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crescent moon kitchen

Helping cooks of all kinds create a little magic in every meal! I write approachably inspired recipes, share secrets from my formal culinary training, and offer insights from my 10+ years of food industry experience. Join me for delicious musings, always with a dose of informal attitude and an occasionally enchanted edge 🌙

two plates of pumpkin brioche bread pudding are topped with vanilla ice cream
Featured Post

only treats in October 🎃

October recipe wrap-up I'm usually more of a savory gal, but last month I surprised myself with dreamy thoughts of baked goods. Rather than try to salad myself out of it, I leaned right into the craving for cozy autumn baking and we ended up having an October full of sweet treats--no tricks in sight! From maple-buttercream crowned Spiced Chai Cake to cinnamon-sugar dusted Applesauce Fritters and ginger laced Acorn Squash Bread to buttery Pumpkin Brioche Bread Pudding, last month was packed...

two glasses of vanilla chai old fashioned are sitting on a rustic wooden board

September recipe send-off Last month was full of fall festivities! First, we celebrated Oktoberfest 🍻 With crispy-crunchy pretzel crusted chicken schnitzel, drizzled with tangy mustard beer cheese sauce, and served alongside savory German-style sautéed red cabbage. Then, a recipe for autumn pesto, made with pumpkin seeds and arugula. P.S. I share my Michelin kitchen trick for keeping pesto bright green! And finally, kicking back with a spiced vanilla chai old fashioned that keeps you warm you...

pumpkin spice blondies are topped with swirls of cream cheese frosting and arranged on a serving board

August recipe drop This month: two soups celebrating some of my favorite summer produce are followed by a sweet treat that welcomes the approaching autumn. First, a very French take on zucchini leek soup, made with Provençal seasonings and finished with a luxurious drizzle of Sicilian olive oil. Next, my love for summer tomatoes in soup form! Roasted garlic adds a caramelized depth and a topper of lemon-pepper whipped cream makes this soup decidedly dunkable. Last but not least--Pumpkin....

shrimp burrito bowl drizzled with avocado crema sauce

July recipe drop Just one recipe this month -- but it actually contains three killer components! First, a quick Spanish-style Rice, then spice-rubbed Smoky Seared Shrimp, and a homemade Avocado Crema sauce to cool it all down. shrimp burrito bowls everything good about a shrimp burrito--piled high into a bowl! get the recipe and coming soon... My Hitchhiker's Guide to Culinary Herbs & Spices! A free resource packed with tips for cooking with a dozen less commonly used herbs and spices. Plus,...

peanut butter s'mores cookies on a wooden serving board. one cookie is front and center to show off its chocolate drizzle and there is a tall stack of cookies in the background.

end of June recipe drop Here's what I cooked up this month! Slow cooker chicken legs that actually cook up crispy (I know!), summertime s'mores reimagined as a cookie, and something else to do with fresh rhubarb besides dessert. Plus, fresh cherries two ways: one savory, one sweet! honey-garlic crockpot chicken legs loaded n' gooey peanut butter s'mores cookies homemade rhubarb bbq "rhubarbecue" sauce smoky cherry-chipotle salsa summer cherry compote with bourbon & vanilla crispy crockpot...

no bake key lime cheesecake on a platter

end of May recipe drop Here's what I cooked up this month! a little savory, a little sweet, all springy, summery goodness. crispy pickle brined chicken thighs with garlicky dill sauce no bake key lime cheesecake with ginger cookies crispy pickle brine chicken thighs These pickle brine chicken thighs are soaked in real dill pickle juice, then tossed and fried in the lightest, crispiest coating. Punchy pickle flavor, meet juicy fried chicken! here's what you'll need: bone-in, skin-on chicken...

meyer lemon cake with a sugar glaze

end of April recipe drop Rich with olive oil and kissed by honey, this Meyer lemon cake is bursting with bright lemon flavor! It has a dense, moist crumb and is topped off with a sweet & lemony thyme sugar glaze that shatters when you slice into it. We're approaching the end of peak Meyer lemon season here in New England so let this be their last hurrah! sugar-glazed Meyer lemon cake here's what you'll need: Meyer lemons all-purpose flour baking soda baking powder salt eggs honey olive oil...