September 21st 2025
Menu
It was Mark’s Birthday 🎂 this week! So he got to pick the menu and the dessert! It is also Rosh Hashana this week so I made some challah and put out apples and honey so we could all welcome in a sweet new year! AND it was the autumnal equinox so the table setting was fall themed 🍁
Spaghetti & Meatsauce
This is a Sunday dinner classic - the technique is from Brian Lagerstrom - and calls for cooking the spaghetti in the tomato sauce. Saves a pot and adds a whole bunch of flavor! Also it comes together in less than 45 minutes and scales beautifully for a crowd!
Ceasar Salad
My go-to Ceasar dressing (originally shared here) mixed with butter lettuce, Dino kale, and shaved fennel and croutons from Parkside cafe in Stinson Beach!
Challah
I made my mother’s best friend’s recipe (featured here) but instead of two loaves, I made four and they were SO cute 🥹
Banana Cream Pie
This is Mark’s favorite desert - well technically, his favorite desert is something called “Banberry Pie” which is half this desert and half macerated strawberries all in one pie filling. I’ve only made it for him once in our 10 years together, and he ate the whole thing in one sitting and got (understandably) very ill. So I have not made it since as he cannot be trusted with it 😂 I used the recipe from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook as it deviates from the NYTimes version in two ways (more chilling time for the pudding + fewer layers ensures better coverage / flavor seeping for the layers).
Apple Crumb Bars
I made the Smitten Kitchen version - which feels like part apple pie part New Jersey coffee cake (aka strong emphasis on the crumb). You can watch me make them here 👇🏻