A collection of posts about food, using the best ingredients and easy, reliable techniques. Sustainable ingredients to help lower your carbon footprint.
Learn how to make a perfect all-butter French pâte brisée with browned butter — flaky, versatile, and ideal for sweet tarts, fruit pies, quiches, and savory galettes. A master crust that works for every filling.
Read More »Easy Tart Crust (Rustic, Flaky Pastry)
This easy blood orange marmalade sugar cookie recipe makes a cookie that is fudgy on the inside and crisp on the outside. Filled with bright blood orange marmalade and made using the Master Cookie Recipe with melted butter, oil, and precise gram measurements.
Read More »Easy Blood Orange Marmalade Sugar Cookie Recipe (Melted Butter & Sustainable Ingredients)
Discover why Kernza—a perennial grain developed by The Land Institute—is more sustainable than wheat, saves growers time and money, and adds rich, nutty flavor to breads and waffles. Learn how we use Kernza in our baking.
Read More »What Is Kernza? The Sustainable Perennial Grain Changing How We Bake Bread and Waffles
Discover why small-batch fruit preserves from local farmers taste better, support sustainable agriculture, and make exceptional ingredients for baking, breads, and ice cream.
Read More »Why We Buy Fruit Preserves From Small Farmers (And Why They Make the Best Baking Ingredients)
This is the best walnut pie filling because it is made with browned, maple syrup, bourbon, and sustainably grown walnuts for a deeply flavorful twist on traditional pie. Perfect for Thanksgiving and ideal in our Master Tart Crust.
Read More »Best Walnut Pie Filling (Browned Butter, Maple Syrup & Bourbon)
Mutari Craft Chocolate – A chocolate maker in Santa Cruz California
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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Read More »Mutari Craft Chocolate
For the best local fish we shop at H&H Fresh Fish and Shucked Raw Bar
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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Read More »H&H Fresh Fish and Shucked Raw Bar
No need to travel to France! Spontaneous Confections brings authentic French pastry to Santa Cruz for your enjoyment.
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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Read More »Spontaneous Confections
Discover how eating the Mediterranean diet can help you eat healthier, support sustainability, and enjoy delicious meals. Get practical tips, a sample weekly plan, and links to recipes like aioli and more.
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Read More »How to Eat Healthy & Sustainable with the Mediterranean Diet: A Simple Guide
This is an easy recipe for making sugar cookies with goldenberry jam, also known as cape gooseberries or Peruvian ground cherries. These cookies are crispy on the outside, soft in the middle. So easy – no mixer, just stir the ingredients together in a bowl. Perfect every time.
Read More »Goldenberry Jam Sugar Cookies (Buttery, Crispy Cookies with Soft Centers)
Bake soft, crisp-edged strawberry jam sugar cookies using the Master Cookie melted-butter method. Easy, precise, sustainable, and perfectly sweet every time. This cookie recipe also includes a gluten-free variation.
Read More »Strawberry Jam Sugar Cookie Recipe — Easy Master Cookie Recipe with Melted Butter
Bake the best macadamia nut sugar cookies with this easy melted-butter Master Cookie recipe. Soft inside, crisp edges, sustainably sourced, and perfectly measured by grams. This cookie recipe also includes a tested gluten-free variation, with no special techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
Read More »Macadamia Nut Sugar Cookies (Easy, Foolproof Recipe)
Ten perfect little gift ideas for a photographer. Things they may not even know they want or need.
Read More »Gift Ideas for a Photographer
Bake soft-centered, crisp-edged Gochujang sugar cookies made with melted butter, oil, black sesame, and precise gram measurements for flawless results every time. A sustainable, Master Cookie–style recipe that’s fast, simple, and irresistibly unique. This cookie recipe also includes a tested gluten-free variation, with no special techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
Read More »Gochujang Sugar Cookie Recipe with Black Sesame Seeds (Easy Master Cookie Variation)
Try this easy sugar cookie recipe for cookies that are crispy outside and soft inside. Perfect results with no mixer needed. This cookie recipe also includes a tested gluten-free variation, with no special techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
Read More »Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe
Whether you are a longtime local or just passing through Santa Cruz, this curated list will lead you to the very best bakeries in the region — from elegant French-style tarts to artisan sourdough, gluten-free loaves, and celebration cakes.
Read More »Santa Cruz’s Best Bakeries — Where to Find the Finest Bread, Pastries & Cakes
Indulge in the best brown butter caramelized milk chocolate chip cookie recipe, quick and easy to make with kids. This cookie recipe also includes a tested gluten-free variation.
Read More »Best Brown Butter Caramelized Milk Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
This Irish Shortbread cookie recipe is so easy to make – and also the best tasting. But there are a few secrets that you need to know.
Read More »Best Irish Shortbread Cookie Recipe
Try this easy blueberry sugar cookie recipe that is simple to make and delivers delicious results every time. This cookie recipe also includes a tested gluten-free method.
Read More »Easy Blueberry Sugar Cookie Recipe
The collection of recipes for celebrating the cherry blossom season or just celebrating spring.
Read More »Recipes for celebrating Cherry Blossom Season
Bake soft sakura sugar cookies made with real Japanese cherry blossoms. Easy melted-butter method, no creaming or sifting, and measured by grams for perfect results. This cookie recipe also includes a gluten-free version with just one easy change.
Read More »Sakura Sugar Cookies Recipe (Made with Real Japanese Cherry Blossoms)
Learn how to make sakura ice cream with real cherry blossoms. This delicate Japanese-inspired dessert uses the Master Ice Cream Method for perfectly smooth results and was inspired by the beauty of cherry blossom season.
Read More »Sakura Ice Cream Recipe (Delicate Flavor, Real Cherry Blossoms)
Learn how to make the best homemade pistachio ice cream with real pistachios for deep nutty flavor and a naturally creamy texture. Inspired by travel discoveries and backed by agricultural expertise.
Read More »Pistachio Ice Cream Recipe (Easy method, Ultra Creamy)
When a recipe calls for brown sugar, there is a really simple substitute. You will wonder why you ever bought brown sugar. This is so much easier – and easy on your budget.
Read More »Brown Sugar Substitute Recipe
Superfine sugar, also called caster sugar, is simply granulated sugar ground to a finer texture. You don’t need to buy a special product — you can make it at home in seconds using regular sugar and a food processor.
Read More »What Is Superfine Sugar (Caster Sugar)? — How to Make It from Regular Sugar
This is an easy recipe for crispy, healthy, whole wheat seed crackers. A few minutes of mixing and they are ready for the oven. A nutty taste that is also healthy and sustainable.
Read More »Easy Cracker Recipe
Discover how to make birch syrup ice cream with its rich caramel, molasses-like flavor. Inspired by a discovery in Alaska and made using the Master Pantry ice cream method for perfectly smooth results..
Read More »Homemade Birch Syrup Ice Cream (Rich, Caramel Flavor)
The best chocolate chip cookie recipes ever. They are crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, loaded with flavor and big chunks of chocolate – Easy, foolproof recipe. Made with ingredients that will actually reverse climate change.
Read More »Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
This recipe makes the best Swedish cardamom buns (kardemummabullar) – We updated the recipe so it was still homemade and delicious, but easy and sustainable.
Read More »Kardemummabullar (Swedish Cardamom Buns Recipe)