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Fruitocalypse Now with Mikey
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Fruitocalypse Now with Mikey

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Welcome back to Bite-Sized Chat! In this episode, I've invited my brother Mikey back to tackle a surprisingly tough question: If you could only have five fruits for the rest of your life, what would they be? Take your time. It’s a lot trickier than you may think.

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Toasted Sesame Chocolate Chip Cookies by Sarah Kieffer

from her blog, The Vanilla Bean Blog

Earlier this week, I had an intense cookie craving. It was 8 p.m. on a Tuesday, so my options were limited to whatever was lurking in my pantry. Classic chocolate chip cookies were the obvious choice — until I remembered the excessive amount of toasted sesame oil I had. That’s when it hit me: I’ll make my longtime favorite. These cookies use Sarah Kieffer’s pan-banging technique, where you tap the baking sheet in the oven every few minutes, creating rippled edges. This unique technique results in crispy outer layers and a soft, gooey center. A little salty, a little nutty, and absolutely the right call for a late-night bake.

I slightly overbaked this batch, but the rest weren’t this dark!
Week Nine Baking Challenge: Taste the Rainbow

Sweet Pea Cake by Sara Bradley

from her Instagram, @chefsarabradley

This week’s baking challenge was to make something colorful and I immediately thought of this cake I have had saved on my Instagram for years. Top Chef finalist, Sara Bradley, posted this video recipe of one of her mother’s recipes, English Pea Cake. A pea-flavored cake? It’s so crazy it just might work… And it does! While you can taste a hint of peas, it’s surprisingly not very vegetal. The peas offer asubtle sweetness and a beautiful bright green color. Paired with a vanilla-lemon buttercream, it’s bright, fresh, and perfect for spring!


I mentioned my deep love for avocado in the audio above, so I thought I’d also share my perfect A.T. build:

  1. Start with a hearty base. I usually like a thick slice of sourdough.

  2. Add a generous heap of smashed, perfectly ripe avocado.

  3. Add a preliminary sprinkle of kosher salt and a squeeze of lemon. I like to make sure the avocado is well-seasoned before adding my toppings.

  4. Add a crunchy topping. I like sliced radishes. Crispy chickpeas are also divine!

  5. Add a finishing touch. I give a healthy drizzle of olive oil, some citrus flakey salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Thanks for reading, sweeties! 🍎

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