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About Me

Is it bad this is the best picture I have of myself in the past 5 years?
Sheesh, I need to be in more pictures... 😅



Welcome to Nibbles & Dreams!

Hello, fellow food enthusiasts! I'm Emily, a 40-something mom of five (yes, you read that right!), currently navigating the chaos of motherhood and the joys of cat-herding. After spending over 16 years in the culinary trenches as both a cook and a kitchen manager, I've decided to trade in my chef's hat for a keyboard and share my love of food with the world.

Nibbles & Dreams is my whimsical haven where I'll be conjuring up delicious recipes, sharing kitchen secrets whispered by seasoned chefs (and maybe a mischievous kitchen spirit or two), and offering my honest opinions on culinary gadgets that range from "genius" to "utterly baffling."

A little bit about me:

  • A kitchen witch in training: I believe that good food is a form of magic, and no matter how long someone has cooked, there's always room for growth. Even with all of my knowledge, I still am learning new techniques and recipes.
  • Mom of many (and their furry overlords): Juggling five kids and two feline companions has honed my multitasking skills to an Olympic level. It has also scrambled my brain to epic proportions and it takes little for me to forget what I was doing. It's a constant balancing act that I like to think I have perfected over the years (still a work in progress, but that's okay).
  • A secret nerd: Don't tell anyone, but I have a weakness for fantasy and romance novels, epic video game quests, and anime that will make your head spin. Throw in a good superhero movie, and that pretty much covers it.
  • Crafty hands: When I'm not stirring up trouble in the kitchen, you might find me crocheting fantastical creatures that look nothing like their patterns, cross stitching something fun and nerdy, or attempting to resurrect a vintage recipe with disastrously hilarious results.

So grab your favorite mug, brew a pot of something magical (or maybe just some strong coffee), and let's embark on a culinary adventure together. Make sure to follow along on my social media for updates, new recipes, tomfoolery, and shenanigans!

🦋 𝕏 📌 📸 @


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Cherries Jubilee

This classic dessert features warm cherries simmered in  sugar and Kirsch, and served over vanilla ice cream. Yields: 4 servings Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 pound fresh ripe sweet cherries, cleaned and pitted 1/3 cup granulated sugar Juice of 1/2 lemon 1/3 cup cherry brandy (Kirsch) or rum Vanilla ice cream, for serving Instructions: Combine Ingredients: In a flameproof skillet, combine cherries, sugar, and lemon juice. Simmer: Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, or until sugar dissolves. Cook: Uncover and increase heat to medium-high. Cook until cherries are juicy and syrupy, about 5 minutes more. Flambé (Optional): Remove from heat. Carefully add the brandy. Ignite with a long match or lighter. Swirl gently until flames subside. Serve: Serve immediately over scoops of vanilla ice cream. Tips: Flambéing: While optional, flambéing adds a touch of drama and caramelizes the sugars for enhanced flavor. If you choose not to flambé, ...
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Black Forest Cake

Yield: 2 (8-inch) cakes Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 35-40 minutes Ingredients: For the Cake: 1 2/3 cups cake flour 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 1/2 cup kirsch   For the Filling: 1 cup butter, softened 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 1 pinch salt 1 teaspoon very strong coffee 1 1/2 cups buttermilk (for filling consistency) 2 (14-ounce) cans sweet cherries in heavy syrup, drained For the Frosting: 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon kirsch For Garnish: 1 ounce semisweet baking chocolate Instructions: Make the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time,...
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Apple Brown Betty

Yields: 6-8 servings Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes Ingredients: 3-4 cups sliced apples (6-8 apples, roughly) 1 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup flour 1/3-1/2 cup shortening 1/4 cup water 1 teaspoon cinnamon Instructions: Grease an 9" baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray. Put apples in the dish. Add water. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Mix brown sugar and flour. Cut in shortening and blend until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle and spread the sugar crumble mixture evenly over the apples. Bake at 325F for 35-45 minutes. You'll know your Apple Brown Betty is done cooking when: Apples are tender: Pierce the apples with a fork or knife. They should be easily pierced and tender, but not mushy. Crumble topping is golden brown: The topping should be a beautiful golden brown color, and it should be crisp. Juices are bubbling: The juices from the apples should be bubbling around the edges of the dish. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cr...
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