Unreal Monster Cookies

When I logged on to write this post today, I was feeling like it had been forever since I published something new. And guess what? It has been forever! Clearly my mind has been elsewhere, and I can’t say that today that sentiment is much different. In addition to planning a wedding (which is fast approaching), Kevin and I have decided to tackle the task of buying our first home… before our lease runs out August 1st. Add in typical spring/summer activities, a smattering of wedding events (mine and others), baby events (including the birth of my maid of honor’s first little girl!), and the regular 9-5, and it’s all I can do to sleep 6 hours every night and not lose my head when I’m awake. I’m happy, and there are a lot of big, exciting, life-altering events coming up, but this blog? It’s taking a backseat again. (more…)

Lamb Meatball Multigrain Flatbread

**UPDATE:  Thanks to all of your votes, I am moving on to round 2 of the Lamb Pro Am competition! I’ll pair up with Chef Dante de Magistris of Restaurant dante , and together we’ll serve my flatbread recipe to Lamb Pro am event attendees on May 19th! If you’re free and in the Boston area, please come and check it out!!! You can get tickets here. **

I think it’s only fair if I get this off my chest up front: I don’t like lamb. That’s probably an awful admission to make when I’m about to tell you all about the 9-pound leg of lamb I battled to create this recipe, or the reason I did it. But it’s the truth – and I always tell you exactly how it is here! (more…)

John Harvard’s Brunch

Brunch is easily my favorite meal. I don’t often indulge in it, but when I do, it’s such a treat! I love being a part of the Boston Brunchers group because new restaurants are often brought before me, and I have a chance to try a place I’ve never been and sometimes never even considered. When I was offered a chance to visit John Harvard’s to try their Brewers brunch, I was psyched! (more…)

For Hire

In addition to being a food blogger, I am also a Social Media Marketing Manager by profession. I am happy to discuss opportunities for partnerships or freelance work in the following areas:

Food writing
Giveaways
Guest blog posts
Product reviews
Restaurant reviews
Social Media (content, strategy, consulting)
Sponsored blog posts

I am also happy to discuss opportunities not listed here. Please take a peek at my About.me profile below, and feel free contact me at sweetlyserendipity {at} gmail {dot} com with inquiries. I look forward to working with you!

Taryn Collins

Freelance Food Writer, Social Media Marketing Manager, Blogger

Honey Lemon Lavender Cupcakes

While the weather outside certainly doesn’t show it, spring is just 2 days away! And with the arrival of spring comes a whole slew of new recipes. As each season comes and goes, I always get excited for the recipes that I’ll make, but spring recipes just might be my favorite. We’re all coming out of hibernation and looking forward to a warmer, brighter and cheerier season. As such, for this month’s Secret Recipe Club, I opted for a lighter lemon recipe, but one with a twist. (more…)

A Quick Stop at Ball Square Cafe

It feels like it’s been forever since I attended a Boston Brunchers event, so I was excited to get a chance to see the group a couple weekends ago for a brunch at Ball Square Cafe. If you’re from the area, you might have heard of the Ball Square Cafe vs. Sound Bites rivalry, which was really the only thing I knew about Ball Square Cafe before visiting… that and the fact that you can almost NEVER get in without standing in line. That usually means good things for a brunch place, so I was really looking forward to this meal. (more…)

Deconstructed Sweet Potato Turkey Shepard’s Pie

Is it just me, or is time absolutely FLYING right now? I’m really glad it’s spring and all, but seriously?! SLOW DOWN! When I got engaged, we had a whole year until the wedding, and now it’s only 6 months away – and I feel like I just got engaged yesterday. Perhaps I can blame the fact that I am extremely backed up with blog posts on the hyper-speed of time? Let’s just go with it… (more…)

Common Ground Bistro Dinner Menu

A couple of weeks ago, I took a trip into the bitter cold to check out the new bistro menu at Common Ground in Allston. I went to BU as an undergrad, and at that time, Common Ground was really nothing more than an average neighborhood bar. Since Bob O’Guin took ownership, it seems things just keep improving! Over the summer, I had a chance to sit out on their back patio, and enjoyed a really tasty summer menu. It was a fun little escape in the city that I loved to discover. Last week’s experience was another good one – we tried a good variety of menu items, all made in-house, and I was pleased to find myself enjoying each and every bite. (more…)

Cheese Chatter, and a giveaway! [Closed]

It’s probably not common knowledge amongst my blog readers that I love (LOVE) cheese, since all I share with you are my baking exploits. But the truth is – I am obsessed with cheese. I eat it (almost) every, against my usually better judgement, and I could probably eat it more often if I wasn’t concerned about my health. I like simple cheeses, like a really good, sharp cheddar, and also the more adventurous, stinky cheeses – there’s little cheese I really don’t like. So when Land O’ Lakes contacted me about participating in their Cheese Chatter webinar last week – of course I said yes! (more…)

Panettone French Toast

My experience with panettone is limited. I remember once a couple of years ago, my parents bought a loaf  in the North End during a holiday sale, and left it sitting around their house for weeks. Me being myself with a serious inquisitive side when it comes to food, I unpacked it and tried a few bites – didn’t want it to go to waste! I was surprised to find I loved it, and promptly devoured it over the next couple of days. I don’t even like candied fruit rinds,  so I never expected to like it, but something about the lighter-than-air texture was so appealing and impossible to resist. Since then, I hadn’t tried panettone again, until this year. (more…)

Chocolate Espresso Buche de Noel

Happy (belated) New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating, and that 2013 is already off to a great start for you. It’s taken me a few days to get back to blogging, after readjusting to work and trying to normalize my schedule again. As I often do during the holidays, I did a TON of baking while I was away, so I have lots to share! (more…)

Chewy Triple Chocolate Cookies

I’m finally resurfacing after a long holiday weekend, filled with family, fun, and of course lots of great food. It was a time for being grateful and enjoying the company of those closest to me – a time when I was reminded of just how blessed I really am. I hope your holiday celebration was as wonderful as ours! (more…)