MAK and Her Cheese | Embracing Wholesome Foods

Baked Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese

Hearty pasta smothered in a thick & creamy sweet potato sauce with roasted garlic, herbs, rich smoked gouda, gruyere, and aged white cheddar. Topped with candied bacon and baked until irresistibly crisp and melty. Perfect for a mouthwatering holiday side dish or cozy winter dinner. When it comes to holiday meals, for me it's all about the sides. And this sweet potato mac & cheese happens to be one of my favorite dishes to make for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's a hearty baked mac & cheese with a seasonal twist. Baked sweet potato adds a cozy, sweet, caramely, nutty flavor as well as richness to the sauce. Thyme, rosemary, roasted garlic, salt, and pepper bring forward the savory profile. Smoked and nutty aged cheeses add complexity and richness. And crispy candied bacon is the ultimate topper for a sweet and salty indulgence. This sweet potato mac & cheese is super simple to bring together and can be prepped in advance, making it perfect ...

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Griddled French toast made with buttery soft brioche infused with vanilla and warm spices. Topped with a heavenly citrus maple cream cheese glaze and maple toasted pecans. Deceptively quick and hassle-free with indulgent & nostalgic flavor and textures. Fun fact about me: My #1 favorite breakfast/brunch item is always French toast. Always. I usually don’t…

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Quality feta, olive oil, honey, herbs, pepper, and 15 minutes are all you need to make this sophisticated, comforting, crowd-pleasing, unbelievably delicious baked appetizer.This honey baked feta has been one of my go-to appetizers for years. The post is long overdue because the baked feta tends to be demolished before I can photograph it. I…

Crispy ham, sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, melty sharp cheddar, mashed & seasoned avocado, sweet & spicy peppadew peppers, tangy pickled red onion, and an oozy fried egg sandwiched on a thin onion bagel and grilled until hot and toasty. Without sounding overly dramatic, this is the most savory, flavor-packed, comforting, satisfying, mouthwatering concoction that I…

A thick & hearty whole grain buttermilk waffle loaded with warm gingerbread spices, dark chocolate chips, and topped with a light & creamy vanilla bean maple mascarpone glaze.Before abandoning all the festive and comforting flavors of the holidays in exchange for the gloomier half of winter, you have to try my all-time favorite, most satisfying…

Soft and buttery homemade brioche dough is rolled with orange marmalade and spices, baked until fluffy, gooey, and golden, then topped with a beautiful sweet orange glaze. These orange rolls make the perfect bright, citrusy treat for Christmas morning. The dough can be prepped the night before so they are completely hands-free in the morning….

Smooth & luscious vanilla bean custard cheesecake filling layered with big slices of gooey, cidery spiced apples over a crunchy, caramelized Biscoff cookie crust. Topped with a toasty brown sugar cinnamon oat crumble and finished with a thick, glossy homemade apple cider caramel sauce. Obviously pie is a quintessential part of Thanksgiving. But when it…

Extra soft & moist dark chocolate cake layers, fluffy vanilla bean toasted marshmallow filling, rich & silky chocolate ganache, the creamiest malted milk chocolate buttercream, and glossy salted bourbon toffee sauce come together to make this decadent 3-layer s’mores-inspired cake. Before getting too immersed in Thanksgiving baking, we can’t forget about birthday cake season. It’s…

These thick, soft, and airy buttermilk pancakes are made with reduced apple cider, apple pie spices, melty butterscotch chips, and hunks of sautéed cinnamon apple. Topped with salted crunchy peanut butter and the most magical thick apple cider maple syrup.Nothing says fall like apple cider. While apple cider donuts are all the rage, there are…

Thick, fluffy, soft & satisfying whole grain buttermilk pancakes are filled with warm cinnamon & spices, dark chocolate chips, and slices of sweet caramelized pear. Finished with a drizzle of chocolate hazelnut spread (or almond butter, tahini, etc.) and pure maple syrup.Continuing with the fall fruit theme, we can’t forget about pears. Really good, sweet, juicy, ripe…

Melt-in-your-mouth maple balsamic Dijon salmon is topped with bursting roasted grapes, sweet fennel, and thyme. Served with creamy smoked goat cheese polenta and crispy maple Dijon Brussels.If you’ve never roasted grapes before, now’s the time. Grapes are in peak season, and there are so many ways to celebrate their taste and versatility outside of a…

These ultra soft, cake-like muffins are filled with warm apple pie spices, tender hunks of apple, and crunchy walnuts; topped with a sweet buttery crumble; and finished with a heavenly reduced apple cider glaze. There’s no better way to kick off fall than with a big Gator football win and apple pie spices in the…

Sweet & juicy late summer peaches, grape tomatoes, and corn are tossed with crisp greens, avocado, pickled red onion, honey goat cheese, smokey ham, spiced pecans, fresh herbs, and rich honey Dijon balsamic dressing. We’ve just entered the last official week of summer (yes, it’s still summer). So before you pull out the pumpkin spice,…

The most satisfying combination of roasted turkey, crispy bacon, smoked cheddar, pickles and peppadew peppers, tomato and greens, avocado, and honey mustard sandwiched between slices of airy, crusty sourdough. This is the turkey club to end all turkey clubs. It packs in all the flavor you could ask for in a sandwich–smokey and salty, meaty…

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