Meghan Y., Author at Cake 'n Knife

Greek Hummus Mini Tostada Stacks

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON March 22, 2016 // 9 Comments

Greek Hummus Mini Tostada Stacks are a fun, flavorful appetizer that’ll really impress your guests. They take only 15 minutes to make and have a crazy array of flavors and textures, sure to please any palate.

I haven’t had a voice for three days. Three. Freaking. Days. To say I am frustrated is a major understatement. Thankfully I don’t have a job where I need to talk all day long on the phone, but it would be nice to actually have a conversation without either a) sounding like a dying cat or b) listening in silence the entire time.

Obviously I caught whatever crud is making its way through Denver right now, and it’s more than content to just linger in me for an excruciatingly long time.
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Chilaquiles (aka Hangover Food)

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

Chilaquiles, aka hangover food, are spicy, full of texture, and so many flavors all you’ll be able to do is sigh with pleasure

So you had an epic bash last night where you drank too much Guinness and took one too many shots of Jameson. You tore into some serious corned beef and about half the party ended up staying at your house last night. Morning is here, you wake up and realize you have a massive group of people moaning and groaning from the hangovers that just started to hit them.

As much as you’d love to shove a few ibuprofen in their hands and send them packing, you are suffering too and wishing you had remembered to pull together some quick and easy breakfast that will shut everyone up and quell the pounding in your head. [Read more…]

Avocado Tahini Dip

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON March 15, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Avocado Tahini Dip is a smooth and creamy dip that is almost like hummus, but with avocado instead of chickpeas. It’s delicious as an appetizer that’s ready in 5 minutes, and if you have any leftover (which is unlikely), spread it on a chicken sandwich for lunch!

I used to have a serious obsession with hummus. I would eat it all day every day, whether I was dipping crackers, carrots, pita bread, or simply using it as a spread on a sandwich. After I’d gone through the equivalent of a massive dump truck’s worth of the stuff, I realized I had gotten into a bit of a rut. [Read more…]

Guinness Beef Stew Pot Pies

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON March 11, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Guinness Beef Stew Pot Pies are full of Guinness flavor, portioned just right for you and your friends and family. Pair it with a Guinness during your St. Patrick’s Day celebration and you’re off to the ultimate start to your holiday. Nothing says Ireland like a Guinness, after all.

Fancy a Guinness?

There’s magic in these little pot pies, that’s all I can say. Just like the magic of St. Patrick’s Day.

Of course, I have yet to find a leprechaun and his pot of gold, but every St. Patrick’s Day a little magic always seems to happen. It could be the magic of the perfect night or even the magic of waking up the following day without a hangover. [Read more…]

Boozy Green Shamrock Shake

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON March 10, 2016 // Leave a Comment

A Boozy Green Shamrock Shake is the boozy cousin to the famous shake that only gets busted out around St. Patrick’s Day. Bonus: no one will pinch you while you’re nursing one of these shakes.

Hi guys, my name is Meghan and I have no self-control.

Yep that’s been about the past two weeks of my life. I’ve been overindulging and skipping the gym as I spiraled into a world of stress.

Now that I am on the other side, I get to enjoy the lovely repercussions of those decisions – aka the sad sad time that I am now clocking on my mile and the disappearing act some of the toning I managed to get has pulled. [Read more…]

Jalapeño Agave Cornbread Fritters

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON March 4, 2016 // 6 Comments

Jalapeño Agave Cornbread Fritters are fried piece of sweet and spicy cornbread bliss. They are a fun treat to munch on at parties or even to spoil your family with during a typical ho-hum week.

Sweet and spicy…. THAT’s my jam this week. I can’t get enough of it, especially when it comes to popping three or four (more like five or six) if these jalapeño agave cornbread fritters in my mouth.

The one bad thing about working in home is how many times I have to pass through the kitchen to let little miss Kya outside. Every time I walk through, there’s some sort of food tempting me to just take a bite. Add all those trips through the kitchen up and ugh, I really need to do a juice cleanse or something.
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Triple Chocolate Avocado Cookies

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON March 1, 2016 // 10 Comments

Triple Chocolate Avocado Cookies are an indulgent chocolate fix that people won’t believe is actually healthy. See if you can taste the secret avocado ingredient… I bet you won’t be able to!

Triple Chocolate Avocado Cookies| cakenknife.com

You guys, I seriously can’t even handle these cookies right now. I’m kind of freaking out over them.

I probably ate about 5 or 6 of these bad boys as I was testing the recipe, trying to find the avocado in them and you can’t taste it at all.

No, I’m not exaggerating. That avocado is hidden so freaking well in these cookies, you’ll be able to get even the pickiest eater to fall in love with them.

Then you can sit back and smile to yourself for accomplishing such an amazing feat (based on a true story, just saying).

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Pineapple Rosemary Smash

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON February 26, 2016 // 3 Comments

Pineapple Rosemary Smash takes happy hour to all new heights with the combination of fresh pineapple juice and rosemary simple syrup. Whether you’re hosting a cocktail party or just treating yo’self, you’ll never regret whipping this one up.

You guys, this cocktail is my new cocktail hour obsession. As you know, I am a firm believer of bringing cocktail hour back to life. To me, there’s nothing like coming home and fixing myself a delicious, well-crafted cocktail to enjoy as I kick back and unwind. It’s become a bit of a ritual for me, even though I work from home now and am only walking to my kitchen from my desk…

Regardless of the now shortened trip between work and home, I will make my cocktail, peruse a cookbook or magazine for a bit, and just breathe before I get started on dinner or whatever else I have going on that night. [Read more…]

Individual Tiramisu Parfaits

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

Individual Tiramisu Parfaits are just the right portion of creamy, coffee-infused decadence to indulge in after a delicious meal. Or in the middle of the night so you don’t end up eating an entire pint of ice cream.

When I lived in Rome, I ate tiramisu like it was the last time I would ever be able to eat it. It was the ultimate Italian dessert for me (well, you know, aside from massive amounts of gelato) and I always felt a little fancy when I ate it while also sipping on espresso with my girlfriends.

While I lived there, I signed up for a random cooking class at the school I went to and of course, what was on the menu? Tiramisu (translated is “pick me up” which I always felt was utterly perfect). This was the first time I’d ever made the dish and OMG if I didn’t lose my mind when I found out just how easy it is to make. After spending all afternoon shopping in the outdoor markets and cooking in the kitchen on the rooftop terrace, we all gathered around this massive table to dig in. I’m not going to lie, we may have all licked our plates as we kicked back with full bellies. [Read more…]

Mexican Pulled Pork Tartine (Open-Faced Sandwich)

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON February 23, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Mexican Pulled Pork Tartine is a south-of-the-border twist on the classic French open-faced sandwich. This meal is a breeze to make and is ridiculously filling to boot.

On my last trip to Paris, I remember hearing about this restaurant that I simply had to go to for a delicious meal on the cheap. It was this tiny little modern place (of course the name of it completely escapes me now) and I remember sitting down, taking out the menu and realizing that all they served was tartine. At the time, I was overwhelmed after popping around Europe for a week already and I kept thinking “tartine” was “tartin” like tarte tartin. I fumbled my way through my rusty French and thought to myself, what the heck did I just order?

To my surprise and delight, it was a tartine. The perfect open-faced sandwich served on the biggest slice of bread I’d ever seen in my life. [Read more…]

Black Pepper Goat Cheese Biscuits

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

Black Pepper Goat Cheese Biscuits pack a little bit of spice, tang, and a whole lot of flaky layers. These buttery biscuits go well with any meal and make an even better midnight snack when slathered with extra creamy butter…

Once upon a time, there was a girl who loved bread so much she almost married it. Upon realizing that this marriage was a) complete impossible and b) a surefire way for her to go to the looney bin, she slathered her love in butter and devoured the carb-loaded soulmate instead…

And thus, an addiction to carbs became her newfound happiness as she ventured out on the quest to find the perfect biscuit. [Read more…]

My Ultimate Bloody Mary

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON February 18, 2016 // 6 Comments

My Ultimate Bloody Mary is the only bloody mary I ever need to drink. With a bunch of pickled fixings and a paprika-cayenne seasoned salt, it’s just the pick-me-up your brunch needs.

You guys, I’ve officially become a Bloody Mary fan. It took me only about 29 years to get there, but I am finally here. I am ashamed to say it took this long, but I had a serious hate for the drink a little while back. I think it was because I snuck a sip of my mom’s early on in life and it made me want to die. I did NOT like tomatoes back then. Even after I worked through my tomato hatred, the Bloody Mary was still a big fat no-no.

Then I gave one a chance a few months back. Hello my new favorite brunch drink. Step aside mimosas, I am down with the tomatoes, hot sauce and pickles now. [Read more…]

Cajun Shrimp & Andouille Sausage Stuffed Potatoes

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON February 17, 2016 // Leave a Comment

Cajun Shrimp & Andouille Sausage Stuffed Potatoes are the ultimate way to do surf ‘n turf, potato-style. Stuffed with the flavors of New Orleans, these spicy cheesy over-the-top potatoes are a serious crowd-pleaser.

*welp* I think I went a little overboard with these potatoes… In the best way possible. Can you blame me though? There’s not a lot out there that’s better than a twice-baked potato stuffed with some surf ‘n turf action. Unless we’re talking about poutine of course… But I digress.

The real genius of this recipe revolves around the potato – well, russet potatoes to be exact. Potatoes are a staple in my life, russets in particular. You all know it’s not because I’m a meat and potatoes kind of girl. It’s because potatoes are so gosh darn versatile! There’s an endless stream of recipes you can make from all over the world with potatoes. They are even good for you. Scary I know… [Read more…]

Cookbook Review: Lucky Peach & Rotisserie Chicken Ramen

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

Rotisserie Chicken Ramen from “Lucky Peach: 101 Easy Asian Recipes” cookbook is my new go-to weeknight comfort meal. You may have to cook the broth for a couple hours, but the minimal effort and waiting time is well worth the flavor packed bowl of goodness you end up with.

I think I may have mentioned it once or twice before, but this year I really want to get into more Asian recipes. I am completely naive when it comes to these recipes so getting Lucky Peach in the mail was like the gift that keeps on giving for this cookbook-obsessed gal over here. Ever since I went to lunch with one of my friends who couldn’t stop talking about this mouth-watering ramen she and her partner make, I have been craving homemade chicken ramen. As I skimmed the pages, trying to decide what to make first, there it was. Rotisserie Chicken Ramen, the recipe that seemed like it was made just for me. [Read more…]

The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Cheese Board

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON February 8, 2016 // 3 Comments

The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Cheese Board is the way to your boo’s heart (or the perfect way to celebrate your true friend love with your BFFs) this Valentine’s Day. A little sweet, a little savory, and full of variety, you can spend a romantic evening cuddled up with plenty of wine.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’ve been racking my brain for a recipe to celebrate. Originally I was going to share some cinnamon rolls with you, but they turned out to be an epic fail (first one of many this year, I’m sure). So instead of spending all your time on a complicated recipe this year, why not dive into a romantic cheese board? Just picture this – a couple bottles of wine, a gourmet spread of cheese, crackers, and other goodies, snuggling up with your boo under a blanket surrounded by candles. Pretty damn romantic, am I right?

OR picture several bottles of wine, the gourmet spread, chick flicks and your besties giggling like children during an epic sleepover, 1990s style. Except with fine wine and cheese. Because we’re adults now and we’re classy.

Regardless of how you plan to spend your Valentine’s Day, this cheese board is a must. Building the ultimate Valentine’s Day cheese board is easy, as long as you are sticking with the good stuff, like Castello cheeses. Castello really pulls out all the stops with their variety of cheeses, from soft to hard, aged to double creme, making them a great addition to any cheese board. It was SO hard to narrow it down to just two (the ideal number for a cheese board meant for two, but if you have more people to serve go ahead and throw more on there). [Read more…]

Grapefruit Gin Fizz

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

Grapefruit Gin Fizz is a simple twist on the classic gin fizz cocktail that’ll brighten up these cold, damp and dreary days. Isn’t it time you stepped up your cocktail game a bit?

I need a little brightness in my life right now guys. I feel like I’ve been fighting off a cold FOREVER. Every morning I wake up thinking, this is the day that it’ll be completely gone and I can finally get back to reality. Then nope, there’s a little tickle in the throat or I have to sneeze. The worst feeling in the world is knowing you are over the cold, but those couple of symptoms linger excruciatingly long enough to make everyone around you think you have the plague. [Read more…]

Salmon Cake Sliders with Spicy Mayo

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON February 2, 2016 // 55 Comments

Salmon Cake Sliders with Spicy Mayo are a crispy, spicy and flavorful appetizer that’s easy to make and will really wow a crowd. Or you can be completely selfish and just make them for lunch for yourself. It’s up to you!

Boy oh boy do I have loads of treats for you today. First let’s start with this beautiful little salmon cake slider, shall we? These perfectly fried beauties are my new obsession and I’m sure you can see why. They have a ridiculous amount of flavor in those little cakes and the spicy mayo just amplifies the taste that much more. I was lucky enough to whip these up with my oh-so awesome cousin last weekend on a leisurely Saturday. I’m pretty sure she’s about 50% responsible for the awesomeness that you see here (ok maybe more like 65%, but don’t tell her that ok? Wouldn’t want her getting a big head or anything… 😉

And what do I spy in the back there? Why I think that might just be a shiny new KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond Blender… Did I mention I’m giving away one of them today? More on that in a second though.

A platter of these is absolutely irresistible….
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Snickers Caramel Cheesecake Bars

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 29, 2016 // 4 Comments

Snickers Caramel Cheesecake Bars are a caramel-lover’s dream with chopped up Snickers and extra caramel packed into every bite. The creamy cheesecake and chocolate crust is just the icing on the cake.

You guyssssss…. I think I overdid it with this one just a little bit. Then again, is there ever such a thing as ‘too much’ when it comes to caramel and chocolate?

Hint: the answer is no. Just saying.

Seriously though, these Snickers caramel cheesecake bars are ri-DONK-ulous. I may never go back to a traditional cheesecake again. I mean, handheld cheesecake. Let that sink in for a minute. It’s a thing and it’s glorious, and if you aren’t doing it already, you should be. [Read more…]

Maple Bacon Manhattan

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 28, 2016 // 4 Comments

A Maple Bacon Manhattan is how real women (and men) do cocktail hour. A thick sliced of maple-candied bacon on top of a sinful maple manhattan is the stuff dreams are made of, and if they aren’t, you’re having the wrong dreams. Obviously.

Remember that man candy (aka bacon) manhattan I was gushing about back on this Wednesday Slice some time back? Well I may have had it a few more times since then and after spending way too much money going out, I thought it was about time I replicated that bad boy at home.

Why go out in the cold when I could stay home with my very own candied bacon, strong cocktail and a little bit o’ Netflix action?
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Avocado Goat Cheese Crostini

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 26, 2016 // 3 Comments

Avocado Goat Cheese Crostini are how I get fancy with avocados! The goat cheese and fresh cherry tomatoes are the bright and acidic accents the humble avocado needs to take your appetizer game to the next level.

Let’s continue rocking the appetizer game, shall we? At the end of last week I brought you some killer egg rolls, but I couldn’t leave you with just those, especially now that the Broncos are in the SUPER BOWL. BOOM.

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Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken Egg Rolls with Creamy Buffalo Dipping Sauce

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 22, 2016 // 5 Comments

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken Egg Rolls with Creamy Buffalo Dipping Sauce may be a mouthful to say, but they are a mouthful of deliciousness in every bite. The cool, creamy ranch dip in the egg rolls packs in the flavor and perfectly compliments the spicy kick in the dipping sauce. It’s a game day win, every time!

This post is sponsored by the bomb dot com folks at Sabra!

What’s happening this weekend? Denver Broncos are going to beat those Pats, that’s what. It’s the second the last game of the season and I am morphing into full-on tailgating food mode. All I plan on eating for the next two weeks is tailgating food, because once the Super Bowl is over, I can kiss the perfect excuse for a cheat day goodbye.

Is it bad that I think of football in terms of food more than I do the game itself…? [Read more…]

The Ultimate Boozy Coconut Hot Chocolate

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 21, 2016 // 2 Comments

The Ultimate Boozy Coconut Hot Chocolate is an indulgent, creamy, and oh-so coconut-y way to warm up on a chilly night. The key is to go overboard with the whipped cream and toppings, because over-indulgence is SO in right now.

I was going to start out by saying that I might have gone a little overboard with this one, but I’ve since changed my mind. This is just the right amount of over-the-top deliciousness and crazy indulgence. When you drink this, it’s an event. It’s own party with a parade, marching band, and fireworks exploding everywhere (well really just on your tastebuds and in your brain, but you get what I’m trying to say, right?).

Right now, I am deep in the middle of a chocolate obsession. Yes, this is a general state of being for me, but it’s amplified this week for some reason. It all started with this hot chocolate and now that I’m making a dessert with Snickers (stay tuned for that awesomeness!), it’s like it exploded. I’ve been trying to be good and the best thing I’ve come up with is freezing a bag full of various chocolate chips (white, dark, milk and those Reese’s ones). Somehow the cold chocolate tastes amazing and makes me eat less of them! [Read more…]

Black Porter Chili Poutine

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 19, 2016 // 3 Comments

Black Porter Chili Poutine is a round two recipe for my black porter chili that blows all other poutine recipes out of the water. Whip up a big batch and listen as the room falls silent… The only sound you’ll hear is people chewing and groaning with happiness.

It was only a matter of time before I came back to poutine… This time I’m getting a little ridiculous with it (and completely blowing my diet, yet again…). I mean, poutine is insane enough as it is with gravy-smothered fries loaded up with cheese curds. Add a giant heaping of my black porter chili and holy WOW.

I think my mom’s head exploded when I served her some of this, not even joking. [Read more…]

Black Porter Chili

POSTED BY Meghan Y. ON January 15, 2016 // 3 Comments

Black Porter Chili is chili taken up a notch with the addition of smooth, luxurious black porter. This is how I will forever warm up on a cold winter night!

Yep, I’m getting fancy up in here with my chili and I don’t care who knows it. I love a heaping bowl of chili piled with cheese in the winter. Nothing beats it and it’s so simple to make, but the traditional plain chili recipes have been getting a little old for me. So I thought I’d kick things up a notch and add some smooth black porter to the mix to make what I call ‘fancy-ass chili’.

Why fancy-ass? Because craft beer is fancy over here in my neck of the woods (and should be everywhere). For example, the specific beer I chose to make this chili with was a black vanilla porter and those subtle hints of vanilla actually came through in the chili. After the first bite I was swooning, and a couple days later I’m still swooning. The flavors only get more intense with time! [Read more…]