Blog - Page 39 of 41 - Ahead of Thyme

The Best Lemon Loaf with Lemon Glaze (Starbucks Copycat)

We are living in crazy times right now, and when life hands you lemons, make a lemon loaf! Better yet, make a Starbucks inspired copy cat lemon loaf with lemon glaze. That's right, you guessed it... this lemon loaf tastes just like the one that love so much at Starbucks. So now, you can have a taste of Starbucks from the comfort of your own home! And I am not just saying that, I literally can't even taste the difference.

Inspired by Starbucks lemon loaf, this moist, homemade lemon loaf with lemon glaze has the perfect balance between sweet and tangy, and so so flavourful. | aheadofthyme.com

This cake is super moist, dense, and has the perfect sponginess to it. It's packed with lemon flavour, and has the perfect balance between sweet and tangy. Plus, you can't beat the extra pop of flavour from the lemon drizzle on top. So so good!

Lemon Loaf Ingredients

To make a Starbucks-copy cake lemon loaf cake, you will need to gather these ingredients:

all-purpose flour - adds substance
baking powder - adds lift
salt - adds flavour
eggs - adds flavour, lift and structure
Greek yogurt - keeps the cake moist
sugar - adds flavour and texture
vegetable oil - keeps the cake moist
lemon extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice - adds flavour

How to Make Super Moist Lemon Loaf

Making a lemon loaf is a lot easier than you think.

First, you simply combine eggs, yogurt, and sugar and beat together until smooth. Then add in oil, lemon extract, lemon zest and lemon juice and continue to beat until smooth.
Next, gradually add in your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt), and beat for about 30-60 seconds until just combined. You have to be careful to not overmix. The batter will have some lumps and that is okay!
Lastly, pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes in a 350 F oven. Remove from the oven, place pan on a wire rack and allow it to cool in the pan for an hour. Then remove from the pan and allow it to cool for another 1-2 hours on the wire rack, until completely cooled.

The Secret to Super Moist Lemon Cake

It's the yogurt. Adding Greek yogurt to the cake batter keeps the cake extra moist. Yogurt is also a really good source of fat, and I mean the good fat, the kind that your body and brain need to function.

How to Make Lemon Glaze

Making lemon glaze is really simple. All you need is lemon juice and confectioners' sugar (icing sugar). You slowly add the lemon juice to the sugar and stir until smooth and desired consistency is reached. The consistency that we are looking for is thick but can still easily be poured. So if your icing is too runny, simply add more sugar. If it is too thick, add some more lemon juice, until you get it just right.

How to Store Lemon Loaf

Lemon loaf cake is best stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, and consumed within 2-3 days. It stays moist and fresh for days. To store longer than 3 days, wrap the loaf in plastic wrap and store in the fridge. Note that when stored in the fridge, the loaf will dry out slightly and it will not retain the same level of moistness as when stored at room temperature. Thus why room temperature is recommended.

You can also freeze lemon loaf for up to 3 months, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container.

This loaf is a huge hit in our home and never lasts more than two days. The worst part is that my husband is not a big lemon guy so he barely has any. It's basically all me... stuffing my face... for a full two days... Don't just please, I can't help it!

Lemon loaf goes especially well if you are huddled up under a blanket on your couch reading a good book or entertaining guests after a dinner party. You may need to just brew up a nice, warm pot of tea to go along with it.

More Copycat Recipes

Craving to make some other restaurant favourites. Check out some of my other copycat recipes:

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I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.

This recipe was originally published in December 2015 (my first month of blogging). It has been completely updated with new photographs and content.

Homemade Sunflower Seed Bread

Four words. Homemade. Sunflower. Seed. Bread. Now this was a huge accomplishment for me as it was my very first time baking bread! I have made dinner rolls before, but never a whole loaf of bread. Even though I was kind of nervous about it, it actually turned out pretty amazing. So, come jump on the bandwagon with me and learn how to make bread at home with me! Plus, guess what? NO BREADMAKER REQUIRED!

It's so much more fun to make your own bread at home. Especially when you end up with a delicious, golden brown loaf of bread topped with sunflower seeds. The crust came out with just the right crunchiness. The texture on the inside is delightful, soft and fluffy. The aroma that wafted through the kitchen as it bakes, also didn't hurt. Not one bit. It's what I like to call pure joy. I seriously cannot get over how it turned out. Proud home baker right here!

What is in Homemade Sunflower Seed Bread?

To bake homemade sunflower seed bread, you will need to gather some pantry staples together. Here is what you will need:

active dry yeast
warm water
sugar
salt
sunflower oil
all-purpose flour
wholemeal spelt flour
sunflower seeds

How to Make Homemade Bread

Here's what do you need to do to get started at making your very own homemade bread today!

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, salt, sunflower oil, all-purpose flour, and wholemeal spelt flour, and form into a dough.
Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for around 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Place dough in a bowl, cover with a cloth and let it rise in until doubled, about 30 minutes.
Knead sunflower seeds into the dough, and transfer into a 5x9-inch loaf pan. Cover and let it rise again for another 30 minutes.
Drizzle the top of the dough with extra sunflower oil and sunflower seeds. Bake for 60 mins, until well risen and golden.

Tips for Baking Bread with Yeast

What terrified me most about baking bread was yeast - I don't know why I had this misconception in my head that yeast was going to be so difficult to work with. Thankfully, I was very wrong. Yeast is not that scary at all, it's just another ingredient.

The main to things to keep in mind when working with yeast is:

make sure you're using good, high-quality yeast.
store dry active yeast in a cool, dark place - If yeast is stored in a warm place, the temperature could kill the yeast even before the expiration date. Dissolving yeast in hot water will do this too, so make sure you use warm water.
allow dough to rise in a warm place - When setting your dough to rise, make sure the room is not too cold. The low temperature will prevent the dough from rising as well. Ideally, you want the temperature to be slightly above room temperature (at least 75-80ºF or 24-26ºC). Alternatively, you can even rise your dough in a preheated oven set at 100-120ºF (around 40-45ºC).

So go ahead and take the plunge and try to bake your own loaf of homemade sunflower seed bread. You will be pleasantly surprised and ever so proud of yourself. And remember, there are not too many things better than the smell and taste of freshly baked bread enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. You can do this!

More Bread Recipes

Since this post, I have definitely honed my bread-baking skills. Check out some of my favourite recipes below, or browse all my bread recipes.

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How to Cook Dried Beans

Dried beans are the pantry staple food. But most of us find ourselves reaching for canned beans because well, convenience, and also because cooking dried beans seams like such a daunting task. But trust me on this one, it's actually one of the easiest meals to make. AND beans are so good for you. They have tons of nutrients, are packed with plant-based protein, and fit any diet (they are vegan and gluten-free). So, let me show you just how easy it is to cook dried beans.

Don't know what to do with the dried beans in your pantry? Learn how easy it is to cook any type of beans -- vegan, gluten-free, and packed with protein. | aheadofthyme.com

Dry Beans vs. Canned Beans

Dry beans vs. canned beans, which is better? This is the million dollar question. To be honest, I prefer eating beans cooked from its dried version vs. from a can. Here's why

Full control. A lot of canned beans are really high in sodium and are even sweetened. Cooking your own beans from scratch means you control what goes into them.
Flavour. This is also related to controlling what is in your beans. Cooking your own means you can decide how to season your beans. Like them spicy? Add some chilli powder. Like them with a tomato base? Add some tomato paste. You have endless options here.
Texture. You determine the texture of your beans. If you like your beans to be very firm, then you cook it until the desired texture is reached. If you like super, mushy beans, then keep cooking until your beans get to that point. With canned beans, you are stuck with the texture that they come in, and usually they will not be firm.
Pride. Bottom line, it's just so much more satisfying when you make your own beans from scratch. And they just taste better. Plain and simple.

Do You Need to Pre-Soak Dried Beans?

Yes, yes, yes! Pre-soaking the beans for at least 8 hours will allow the beans to absorb moisture and increase in size, and in turn will make them cook faster. Most beans will cook in 45 minutes when pre-soaked. If you don't pre-soak, expect it to take over 2 hours to cook.

The exception to the general rule are lentils and split peas. You don't need to pre-soak them overnight, but I do recommend soaking them for 10 minutes in hot water.

How to Pre-Soak Dried Beans

pick them over to remove any small stones or debris that may be hiding in your beans.
pre soak the beans for at least 8 hours or overnight. This will cause the beans to absorb moisture and increase in size, and in turn will make the beans cook faster. Note: lentils and split peas are an exception. They do not need to be pre-soaked overnight.
soak with baking soda to remove the gassiness from the beans and make them easier to digest.

Use your dried kidney bean stash to make flavourful, one pot red kidney beans. It is vegan, gluten-free, and packed with plant-based protein. | aheadofthyme.com

How to Cook Dried Beans

Once your beans have been pre-soaked, you are ready to cook them with sautéed onions and garlic, salt and pepper, and other seasonings (if desired). The steps are simple:

In a large pot, sauté onions, garlic, and turmeric.
Stir in water, pre-soaked beans, salt and pepper, and seasonings (optional).
Simmer uncovered for 45 minutes.
Season with more salt and pepper (to taste) and serve over rice with some fresh herbs on top, or with a biscuit or dinner roll on the side.

How to Store Cooked Beans

Beans reheat really well and make amazing leftovers. They also freeze really well. In fact, frozen beans will pretty much taste the same as they did on the day that you made them. So I never cook a small batch. I prefer to double up the recipe and freeze any extras for a rainy day.

Store them in a sealed container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, or up to 3 months in the freezer. To defrost and eat, thaw the beans in the refrigerator and then reheat for a few minutes in a saucepan. T

More Bean Recipes

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Air Fryer Asparagus

If I knew that you could make 6-minute air fryer asparagus when air fryers first hit the market, I would have ran to the nearest store to get my hands on this machine. You guys, 6 minutes. It's mind blowing.

Perfectly Cooked Asparagus

And this asparagus is so good. It's got a bit of a crunch on the outside, yet soft and tender inside. It's not dry (which happens when you air fry for 10 minutes - yes, I tried it). It's not soft and soggy (which happens when cooked too long in the oven or frying pan). It's just right.

It's still got its vivid and bright green colour. When the asparagus turns a light green, it's overcooked. Like I said, it's just right.

How to Make Air Fryer Asparagus

Well, let's state the obvious. You need an air fryer. I have the Philips Air Fryer and I love it. No complaints other than the air fryer basket is small and I want to fit MORE FOOD in there. But a small basket seems to be the general consensus amongst all air fryers.

You also need just a few simple ingredients:

Asparagus
Olive oil - just a pinch
Garlic
Italiano seasoning - or any seasoning that you like
Salt

You basically toss your ingredients together, throw them into the air fryer. Turn it on and wait 6 minutes.

You can serve this asparagus alongside almost any main course dish. I like to serve it alongside some meaty dishes like chicken, lamb or seafood with a side of creamy mashed potatoes. Get your hands on a batch while it's still fresh and in season!

More Air Fryer Recipes

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Tuna Melt Grilled Cheese Sandwich

One of my favourite things in my pantry is canned tuna. You would be surprised at the number of things that you can actually make using it. You can throw it in a salad, in pasta, or even on pizza. But one of my absolute favourite ways to use it is in a delicious, warm, crunchy tuna melt grilled cheese sandwich.

What is in a Tuna Melt?

If you are a tuna lover, then by default, you are a tuna melt lover. What you will need before you can take a bite into that crunchy and gooey sandwich is 10 minutes of time (to prepare and grill), and a few key ingredients (some of which are versatile).

canned tuna
mayonnaise
green onions - you can substitute with other flavours including celery and pickles
salt and pepper
butter - you can use cooking spray instead (for grilling)
toast bread - you can use any kind of bread
cheddar cheese - you can substitute for other hard cheeses such as mozzarella, provolone, or Havarti

How to Make the Best Tuna Melt

Combine tuna, mayonnaise and green onions. Set aside.
Spread ½ tablespoon of butter on each of the 4 slices of bread and pace them on a plate, butter side facing down. Divide white cheddar equally onto 2 of the slices. Top those same 2 slices with an even layer of the tuna mixture, and shredded cheddar. Top each with the remaining slice of bread (butter side on top).
Heat a skillet or griddle pan over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook for 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Tuna melt grilled cheese sandwiches are a perfect easy lunch option. But as a busy mom to a toddler, some days a tuna melt for dinner is pretty amazing. You really can't beat a meal that's ready in 10 minutes.

More Sandwich Recipes

Craving more sandwiches? Try some of my Other favourites:

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The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

There is just something about a good old homemade cookie that is so hard to resist. Especially when the cookie you are talking about is chewy, soft-centred, and oozing with chocolate, oatmeal cookies! These cookies are a staple in my home because they are literally the best chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. I dare you to try to have just one!

Grab a tall glass of milk and start dipping the best homemade, soft-centered, chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies you will ever try! | aheadofthyme.com

Ingredients in Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Here is what you will need to get the perfect cookie:

butter - adds flavour and crisp edges
sugar - a combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar for sweetness
egg - adds flavour and structure
vanilla extract - adds flavour
flour - adds substance to make cookies chewy
rolled oats - adds substance and structure
baking soda - helps leaven the dough creating a soft, fluffy cookie
salt - adds flavour
chocolate chips - adds flavour and sweetness

How to Make the Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are super easy to make. They go from the mixing bowl to the oven in just 10 minutes. Which means it is super kid-friendly. Even my one year old "helped" me stir in the chocolate chips at the end.

First, cream the butter with the sugars. Second, add egg and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Third, add flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and combine together. Lastly, stir in the chocolate chips.

Then, scoop out onto a lined baking sheet and bake. In 8 minutes, you can bite into an ooey gooey chocolately cookie. In those 8 minutes, you can clean up your single mixing bowl. Yes, if you read correctly, you mix everything in one bowl which means less clean up at the end.

The biggest problem with these cookies is that you can't just eat one. I've already eaten three and it's not even noon. Normally, I would have packed these up for my husband to take into work. But since he is currently working from home, I guess we are going to end up finishing these up fast. Excuse me while I go pour myself a tall glass of milk... and grab another cookie...

More Cookie Recipes

Did you love these cookies? You may also like:

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This recipe was originally published in October 2016. It has been completely updated with new content and photos.

Carrot Cake with Cheesecake Topping

Happy first day of April! It's officially what I like to call, carrot cake season. So let me start off by asking, do you like carrot cake? Do you like cheesecake? If you answered yes to both, then you, my friend, are in for a treat. Let me introduce super moist and perfectly spiced carrot cake with cheesecake topping into your life. It truly is the ultimate spring dessert.

Super moist and perfectly spiced carrot cake with a creamy cheesecake topping is flavourful, comforting, and the perfect homemade spring dessert. | aheadofthyme.com

How to Make Super Moist Carrot Cake

There are a few secrets to follow to get that perfectly moist carrot cake.

Lots of grated carrots and I mean lots. The key here is also to shred the carrots, and then chop the shredded bits into smaller pieces. This will help ensure that the carrots are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Adding the cheesecake topping add extra moistness. The reason is that the cheesecake layer adds a little barrier which helps trap extra moisture inside the cake.

Cheesecake Topping

Initially, I was planning to make a carrot cheesecake which is basically carrot cake and cheesecake batter poured into a pan in even layers and swirled into each other. The only problem was that I didn't have enough cream cheese and of course they are all out in the store, along with everything else. I thought of just making the cake with cream cheese frosting but I really wanted my cheesecake fix. So this thinner cheesecake topping was born. And it has changed my carrot cake life forever.

It is just the right amount of cheesecake to complement each slice of carrot cake, without overpowering it and essentially turning it into a carrot cheesecake. Plus, since it's just on the topping, I like think that this cake is healthy-ish. Are you with me?

How to Make Carrot Cake with Cheesecake Topping

make the cake batter - made using carrots, flour, eggs, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
make the cheesecake topping - made using cream cheese, Greek yogurt, sugar, vanilla, and eggs.
assemble and bake - pour the cake batter into a springform pan, and pour the cheesecake batter on top.
cool down - let the cheesecake topping set and solidify.
serve

How to Store Carrot Cake

This cake can be stored for up to 5 days an air tight container in the refrigerator. You can also store this cake in the freezer for up to 3 months, tightly double-wrapped with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and placed in an airtight container. Just let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator once you are ready to serve it.

More Cake Recipes

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Wild One Safari Birthday Party (with Recipes)

Our happy, sweet baby boy turned one year old a few weeks ago. I have no idea how this happened. How are we already at the one year mark?! They tell you that time goes by fast, but I was not prepared for this. To celebrate his first year of life, we threw a spectacular "Wild One" safari themed birthday party for our family and friends. We also celebrated his actual birthday with a healthy banana smash cake photoshoot.

Wild One Safari Birthday Party

A safari/jungle theme is probably one of the most popular trends right now for birthdays (and also baby showers). Just a basic google image search will yield hundred of images that you can sort through and gain inspiration from. Well, since I have already spent countess hours researching and planning every detail to bring this party together, you don't have to! I am sharing some amazing wild one ideas, recipes, and party details with you.

Wild One Dessert Table with Decor

>> Wild One Safari Decor

Let's talk about the decor, aka the items that basically brings the theme of your party to life. I have linked everything I used for Kai's wild one safari party below (in affiliate links).

Welcome sign with milestones - I purchased an editable welcome sign with milestone information off of Etsy. It was super easy to edit and save, which I then had it locally printed on a foam board and propped on an easel.
DIY balloon garland - make your own balloon garland with garland tape and balloons. I picked a neutral look using a combination of mocha brown balloons, ivory balloons, and a hint of gold balloons.
DIY boxwood hedge backdrop - there are lots of tutorials on YouTube that you can follow to make a jungle backdrop using artificial boxwood panels. I also added some artificial palm leaves to the backdrop and around the dessert table to give a more lush effect.
Custom lasercut wood sign - this was purchased from a local company, but there are other options and styles available for purchase online from other vendors.
Jumbo animal figurines - these extra sized plastic figurines complemented the desserts on the table so well.
Small animal figurines - I decorated the food table with these small plastic animal figurines.
Large plush animals - displaying large plush animals are the perfect touch to bring the whole look together. You can pick from a huge number of jungle animals including: giraffe, lion, tiger, zebra, gorilla, elephant, cheetah, white tiger, hippopotamus, and rhinoceros.
Balloons - we also had a bunch of animal print balloons and gold leopard print balloons
floating around on the ground and hung to the front door outside.
Birthday banner - we hung a monthly birthday banner with monthly milestone photographs above the food table.

>> Wild One Safari Desserts

The desserts are also something that needs to be carefully planned. These items are basically extra decorations on your dessert table.

Cake - we purchased Kai's birthday cake from a local baker. We topped it off with a gold birthday candle. For a more economical option, you can make your own cake. Just adapt the following recipes to make a layered cake: vanilla cake, double chocolate cake, or lemon cake. Then, decorate with fondant. To decorate your cake in line with the safari theme, try using animal fondant cutters and/or palm leaf fondant cutter. You could also top the cake with plastic animal figurines.
Cupcakes - we also purchased the safari animal cupcakes from the same local baker, but for a more economical option you can make your own vanilla cupcakes with fondant.
Cake pops - I made the safari animal print cake pops (clink the link to see full recipe). I used gel food colouring to dye the white chocolate coating and to hand paint the animal print on top with cake decorating brushes. I also needed cake pop sticks and displayed the finished cake pops on a wooden cake pop stand.
Sugar cookies - we purchased wild one sugar cookies from a local baker, but for a more economical option you can make your own sugar cookies with royal icing.
Mousse cups - we also served mini nutella ferrero rocher mousse cups which can be made in 5 minutes.

Bite Sized Desserts

The following bite-sized desserts are some of my favourites to serve.

Orange Creamsicles

Homemade Fudgesicles

Chocolate Mousse Cake

M&M Christmas Cookies

Old Fashioned Apple Fritters

The Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Nanaimo Bars

This Mother's Day, treat someone special (or yourself!) to these beautifully light, airy, and fluffy Vanilla Cupcakes with Rose Petal Buttercream. | aheadofthyme.com

Mother's Day Vanilla Cupcakes with Rose Petal Buttercream

No Bake Bird's Nest Cookies

Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Icebox Cake

Fresh Fruit Tart

Vanilla Cake

Strawberry Cupcakes

Crepe Cake

Chocolate Layer Cake

Millionaire's Shortbread

Homemade Glazed Donuts

Peanut Butter Balls

Palmiers

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Nutella Cookies

Chocolate Covered Oreos

Monster Cookies

Chocolate Whoopie Pies

S'mores Bars

Strawberry Muffins

Rice Krispies Treats

Brownie Cookies

Robin's Egg Cupcakes

Italian Easter Cookies

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Oreo Brownies

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Madeleines

Lofthouse Cookies are super soft, moist, and thick, classic grocery store cookies made of a cakey sugar cookie, sweet buttercream frosting, and sprinkles. | aheadofthyme.com

Lofthouse Cookies (Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies)

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cranberry Orange Muffins

Homemade Chocolate Pudding

Pecan Pie Brownies

Jello Jigglers

Apple Cake

Blueberry Cake

Cherry Crumb Bars

Lemon Curd Cookies

S'mores Cookies

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

Sugar Cookie Bars

Vanilla Pudding

Banana Pudding

Mango Sago

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

French Macarons with Vanilla Buttercream Filling

Italian Rainbow Cookies

Nutella Mousse Cups

Easter Bark

Easter Blondies

Persian Love Cake

Flourless Banana Brownies

Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Cake

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

Caramel Brownies

Soft and Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Butter Cookies

Individual Apple Crisp

Applesauce Bread

Mango Frozen Yogurt

Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls

Glazed Lemon Blueberry Scones

Moist Vanilla Cupcakes

Fudgy Brownies

Lemon Sweet Rolls

Easter Egg Sugar Cookies

Cute raspberry and white chocolate heart-shaped shortbread cookies literally melt in your mouth. They are the perfect Valentine's Day treat. | aheadofthyme.com

Raspberry and White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Pecan Snowball Cookies

Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Trick or Treat! Easy to make and decorate, bite-sized spooky chocolate cake pops packed with chocolate and sprinkles are the perfect Halloween treat. | aheadofthyme.com

Spooky Halloween Chocolate Cake Pops

Caramel Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars

Chewy chocolate chip peanut butter granola bars are healthy, vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free. Prep them in just 10 minutes to snack on for weeks. | aheadofthyme.com

Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies

Blueberry Yogurt Muffins

These melt-in-your-mouth, homemade baked jelly donuts, coated in sugar and filled with sweet strawberry jam, are so soft, fluffy, spongy and airy. | aheadofthyme.com

Baked Jelly Donuts with Strawberry Jam

Small batch almond biscotti are crunchy, crumbly and packed with almonds, perfect for dunking into tea or coffee, and they are super easy to make. | aheadofthyme.com

Easy Small Batch Almond Biscotti

Brown butter oatmeal chocolate chip banana bread cookie bites are thick, fluffy, pillowy, cake-like little bites of banana bread heaven. | aheadofthyme.com

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Cookies

The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Vanilla Cake Pops from Scratch

Easy Homemade Apple Hand Pies

Caramel Cheesecake Brownies

Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Heart Cookies

Four Quick and Easy RITZ Cracker Recipes

Persian Rice Cookies with Poppy Seeds (Nan-e Berenji)

Wild One Photographs

I highly recommend taking lots of pictures to capture this big milestone. A good idea is to designate someone to take photos, as you will be so busy to get all the photographs that you want. We were so grateful to have my sister Leili, of the incredible Heidema Photography, to make the trip down to Vancouver to celebrate Kai's birthday with us and to take all of these gorgeous photographs shared on the blog.

Recipes for a Safari Themed Birthday Party

When it comes to birthday parties, it's all about the finger foods and dips. Swipe through my favourite party food recipes below and find the perfect one to serve at your party (and don't forget some squeeze pouches for the little ones).

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Healthy Vegan Chickpea Tacos

Baked mashed potato spring rolls combine creamy cheesy mashed potatoes with crispy golden wrappers for the ultimate JOEY copycat appetizer. | aheadofthyme.com

Baked Mashed Potato Spring Rolls (JOEY Copycat)

Apple Nachos are a quick, healthy snack made with crisp apples, nut butter, and toppings. Fun, customizable, and ready in minutes! | aheadofthyme.com

Apple Nachos (Easy and Healthy Snack)

Baked Cheddar Cheese Sticks

Mexican Ground Beef Tacos

Fresh, light, and healthy Vietnamese Salad Rolls are filled with shrimp, vegetables, and herbs, and served with a delicious homemade peanut dipping sauce. | aheadofthyme.com

Vietnamese Salad Rolls with Shrimp and Peanut Dipping Sauce

Easy Tzatziki Sauce is a cool, creamy Greek dip made with thick Greek yogurt, crisp cucumber, zesty lemon juice, and fresh dill. Quick and easy too! | aheadofthyme.com

Easy Tzatziki Sauce (Yogurt Cucumber Dip)

French Bread Pizza

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw

Cheeseburger Sliders

Pico de Gallo

Guacamole

Ricotta Crostini with Peas and Mint

Sweet Potato Tater Tots

Homemade Baked Potato Chips

Cheese Board

Air Fryer Pizza Rolls

Pizza Fries

Caprese Skewers

Cauliflower Tots

Homemade Taquitos

Cheese Quesadilla

Chicken Meatballs

Baked Chicken Quesadillas

Toasted Ravioli

Sheet Pan Quesadillas

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Homemade Kettle Corn

Turkey and Cheese Sliders

Cheesy Baked Zucchini with Marinara

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Zucchini Bites

Homemade Ranch Dip

Green Bean Fries

Lobster Rolls

Tortilla Strips

Shrimp Cakes

Deviled Eggs

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites

Chicken Salad

Spinach Cheese Rolls

Chicken Nachos

Pizza Dip

Vegetarian Quesadillas

Pizza Crescent Rolls

7 Layer Dip

Greek Fries

Chili Nachos

Homemade Popcorn

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites

This easy charcuterie board is the perfect appetizer to impress with minimal effort- made with cheese, cured meats, crackers, dips, olives, fruit, and nuts. | aheadofthyme.com

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

Veggie Tray

Tex Mex Egg Muffins

Candied Pecans

Homemade Applesauce

Grilled Cheese Roll Ups

Caramelized Onion Dip

Fish Stick Tacos

Homemade Fish Sticks

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Mango Salsa

Homemade Pickles

Fig crostini topped sweet, juicy figs, tangy goat cheese and crunchy pistachios is flavourful, delicious, and perfect for snacking on or entertaining. | aheadofthyme.com

Fig Crostini with Goat Cheese and Pistachios

Baked Cauliflower Nuggets

Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs

Pesto Hummus

Sweet Chili Chicken Bites

Sheet Pan Nachos

Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

Baked Coconut Shrimp

Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze

Whipped Ricotta Dip

Whipped Ricotta Crostini

Homemade Tater Tots with Bacon

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Homemade Calzones

Baked BBQ Chicken Wings

Baked Spinach Dip

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

Baked Apple Chips

The Best Egg Salad Sandwich

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Korean Beef Steak Tacos

Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

The BEST breaded fried chicken wings -- extra crispy and crunchy outside, tender and juicy inside. You can't even tell they're air fried, not deep-fried! | aheadofthyme.com

The Best Breaded Fried Chicken Wings (Air Fryer)

Classic Hummus

Curried White Bean Crostini with Toasted Pepitas

Turkey pinwheels are bite-sized finger food perfection and will make back-to-school lunch planning for the kids, entertaining guests at lunchtime, or serving appys at game day a total breeze! | aheadofthyme.com

Back to School Turkey Pinwheels

You will be amazed by how crispy these baked Asian chicken wings turn out! We add sriracha for heat, honey for sweetness, and ginger to balance the flavours. | aheadofthyme.com

Crispy Baked Asian Chicken Wings

Baked Turkey Meatballs

Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Mayo (Cactus Club Copycat)

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Cracker Bites

Tomato and Mozzarella Tart

Four Quick and Easy RITZ Cracker Recipes

Fish Tacos with Lime Crema

Some of my favourite recipes are:

Charcuterie Board: Take your party to another level with this easy to follow guide on how to make a charcuterie board, with a variety of cheese, cured meats, crackers, olives and dips. Get the recipe here.
Baked Mozzarella Sticks: Crunchy, cheesy, and paired with an awesome dipping sauce, these baked mozzarella sticks are just as amazing as what you would find in a restaurant! Get the recipe here.
Easy Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze: This bruschetta consists of the perfect blend of tomatoes, onions, garlic and basil immersed in olive oil (to bring out their intense flavours), and then placed on top of toasted garlic bread with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Get the recipe here.
Baba Ganoush Eggplant Dip: Baba ganoush is a creamy eggplant dip mixed with garlic and tahini for an explosion of flavor! Get the recipe here.
Baked Turkey Meatballs: Juicy, flavourful turkey meatballs are baked in the oven and take only 20 minutes to make from prep to table! Get the recipe here.
Classic Deviled Eggs: You can't go wrong with classic deviled eggs. They are a simple and easy to whip up, go-to appetizer for all your holiday parties. Get the recipe here.

To "jungleize" your items (yes, I may have totally just made up a word), label little tent cards and write the word "wild" in front of any item or describe your food in a creative way like this:

hungry hippo dip
cheetos for cheetahs
jungle juice
swamp spread
monkey bites
safari salsa

Birthday Party Drinks

You can't have a birthday party without some juice. Serve some refreshing lemonade or iced tea, or even some bubble tea!

Strawberry Lemonade

Homemade Peach Iced Tea

Three ways to make bubble tea at home is a lot easier than you think! Made with real ingredients, this recipe is delicious, refreshing, and healthy. | aheadofthyme.com

How to Make Bubble Tea

Safari Party Favors

We had the party favors set up as a cute "adopt an animal" display. I filled favor boxes with little stuffed animals and popped their heads out of the window. I also added a miniature book and sugar cookies inside. To complete the look, you can add a thank you tag tied onto the handle with burlap string. For the display, I created the "adopt an animal" sign on photoshop using safari-style font, and placed it into a wooden picture frame.

Wild One Safari Birthday Video

Our little Kai's first birthday was such a success. He is the sweetest, happiest, most curious and energetic little guy. We are so proud to be his parents and are so excited to watch him grow. Although we would prefer if he did that a little more slowly!

Immune-Boosting Ginger Turmeric Tea

3-ingredient immune-boosting ginger turmeric tea has been part of my daily life for a while, especially during the winter months to boost my immune system with its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. And with all that is going on in the world right now, it is more important than ever to take care of our immune systems. So while we are staying at home, self-isolating, social distancing and trying to flatten the curve during this covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, let's add another preventative measure by building up our immune systems.

How to Make Immunity-Boosting Tea

To make this turmeric ginger tea, you will need to steep a few incredible, powerhouse ingredients together: ginger, turmeric, and black pepper. I usually make the tea in a small saucepan, and then pour it into a teapot with a strainer to hold back all the chunky bits. When my hubby makes this, he likes the drink his tea with all the chunky bits. So how you decide to serve this is really based on your own personal preference.

How Ginger Turmeric Tea Boosts Your Immunity

Let's take a look at how each of the key ingredients supports the immune system:

Ginger
- Ginger is one of those foods that is bursting with immune-boosting benefits. It has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects which boosts your immune system and keeps it healthy.
- Ginger is antibacterial so it helps support your immune system. Studies show that it offers benefits against some drug-resistant bacteria.
- Ginger is antiviral and has been shown in a study to stimulate the immune system to kill viruses, including respiratory viruses.
- It has also been shown that ginger activates the immune system in preventing and treating cancer cells.
Turmeric
- Turmeric is another natural food that boosts your immune system, even in people with immune disorders. It has one of the highest anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well.
- Turmeric has antiviral and anti-fungal properties.
- It has been shown to activate the immune system in preventing and treating cancer cells.
- Turmeric improves brain function and working memory, lowers the risk of brain disease and lowers the risk of heart disease.
Black Pepper
- Black pepper has also been shown to enhance the immune system. It, too, contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Black pepper has also been shown to contain anti-bacterial properties and fever reducing.
- Black pepper is especially essential in this tea because it increases the bioavailability, or in other words, it significantly increases the body's absorption of ginger and turmeric.

These ingredients are magic, but I have to be honest with you guys... this stuff does not taste great. It is bitter, a little spicy, and not my go to tea for drinking when curled up with a book. This stuff means business.

More Healthy Drinks

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Healthy Banana Smash Cake with Coconut Cream Frosting

Two 6-inch layers of banana cake held together with whipped coconut cream and topped with more cream, mixed berries and a drizzle of maple syrup. This little healthy banana smash cake with coconut cream frosting is the kind of cake I would want to serve on a coffee break or for brunch. I seriously can't believe we are giving this to our one year old... to smash (and hoping that he will at least eat some, considering the effort that went into it!). How come we didn't do things like this when I was a kid?

Side note -- how is my baby already one year old? *cue the waterworks*

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Vanilla Cake Pops from Scratch

A ball of vanilla cake crumbs and frosting, with a white chocolate coating and topped with sprinkles... I am talking about none other than the cutest bite-sized treat -- vanilla cake pops from scratch. These bites of heaven are thankfully actually so simple and easy to make, which makes them the perfect treat to serve at your next event.

I have been spending the last month planning and preparing for my son, Kai's, first birthday. Seriously, how are we even at this point right now? So I have been perfecting my cake pop recipe specifically for this party. After a few trial and errors, we have found the winner!

This recipe will yield cake pops with the perfect ratio of cake crumbs to frosting. I challenge you to have just one!

Ingredients in Homemade Cake Pops

all-purpose flour
baking powder and baking soda
salt
butter
granulated sugar
egg
vanilla extract
whole milk
frosting - made with butter, icing sugar, whole milk, and vanilla extract.
chocolate coating - pure white chocolate and coconut oil.
assorted sprinkles

How to Make Cake Pops from Scratch

In summary, the key steps you need to follow before you can take a bite into that perfect cake pop are as follows:

Bake a simple vanilla cake.
Prepare 4-ingredient frosting.
Crumble the cake and mix it into the frosting.
Roll the cake pop dough into cake balls.
Dip into melted chocolate and decorate.

So easy! And so so good. Trust me on this one.

Homemade Cake vs. Boxed Cake

When you look for cake pop recipes online, the majority of recipes you will find are ones simply requiring box cake mix and readymade icing. I mean, sure, that is pretty convenient, but you will be compromising on the taste. Big time. Nothing beats from scratch cake pops. And, it's still pretty easy to whip up a cake and pop it into the oven. The icing is also just 4 ingredients that you mix together. You can do it!

Once you have your cake and frosting, the rest of the steps are all the same. You combine the two together and roll out little cake balls. No fancy cake pop tray required. Then, dip away into melted chocolate, decorate, or just leave them as is!

More Bite-sized Dessert Recipes

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Shanghai Style Vegetarian Steamed Buns

So my hubby, Danny, might as well take over the blog because he did it again. I mean, who knew he was such a great home cook? Shanghai style vegetarian steamed buns are spongy with a juicy, flavourful bok choy and mushroom filling inside bursting with all the familiar Asian flavours. Plus, when it's homemade from scratch it means that you are in full control of what is in your food = no MSG.

What are Steamed Buns?

Hot steamed buns is a very popular dish all over China. If you go into any big city market, you will find these buns. Particularly, if you head out in the mornings, you will easily find restaurants with people lined up, waiting to grab a few of these. They are also quite cheap, and people tend to eat 1-2 buns for a meal, usually buying a pair.

In Shanghai, bok choy and mushroom filled steamed buns are the most popular kind, and this Shanghai style steamed bun is well known across China because of it's mild flavour and relatively healthier version. They are also completely vegan!

Ingredients in Vegetarian Steamed Buns

We stuffed these buns with mushrooms and bok choy, but you could easily stuff these buns with any kind of filling that you want. Meat is also quite common.

dried shiitake mushrooms - you can substitute this with fresh mushrooms, you just don't need to pre-soak them. You may need to pan-fry them a little longer to remove all the water content. Keep an eye on them and cook until browned.
vegetable oil - for pan-frying the mushrooms
large bok choy
seasonings - sesame oil, light soy sauce, granulated sugar, ground white pepper
steamed bun dough - lukewarm water, instant yeast, all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt

How to Make Shanghai Style Vegetarian Steamed Buns

Cook the mushrooms. Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in cold water for 15 minutes. In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat and add the mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes until fragrant.
Cook the bok choy. Bring a pot of water to boil over high heat. Dip the bok choy in for 15 seconds and immediately drain and place under running cold water to stop the cooking process. Using your hands, squeeze out the water from the bok choy.
Prepare the filling. Transfer the bok choy and mushrooms to a food processor. Pulse mix a few times to finely chop the bok choy and mushroom. Do not overmix as you do not want the mixture to turn into a puree. Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl and drain any excess water. Add sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, and white pepper and mix together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to marinate.
Prepare the steamed bun dough. In a small bowl, whisk together water and yeast until the yeast dissolves. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir with a spatula until mixture forms into a dough. Knead the dough with your hands (or mixer) until the dough becomes smooth and soft, about 15 minutes. Form the dough into a ball and place it back into the bowl. Cover the bowl and let the dough sit at room temperature for 1.5 to 2 hrs until it rises and doubles in size. Once risen, knead the dough for a few minutes to get rid of any air bubbles. Divide the dough into 10 even balls.

How to Fold Steamed Buns

Roll each mini dough ball into a 4-inch circle on a lightly floured surface, adding more flour as needed.
Scoop a spoonful of filling into the centre of your rolled out dough.
Bring the edges of the dough up, enclosing the filling inside.
Seal the filling inside by pleating the edges together with your finger.
Place each bun on single 3x3-inch sheet of parchment paper. Repeat until all the dough and mixture is used up.
Place buns on a pan and allow them to sit for another 20 minutes to allow it to further grow in size.

How to Cook Steamed Buns

Cooking steamed buns is super easy. All you need is a steamer. We used a steamer pot over boiling water. Simply place your buns in the pot, cover, and steam for 10 minutes. You then allow the buns to sit in the pot (still covered!) for 5 more minutes. This part is crucial. If you uncover the pot too early, the buns will shrink and collapse!

You can serve these vegetarian steamed buns immediately. Serve them on their own or alongside some soy sauce or black rice vinegar to dip into for extra flavour.

How to Store Steamed Buns

It's always better to eat these within a few days. You can store steamed buns for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

You can also freeze extras for up to 3 months. To freeze, simply place the steamed buns on a tray lined with parchment paper and freeze for an hour. Then transfer them into large ziploc bags or tupperware and use as desired.

To reheat, re-steam for 5-10 minutes.

More Dim Sum Recipes

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Slow Cooker Asian Beef Noodle Soup

Winter months are upon us, and it's all about slow cooker recipes this season. I mean, who doesn't love a recipe that you can literally throw everything in one pot, turn on a button, and have dinner pretty much ready for you in a few hours? Slow cooker asian beef noodle soup, I have been waiting for you!

This hearty and oily soup is packed with beef chunks, vegetables, and Asian spices and flavours. You don't need any added vegetable oils because you get all the oily goodness and savoury flavour from the beef's natural fat content through the slow cooking process.

Once the slow cooking process is complete, we cooked and added bok choy and flat rice noodles. I love the look, texture and flavour of these noodles. But, you can substitute with any Asian noodle (such as udon, lo mein, or ramen noodles) in this beef noodle soup.

How to Make Slow Cooker Asian Beef Noodle Soup

slow cook the beef with onions, carrots, and spices.
cook the noodles in a separate pot.
blanch the bok choy.
assemble the soup together in your serving bowl.

Creamy Chinese-Style Borscht Soup

There's nothing more comforting on a cold, winter day than a big, creamy bowl of hearty Chinese-style borscht soup. It's loaded with carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and ham in a creamy tomato soup base AND is both gluten-free and dairy-free.

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Yogurt Fruitcake

Just in time for the holidays, this super moist and tender, festive yogurt fruitcake is the perfect blend of yogurt, dried fruits and nuts. It's gorgeous, flavourful, and a total show stopper served for dessert after Christmas dinner, alongside brunch or even as a mid-day snack.

Festive yogurt fruitcake is particularly a great snack to take in to work or school, as it is loaded with dried fruit and nuts, it can easily double as an "energy bar". It will give you an energy boost or put a smile on your face when you are eating it. Holidays or not, I gravitate to this recipe all year round.

Another reason that I gravitate towards this recipe is that it is super easy to make. You pretty much combine the dry ingredients to the wet ones, pour the batter into a loaf pan, and bake. It is a great recipe for beginners with a passion for baking to start with.

The Secret to Super Moist Fruitcake

Yogurt. It is no surprise that using yogurt will give you a moist cake. Yogurt is also great source of fat, not your typical fat but the good fat, the kind that your body and brain needs. as opposed to typically used cream cheese which more processed
Water bath. A water bath is the process used to bake this cake. You simply place the loaf pan into a large baking pan with hot water and place in the oven. The water bath will help the cake cook evenly and will make it more moist.
Dried fruit = less sugar. Since there is lots of dried fruit in this recipe, you don't need to use as much sugar. In fact, this recipe uses half of the sugar that is recommended in most fruitcake recipes. You can also substitute and use any kind of dried fruit (and nuts) that you like.

So less sugar and more good fat. Who doesn't want that?

How to Store Fruitcake

This fruitcake is best stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, and consumed in 2-3 days. It stays moist and fresh for days.

To store longer than 3 days, wrap the fruitcake in plastic wrap and store in the fridge. Note that when stored in the fridge, the fruitcake will dry out slightly and it will not retain the same level of moistness as when stored at room temperature. Thus why room temperature is recommended.

Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin

Sooo, this year's holiday dinner is about to get a whole lot creamier and comforting. I mean... just take a look at this. Rich and creamy potatoes au gratin, aka the ultimate comfort food, is made with sliced potatoes, cheese, and milk. It's the perfect side dish for the holidays or for dinner ANY DAY.

So if you know, then you know, that I am obsessed with potatoes. Give them to me baked, mashed, fried, roasted, au gratin, in a poutine, and basically prepared in any and every way that potatoes can be prepared. Potatoes au gratin are kind of my jam these days.

What are Potatoes Au Gratin?

Potatoes au gratin a rich and creamy potato dish made with layers of sliced potatoes baked in a creamy cheesy sauce. But wait, isn't that also called scalloped potatoes? Well no. These are actually two similar but different dishes. The distinguishing feature that sets it apart is cheese. That's right, scalloped potatoes does not have any cheese.

So let me ask you, which would you prefer? Potatoes au gratin or scalloped potatoes? For me, it's a no brainer. Cheese wins. Every time.

How to Make the Best Potatoes Au Gratin

So, the key to making the very best creamy potatoes au gratin is to keep in mind the following tips.

Thinly sliced potatoes - the easiest way to get those perfect thin slices is to use a mandoline slicer. It saves you time from having to manually slice each potato with a knife, and by getting even slices you can be confident that the potatoes will cook evenly.
Onions - the secret is the pan fry the onions with garlic. Most gratin potato recipes do call for onions but they are just thrown into the baking dish raw. Trust me on this one. Pan frying in butter just brings out the flavours in a whole different and better way.
Whole milk - most recipes for potatoes au gratin use cream in the cheese sauce. I have opted for a slightly healthier version using milk. But, you want to make sure to use whole milk to still get that creaminess that is ever so crucial in this dish.
Cheese - lots and lots of cheese! I used a combination of my favourite cheese - sharp white cheddar and Grana Padano cheese. The results are to die for (at least according to my taste palate). You could easily substitute these for other melty types of cheese like regular cheddar, Gruyère cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 90 minutes - yup, it really does take that long! You will also need to bake the potatoes covered for the first hour, and then uncovered for the final 30 minutes. This will get you that beautiful golden brown colour on top.

FAQ and Tips for Making Potatoes au Gratin

Can I made potatoes au gratin in advance? Absolutely. Prepare everything into your casserole dish and cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Press the wrap directly on the potatoes to prevent them from browning, although some discolouration may happen on the top. Store in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.

Easy Homemade Biscuits

Flaky, fluffy, buttery, and soft, these easy homemade biscuits come together with only a handful of ingredients you already have at home!

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Air Fryer Black Cod with Black Bean Sauce

My husband did it again. Seriously, just look at what he made for me. My mouth was salivating when I saw it, when I ate it, and still when I think about it! Flaky, oily, and tender air fryer cod with black bean sauce. Yes, you read that right. This fish was made in the air fryer and in under 20 minutes!

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Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Super crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, air fryer brussels sprouts take just 12 minutes to cook with just a quarter of the oil required when roasting in the oven. The best part? It doesn’t require any valuable oven space. It’s the easiest Thanksgiving side ever.⁠

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Pumpkin Congee Rice Porridge with Corn

When east meets west, savoury pumpkin congee rice porridge with corn is born. It's thick, it's creamy, and it screams fall comfort! What better way to start your day?

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Healthy Miso Ramen with Chicken

It's cold out, the sweaters are out and the leaves are starting to turn into beautiful fall colours. Yup, it's officially comfort food season. Comfort food doesn't have to always be about pastas, lasagnas, and cheesy casseroles (although, don't get me wrong, those are pretty amazing!). Comfort food to me also means warm soups, and healthy miso ramen with chicken is no exception.

Here in Vancouver, ramen is kind of life. The line ups outside many of the ramen places in downtown is pretty crazy. But being a new mom, I just don't have the time to wait outside for half an hour in the cold like I may have in the past. So when my hubby prepared ramen at home, and I mean restaurant-quality ramen, I fell in love with him even more. This stuff is good, real good.

How to Make Vegan Ramen Soup Base

The secret to the perfect ramen is pretty much 90% in the soup base, if not 100%. Almost all ramen shops serve their ramen in a pork broth soup base, or sometimes chicken. This one my hubby has come up with is completely vegan. It is made using miso, onions, tomato, garlic and ginger for ultimate umami results. It's soo good guys! It's thick and cloudy and screams absolute perfection.

How to Make Healthy Miso Ramen

Make the tomato miso soup base. Heat oil over medium heat, and add onion, tomato, and garlic. Cook until tomatoes are soft and mushy. Add water and ginger and bring to a boil. Stir in miso paste and dissolve. Simmer.
Make the chicken. Prepare marinade (salt, pepper, sugar, soy sauce, and cayenne pepper) and marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes. Air fry at 375 F for 12 minutes. You can also pan-fry the chicken.
Make the noodles. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook ramen noodles for 2-3 minutes.
Make the soft-boiled eggs. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add eggs and cook for 6 minutes, while continuously stirring the eggs for the first minute. Once done, remove the eggs and immediately place them in an ice water bath for a few minutes. Peel and slice in half.
Assemble the ramen bowls. Evenly divide the noodles, corn, chicken, scallions, and egg into two bowls. Pour miso broth on top. Garnish with seaweed nori, grated carrots, and sesame seeds.

Ramen Toppings

We top off this miso ramen with a perfectly boiled ramen egg, scallions, seaweed, carrots, sweet corn, and strips of air fryer chicken breast. But do not worry if you don't have an air fryer, although it does yield the best results for this dish, you can also just pan fry the chicken instead. In fact, many of these toppings are customizable. You can easily swap out corn or carrots for a different vegetable of choice.

Trust me guys, this one is a keeper.

Creamy Pumpkin and Corn Chowder

My newest favourite pumpkin soup hands down is this creamy pumpkin and corn chowder, bursting with fall flavours. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it's vegetarian, gluten-free and ready in under 30 minutes. Hello weeknight dinner!

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Mini Meat Pies with Soy Sauce

Wondering what the cutest dish on the blog is right now? Well, it's these mini meat pies with soy sauce right here. A flakey puff pastry stuffed with delicious, juicy and flavourful meat inside. Thanks hubby, for another amazing dish.

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Healthier Caramel Apple Fall Cheesecake

This right here, ladies and gentlemen, are what fall dessert dreams are made of....decadent and light, homemade healthier caramel apple fall cheesecake. It is made with a graham cracker crust, coated in caramel sauce, and topped with caramel apples and almonds. Heaven.

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Apple and Arugula Flatbread

Apple, arugula and pecans... these ingredients are just meant to be put together. Throw in some crispy flatbread and warm, melty aged cheddar, well that's what we call magic. You seriously can't go wrong with apple and arugula flatbread.

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Easy Homemade Apple Hand Pies

When your family has a big apple tree in their yard, you make apple recipes all month! Today's feature, brought to you by my hubby Danny, are easy homemade apple hand pies (proud wife over here)! These are basically apple pie in a different form, or what I like to call "apple pie calzones". They are stuffed with tender, sweet cinnamon apples, and wrapped in crispy, flakey, buttery crust.

How to Make Apple Hand Pies

To make these little hand pies, you will need to gather the following refrigerator and pantry staple ingredients:

pastry dough - made with flour, sugar, butter, salt, ice water
apples
butter
cinnamon
brown sugar
flour
egg
salt

Easy homemade apple hand pies are the perfect fall treat -- stuffed with tender, sweet and cinnamon apples and wrapped in crispy, flakey, buttery crust.

How to Fold Hand Pies

The most complicated part of this recipe is figuring out how to roll out the dough and fold it into little hand pies. But once you figure out the first one, the rest will be much faster and easier. Here is what you need to do:

Place apple filling at centre of dough.
Fold over dough, leaving ½-inch overlap. Push down to seal the filling. Fold over the overlap and press down to seal.
Crimp the edges using your fingers (or a fork).

What else is so great about this recipe? Well, you can make this ahead of time. Just prepare the hand pie crust and the apple filling and store them in the refrigerator. When you are ready to make and bake, you assemble the hand pies and bake!

Storing Apple Hand Pies

Baked apple hand pies can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. It can be stored for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container stored in the refrigerator.

You can also wrap them tightly with aluminum foil and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw and re-bake at 350 F for 5-10 minutes.

Serve these warm apple apple hand pies as is, or with a scoop of your favourite flavour of ice cream on the side. I just can't wait to make these again… and again!

Banana Nut Bread

Nutty banana bread is the perfect fall recipe. It's warm and comforting, and just the perfect compliment to a warm cup of tea or coffee on a cold, rainy fall day. The combination of ripe bananas, crunchy walnuts, sweet and tangy raisins and dried fruit creates a soft and moist loaf that is truly irresistible.

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Brussels Sprouts Salad with Warm Lemon Anchovy Vinaigrette

Have you ever eaten raw brussels sprouts? I'm not talking about biting into one whole, but serving them thinly sliced in a salad? They're perfect - they're sturdy enough to hold their shape, even when shredded, but are far less bitter than biting into heartier, leafy greens.

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Healthy Fish and Chips with Homemade Tartar Sauce

So this summer, while my husband has been off on paternity leave to help take care of our little one, he has been working up a storm in the kitchen, and I am so okay with it! He literally tries something at a restaurant and then recreates it at home. I've gotten so used to him whipping up some amazing recipes that I am really dreading him having to go back to work. His latest creation is healthy fish and chips with homemade tartar sauce. I mean... come on! Proud wifey over here.

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Spinach Tomato and Prosciutto Pizza

Did you know that you don't need to make a trip to the frozen aisle of the grocery store in order to make pizza at home? Of course you know that. But did you know that you can make pizza from scratch in about 40 minutes (plus extra time to allow the homemade dough to rise)? Well now you do! Let me introduce you to my new best friend: spinach tomato and prosciutto pizza.

The combination of salty prosciutto, sweet tomatoes, gooey mozzarella and delicate spinach to come together to create a masterpiece -- spinach tomato and prosciutto pizza! | aheadofthyme.com

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15-Minute Fish Burgers with Creamy Slaw

What makes the perfect summer day even more perfect? It's juicy, it's flakey, packed with flavour and has the perfect golden colour. Intrigued? I am talking about 15-minute fish burgers with creamy slaw.

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Caramelized Onion and Herbed Goat Cheese Flatbread

Need proof that quick and simple vegetarian dishes can pack a punch while also filling you up? Well, all you need to do is whip up a quick caramelized onion and herbed goat cheese flatbread!

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Caramel Cheesecake Brownies

There is something so completely satisfying about a thick, fudgy brownie. These caramel cheesecake brownies are totally indulgent and worth the effort, so toss that prepared brownie mix to the side and head to the store to grab these simple ingredients.

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Sheet Pan Soy-Glazed Chicken Thighs

There is nothing that beats a quick weeknight dinner that is bursting with flavor, and this sheet pan soy-glazed chicken thighs does just that. It needs about 30 minutes to sit in the marinade - no resting overnight or prepping before heading off to work - and packs in so much flavor. Easier and healthier than take out, but just as satisfying!

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Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage, Broccoli Rabe and Roasted Red Peppers

Orecchiette pasta with sausage, broccoli rabe, and roasted red peppers is my new go-to pasta! It's such a great mix of spicy, sweet, and crunchy, and can be on the table in less than 30 minutes. A weeknight game changer, for sure!

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Tandoori Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Why do insanely flavourful meals loaded with chicken and vegetables have to be super complicated to make? Well, stop what you are doing right now because 30-minute tandoori chicken sheet pan dinner is on the menu tonight! Buh-bye take-out.

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Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Heart Cookies

Happy Valentine's Day! Celebrate love this year with these adorable chocolate-dipped shortbread heart cookies. They are sure to bring a smile onto your hunny's or friends' faces.

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Curried White Bean Crostini with Toasted Pepitas

It's New Year's Eve tomorrow, and you are scrambling for the perfect holiday appetizer to serve at your big bash. Well, say hello to the most perfect answer! Curried white bean crostini with toasted pepitas. Sophisticated ingredients, simple to make, and never disappoints.

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Glazed Brown Sugar Bundt Cake

No one will be able to resist this perfectly sweet and moist brown sugar bundt cake or the sweet glaze drizzled on top. The secret to making glazed brown sugar bundt cake irresistible? Use Greek yogurt or sour cream. It creates the most decadent and rich cake you can imagine.

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Butternut Squash Galette (Free-Form Tart)

This butternut squash galette (free-form tart) is the perfect meal any time of day! Serve it with a fried egg for breakfast or alongside a big salad for lunch or dinner. Just try to stop after one slice - I bet you can't!

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Warm Lentil Salad with Butternut Squash and Shiitake Mushrooms

This warm lentil salad with butternut squash and shiitake mushrooms is the most comforting vegetarian main! You can serve it with roasted chicken or salmon, but I love how completely satisfying it is on its own.

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Pumpkin Pie Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

Pumpkin spice - is there any other flavour more indicative of the arrival of fall? Once you start seeing those pumpkin spice lattes arrive at Starbucks or pumpkin recipes all over your favourite blogs or in restaurants, you know that sweater weather and boots are just around the corner, if not already here. So we are celebrating the arrival of fall this year with pumpkin pie bundt cake with cream cheese glaze, and I cannot be more excited!

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