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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.
The 2025 Gift Guide
Every item in this guide has earned its place in my kitchen. These are the tools I reach for, the cookbooks I cook from, the pantry staples I buy on repeat, and the gifts I've happily given to the people I love. If you're looking for something thoughtful for the home cook in your life—or simply need a little inspiration for your own wish list—I hope you find something you love. Global Fish Spatula — or any high-quality fish spatula. After many not-so-subtle hints, Frank got m
Maddie Umali
Jul 24
The 2024 Gift Guide
Every year, friends and family ask me what kitchen tools, cookbooks, and pantry staples are actually worth buying. Rather than rounding up trendy products I've never touched, this list is made up entirely of things I use in my own kitchen—items I reach for daily, gift to friends, and would happily buy again. Whether you're shopping for a seasoned home cook, someone just learning their way around the kitchen, or simply treating yourself, I hope this list gives you a few ideas.
Maddie Umali
Jul 24
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
Jul 242 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
Jul 241 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
Jul 241 min read
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