A sweet and salty cracker, with crispy edges and chewy center, great for cheese platters or cheese balls.

Romanians are known for a couple of things, some good, some bad but what I love most about is the hospitality.

We love to entertain, we love having friends over and hosting dinner parties. For some it may seem like an enormous effort but I absolutely love it!

Over the time, with a little one climbing on my leg like a monkey in a tree, I turned dinner parties into cocktail parties. A few snacks, a lot of desserts, great friends – the recipe for successful cocktail parties.

No matter if my guests are in the mood for a sweet or savory treat, a cheese plate has something for everyone. Nuts, fresh and dried fruit, cheese and of course crackers! (more…)

Baba au Rhum – a bundt no knead rich yeast coffee cake with dried fruit, soaked in rum syrup and filled with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

Thank you Red Star Yeast for sponsoring this recipe.

The first time I heard the name Baba-au-Rhum I was wondering what language is that and what on Earth is it. It took a small bite to make it clear for me it was something I would forever love and have probably eaten a fair amount of it throughout my childhood.

Baba-au-rhum is a rich cake, a no knead yeast cake, baked in a bundt form and soaked with a rum flavored sugar syrup. It is said that its origin are sometimes during the 18th century when the exiled king of Poland soaked a dried cake in an alcoholic drink.

A couple of years later, this soaked cake was beginning to make its appearance in French patisseries and slowly being introduced in other European cuisines as well. (more…)

Quick and easy oatmeal bars with a thin layer of chewy gooey dulce de leche.

I love oatmeal bars. They are so versatile and one of the easiest treats that, probably, even my baby girl can put them together.

All you have to do is add everything in the food processor, pulse a few times and your work is done! But that’s when the fun part begins. You can either bake them simple or go crazy with the filling. Fresh fruit, jam, preserves, dried fruit and nuts, peanut butter, chocolate, the possibilities are endless.

This time I went with a can of dulce de leche. (more…)

Chocolate sponge cake filled with lighter than air cream and diced fresh strawberries.

One would think that after 8 months of hosting the chocolate party I get my act together and post on time. Sorry to disappoint you but this month was so close to not having a party at all.

When we picked strawberries as the secret ingredient for this month challenge not in a million years I had though I have such a hard time baking something edible and pretty enough to take decent pictures of.

Three is a charm? I used to believe that. Not anymore. It took me 6 ruined cakes and almost 10 pounds of strawberries to complete this month’s challenge. (more…)

Mother’s Day it’s almost here! Have you thought what to get for your Mom or Grandma? Something to show your appreciation and WOW her?

I know, us the Moms, we’re superwomen making everything go smoothly for our family and we get so little credit. From the morning cup of coffee, breakfast, laundry, crafts, lunch, playdates, outside activities, dinner ready just as your husband walks in the door, to those late night chores. And as much as we try to schedule in some me time, there’s something more important that needs our attention.

Days when I hardly have time to sit down and have 5 seconds to just breath I think of my Mom. All the little things she did, caring for us 3, a full-time job without complaining.

Being thousands of miles away, it’s harder for me to send her a gift on time, but I always have something special for her when we go back to Romania to visit.

But sending something to my wonderful mother in law is just one click away. With the great selection of  high quality gift baskets, chocolate, flowers and more at various price ranges that make great gifts for Mother’s Day, Shari’s Berries should be your one stop place to shop this year. (more…)