What’s not to love about a good Gooey Butter Cake, especially when it’s made with zesty lemon and juicy blueberries? This melt-in-your-mouth gooey butter cake recipe is made from scratch without using any cake mix. I created a very well balanced recipe that is not overly sweet, something I know not many people love about this cake. It consists of a crumbly cake as the base layer and a gooey cream cheese layer on top. You only need the most basic baking ingredients and 1 hour to make it. It’s a total crowd pleaser that everyone will love!

If I would have made this gooey butter cake back in high school, I can assure you I would have been the most popular girl back then, saving me from many insecurities growing up, lol! But I can make…

cake recipesDev AmadeoApril 10, 2024easter, cinnamon, spring, cream cheese frosting, olive oil, citrusComment

Orange and Olive Oil Carrot Cake

You really need to try it for yourself to understand how moist and full of flavor is this Orange and Olive Oil Carrot Cake recipe. It’s super soft and tender and the combination of cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg make it so warm and cozy. Two unexpected ingredients, orange and olive oil, elevate this cake to a new dimension! Have a bite and it will transport you to a riviera on the Adriatic sea, eating cake and sipping coffee during the afternoon like it’s your only job.

I sometimes don’t trust my obsession of experimenting with new flavor combinations. It can be bad news to people around me because they will have to eat whatever I decided to put together, no matter what that was. But sometimes, and happy to say it’s most of the times…

cake recipesDev AmadeoApril 3, 2024easter, cinnamon, spring, cream cheese frosting, olive oilComment

Mini Olive Oil Carrot Cakes with the Creamiest Cream Cheese Frosting

Aren’t these mini carrot cakes the cutest?! These mini carrot cakes are incredibly moist and super soft thanks to the olive oil and buttermilk I used in this recipe. You can use coconut milk for a dairy-free version. They are warm and spiced with a good amount of cinnamon and ginger and a touch of cardamom and all-spice. It has a ton of carrots and some chopped pistachios for extra crunch. Trust me the flavor will burst in your mouth after every bite!

I love baking carrot cakes. They’re Mariana’s favorite and it was the first kind of cake she ever had. I have made different versions depending on her favorite flavors at the moment, one time even doing a cherry cream cheese frosting because she was loving cherry jelly at the time. And the frosting has always been her favorite part. I know that wherever…

Easy Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Curd and Meringue

This Lemon Olive Oil Cake is tender, soft and super moist. It’s a simple cake recipe that you can make in about an hour any time you are craving a sweet and easy bite. But the addition of the lemon curd in the batter and a crowning mellow meringue on top make this a showstopper for any special occasion! It’s simply a crowdpleaser!

If you have never baked a cake with olive oil, you are missing out badly! Baking cakes with olive oil is perfectly fine. You know I love olive oil cakes. The lightness…

sweet eats, cake recipesDev AmadeoOctober 9, 2023lemon curd, lemon, lemons, olive oil, meringue, summer Comments

Twice Sautéed, Twice Salted Crispy Potatoes

These sautéed potatoes have the crispiest surface and the softest center! They’re one of my favorite things to cook and eat! The reason they’re impossibly crispy and soft at the same time is because they’re first slow cooked in olive oil, kind of a confit, making the potatoes tender on the inside, and then cooked in high heat to finish up sealing that crispy outside. Each potato bite is decadent and so flavorful! Do you ever thought you’ll be talking about potatoes the same way you talk about ice cream? After you make these, you definitely will!

It was in high school when I tasted the most amazing plate of potatoes. Way better than French fries!! I was at a friend’s house and her mother made them for us as a snack. After trying them I was curious about…

savory eats, what mom really wants, breakfast recipesDev AmadeoAugust 22, 2023olive oil, potatoes, easter, herbs, thyme, rosemaryComment

Lemon Basil Olive Oil Cake

You may think of this as a classic lemon olive oil cake, but then each bite has the sweet and aromatic notes of basil. Doesn’t it sound delicious?! This cake is very soft, moist, supple and lemony. It’s the cake for lemon lovers because it has lemon juice and lemon zest all over it! The cake itself is made in less than 45 minutes, including prep time, and you only need a few basic ingredients to make it. A super creamy buttercream with a touch of lemon and cream cheese is, literally, the icing on the cake!

sweet eats, cake recipesDev AmadeoAugust 15, 2023make ahead desserts, lemon, lemons, basil, spring, summer, olive oil, citrus Comments

Romantic Picnic in Less Than an Hour

Can you believe this beautiful romantic picnic for can be made in less than an hour?! Roasted olives in a sweet lemony oil, a cheese tray and roasted scallops is all you need for a simple but out-of-the-ordinary meal during a crisp Valentine’s night. Add pretty flowers and some candles and you you’ll have a lovely date without the stress of planning a full dinner in advance one!

Is a picnic date romantic? I happen to think it is super romantic! I love eating picnic style in my own home, blanket on the floor completely optional! For me the casual vibe to it make the mood even more special, especially when serving extraordinary and typically sexy foods, like seafood, good olives, high quality cheeses and good wine. Eating with your fingers…

less than an hour recipes, savory eatsDev AmadeoFebruary 11, 2023valentines day, cheese, olives, olive oil, sweet and savory, an hour or lessComment

Roasted Baby Potatoes with Toasted Pistachios Romesco Sauce

Romesco sauce is a raw sauce traditional from Catalonia, Spain, and uses roasted red bell peppers, tomatoes, almonds, sometimes breadcrumbs, some spice elements and some acidic elements as its base. You can imagine how many versions of Romesco are out there, even in Spain. So I can say that if you have these elements and eat the sauce raw, you may call it a Romesco or Romesco inspired sauce. This raw sauce is super flavorful and goes wonderful with grilled or broiled fish or veggies. And my version has a few tweaks from the original ingredients for an updated but still delicious take on the wonderful Romesco sauce.

savory eatsDev AmadeoSeptember 26, 2021potatoes, 30 minute meals, an hour or less, appetizer, herbs, hearty, olive oil, nuts, small dishes, thyme, tomatoes, pistachiosComment

Mediterranean Stuffed Tomatoes

These easy Mediterranean stuffed tomatoes are simply bursting in fragrant summer flavors! I made a Jasmine rice salad with sautéed halloumi, black olives, red onions, Parmesan cheese and a red wine vinaigrette full of earthy herbs. Made in barely 45 minutes, it’s the perfect summer meal, super fresh and light!

less than an hour recipes, savory eatsDev AmadeoJuly 18, 2021summer, tomatoes, cheese, hearty, herbs, thyme, olive oil, an hour or less, onions, olivesComment

Olive Oil Cake with Chocolate Frosting

This olive oil cake with chocolate frosting will become your favorite celebration cake! Not only it’s ridiculously easy to make and only requires a few basic baking ingredients, but it also is very soft, tender and super pretty! The olive oil adds so much suppleness to every bite of this cake and the chocolate ganache frosting has a smooth, rich and voluptuous texture that is pure bliss!

Lemon Olive Oil Tart

I made this olive oil lemon tart to show you what a delicious experience baking with olive oil can be. In this tart the notes of the lemons are not hidden but only enhanced by the fruity notes of extra virgin olive oil. The supple and rich texture of the oil helps in creating a smooth and silky texture on this lemon tart. The flaky crust it’s made only with olive oil as well, so it’s double the goodness of this beloved pantry staple.

Cheesy and Creamy Paccheri with Sautéed Mushrooms and Shallots

savory eats, pasta recipesDev AmadeoJanuary 10, 2021mushrooms, olive oil, thyme, cheese, herbsComment