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Amara Andrew • 12.23.20 • Desserts, History, History of Food, Recipes

The BEST Gingerbread House recipe! [Paleo, Gluten-free, and Dairy-free]

Read Time: 6 minutes

With Christmas around the corner, you’re probably scrambling to clean your house, finalize your Christmas menu, and of course put your decorations up. On top of all that, you have to worry about all the yucky ingredients that are in traditional gingerbread house kits!

Well, not any more! I’ve got you covered…at least in the gingerbread house department! 🙂

This page includes a brief history of gingerbread, templates, a recipe for both the gingerbread and royal icing which will be used to build your structure, and a how-to video so you can make your gingerbread house alongside me! 🙂

Amara Andrew • 12.20.20 • Drinks, Recipes

5 Gluten-free & Vegan Christmas Cocktail Recipes (with mocktail variants!)

Read Time: 3 minutes

Whether you’re rocking around the Christmas tree or snuggling up to your fireplace this year, these 5 Christmas cocktail recipes will keep you feeling warm and festive!

Amara Andrew • 12.8.20 • Education, Thoughts

The Hardest Part of Teaching is Saying ‘Goodbye’

Read Time: 3 minutes

“Congratulations and I truly hope the absolute best for all of you in the future. Ok, final sign off. Bye!”

I have just recorded the final video of my first semester of remote teaching.

I’ve just finished telling my first group of students that I am so incredibly proud of them, that I hope they have so much success in their lives, to turn in any late work, and to stay in touch.

I am sitting in my soft, caramel brown leather chair, still holding my smile. I’m still staring at the camera and the blinding lights. My smile, though, starts to quiver and my eyes begin to well up with tears.

Amara Andrew • 10.27.20 • Drinks, Recipes

Paleo Pumpkin Spice Latte (Gluten-free, Dairy-free, & Vegan)

Read Time: 4 minutes

I can’t believe this has happened…I used to make fun of people who ordered a #PSL from Starbucks and here I am…writing a post about how to create your very own Paleo Pumpkin Spice Latte at home…ugh.

Who am I?!?

Amara Andrew • 06.29.20 • Drinks, Health & Wellness, Recipes

3 Simple Fourth of July Cocktails! (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

Read Time: 4 minutes

I don’t know about you, but I love creating food and drinks that fit a specific theme, holiday, or color scheme! And the Fourth of July checks all three boxes!

I go all out for pretty much any occasion (like that one time I went to a tiki bar wearing a Hawaiian print shirt and a lei only to be repeatedly mistaken for a server). Whether you are observing the Fourth this year or not, you can still enjoy a delicious cocktail…or 5 🙂

Amara Andrew • 06.16.20 • Drinks, History, History of Cocktails, History of Food, Recipes

The Secret History of the Margarita & My Fauxgarita Recipe (The History of Classic Cocktails)

Read Time: 13 minutes

While often associated with Mexican culture, the Margarita might actually descend from these three popular 19th and 20 century cocktails in America.

Amara Andrew • 05.26.20 • History, Music, Music History

The Secret Behind These 7 Major Lazer Songs

Read Time: 13 minutes

I remember it so vividly.

It was the most perfect sunny day. I was on my way to go meet up with some friends at the park. Even though it was a relatively short drive, I still wanted to jam out to some feel-good tunes.

When I put on a random Spotify playlist of contemporary dancehall music, I heard that beautiful, familiar bassline from Nora Dean’s “Barbwire” blast through my speakers.

But then I realized that it wasn’t Dean’s song. It only sounded like it.

Amara Andrew • 05.8.20 • History, Style

The Outlaw, the Vagrant, and the Punk: the Badass History of the Leather Motorcycle Jacket

Read Time: 24 minutes

Everybody on the planet knows about the leather motorcycle jacket. It’s easily one of the most iconic fashion items and it has been for over a century. (You read that right: a century!) But just why and how the leather motorcycle jacket has remained popular may surprise you.

Amara Andrew • 04.24.20 • Drinks, Recipes

4 Delicious & Easy Cocktail Recipes to Put a Spring in Your Step! (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

Read Time: 3 minutes

See what I did there? I used “spring in my title”…’cause it’s punny…ahh, I need to get out of quarantine. Ok, moving on…these spring cocktails are super delish and so easy to make. They use the same 4 ingredients and how easy (and cost effective) is that?!

Amara Andrew • 04.18.20 • History

What You Need to Know About the History of the Piñata on National Piñata Day!

Read Time: 13 minutes

When you think of a piñata, you may envision Mexico, the birthplace of the piñata. But Mexico may not actually be the birthplace of the piñata. And the original piñata? It wasn’t made of paper. It was made of clay.