The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Foolproof Homemade Bread

I need to make a confession… for many years I felt extremely intimidated to bake bread. The kneading, the waiting, the pans it involved, it just felt too complicated. Even after I studied at a ...

Chocolate Avocado Zucchini Bread

A while back I shared my mom’s recipe for perfect Banana Bread, then I shared my recipe for Blueberry Zucchini Bread. Now, in my effort to reign supreme as the quick bread queen, I’m sharing my ...

Mini Zucchini Bread Three Ways

I have fond memories of zucchini bread that my “summer” grandma made me. I had one grandma that lived with us, and the “summer” grandma lived in Virginia. To this day whenever I cut into a ...

Brunch Eats: Blueberry Zucchini Bread

Once or twice a year, a few of my girlfriends and I get together for a girls only weekend. We look forward to the getaway and use the time to relax and catch up. We change up the location each ...

Irish Soda Bread

Growing up, St. Patrick’s Day in our house meant a corned beef and cabbage dinner with plenty of potatoes and carrots tossed in. I remember my father being the one to take over the kitchen on this ...

Baking Bread in a Le Creuset Dutch Oven

Give me a savory recipe or an idea for any savory meal, and I’m on it! But if you ask me to bake a dessert, I would do my best, but not with the same confidence of creating a savory dish. So for the ...

Let's Break Bread

Since the weather is nice and cold and staying in sounds more enticing than heading out, I had the urge to bake some bread this week. I decided to make a Dutch Oven Bread Loaf. The recipe was very ...

Pumpkins and Cranberries: The Perfect Pair

The pumpkin season is undeniably upon us. Just last week I went to the grocery store, and couldn't believe the assortment of pumpkin-flavored items available. There was everything you could imagine ...

A Kebab, a Calzone and a Pita Walk into a Bar

I just got back from a whirlwind vacation across Europe, gorging my way through five countries before rolling into Istanbul. Ahhh Istanbul--land of lamb chops so pink that even Mary would have had ...

Focaccia: Bread Baking with the Seasons

Why wait until the cooler months when you can enjoy freshly baked, seasonal bread to accompany your summer soirées? You should bake bread this summer!