Category: Travel

Holiday, London, Sweet Recipes

Homemade Mince Pies

tray of mince pies in muffin tin


I was inspired to make my own mince pies after eating them in London. From what I’ve researched, bakeries will often prepare the mincemeat filling months, sometimes years ahead, to really develop the flavor. While I’d love to try that one day, I decided to shortcut for my first bake, and bought a jar from a gourmet shop while in London.

Update August 2026: I ended up not liking the flavor from the store-bought mincemeat. It was far too sweet and spiced. So, this year, I have gotten a head start with holiday baking and jarred my own homemade mincemeat filling, so it has time to develop over the next few months.

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Events, Holiday, San Francisco

Ina Garten’s Holiday Host Gift Ideas

While attending Ina Garten’s book tour event in San Francisco last fall, the queen of hosting and entertaining shared her host gift tips and ideas. “I don’t bring something that host feels that they need to serve.” That includes wine, cheese, or a particular course that needs to be included in the meal. She prefers things that the host or hostess can enjoy another time.

Ina Garten’s Host Gift Ideas

  1. Homemade Granola – This is her go-to recipe, updated from the original Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.
  2. Coffee – Ina’s favorite is Dallis Bros Coffee, particularly their Ellis Island Blend.
  3. Tea – Ina said on her appearance on Good Hang with Amy Poehler, “I start drinking tea around 10:30. Not at 10:29, not 10:31, but at 10:30 my brain goes — tea!” She didn’t specify a brand but she said she likes French tea. And in the summer, she makes this Herbal Iced Tea.
  4. Fran’s Caramels

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New York, Sweet Recipes

Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding

Magnolia Bakery's banana pudding recipe


While Magnolia Bakery may be known for their cupcakes, thanks to Sex and the City, I always stop by the original Bleeker St. shop in New York City for their banana pudding. I love getting a little cup to-go and enjoying it at the little park just across the street. Recently, I was craving this signature NYC dessert, so I whipped up a batch using the recipe from the new cookbook.

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Chefs, San Francisco, Summer, Sweet Recipes

Dominique Crenn’s Cherry Clafoutis

my re-creation of Dominique Crenn's cherry clafoutis


I’ve always preferred eating cherries fresh, but this cherry clafoutis convinced me that they are delicious baked as well. When I worked at Williams Sonoma, we hosted a special dinner at Chef Dominique Crenn’s now-closed Petit Crenn in San Francisco. The menu was full of French classics like salade nicoise, ratatouille, and finished with a cherry clafoutis that I still remember to this day. The dinner was 6 years ago. I dug a giant spoon into the warm dish, revealing a glorious custard-y bake, dotted with the largest Bing cherries I had ever seen.

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