First off, Happy Royal Wedding Day! If you’re anything like me, you’ll be drinking coffee by the gallon to stay awake. I’m also going to my second wedding dress fitting over lunch, which makes this day filled with wedded excitement! On the food front, I can’t tell you how many times I read a recipe on one of my many favorite blogs and am absolutely inspired to make said recipe. However, I rarely ever end up doing so, mainly because … Read More

Layer bars like these come in many forms. The only real components necessary to make them are a cookie or graham cracker crust, a mixed ingredient filling full of different flavors and textures and a topping of sweetened condensed milk to bind it all together. Typically, they are sweet to the max. And, in my opinion, lacking depth and diversity in flavor. Unless, of course, we are talking about these bars. I would like to say they are a stroke … Read More

This weekend Joey and I had our first wedding shower! It was thrown by Joey’s aunts on his dad’s side and, as is tradition in his family, the guys were invited, too. We had so much fun playing silly games, eating (of course!) and opening gifts. Did I mention I’m super lucky to be marrying into this amazing family? Because I am. They play silly games, laugh a lot and make sure we are never without caffeine. Our loot included … Read More

Regular posting will resume momentarily. We’ve been out on a three day weekend. Eating tasty treats, planning our wedding, and running gravel roads out in the country. Now, it’s back to work and the kitchen. Hope you all had a fabulous Easter! Madison

Do you love cookies? I do, too. In fact, I love them so much that I want to bake some cookies and send them to one of you. Two dozen of any of the cookies found on this site. So here’s the deal: Leave a comment below telling me what you’re most looking forward to this summer. Contest is open until 11 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. Winner will be announced on Friday. Have a happy Wednesday! Madison

I didn’t set out to make cake balls, a la Bakarella, but then again, I’m guessing that a lot of cake balls have been made after a cake recipe failed. Thankfully, cake balls and cake pops have become envied, coveted and enjoyed in every Sarbucks around the country. Tuesday night I set out to make peanut butter chocolate chip cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream after reading another inspiring and mouthwatering recipe from The Blue Eyed Bakers. However, instead of following … Read More

I’m sorry, I really do have a recipe to share with you all. A really sweet, yummy and tempting treat perfect for weekend baking. But, you see, I got in an early morning workout, did a load of laundry, walked Nut and all was going as planned. Just enough time to photograph said delicious treats. But then the bad hair day struck hard and I ran out of time to snap a few pictures. I promise, I’m running home over … Read More

After some serious prompting by Joey, I finally broke down and ordered business cards for Espresso and Cream. Except instead of ordering a couple hundred, I ended up with a box of 1,500. That’s a whole lot of business cards that I’ll be too embarrassed to ever hand out. Even if I do think they’re pretty cute. If anyone wants to come work for me and hand out business cards, I’ll pay you in cookies. And I’ll let you play … Read More

{My first true spa experience in Sonoma} This morning I woke up to an inbox full of pictures (some very embarrassing) from childhood courtesy of my step-mom, Andrea (pictured above). Truth be told, everyone in my family hates the phrase ‘step-mom’ or ‘step-sister’ because it doesn’t seem to reflect how close we are as a family, so for now I’ll just be calling her Andrea on Espresso and Cream. Even though some of the pictures were less than flattering, I … Read More

I’m so unbelievably excited to share that Joey and I are going to have a niece/nephew in October! Goodness, you have no idea how hard it has been not to tell everyone about this amazing news. Amber and Jake (the parents-to-be) told us they were going to have a baby about three and a half weeks ago when we were in Chicago working on their new house and we’ve been signed to secrecy ever since. But now it’s on Facebook … Read More

My wonderful grandma turned 90 last month and, of course, our family got together to celebrate the milestone. Over the years I’ve realized that reaching 90 is not easy and most certainly not always fun and games, but I have yet to meet another 90-year-old who is as mentally sharp and intelligent as she is. If you’re ever in Iowa and in search of someone to play a mean game of Scrabble with, I would highly suggest you take up … Read More

A. Age: 23 B. Bed Size: Queen bed that my mom bought me when I graduated from college. It is so darn comfy! C. Chore You Dislike: Putting away clean clothes. I don’t mind washing and folding, just putting away. D. Dogs: Nutmeg, age 4  E. Essential Start to Your Day: Putting my contacts in and starting the day with a cup of coffee F. Favorite Color: Light blue G. Gold or Silver: I’m a silver girl for the most … Read More