Meghan Y., Author at Cake 'n Knife

Pumpkin Spice Beignets with Salted Caramel Drizzle

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON September 13, 2016 // 6 Comments

Pumpkin Spice Beignets with Salted Caramel Drizzle are the fluffy pumpkin breakfast you’ve been looking forward to all summer long. These melt-in-your-mouth beignets are topped with a decadent salted caramel sauce so you can go ahead and treat yo’self.

Oh hiiiii there… I made you breakfast this morning, and I’m pretty dang sure you’re gonna want in on this. It’s pumpkin spice everything season and even though I’m not a PSL junkie, I do love my pumpkin spice fix right about now.

You all know what I’m talking about – you wait for it all summer long so when September rolls around, you are READY.

I have been feeling this more and more as I get older. Perhaps it’s because I’m getting hotter in the summer? Or maybe it’s just because I want to be buried under blankets FOREVER all the time?

[Read more…]

Bourbon Apple Cider Fizz

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON September 12, 2016 // 2 Comments

Bourbon Apple Cider Fizz combines mulled apple cider and ginger beer to create a boozy baked apple pie inspired cocktail! If you’re ready to dive into everything fall, this is the drink for you.

You know those moments in life when you have to push yourself to learn something new? It could be a new language, a new software, or even a new recipe… but it’s challenging. It pushes you the max and your brain pretty much feels like putty after all is said and done. But then, then you get it. It all clicks into place and you feel enormous relief and satisfaction.

That’s when you celebrate.

Ideally with this cocktail.

[Read more…]

Chocolate Fig Thumbprint Cookies

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON September 9, 2016 // 3 Comments

Chocolate Fig Thumbprint Cookies make the most of one of my favorite fall ingredients – figs! Figs and chocolate are a rich, delicious filling for tasty shortbread thumbprint cookies.

Chocolate Fig Thumbprint Cookies | cakenknife.com

It’s Friiiiiiiiiidayyyyyy!!! I’m bring you some delicious little cookies for your weekend baking project because, let’s face it, you always could use a little more chocolate in your life on the weekend.

I have been obsessed with fig jam every since I had it in Italy. It’s the perfect addition for any meat and cheese plate, plus a little fig jam and ricotta on a toasted piece of bread is the best snack you’ll ever eat in your entire life.

Well, until you try one of these little thumbprint cookies, that is.

[Read more…]

Steamed Shrimp Avocado Wontons with Ginger Dipping Sauce

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

Steamed Shrimp Avocado Wontons with Ginger Dipping Sauce pack a serious punch of flavor in those little packets. They make a great appetizer or snack that won’t have you feeling guilty after you’ve downed 12 of them.

I have to tell you a secret… Making wontons is not something I have a lot of experience in…

I was a little intimidated to make these little wrapped packets of love, but I was inspired by a very dear friend to give them a try. I was making egg rolls at the time and my friend asked if I’d ever tried making wontons. I laughed, saying my hands weren’t delicate enough to make those without destroying them. She told me I was crazy and that they were the simplest things to make. [Read more…]

Cilantro Chili Lime Pulled Pork Sliders

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

Cilantro Chili Lime Pulled Pork Sliders are the culmination of all my favorite flavors in a mini sandwich. The pulled pork is make with cilantro, chili powder, lime and BEER in the crockpot, making it a super easy recipe for any party you have planned this weekend!

Who’s ready for the last long weekend for wayyyyyy too long?!?! THIS GIRL.

Labor Day weekend is just hours away and I am literally squirming in my chair with excitement. I have only TWO – yes, count them TWO – plans this weekend. This hasn’t happened for a weekend for…. well it’s been a long time. Normally I would be booking up this weekend with all sorts of activities and parties, but nope. Not this time.

This weekend I am going to relax. I am going to sleep. I am going to be able to be spontaneous and do whatever the hell I feel like. I will be lazy and do all those lazy things that you dream about doing as someone with an insanely packed schedule does. Like randomly going to check out a brewery or getting ice cream in the middle of the day or walking around the park just because you want to be outside. Of course, there will also be a lot of food and eating and boozing this weekend too. I’m starting the long weekend off with this magic right HERE. [Read more…]

Lemon Basil Gin & Tonic

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON September 1, 2016 // 8 Comments

Lemon Basil Gin & Tonic is how I’m upping my gin and tonic game before the summer is over. The bite of the lemon and sweet basil bring out every flavor in the gin! This is all I’m going to be sipping on until the weather turns…

Lemon Basil Gin & Tonic | cakenknife.com

Labor Day weekend is almost here… Today is the first freaking day of September… I honestly can’t believe how quickly this year is flying by.

I know I’ve been obsessing about this for the past two months (well ever since we hit June, let’s be real) but it’s not slowing down. It’s only going faster.

*internal scream*

I swear, I have it together over here. *deep breath* Ok so, this cocktail.

Isn’t that lemon and basil gorgeous?? I love how fresh this lemon basil gin & tonic cocktail looks!

It’s this bright little ray of lemony sunshine, with a hint of sweet herby basil to wash it all down with. Basically it’s all you want to be kicking back with over the long weekend while you soak up the last holiday for a whiiiiiiiiiiiile.

Isn’t that the worst part about Labor Day? Oh hiiiii, here’s a three day weekend but surprise!

You don’t get another day off until Thanksgiving. UGH.

It’s my least favorite realization because it always hits me hardest on Labor Day around 7pm when I’m wishing I had done so much more with my weekend.

Read: relaxed and actually slept over the weekend. So many first world problems up in here, I know.

Anyway, back to focusing on this bomb dot com gin and tonic. The lemon and the basil are just a great pairing in a gin and tonic, because they truly enhance the flavors in the gin.

You can’t help but exhale with an enthusiastic “ahhhhhhhhhhhh” after each sip of this lemon basil gin & tonic.

My secret hope is drinking these while practicing my cornhole skills over the weekend will make me some sort of savant.

Hey, it could happen!

Maybe?

Want to add a little sweetness? Try using 1/2 oz basil simple syrup in your glass!

One day I will be a corn hole STAR, you all just wait and see. WAIT AND SEE.

Need more summer cocktail inspiration? Check out a delicious Wild Berry Vesper (video below!) or a refreshing lemon basil cocktail!

This Recipe’s Must Haves

Libbey Stemless 9 Ounce Wine Glasses help you get the look just like in these photos! I love these reliable, simple glasses – they are gorgeous for wine AND cocktails. You can also use them for water glasses if you want!

Hiware Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler to mash up those basil leaves to get all that flavor out in the cocktail. It’s the most important part of the cocktail!

I highly believe knives are the most important item to invest in when it comes to kitchen tools and this chef’s knife is no exception. It makes the perfect lemon zest spirals!

Ozera 2 Pack Silicone Ice Cube Tray Molds to get perfectly formed square ice cubes. For me, these are so much better because they melt a lot slower than the ice you can get from the refrigerator.

Lemon Basil Gin & Tonic

Basil and lemon are the perfect way to amp up your gin and tonic game!

4.5 from 49 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: 1 cocktail

ingredients

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
4 basil leaves
2 oz gin
Tonic
Garnish: lemon twist

instructions

In the bottom of a cocktail glass, lightly muddle together basil leaves and lemon juice.
Add gin and stir.
Fill the glass with ice.
Top with tonic water.
Give it one final stir before serving with a lemon twist.

notes

Be sure to only lightly muddle the basil leaves as they can turn bitter very quickly. You don’t want to muddle them so vigorously that they break apart – just enough to release the flavor.

Category: Booze

Chicken Spinach & Artichoke Dip French Bread

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 31, 2016 // 49 Comments

Chicken Spinach & Artichoke Dip French Bread will score you a major win at your next tailgating party. The classic creamy, cheesy dip is loaded up with chicken and slathered on French bread, then topped with even more cheeeeeeeese. WINNING.

You guysssssss, football season officially starts NEXT WEEK.

I can’t lie, the start of football season signals my favorite time of year. First comes football, then the weather changes, then pumpkin everything followed by my birthday and all of my favorite holidays. From here on out, there’s nothing but feasting and massive celebration week after week after week.

Yes, even if my home team loses, there will still be celebration… Obviously the Broncos aren’t as well set up as they were last year, and who knows what kind of mess of a fantasy team I’m going to get myself into, but I will be obnoxiously rooting for my Broncos every dang week. [Read more…]

Orange Dark Chocolate Chip Scones

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 26, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Orange Dark Chocolate Chip Scones is just like eating one of those dark chocolate oranges you get at Christmas, but for breakfast and full of carbs. It’s a simple and flavorful recipe that was passed down from my grandma Alice. A bit of tradition to bring to your own home!

So I think I’ve just discovered the best scone combination in the history of ever.

If you’ve already experienced an orange dark chocolate chip scone, please don’t tell me. Let me live in my bliss of thinking that it hasn’t been done before, mmkay?

I really wanted to make a scone that was a blend of bright summer and fall for the end of August. It’s already bouncing between 60 degree and 90 degree temps here in Denver so I know that fall is well on its way. [Read more…]

Joey’s Daiquiri

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 25, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Joey’s Daiquiri is a riff on the classic Hemingway daiquiri. Instead of using maraschino liqueur, this version incorporates elderflower liqueur for an added touch of sweetness and floral notes.

I love being surprised with amazing cocktail discoveries at parties. The more random the discovery, the more intrigued I am. I’ve been waiting to make this cocktail ever since I had a friend’s impromptu version at a July 4th party (thus the name, an ode to its inventor if you will).

When he couldn’t find everything he needed, he swapped in some elderflower liqueur and holy crap was it a genius move.

[Read more…]

Pistachio Pesto Pizza with Crème Fraîche and Roasted Garlic (plus a KitchenAid® giveaway!)

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 23, 2016 // 52 Comments

Pistachio Pesto Pizza with Crème Fraîche and Roasted Garlic is the ideal pizza for anyone who loves pistachios. Plus, you’ll be left with some extra pesto to spread all over your favorite bread so you can keep the pistachio goodness around for a while.

Calling all pistachio lovers… All you lovers of the green nuts, all you pistachio-obsessed folks who literally can’t get enough of that salty, savory flavor!

This is the only pizza recipe you need to make for the rest of your lives.

I know that’s a bold statement to make, but that’s just how strongly I feel about the pistachio pesto that’s slathered all over this crispy pizza crust.
[Read more…]

Sriracha Glazed Salmon with Asian Avocado Salsa

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

Sriracha Glazed Salmon with Asian Avocado Salsa is an easy dinner idea that can be dressed up for a dinner party or dressed down for a weeknight dinner. The spicy salmon is balanced with the creamy avocado salsa so dinner is anything but boring.

I haven’t been eating enough fish lately. It’s been a steady rotation of chicken and flank steak in my kitchen lately, and I’m getting a little bored.

So what do I do with this boredom and craving for seafood?

I make THIS. [Read more…]

Loaded Baked Potato Fries

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 16, 2016 // 2 Comments

Loaded Baked Potato Fries are the one tailgating snack that your friends and family won’t be able to get enough of. All the loaded baked potato flavors you love, piled high on crispy fries – with delicious, gooey cheese sauce. YUM!

It’s official, people. Football season is BACK. Yes, I know the “official” season hasn’t kicked off just yet, but I am prepping for all the tailgating and game-watching already.

I can’t even begin to tell you about the excitement I felt watching the first Broncos preseason game. It’s like that old familiar feeling you get when you go home for the holidays. You forget just how much you missed being with your friends and family, all laughing and drinking and eating massive amounts. Of course, instead of shoving a dozen Christmas cookies down my throat in one sitting, I’m shoveling a vat of queso into my belly along with a healthy dose of guacamole. [Read more…]

Breakfast Italian Nachos

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 12, 2016 // 1 Comment

Breakfast Italian Nachos are piled high with everything you’d want out of breakfast and nachos, but Italian-style. The alfredo cheese sauce on top alone will have you coming back for seconds!

I think I am becoming a breakfast person.

*gasp*

I know, it’s one of those things that you’d never think I would write. I’ve complained endlessly to you all about how I don’t like to eat too early in the morning, how I hate cooking in the morning and how I used to even hate eggs.
[Read more…]

Peach Blueberry Margarita

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 11, 2016 // 2 Comments

Blending up a Peach Blueberry Margarita is the best way to take advantage of peach season! Blueberry is the perfect fruity tart pairing to bring out all the best flavors of those delicious peaches.

I am putting all the fresh fruit in my cocktails! It’s peach season and since I’m lucky enough to be in Colorado, that means one thing… Palisade peaches.

The best peaches you will ever eat in your life are Palisade peaches. They are sweet, ripe and the juice literally drips down your arm after you take that first luscious bite. I love any food that makes a mess when I eat it so I always end up buying way too many peaches. Then I end up delving into a deep panic when I realize they are going to go bad sooner than I expected. [Read more…]

Avocado Eggrolls with BBQ Chicken

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 9, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Avocado Eggrolls with BBQ Chicken are a quick and easy snack that satisfies all your afternoon cravings. It’s crispy on the outside, and full of the BBQ spicy chicken and avocado on the inside. Not to mention the creamy dreamy avocado crema it comes with… *swoon*

I’ve become the queen of snacks in my circle recently. I keep making egg rolls, loaded nachos, taquitos, and anything else I can think of to nibble on during those lazy afternoons.

When the sun comes out and the temps rise, there tends to be a lot of day drinking in my world. You really have to have snacks like these around to make sure you get a good base layer going on. If you think about it, me wrapping up BBQ chicken and avocado and putting it all in a hot fryer is really saving lives. [Read more…]

Raspberry Nutella Brie Waffle Sandwiches

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 5, 2016 // 10 Comments

Raspberry Nutella Brie Waffle Sandwiches are just the over-the-top indulgent grilled cheese you need in your life. Sinfully rich and way too addictive, you won’t be able to eat Nutella (or waffles) any other way again!

Oh hiiiiiiiiiiii guys… See something you like?

If you say no, get the heck back to work because this Friday fanciness obviously doesn’t concern you.

There was this one time I collaborated with my lovely Denver blogger friend, Chloe of Mile High & Hungry, and we decided it would be the best idea to make the most drool worthy food we could think of. That afternoon consisted of a lot of Nutella, waffles and fries (which are coming to the blog shortly so get excited for THAT one). [Read more…]

Blackberry Basil Bourbon Smash

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 4, 2016 // 4 Comments

A Blackberry Basil Bourbon Smash is going to take your next cocktail hour to the next level of deliciousness. The tart blackberries are the ideal pairing for sweet basil, and the bourbon just brings it all together for a strong finish. It’s all about the bourbon this summer, so squeeze it in while the temps are hot!

Do you ever make a cocktail for yourself – whether it’s your own invention or using a recipe – and after the first sip be all like, danggggggggggg that’s freakin’ GOOD.?

I won’t be so full of myself to say that happens after every cocktail I make (there have been some serious duds… like that one time I thought I could make a shrub. Just. No). However there are those times where I can really nail it – I’m so humble, right?

This happens to be one of those cocktails that I feel like I nailed. It also helped that I happened to have a wonderful audience that day, fanning my ego and making me feel like a cocktail goddess from the land of Bourbonia. [Read more…]

Pulled Pork Spaetzle Mac and Cheese

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON August 2, 2016 // 1 Comment

Pulled Pork Spaetzle Mac and Cheese is the one dinner you’ll want to indulge in all year long. With homemade spaetzle swimming in a creamy cheese sauce and packed in with tons of pulled pork, this is one individually portioned meal you’ll definitely want seconds of.

Meeting new blogging friends is one of my favorite things to do. It’s why I try to hit conferences each year and especially why I stalk local Denver bloggers on Instagram and Twitter to try to connect. I know, that makes me sound a bit like a loon, but so far no one’s been terrified after I reached out (at least that I know of…).

The food blogging community is so inclusive and filled with such amazing, freaking talented people, it’s an endless stream of ladies and gents that I want to be my besties for the rest of my life. [Read more…]

Chocolate Avocado Pudding with Coconut and Peanut Butter

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

Chocolate Avocado Pudding with Coconut and Peanut Butter is a rich, creamy vegan-friendly dessert that no one will ever be able to guess is healthy! This thick pudding will become a family favorite in no time.

When I first got into using avocados for dessert, I made these triple chocolate avocado cookies. I was a little skeptical at first – I mean, avocado in dessert? It sounded a little nutty to me but given my avocado obsession, I had to try it at least once.

Of course my mind was blown instantly. Avocado and chocolate were meant to be together and ride off into the sunset for eternity. They were missing just one thing and my friends, I have figured out what was missing. [Read more…]

Kentucky Mudslide Shake

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON July 28, 2016 // 1 Comment

Kentucky Mudslide Shake is the creamy, dreamy cocktail you love leveled up into a spiked milkshake to keep you cool during the hottest months of the summer. Dessert + booze in a glass? Yea, being an adult totally rocks.

I don’t want to be an adult anymore.

I want to go back to the days when I had summers off to play, sleep in, be creative and just forget all about responsibilities.

I’m sure everyone else has the same wish during the summer, right? I mean, I can’t be the only one.
[Read more…]

Cookbook Review: The Basque Book + Messy Eggs with Rough-Cut Potatoes

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON July 26, 2016 // 2 Comments

Messy Eggs & with Rough-Cut Potatoes are one of the simplest breakfasts that I’ve ever made, but WOW does it taste like it took you hours to make. I mean, you fry the eggs in chorizo oil. WHAT.

You all know I am normally not a huge breakfast person. If I am, I’m going for a giant breakfast burrito smothered in green chile or French toast piled high with whipped cream, berries and chocolate syrup (#noshame).

However all of this has changed, ever since I tried this ridiculously delicious and simple breakfast. It has everything you would want from a basic breakfast – eggs, meat and potatoes – but it doesn’t taste like a bland pile of diner food that you order at about 2am in the morning after an all-night drinking binge.

[Read more…]

Beer Tasting Pizza Party

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON July 22, 2016 // Leave a Comment

You guyssssss, you know how all that beer has been popping up all over my Instagram lately? I guess you could say I’m actually into beer now… WEIRD, I know.

I mean, this is the girl who hated beer with a fiery passion not too long ago. Now I can actually enjoy some IPAs, and that’s seriously saying something. I’m even to the point where I want to go to breweries just to grab a flight and try a bunch of different things!

[Read more…]

Raspberry Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON July 19, 2016 // 10 Comments

Raspberry Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake is a light, fruity dessert that’s SO much easier to make than traditional cheesecake. No pain in the butt water bath required; you might just end up loving ricotta cheesecake more than any other kind…

Ricotta cheesecake is something I only recently came around to. When I say recently, I mean a few years ago, but still. That’s fairly recent in my book.

This particular raspberry lemon ricotta cheesecake got rave reviews by my entire family just the other weekend, so I’m feeling even more confident than normal (god, that makes me sound a little pompous, huh?) sharing this recipe with you. You probably already know how well raspberry and lemon go together, so it’s not too much of a stretch to say you’ll 100% fall in love with this recipe after you make it for the first time.

[Read more…]

Bacon-Wrapped Guacamole Burger Bombs

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON July 18, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Bacon-Wrapped Guacamole Burger Bombs are the ultimate way to level up your burger game this summer. Wrapped in bacon and topped with spicy pepper jack cheese, these burgers pack a surprise of guacamole in the center that no one can resist.

A couple of months ago my friend made me those bacon-wrapped guacamole chicken bombs that were floating around Facebook for the longest time. I thought the idea was pure genius and every since then I’ve been trying to find other new and fun things to stuff with guacamole.

Why had the avocado-obsessed blogger never thought to try this before? [Read more…]

Pumpkin Spice Beignets with Salted Caramel Drizzle

Bourbon Apple Cider Fizz

Steamed Shrimp Avocado Wontons with Ginger Dipping Sauce

Cilantro Chili Lime Pulled Pork Sliders

Lemon Basil Gin & Tonic

Isn’t that lemon and basil gorgeous?? I love how fresh this lemon basil gin & tonic cocktail looks!

Want to add a little sweetness? Try using 1/2 oz basil simple syrup in your glass!

This Recipe’s Must Haves