleeds, weight loss, multiple blood transfusions, a broken arm, and the heartbreaking waiting game to finally bring him home.

I don’t remember a lot of the days in between. The days just seemed to repeat, like a cruel version of Groundhogs Day. A blur of feedings, updates, and cuddles -with nights that ended in tears as I made the journey home.

The second best day of our life finally came on April 25th, 17 days after his predicted due date.

Our son finally got to come home.

We were happy, yes, but a different emotion dominated the day. The moment we stepped through the door it was like a weight had been lifted off our chest, relief flooded over us, and it was as if we could finally breathe again. Serenity.

Of course, our journey didn’t stop after the NICU, and for a while our days and weeks were filled with endless doctors appointments, physio sessions, eye exams, and follow ups. But each day he grows stronger, and the appointments move further and further apart. He is now one year old, and nearly 20lbs. Our days are filled with reading, playing, talking, trying new foods, visiting the cows, chickens, and horses, cuddling on the floor with his best friend -a big husky shepherd who adores him, and his most favourite thing of all… holding mamas hand as we walk all around the house!

  • Ex 26 Weeker watching the cows and bulls
    Meeting the Cows
  • Ex 26 Weeker at the river smiling with mom
    River walk with Momma
  • Ex 26 weeker micro preemie in pumpkin patch
    In the Pumpkin Patch

Here’s to a new year full of exciting adventures, precious memories, and many more ‘firsts’. I’m glad you’re here on this wild ride with me. If you are currently going through your own NICU journey, please know that my heart goes out to you and your little ones. Our family is rooting for you.

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

  • Tags 26 weeker, micro preemie, NICU, , premature
Categories
Kid Friendly Low Carb Recipes Under 30 Minutes

Pub Style – Maple Bacon Chicken Wings

Maple Bacon Chicken Wings

At least up here in Canada, maple bacon chicken wings have been all the rage. From quaint pubs to bustling restaurants, everyone whos anyone has been scrambling to jump on the maple bacon bandwagon, adding their own unique spin on them to become the best of the best.

I ended up missing the maple bacon bandwagon and had to walk 40 clicks, but hey I’m here now and I’ve got something to say.

It’s time to put some freaking salt on those things!

It seems that so much emphasis is put on the sweetness of these wings that people completely forget about just how much the flavors of both sweet and salty  (my personal favorite flavor combination), can change a dish. As the lovely chefs in beautiful Banff, Alberta say: “No dish is complete without a little salt.”

So without further ado, the best of the best maple chicken wing recipe is here. (You can thank me later)

For my fellow keto lovers, this recipe can easily become lower carb by swapping out regular all purpose flour for almond flour, with the only noticeable change being slightly crispier wings. Of course, let’s not kid ourselves here… this recipe will be higher in carbs than most keto recipes thanks to the maple syrup and the maple sugar in my Backwoods Bacon Sea Salt Blend (see? again with the sweet and salty!)  but that’s exactly what makes them maple chicken wings!.

Personally, I’m a bit of an easy peasy, half-ass keto-er (as shown by my slightly squishy tummy and my neverending love for ice cream)  so a few extra carbs don’t bother me any.

Perhaps my diet is a bit more ‘slow carb’ than ‘low carb’.

So if you’re anything like me, ditch the carbs of regular flour by using almond and then embrace the maple-y goodness of the carbs you do keep. If you’re a die-hard keto fan (kudos to you!), save this recipe for your future treat meal and go all out. You won’t regret it!

Now -this time for real, if you’re ready for the best of the best maple chicken wings turn up “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies and let’s get started!

That’s all there is to these incredible, impossible to beat pub style maple bacon chicken wings!

Enjoy!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

Categories
Freezer Friendly Gluten Free Keto Kid Friendly Low Carb Recipes Under 30 Minutes

Cookie Dough Fat Bombs – Keto Friendly

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fat Bombs

I’ve fallen deep into the rabbit hole that is Pinterest lately …so get ready for an abundance of mason jar salad recipes!

Just kidding… (maybe).

 While the mason jar salads are certainly alluring and “Pinterest Worthy”, it was actually when I was scrolling through picture upon picture of delicious dinners, light lunches, and naughty desserts that I once again stumbled upon the world of ketogenic desserts.

Part of me knew that going low carb doesn’t mean that you have to forgo favorite desserts, I’ve dined on keto cheesecake, cake, cookies, and of course fat bombs countless times thanks to my devilish sweet tooth… but what I didn’t realize was how vast and expansive this world of keto desserts is.

From avocado brownies to literal cookie dough my sweet tooth is in low-carb heaven!

This past little bit I’ve just been binging on all sorts of treats. One part of me insists it’s for the recipes but the other part of me knows it’s just for the cookies… which brings us to this gem of a fat bomb recipe today!

Chocolate chip cookie dough fat bombs.

Who knew there was such a delightful thing? (You do now, you lucky goose! I guess all those late night  Pinterest scroll sessions, and cooking sweets binges weren’t for nothing!)  Long story short -these are by far my favorite fat bombs of all time, and I’d bet all the money in my piggy bank (…roughly 47 cents but that’s beside the point!) that they’ll rank high on your list too.

Guess you’ll just have to make them and find out!

Of course, in typical Humble Kitchen fashion, this recipe can be tailored to you and can be as keto friendly or carb loaded as your tummy desires. For my fellow keto lovers, using almond butter instead of peanut butter or using specialty chocolate chips like Lily’s Chocolate (dark chocolate made with stevia) will yield a lower carb count.

However, these items can be tricky to find -especially in small towns, so if you’re fine with an extra carb or two go grab your favorite dark chocolate,  turn up “I Need A Hero” by Bonnie Tyler and let’s get started!

For the original, lower carb recipe jump on over to Fit Mom Journey’s blog and if you’re having a hard time finding the ingredients – stay right here. 

There we have it! That’s all there is to these easy and delicious cookie dough fat bombs!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah


  • Tags cookie, , dough, fat bombs, treat
Categories
Freezer Friendly Gluten Free Keto Low Carb Recipes Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken | Low Carb – Keto Friendly

Slow cooker buffalo chicken recipe

As the workload gets harder, the house gets messier, and the days seem to get impossibly busier the last thing anyone wants to do is come home and slave over a hot stove (oh, and then proceed to spend another 20 minutes washing dishes -don’t even get me started).

My slow cooker has been my knight in shining armor on busy days like these for years… that is until I broke it while scrubbing it in the sink shortly after making this recipe.

As if I needed yet another reason to hate doing dishes.

Admittedly, I stared heartbroken at my shattered dinner hero for several minutes (all while wondering to myself why bad things happen to good people)  before finally moving it to its final resting place -the trash. So… I’m just saying that if you’ve ever been even mildly curious about trying flavored gourmet sea salts first hand, now’s a good time. Momma needs a new slow cooker.

But I digress, let’s not drag on with the (albeit overdramatic) sad stuff. As one last tribute to my lost dinner helper, let’s turn up “Want You Back” by the Jackson 5 and just get right into it!

Want to turn up the heat?

Substitute the mineral sea salt with a sea salt that definitely packs a punch. Try Bold Jalapeno for a gentle heat, Prairie Fire for a dish that’s hot and smokey, Diablo’s Ghost if you don’t mind sweating while you eat, or go one step further and try our hottest salt to date: Hell Fire!

 

That’s all there is to this incredibly simple, tantalizingly spicy slow cooker buffalo chicken. All that’s left to do now is to sit back, relax, binge some Netflix, and enjoy the rest of your evening.

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

 

 

Categories
Desserts Gluten Free Kid Friendly Recipes Under 30 Minutes

Chocolate Caramel Covered Strawberries

Chocolate Caramel Dipped Strawberries

February is already here and love is in the air. Heart shaped candies fill the stores, lovey-dovey cards stock the shelves, and beautiful flowers bloom – all of this and more for 10x the usual price! …yay?

Whether you love Valentines Day or love to hate it. Whether you want to spoil your sweetie, spoil yourself, or simply eat some gosh darn chocolate covered strawberries then you’ve come to the right place!

Okay but seriously, why don’t we eat chocolate covered strawberries more often?

Personally, (as much as I joke about the cost) I’m definitely a hopeless romantic, a sucker for love, and a fan of all things happily ever after. This Valentine’s Day is actually very special as this one my sweetheart and I will be celebrating as fiancés!

Just a few short days ago, my sweetheart and I got engaged out in Lake Louise, Canada during the Ice Festival. Surrounded by intricate ice sculptures, picturesque snow-capped mountains, and the love of our family he popped the question.

And I ugly cried. Hard.

I’ll spare you the details, but I will say this…

It was perfect.

So in the spirit of all things love, turn up “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John, grab a bottle of wine, and prepare for a little romance.

Or at the very least, some good old gosh darn chocolate, caramel strawberries!

There we have it! A salty, sweet twist on chocolate covered strawberries!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

 

 

  • Tags caramel, chocolate, love, strawberries, valentines day
Categories
Recipes

Berries and Cream Dessert

Berries and Cream

Here I lay tucked into my bed, weak and sickly a mere day before New Year’s Eve. I’m surrounded by tissues, tea, and heat packs with my head so stuffy that I’m squinting just to see and my nose is running more than a leaky faucet.

I’m jumping back and forth between working, writing, googling how to get rid of a cold fast, and reminiscing on all those days I took for granted where I was able to breathe through my nose.

I’m not so good at relaxing – can you tell?

December has been the busiest month to date with my little growing business! With new interested stores to contact, promotional videos to shoot, Christmas orders to fulfill, Christmas markets to attend, and attempting to find at least one  spare moment to write and cook is enough to leave my head spinning.

Pile on Christmas shopping, family visits, Christmas baking, and planning Christmas parties – you’ve effectively made a grown woman wish she could hibernate for the winter.

Could you imagine? Oh, what a dream.

Honestly, all this stress is likely why I am lying here in a mess of tissues with unbrushed hair and a relentless head cold in the first place.

But here I am typing away for two reasons:

1. Apparently, I can’t chill the f*ck out

2. I honestly really, really love my little business (even the stressful times that come with being the boss).  I love pushing, learning, growing, and I simply can’t wait to see how far The Humble Kitchen will go!

So thank you for cooking, growing, and being here on this little adventure with me!

Since its apparent I won’t be able to rest until this recipe comes out, let’s quit with the chit chat! Turn up “Wolves” by One Direction and let’s get into it!

…Don’t you judge me...

… I’m sick… my judgement is fogged…

…Fine. It’s catchy okay?

Let’s just move on.

Serves: 2     Total Time: 5 minutes

  • 1 cup of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries -or any berry that you adore!
  • 2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • A pinch of shaved dark chocolate, sprinkles, or a touch of Aloha Alaea, Japanese Matcha, or Vintage Merlot Sea Salt.

Looking for a different taste? Indulge in any sea salt you adore for a splash of color and a flavorful twist.

Split the berries between two wine glasses and set aside. If using frozen berries, let them sit out at room temperature for a few extra minutes while you tap your foot along to my guilty pleasure song.

 (Oh come on, don’t pretend you don’t like it!)

Once the berries are thawed, combine the heavy whipping cream and maple syrup into a medium sized bowl. Whip the mixture until soft peaks form. Then, add in the vanilla extract and beat it once more until the vanilla is fully combined.

Scoop generous amounts of the whipped cream over top of the berries.

Go ahead and lick the bowl… Nobody’s watching.

Sprinkle on a pinch of your preferred topping then grab your glass and get ready to indulge in a very berry treat!

There we have it!

That’s all there is to this super simple, very berry treat. Dig in and enjoy!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

  • Tags berries, cream, , sea salt, whipping cream
Categories
Recipes

Green Beans With Toasted Almonds

Green Beans

When weekday dinners aren’t the bane of my existence… weekday side dishes are.

It always seems like the same rotating selection of 3 different dishes made to get your family to at least pretend they’re eating a couple of vegetables. Of course -let’s not kid ourselves here, green beans are the furthest thing from spicing up weekday dinners… but at least you get to arm yourself with another side dish for your roster.

Sometimes it’s the little things, like discovering a new recipe for supper that can make a long weekday night even a little bit better.

So despite being a rather uneventful dish, we can at least be grateful that this recipe is incredibly easy, fast (and my favorite part) relatively hands off -which means less stirring time and more time spent awkward kitchen dancing to “Dancing With The Devil’s Daughter” by Jo Hikk

Are you ready?

Lets get started.

 

Serves: 5      Prep Time: 5 minutes    Cook Time: 5 minutes

  • 3 cups of green beans (fresh is best, but I just opted for what I had -which was frozen)
  • 1/4 cup of slivered almonds
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
  • A pinch of Himalayan Pink or Sel Gris Sea Salt

Looking for a different taste?

Try substituting regular mineral salt with Bold Jalapeno, Heated Habanero, or Diablo’s Ghost Sea Salt for a little extra heat.

Or amplify the garlic by using Roasted Garlic Sea Salt or our Tuscan Sun Sea Salt Blend -and then get ready to pucker up!

In a large pan, start by melting the butter over a medium-low heat.

Add the green beans, garlic, onion powder, and sea salt to the pan and stir until the beans are evenly coated.

Sauté the beans until almost tender. This will take just a couple minutes if using fresh beans and approximately… well honestly I don’t know how long it took with the frozen ones.

Too busy busting my awkward two year old dance moves I  suppose!

Once the beans are tender (or once you take a dancing break and realize that you’re still cooking like I did) add in the slivered almonds. Don’t be afraid to add in more for extra crunch!

Continue to sauté the beans until crisp and tender.

Then get ready to dish up, cause you’re done!

 

There we have it!

A super simple and super speedy green bean side dish to get those extra veggies on your plate!

Health & Happiness,

Savannah

  • Tags almonds, beans, green, , sidedish