Meghan Y., Author at Cake 'n Knife

Chile Beer Sangria

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 18, 2017 // 46 Comments

Chile Beer Sangria is a punch of spice and citrus in every sip! The chile-infused whiskey and juicy fruit slices only enhance all the flavors in the beer, making it the perfect sangria for everyone. Plus, you won’t even have to use all of the six-pack you buy, so bonus beers for later!

I MADE A BEER SANGRIA.

This is NOT a drill, people.

I know there are many of you out there with your jaw dropped, wondering how the heck I could make a sangria with beer. Before you doubt the deliciousness, just trust me. This sangria is a stroke of pure genius and it actually makes the beer taste even more delicious than it already does.

[Read more…]

Tequila Lime Pulled Pork Tacos

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 13, 2017 // 10 Comments

Tequila Lime Pulled Pork Tacos will blow your regular taco routine right out of the water. Tasty tequila and lime flavor the pulled pork with plenty of other spices, making it a savory adventure for your taste buds. Whip these up and watch everyone devour them in moments!

It’s Friday the 13th…. SPOOKY!!!

Let’s celebrate all the creepiness that is Friday the 13th with tacos and tequila, shall we?!

I’ve never really been one to believe in all that spooky Friday the 13th stuff. To me, it’s just another day. Well, really it’s a Friday so technically it’s a magical day because it signals the end of a generally long week! Though this Friday I am hibernating with my mom for a girls’ trip up in Breckenridge for some serious R&R. There’s nothing like snow-capped mountains, a few margaritas, a massage and some sleep to reset your brain… [Read more…]

Pomelo Grapefruit Negroni

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 12, 2017 // 2 Comments

A Pomelo Grapefruit Negroni is a refreshing upgrade for the classic cocktail! The zing of fresh pomelo grapefruit juice enhances the floral flavors in the gin and the bitter Campari keeps the entire cocktail from being too sweet. You’ll love breaking out this recipe at your next happy hour!

I always have the best of intentions heading into the New Year, with hopes of hitting that first couple of weeks in a big motivated burst of awesomeness. However, after the holidays I feel somewhat drained and all my best intentions seem to fall away in the blink of an eye.

For example, it’s the second week of January and I am wayyyy more behind than I wanted to be at this exact moment. Which is all sorts of frustrating when I had the grandest of intentions!

The good news? I am actually taking a break! You know, the break that I wanted to take around the holidays but never do? [Read more…]

Avocado Caprese Panzanella Salad

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 9, 2017 // 1 Comment

Avocado Caprese Panzanella Salad is full of different textures and flavors to keep your taste buds satisfied, without realizing just how healthy this meal is! The bacon, cheese and toasted bread paired with a lemon and peppery vinaigrette is pure salad heaven.

Making salads is a pretty rare occurrence for me. I tend to be one of those individuals who doesn’t eat salad unless I seriously HAVE to eat salad.

Or unless the salad is seriously swoon worthy…

I love salads with a bunch of different textures and flavors in them. I tend to shy away from the Caesar salads and the plain old side salads that are only differentiated by the dressings that are put on them. [Read more…]

Stir Fry Pasta + a Le Creuset Giveaway!

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 6, 2017 // 56 Comments

Stir Fry Pasta is my new favorite way to dish up a classic meal and ditch the takeout. This healthier pasta is the ideal flavorful weeknight meal the whole family will drool over.

When you start out a new year, it’s kind of impossible to resist the temptation to hop on the “diet train”… So often I will find myself eating super healthy out of nowhere and then about a week later I’m starving, grumpy and shoveling chips into my mouth by the handful.

Suffice to say I’ve learned my lesson, especially since that one time my friend Jen and I tried the detox from HELL that we could only make it a few days into before realizing that it just wasn’t worth the pain and unhappiness of not enjoying GOOD food.

I swear I’ve never been so freaking grumpy in my life. The burger I ate when I broke the cleanse is still one of the best I remember eating, like, EVER.

So instead of pushing my body the brink of healthy exhaustion, I am taking all things in moderation and lightening up meals where I can. [Read more…]

Winter Citrus Margarita

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 5, 2017 // 5 Comments

Winter Citrus Margarita is just the cocktail to bring light into a dreary winter day. The combination of three citrus fruits – blood orange, lemon and lime – make this lively margarita perfect for taco night (well, really any night, let’s be real)!

The sun has been coming and going recently here in Denver, fluctuating between gloomy and sunny but always always oh-so cold.

My cocktail hours have started taking on a new theme of lively, bright and citrusy to combat any of the gloomy cold that comes creeping into my office.

Have I happened to mention that my office just so happens to be the coldest room in the house and for no apparent reason? Thank goodness the Man got me a space heater so I can warm up (when Kya isn’t lounging in front of it of course….). [Read more…]

Crunchy Chicken Gyro Sandwiches

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 3, 2017 // 1 Comment

Crunchy Chicken Gyro Sandwiches are my fun twist on one of my favorite Greek meals! Adding in the crunchy pita chips makes the healthy sandwich come to life with texture.

Welcome to 2017, friends! If you are anything like me, you are trying to make just a few more healthy decisions as the New Year gets into full swing.

I can’t lie and say that I am on the diet train for real real. Let’s be real, the image of me making kale smoothies every day and eating salad for lunch is a bit comical.

There are little moments where I can at least find some balance in my life when it comes to eating a little better, and one of those moments is stuffed into the big ol’ pita pocket you see here. [Read more…]

Raspberry Mint Sparklers

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 30, 2016 // 5 Comments

Raspberry Mint Sparklers are bubbly, tart and a little sweet making them ideal for a ladies’ night toast! The fresh mint and raspberry combination with champagne is a delight for your taste buds.

You guys!! I made a pretty pink drink!!

It’s been WAY too long since I’ve had a night with just the ladies and I think it’s all coming out in this pink deliciousness that you see in front of you.

I can just imagine being with all my gals, round of raspberry mint sparklers in hand, toasting the New Year tomorrow night. Heck, I’ll probably be busting out this delightful little cocktail throughout the rest of the summer. [Read more…]

Filet Mignon with Port Sauce and Truffle Mashed Potatoes

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 29, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Filet Mignon with Port Sauce and Truffle Mashed Potatoes is one of the most decadent meals I’ve ever made, so get ready to fall out of your chair after the first bite. This is the one meal no one will ever forget!

A New Year is almost here… and here I sit, on the verge of excitement and terror about what the next year holds.

I tend to put a bit of pressure on every new year. I’m not 100% sure where the pressure comes from (probably an intensely high standard that I hold myself to in terms of goals for the next year) but it sure is there.

Leading up to New Year’s and after Christmas becomes my binge-eating period for this reason. I know I want to be healthier next year, so I’m going to pack in the decadence now. Just like I know I want to work harder next year, so I pack in the Netflix and laziness now. [Read more…]

Cranberry Pomegranate Champagne Mule

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 27, 2016 // 2 Comments

Cranberry Pomegranate Champagne Mule is a crisp and refreshing way to ring in the New Year! Bubbly champagne brings this twist on a Moscow Mule to life, so it’s the ideal festive cocktail to serve up at your New Year’s Eve bash.

The world seems to know that I have an obsession with Moscow Mules because those copper mule mugs keep floating into my life in one way or another.

I think it’s just a sign that I need to keep creating new twists on the classic recipe, which is exactly what I’ve done here to ring in the New Year with.

A chilled glass of champagne in hand as the ball drops is an image I’ve had in my head since I was a child.

Back when my parents went to insane parties that my friends and I would spy on, I just remember the popping of bottles and clinking of glasses as the countdown began. [Read more…]

Dark Chocolate Chip Avocado Cake

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 26, 2016 // 19 Comments

Dark Chocolate Chip Avocado Cake topped with a dark chocolate glaze is an ooey-gooey chocolate cake that’ll make you swoon bite after bite. The decadent chocolate glaze on top will almost make you forget that the cake itself is healthy!

The holidays are wrapping up and it’s almost time for those New Year’s resolutions that we always attempt to make and not break within the first two weeks.

Do you like to make New Year’s resolutions? I am one of those who totally do. However, I have a hard time keeping them when it comes to food.

After a couple of months of parties, treats, and heavy meals, it’s hard to just go cold turkey. Know what I mean?

I get into pretty bad habits when it comes to overindulgence so when it comes to the end of the holidays, I like to try to be a little bit healthier with my choices.

Of course, with my chocolate cravings in full swing, that seems little bit difficult to do.

So by healthier, I don’t mean only eating salads and cutting out all the sweets in my life.

Instead, I mean cutting calories where I can so that I can keep eating the deliciousness that I know and love. [Read more…]

Boozy Chili Hot Chocolate

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 24, 2016 // 1 Comment

Boozy Chili Hot Chocolate is a luxurious blend of chili, chocolate and booze that brings warmth to even the coldest of nights. You’ll never use hot chocolate mix again once you’ve tasted this homemade deliciousness.

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I had to squeeze in one more recipe before I head out for all the Christmas festivities, especially when it’s a delicious hot chocolate cocktail filled with all sorts of homemade goodness.

Homemade hot chocolate is a weakness of mine. Usually I make a big crockpot full of it, but this year I opted for making a few different variations of hot chocolate (like this one or this one) to break up the monotony of just one kind of hot chocolate every night.

The pinnacle of all the hot chocolates I’ve busted out this season has to be this one. [Read more…]

Chile Braised Short Ribs with Parmesan White Wine Risotto

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 23, 2016 // 4 Comments

Chile Braised Short Ribs with Parmesan White Wine Risotto are the one decadent meal you need to make this year. The rich chile marinade infuses the ribs with such intense flavor that the creamy risotto beneath comes to life in a whole new way. Get ready to swoon.

These ribs are so freaking delicious it makes me want to scream.

I really don’t have any other words to describe the feeling as accurately as that.

A little overdramatic? Perhaps. But these ribs and risotto when paired together are just that. damn. good. [Read more…]

Chorizo, Cheese & Potato Croquettes with Red Wine Dipping Sauce

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 22, 2016 // 1 Comment

Chorizo, Cheese & Potato Croquettes with Red Wine Dipping Sauce are a savory and spicy fried delight that will take your taste buds to heaven. This fun appetizer will 100% get the party started right, every dang time.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Cavit Collection. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own.

I remember trying croquettes for the first time at a little Belgian restaurant here in Denver a handful of years ago.

Now, why I hadn’t experienced croquettes while I was traveling around Europe in my twenties, I have no idea. Once I experienced them, I knew that this would be the one way I would be using up my leftover mashed potatoes for the rest of my life.

Honestly, I would make fresh mashed potatoes just to make this appetizer though… [Read more…]

Christmas Ale Sugar Cookies with Spiced Buttercream Frosting

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 21, 2016 // 2 Comments

Christmas Ale Sugar Cookies with Spiced Buttercream Frosting are the one holiday cookie every beer lover should bake! They are chewy and soft with a luscious buttercream frosting so Santa will definitely approve.

I literally can’t stop, won’t stop with the sweets this week. It all started kicking into high gear on Sunday when I had my first official taste of Christmas cookies.

It’s only official when someone else bakes them, because lord knows it doesn’t count when I start testing recipes back in November.

And I wonder why I feel like I’m getting a little puffy around the edges…

Meh, the diet will start after the New Year, right? [Read more…]

Gooey Dark Chocolate Cakes with Peppermint Crunch Whipped Cream

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 20, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Gooey Dark Chocolate Cakes with Peppermint Crunch Whipped Cream are the ultimate end to any dinner, especially during the holidays. It’s rich, festive and takes less than 15 minutes! I promise it’ll be the easiest part of any holiday dinner you throw this season.

I love a little peppermint to end a holiday meal, don’t you? It’s just the right lively zip to leave your taste buds feeling satisfied but also wide awake and ready to party.

Rich, molten and decadent cakes like these are just begging for a pepperminty topping to help balance out all the flavors in the cake. Sometimes eating a rich chocolate cake without any break from the chocolate can be way too overwhelming (especially after a rich dinner).

The peppermint crunch whipped cream on top of these cute little cakes is just the right light break you need in every single bite. [Read more…]

Hot Orange Mocha Cocktail with Espresso Whipped Cream

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 19, 2016 // 1 Comment

A Hot Orange Mocha Cocktail with Espresso Whipped Cream in your hand is the only thing that can make the winter cold just melt away… Cuddle up with your honey and kick back to soak in the rest of the holiday season before it’s gone!

Baby, do you realize how freaking cold it is outside?

I swear, every time I step outside my door I am greeted with a cold breathe of the most frigid air in the world.

Thank you Denver for staying true to form this winter. [Read more…]

Amaro Sour

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 16, 2016 // 1 Comment

The Amaro Sour from Brad Thomas Parsons “Amaro: The Spirited World of Bittersweet, Herbal Liqueurs with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas” is an exciting play on the whiskey sour. It’s no wonder Amaro is the new trend in cocktails right now!

I’ll be honest, I never tried amaro before I heard about this book…

It’s a little funny considering all that time I spent in Italy and how popular the aperitif is there. Granted, I was not quite into the cocktail obsession that I am now – nor did I have the funds for it. Now I feel like I’ve had my eyes opened to a whole other flavor profile to use in cocktails and I am swooning over it.

The collection of perfectly balanced recipes in Amaro: The Spirited World of Bittersweet, Herbal Liqueurs with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas really took me by surprise. Rarely do I get my hands on a cocktail book and immediately try out a handful of recipes. [Read more…]

Avocado Fennel Salad

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 15, 2016 // 2 Comments

Avocado Fennel Salad is a wonderful way to start off any of your upcoming holiday meals. All throughout the holidays, this salad is a refreshing and bright starter that everyone will love.

I so rarely am one to be in love with the whole salad thing. I usually opt out of getting a salad, even when it’s free with a meal, because I am not a big fan of lettuce. Or kale. I think spinach is generally the only leafy green I’ll actively seek out. I’m sure this isn’t too much of a shocker considering how few salads I’ve created in the past (read: TWO salads total).

However, salads don’t have to have all those leafy greens, now do they? I prefer to get my green in through different means… Avocado!

[Read more…]

Irish Stout French Onion Soup

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 12, 2016 // 3 Comments

Irish Stout French Onion Soup bring a whole other level of depth and flavor to a classic winter comfort meal. Pairing stout and whiskey with this rich soup will warm you up within the first couple of bites.

I might be becoming more of a soup person…

It’s all because of this soup right here. A classic French onion soup made even more rich and flavorful with the addition of creamy Irish stout and sharp Irish whiskey.

The beer makes the base of this soup so delightfully indulgent, you feel like you are sitting in an Irish pub on a cold night sipping on a pint of Guinness. [Read more…]

Almond Mocha Crescent Cookies

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 9, 2016 // 41 Comments

Almond Mocha Crescent Cookies are one of my favorite holiday cookies that reminds me of childhood. The addition of cocoa powder and espresso really makes these cookies stand out in a sea of treats during the holidays!

I swear this time of year is the most exhilarating and exhausting of all. The events, the parties, the celebrating, the planning for the next year, it all becomes this ball of happiness, excitement and a little panic that the year is ending so soon.

I always end up baking a ton during this time, not only because the holidays are around the corner, but because I try to give myself a little treat in December when I can…

Extra TIME. [Read more…]

Cornbread Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Basil Soup

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 6, 2016 // 3 Comments

Cornbread Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Basil Soup is all the comforting deliciousness I am craving right now. Warm, buttery cornbread waffles stuffed with melted cheese and served up with the creamiest, most flavorful tomato soup will bring a smile to anyone’s face (and tummy!).

It’s getting pretty dang chilly here in Denver. The temperatures have dropped, I can see my breath and the moment I step outside I can feel the cold in my chest. Fall came and went, and now winter has arrived.

That means it’s time for me to gorge myself on allllll the comfort food I can stuff into my face.

Whenever I think about a warm grilled cheese sandwich with a side of tomato soup, a wave of comfort washes over me. [Read more…]

Cranberry Walnut Goat Cheese Ball

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 2, 2016 // 6 Comments

A Cranberry Walnut Goat Cheese Ball filled with winter herbs and tangy goat cheese is a holiday appetizer no one will forget! Whip this bad boy up for your next holiday gathering and pair with your favorite crackers. Serves 8.

Ah the cheese ball.

A simple enough recipe that I’m sure we’ve all had at some point or another in our lives. Generally the only cheese balls I was exposed to were made up of cheddar or pimento cheese, so I was never particularly crazy about them.

My cousin Lisa snuck me a little challenge a couple weeks ago to think of a holiday cheese ball that was different from those kinda blah cheese ball recipes that are out there… [Read more…]

Rosemary Grapefruit Gin Fizz

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON December 1, 2016 // 4 Comments

A Rosemary Grapefruit Gin Fizz is a delightful sipper for the winter season. It’s bright, refreshing and floral to bring a little sunshine to your cocktail hour even on those dark and cold nights.

Rosemary Grapefruit Gin Fizz | cakenknife.com

This cocktail… Oh that I could write an ode to this cocktail that would fully embody the floral deliciousness that lives within each sip…

It makes me wish that I was back in college in my creative writing course, writing poetry and prose about whatever happened to float into my mind at the time.

If I had made this cocktail back then, I am pretty sure a sonnet would come flowing from my fingertips.

[Read more…]

Chile Beer Sangria

Tequila Lime Pulled Pork Tacos

Pomelo Grapefruit Negroni

Avocado Caprese Panzanella Salad

Stir Fry Pasta + a Le Creuset Giveaway!

Winter Citrus Margarita

Crunchy Chicken Gyro Sandwiches

Raspberry Mint Sparklers

Filet Mignon with Port Sauce and Truffle Mashed Potatoes

Cranberry Pomegranate Champagne Mule

Dark Chocolate Chip Avocado Cake

Of course, with my chocolate cravings in full swing, that seems little bit difficult to do.

Boozy Chili Hot Chocolate

Chile Braised Short Ribs with Parmesan White Wine Risotto

Chorizo, Cheese & Potato Croquettes with Red Wine Dipping Sauce

Gooey Dark Chocolate Cakes with Peppermint Crunch Whipped Cream

Hot Orange Mocha Cocktail with Espresso Whipped Cream

Amaro Sour

Avocado Fennel Salad

Irish Stout French Onion Soup

Cornbread Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Basil Soup

Cranberry Walnut Goat Cheese Ball

Ah the cheese ball.

Rosemary Grapefruit Gin Fizz

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Of course, with my chocolate cravings in full swing, that seems little bit difficult to do.

Extra TIME. [Read more…]

Ah the cheese ball.

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never miss a recipe

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