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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
St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake
If you're from St. Louis, you know that gooey butter cake is practically a food group. And if you've never had it, you're in for a treat. Unlike the popular cream cheese version, this recipe features a soft, yeasted crust topped with a rich, buttery, gooey filling and a generous dusting of powdered sugar. It's the style my Grandma Kitty always made, and the kind of dessert that reminds me of home. Enjoy a slice with your morning coffee, as an afternoon treat or straight from
Maddie Umali
Oct 133 min read
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