There's No Place Like Oz

The Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake – 50 bakers crowned a winner

For those of you that have followed along with my journey over the last three years, there’s no doubt in your mind that I have a sweet tooth. Especially when it comes to dark chocolate and macarons (NOT macaroons). Over the last two years, I have developed a particular fondness for cupcakes. It started with […]

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Toffee nut white chocolate mocha cupcakes

Toffee nut white chocolate mocha. That’s my dad’s favorite drink from Starbucks. And I figured, why not turn it into a cupcake?! Last year I made egg nog cupcakes for his (December) birthday, and they were soooo good (*cough*, if I do say so myself). I was tempted to repeat them this year but that […]

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Cupcakes and macarons in Washington, DC — The Sweet Lobby

The “No Macaron Left Behind” mission is alive and well, my friends! Yesterday I sampled three beautiful macarons from DC’s The Sweet Lobby, and I must say, they lived up to Zumbo standards. Read on for my tasting notes and more about my new favorite place in the nation’s capital. For years I’ve been a […]

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Have You Eaten? Recipe testing for Billy Law’s first cookbook

I love food. Thanks to my foodie friend theheartoffood for these photos Before living in Australia, I satisfied my emerging interest by watching Top Chef, baking for holidays, browsing food magazines, and learning about gluten and dairy free eating. Living in and traveling around Australia for a year breathed life into what had been a […]

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St. Patrick’s Day: Green + Guinness

Has it really been two years since I celebrated my 30th birthday in Dublin?! It’s difficult to believe, but it’s true. Last year I spent the day driving in remote areas of Australia. And yesterday, for the first time in two years, I spent St. Patrick’s Day/my birthday at home. Over the years I’ve collected […]

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Making macarons for the first time

I tackled a self-imposed “No Macaron Left Behind” challenge when I lived in Australia. I sampled non-Zumbo macarons last summer in London and recently in my home town. I own two macaron cookbooks, Zumbo’s cookbook, and a macaron tea towel. This week, for the first time, I made macarons. It’s pretty embarrassing to admit that […]

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Macaron Day (Zumboron Day) 2011

The “No Macaron Left Behind” mission was a 7-month, 65+ flavor, calorie-packed adventure! When I left Oz, I knew the mission would continue somehow and in small ways it has — I sampled macarons in London, now own several macaron cookbooks, and have been the recipient of macaron-themed gifts. But let’s be honest. The mission […]

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Macaron Day Postponed

Today, half a world away from me, hundreds of curious, excited, hungry Aussies were supposed to queue up for Adriano Zumbo’s Macaron Day. I was going to read the stream of #Zumbo tweets and Macaron Day 2011 blog posts with envy, recalling my first Macaron Day experience last year. But Macaron Day 2011 has been […]

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Football, Food, and Festivals of Fall

For as long as I remember, fall has been my favorite time of year. The colors, smells, flavors, and weather make me smile. Some friends and family gather for a football tailgate When I was in Australia, one of the the things I missed the most was autumn. Now, I’m missing Australia but LOVING living […]

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A Letter to Adriano Zumbo

Dear Adriano Zumbo, Happy Monday to you in Sydney! How are things going in the Inner West (and Manly)? Busy brainstorming ideas for Macaron Day 2011? I bet you and your team are doing just that. You don’t know me, though I wish you did. One year ago I stepped through the doors of your […]

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