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What's Giving Me Life
The places, people, recipes, traditions, and little moments that are inspiring me lately. Think of it as everything I'd tell you if we were catching up over coffee—or cooking dinner together.
Spiced Orange Granola
Store-bought granola is often packed with nuts (which doesn't work for our house) and loaded with extra sugar. This homemade version is everything I want in a granola: perfectly crunchy, warmly spiced, lightly sweet, and full of bright citrus flavor. It's become my go-to breakfast alongside plain Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and a drizzle of honey—and once you make a batch, you'll understand why it never lasts long. This recipes yields about 4/12 cups of granola. Ingredients
Maddie Umali
2 days ago2 min read
Black Sesame Coffee Syrup
I'd never had a black sesame latte until a trip to Maui, and after one sip, I was hooked. Toasty, nutty, and just slightly savory, black sesame adds incredible depth to coffee. This syrup is surprisingly easy to make at home and transforms an everyday latte into something that feels straight from your favorite coffee shop. This recipe creates 1 cup of syrup. Ingredients 1/2 cup black sesame seeds 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 cup water Instructions Coarsely grind the black sesam
Maddie Umali
2 days ago1 min read
Honey Vanilla Coffee Syrup
After spending our honeymoon in Hawaii, there was one thing I couldn't stop thinking about: the coffee. Every island coffee shop seemed to have its own signature drink, but my favorite was a honey vanilla shaken espresso that was simple, smooth, and just sweet enough. This homemade syrup lets me recreate a little piece of that trip at home—and it's become my go-to for elevating my morning coffee. This recipe creates 1 cup of syrup. Ingredients 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup
Maddie Umali
2 days ago1 min read
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