Sugar & Spice by Celeste

Happy Friday!  So, I must admit...I made this  Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce  earlier in the week with one main goal in mind - Salted Caramel Lattes - and many of them!  And let me just say...they have indeed been glorious! The caramel sauce in this latte recipe is more flavor-packed than the store-bought kind.  So, instead of the 2 tablespoons that I usually add to lattes, this one is plenty sweet with just 1 tablespoon.  However, definitely feel free to adjust to your taste. I love the depth of flavor the homemade sauce brings to this.  And it wouldn't be complete without a dash of sea salt over the top. Come along and make a latte with me in the following video! Celeste's Salted Caramel Latte Ingredients: 1 Tbsp Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce 8 oz of your favorite milk 2 shots freshly brewed, hot espresso Dash of Flaky/Coarse Sea Salt Extra Caramel Sauce to drizzle over the top   Directions: In your favorite coffee mug, add 1 Tbsp Homemade Salte...

Here's a video of the process: R ight now, you’re only five ingredients and 15-20 minutes away from luscious, homemade caramel sauce.   Caramel sauce that so deliciously elevates things like sliced apples, cinnamon rolls, cheesecakes, ice cream and lattes. I mean, store-bought caramel sauce is okay , but this...this caramel sauce is packed with undeniable flavor and leaves that ole’ store-bought sauce wallowing in sorrow at its greatness. Don’t like salted caramel?  No worries...simply reduce the salt in the recipe to 1/2 tsp.  You can even use unsalted butter.  However, don’t leave the salt out completely.  It does need a little. Can you guess what I made first with this caramel?  Stay tuned tomorrow! Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce Ingredients: 1 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup water 6 Tbsp salted butter, room temperature (cut into 6 pieces) 1/2 cup heavy cream, room temperature 1 tsp salt **Reduce salt to 1/2 tsp and use unsalted butter if you’d prefer ...

This cake is not for the faint of heart and quite possibly is the most decadent and rich cake I’ve ever made.  It’s actually the birthday cake that I made for my Dad back in November.  He requested a chocolate peanut butter cake, and boy did this one deliver!   I mean, how could it not be love at first bite?! Any cake with chocolate ganache tempting you as it drips down the sides ever so delicately is always delicious in my book.  The addition of actual Reese’s cups just sends this one right over the edge into chocolatey, peanut buttery perfection! Also, chocolate cakes made with a cup of boiling water are always super moist.  This one is no different.  I really think that step gives the cake a great texture. If you have a Reese’s lover in your life, you simply MUST try this.  In fact...it would make for a wonderful Valentine’s Day dessert! Aren’t they just the cutest?! Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Reese’s Adapted from:   Life, Love ...

Jack Jack's Num Num Cookie at Hollywood Studios As some of you know, we are a Disney loving family!! I so enjoy making Disney inspired dishes at home, so that we can have a little bit of the magic on our table. Several years ago, I was able to turn my passion for all things Disney into a side job where I can help families, just like yours, plan magical vacations. I'm a Travel Specialist for Second Star Wishes , an Earmarked Agency, and I couldn't love the role more! I can help you plan a vacation to ANY Disney destination, Universal Orlando, and just about any domestic or international destination you can dream up! I've had the honor of planning vacations for clients to destinations like: Disney World Disneyland Paris Universal Orlando The Great Smoky Mountains Hilton Head Island, SC Washington DC New Orleans, LA Florida beaches Paris, France Amsterdam Munich, Germany Dubrovnik, Croatia Just to name a few. So, friends, please keep me in mind next time you'd lik...

Happy Friday, friends!  If you'd like something delicious to bake over the weekend, these Mini Strawberries & Cream Scones are perfection. The fresh strawberries that dot the inside and the sweet glaze that's drizzled over the top elevate these from just ordinary scones, to scones that even the scone-averse will fall in love with.  Because let's be honest...sometimes scones can be a bit dry and just blah. These are not. Instead of regular sized scones, I decided to make these smaller.  That way, I don't have to commit to eating an entire scone when I get a craving...hah!  The miniature size makes them a perfect snack, and when paired with a latte, they are heaven! Mini Strawberries & Cream Scones Adapted from:  Baker By Nature Ingredients: 2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 stick unsalted butter, VERY cold and cut into small cubes 1 large egg 1/2 cup milk (preferably ...

A fragrant, flavorful bowl of Hot and Sour Soup is just what you need right about now, on these cold winter days.  It's so easy to make this at home, and when paired with my Homemade Fried Wonton Strips , you'll have a delicious dinner to warm your soul. We loved the fresh ginger in this.  It smelled beautiful and tasted just as good.  Subtle, but there.  I was also able to go grab some fresh green onion out of my veggie garden to use in this.  My green onions and kale have been the only things to hold on for dear life during the cold weather.   Grab a bowl of this soup and enjoy! Hot and Sour Soup Adapted from: Everyday Food: Great Food Fast cookbook, from the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living Ingredients: 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth 2 Tbsp soy sauce 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 8 ounces fresh shiitake or white button mushrooms (about 4 cups), stemmed, caps thinly sliced 3 to 4 Tbsp rice vinegar 2 Tbsp cor...

A few nights ago, I pulled out the ingredients to make this Homemade Hot & Sour Soup .  My husband came home right about that time, and asked if I had any crispy wonton strips to add to the soup. Ummm....whoops! I didn't. And he was right...the soup NEEDED them like peanut butter needs jelly. After a quick Google session, I realized that I could whip some up pretty quickly.  And that, I did. Honestly, these were SOOO much better than any of the store-bought options.  They came together in mere minutes and were crunchy, crispy and oh so wonderful! Homemade Fried Wontons Adapted from: Allrecipes Ingredients: 1 egg ⅓ cup water 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt Canola oil, for frying Directions: In a medium bowl, beat the egg. Mix in the water. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Create a well in the center of the mixture and slowly pour in the egg and water. Mix well. If the mixture is too dry, increase the amount of water one teaspoon at a time ...

Did you grow up eating Little Debbie's Oatmeal Creme Pies as a kid?  I know I did!  I always loved finding them in my lunch box and having them as an afternoon snack.  I still don't pass up the opportunity to have one every now and then. And now...you can make them at home! This recipe for homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies is simple to make, plus they are filled with oatmeal...so they're healthy, right?!   The molasses, spices and dark brown sugar in these make them irresistible.  The cookies are lightly golden brown along the outside edges, yet perfectly soft and chewy in the middle.  With the addition of a cream filling, these are sure to become a favorite! Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies Adapted fron:  Sally's Baking Addiction INGREDIENTS: COOKIES: 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter softened at room temperature (2.5 sticks) 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 2 tsp vanilla extract ...

This recipe has been a holiday staple on our family's table for as long as I can remember.  It seems like yesterday that I was propped up on a chair next to my Grandmama's counter, helping her make this.  She would put one of my Grandaddy's shirts over my outfit, so that I wouldn't get my clothes dirty.  I love those memories, and I still miss them both so much. Now, as an adult, I make this every chance that I get, just so I can have a piece of home on my table.   Some call this dish Blueberry Delight, but my family lovingly calls it "Blueberry Dessert." You may have had this too...it seems like it's a southern staple at potlucks and church dinners.  It has a pecan-filled crust, which is layered with a sweet combination of cream cheese, whipped cream and confectioner's sugar.  It's then all topped off with a beautiful layer of blueberry pie filling that beckons you to cut a slice and take a bite. Make this lovely dessert and have a taste of home, ...

    If I told you that this babka was the best thing I've ever baked, would you believe me?   No, seriously...Something magical happens when brioche is paired with Nutella and a crumble topping. My husband even agreed, and I'm not going to admit how many pieces I had over the weekend.  You know who else agreed?  Our four-legged babka thief of a dog, Ava. You see, I was trying to photograph this Nutella-filled, straight from heaven bread, and I stepped away for MAYBE 2 milliseconds.  All the while, our wily Springer Spaniel was crafting a plan unbeknownst to me.  She saw her opportunity and grabbed it...snagging one of the slices right off the plate and literally inhaling it so fast that it was all a blur.  The sheer speed at which she made it disappear was impressive. I was admittedly not thrilled about the whole situation at first, but then I realized...Could I even blame her??  I mean, I would have done the same thing if I were her...h...