Full Of Crepe

Crepes might be sold everywhere in Paris, but they are pretty hard to find in Bethlehem. This is why I was delighted to hear about Full Of Crepe—a tiny little creperie that is just a stone’s throw away from Lehigh’s campus. 

Although I was a little disappointed that an attractive Parisian man wasn’t making my crepe, the woman that did make it did a phenomenal job. The batter was light and airy, and she put just the right amount of toppings.

Naturally I chose a sweet crepe called “Nuts and Berries,” which is Nutella and fresh strawberries (they offer raspberries if you prefer), but I was leaning towards getting a savory one after reading their extensive list of options. The girl in front of me ordered the “Turkey Lurkee,” which is turkey, mozzarella, spinach, tomato, and pesto mayo drizzled with balsamic reduction. The ingredients looked so fresh and it was all folded into the perfectly golden crepe so nicely that my mouth was watering.

Standing in Full Of Crepe’s tiny doorway made me think to myself that the best part about it is how undiscovered it is. People say it’s one of Bethlehem’s best-kept secrets, and I would have to agree. Little did I know at the time that I was standing behind Full of Crepe’s best customer—a 5 year old girl who makes her mother get her a crepe for lunch every single day and even decided to spend her birthday there as well. 

Now that I know how amazing these crepes are, this little girl is going to have some competition to keep her title as best costumer.To visit the Full of Crepe Facebook page for a better look, click here

Mint Chocolate Combo

Around Christmas time I was searching for something to make that would be fast and easy, yet still look festive and (obviously) be deliciously sweet. I sat at my kitchen table eating boatloads of Ghirardelli’s limited edition peppermint bark and finally decided to make something that incorporates the decadent duo of chocolate and mint.

I settled on making these two simple cookies that are crunchy, sweet, minty and chocolaty all at the same time.

Simply dip Nilla Wafers into melted peppermint bark until they are completely covered, then take crushed candy cane bits and sprinkle them on top. The subtle vanilla flavor compliments the chocolaty bark that is dotted with peppermint candy pieces. The minty bark also gives the bland wafer a little bit of an extra kick that I found really refreshing.   

The second cookie uses mint Oreos dipped in white chocolate with candy cane bits sprinkled on top. There is already a hint of mint in the Oreo filling and it mixes so well with the two different kinds of chocolate (both the white chocolate coating and the chocolate cookies). After eating this cookie I really became convinced that mint and chocolate is the ultimate combo. 

The swirling red and white stripes from the candy canes make these treats look fun and festive. These cookies are also so easy to make that you can bring them to a holiday cookie exchange party and look like you made something extravagant with out spending hours baking and stressing.  

Bethlehem Bars

The Granola Factory is a quaint little bakery located in the town of Bethlehem, PA. You can smell their heavenly baked goods from down the street and it will be sure to lure you in.  

Not only does this charming artisan bakery hand make fresh granola, but they also offer other baked goods like these Bethlehem Bars pictured down below and other prepared foods. Pictured up top is their organic grains and honey flavored granola, along with honey pecan and quinoa fruit’n’nut (they offer many more flavors as well).

Bethlehem Bars are one of the best things I have eaten while I’ve been in the Lehigh Valley. They have an oatmeal crust, topped with caramel, pecans, and chocolate, followed by another layer of oatmeal on top (like a streusel). They offer these bars in half size, but trust me you will want to go for the full.

The only downside to the Granola Factory is their limited availability—they are only open on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays—so get in there whenever you can!

Slutty Brownies

After seeing countless pictures of Slutty Brownies on Instagram and Pinterest, I had to try them out for myself. Even though there are 3 components to this sinfully delicious treat (cookies, Oreos, and brownies), they are one of the easiest things I’ve ever baked.

When my mother asked me what I was baking and I replied slutty brownies, she looked at me like I had six heads—why did I just refer to my brownies as being ‘slutty’? I figure the reason is because sometimes you are just not perfectly content with one of these goodies like Oreos, and need at least two more things like brownies and cookies to fully satisfy your sweet tooth. 

While some people might think the combination of these three things will be overwhelmingly sweet and taste gross, it does not. Who ever thought of this idea was a genius because I could not stop eating them.

To make this trendy treat you will need a 9 x 9 inch baking pan lined with foil. Then get two packages of Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie dough and cover the bottom of the pan with it to make the first layer (you can make your own cookie dough if you’d like, but buying it pre-made makes it go a lot faster). For the second layer, place Oreo’s side-by-side covering the cookie dough. Then make brownies from whatever mix you like and pour it on top of the Oreos and cookie dough for the third layer. Bake this in a 350-degree oven for about 40 minutes and your done! Enjoy! 

Chocolate Fix

If you are ever in desperate need of a chocolate fix, go straight to Tallarico’s Chocolates in Bethlehem. Their variety of chocolates is so large that I stood at the display mesmerized for several minutes. I also felt really indecisive because I desperately wanted to try every single one.

Tallarico’s website says their flavors and textures range from smooth to buttery to even explosive, and they are not kidding. The explosive flavored chocolates they are referring to are their cayenne meltaways. When I was first told to try one I was extremely skeptical, but it only took one bite to win me over. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the combination of dark chocolate and spices worked together.

The best part about Tallarico’s is that there is something for everyone. Sea salted caramels are my personal favorite (pictured up top), but if you like fruity, nutty, crunchy or spicy chocolate, you can find it there as well. 

Lemon Poppy Please

As April begins and it’s finally starting to feel like spring outside, I found that these Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are the perfect refreshing treat to accompany this revitalizing change in weather.  

These muffins from the Food Network website found here, are light, airy, and extremely tangy from the fresh lemon zest used. The poppy seeds give them a little bit of a crunch, and the glaze on top provides the super lemony kick. They’re a great quick and easy breakfast but also make a nice mid-day snack as well.

I am not usually one that likes a really strong lemon flavor that makes your lips pucker, but the glaze is so addicting that I found myself drizzling the icing over the tops of the muffins entirely and then licking the extra that dripped off the sides on to the plate. The glaze is also incredibly easy to make, and only requires 1 ½ cups of confectioners’ sugar, ¼ teaspoon of lemon zest, and 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice.

Although these bite size muffins might be deliciously refreshing, be warned not to walk away from the table with poppy seeds stuck in your teeth! 

I Need S’more

If you can't find a conveniently located open flame to roast some marshmallows on, or some golden graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate to sandwich them between, these brownies will do the trick instead.

On top of being sinfully good and extremely addictive, these S'mores Brownies have a magical way of making you feel like you've gone back in time to revisit your childhood memories of making s'mores by the campfire or the fireplace at Christmas time. The top layer of ooey gooey, smoky marshmallows melts perfectly into the middle layer of brownie and is completed by a crunchy graham cracker crust bottom.

Although these special brownies will leave your fingers a little sticky and messy, they do wonders for healing any ailments caused by the stress of school or everyday life. I made them for a friend who had recently pulled two all-nighters in a row, and she said they definitely helped her recovery. Whether you’re making them for a friend in need or for just plain fun, they will definitely leave you wanting s’more.

I used the simple recipe from the Food Network website, which you can find by clicking here, but instead of using large marshmallow’s I used mini ones instead. 

Not Just Your Grammy's Banana Nut Bread

It turns out love is not the only secret ingredient in my Grammy’s Banana Nut Bread—homemade buttermilk is. My beloved Grammy has been making me her famous banana nut bread since I can remember. After years of being convinced that the only thing that made it taste so good was the love she put into making it, I have finally learned that adding buttermilk does the trick as well.

I have tried what seems like every banana bread under the sun (meaning everything from the Starbucks "banana nut loaf" to all local bakeries) and I have never found one to be as moist and satisfying as this is. It has the perfect banana-to-walnut ratio, which gives it a sweet taste and a great crunch. Eating it right out of the oven makes me feel like I’m getting a hug from my Grammy herself. It is a great snack, but also makes a lovely breakfast when paired with a warm cup of tea. Sometimes Grammy would replace the walnuts for chocolate chips for some extra added sweetness and love, so feel free to do so yourself! 

Ingredients:

½ cup of butter

1 cup of granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 cup of mashed bananas (which is about 2 ½ very ripe bananas)

2 tablespoons buttermilk

1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup of chopped walnuts

To make the buttermilk:

½ cup of milk

2 teaspoons white vinegar

(Let it sit for about 15 minutes)

First cream the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl beat the eggs and then add them to the mixture. Next add the homemade buttermilk, vanilla, baking soda, flour, bananas (use very ripe ones and mash them with a fork), and walnuts and mix well. Grease and flour the loaf pan and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake for one hour until the knife comes out clean. 

Effortless Birthday Bliss

Not everybody has the time and energy to make a decadent ten-layer chocolate cake, iced with chocolate ganache and topped with sprinkles for their best friend’s birthday. These no-bake Funfetti Truffles are a quick and efficient alternative that will still make your best friend’s day extra sweet. They take about 20 minutes to make, and then you can just let them sit in the refrigerator until you’re ready to give them to the honorary birthday girl or boy.  

The outside appearance of these Pintrest inspired cake balls resembles a party all on its own.  The rainbow sprinkles and drizzled milk chocolate against the white chocolate looks irresistible, but biting into one might be even better. They taste just like funfetti cake batter, who doesn’t love that?

These truffles are not just limited to birthday occasions. Add different colored festive sprinkles (like red and green for Christmas) when you know you won’t have a lot of time to prepare something during those stressful and chaotic holiday's. 

In order to make these effortless truffles you will need:

1 cup Pillsbury funfetti cake mix, 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 2 tablespoons milk

In order to make the outside look like an edible celebration you will need:

Rainbow sprinkles, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, 1 box of Baker’s premium white chocolate baking squares

Directions:

Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl and then scoop the mixture into balls (any size you desire) and place them on to a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Place the balls in the fridge while you melt your white chocolate baking squares. 

Take the balls out of the fridge and dip each one into the white chocolate using a spoon so that they become fully coated. Once all the balls are fully coated and placed back on to the baking sheet, drizzle them with the Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Add the finishing touches by showering the balls with rainbow sprinkles, and enjoy!

Maple Madness

I wake up most mornings wishing I had time to start my day off right by making myself a gourmet breakfast complete with warm, fluffy pancakes dripping in maple syrup and a side of fresh fruit (and by fresh fruit I shamefully mean bacon). Being a college student and feeling the need to sleep as late as I possibly can has denied me of that one small joy in life. Most days I run out the door disheveled with some form of energy bar in hand. These energy bars are not satisfying to say the least, and they especially do not provide the same comforting feeling that warm thick maple syrup can give you.

Because I couldn’t stand the thought of eating another breakfast in the shape of a condensed square, I decided that muffins would be a great grab-and-go alternate. I ambitiously also wanted something that could incorporate my gourmet morning fantasies. I finally settled on making Maple Oatmeal Muffins.

I was incredibly pleased with how easy they were to make and how well they came out. Although some people (like myself) hear the word oatmeal and immediately think of a bland and boring taste, these muffins were far from dull. The maple syrup that is infused with the granola definitely gives these muffins a delightfully sweet flavor, but it is the maple glaze on top that really brought my breakfast fantasies to life.

I also chose to add in walnuts and raisins for some extra sweetness and a little crunch, but I encourage you to get adventurous and add anything you would like into the mix—including apples, blueberries, pumpkin, peanut butter, and yes, even bacon if your looking for a more savory taste.  

This recipe calls for the following ingredients and bakes at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes:

1 cup of old fashioned Quaker Oats

½ cup of milk

¾ cup of maple syrup

¼ butter

1 egg

1 cup of all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

A handful of walnuts and raisins

For the maple glaze, whisk together the follow ingredients and then drizzle it on top:

¼ cup of maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup of confectioner’s sugar