Opoha - Recipes for Baking, Desserts & Easy Comfort Food

How to Pipe Realistic Buttercream Roses on Cupcakes

One of my favorite designs to pipe onto a cupcake is the buttercream rose. It’s elegant, versatile, and always creates a beautiful presentation. Recently I shared my fresh orange cake and orange curd frosting recipe, and I finished those cupcakes with piped roses—the same technique I used on a friend’s daughter’s birthday cake. The result … Read more

Gluten-Free Banana Cream Pie Recipe — Light, Silky & Delicious

Our Gluten-Free Banana Cream Pie recipe is made from scratch and uses a simple trick to boost banana flavor—no pudding mix required. Now that you know how to make a great gluten-free graham cracker crust, it’s time to fill it with something memorable. For holiday tables I like a mix of warm pies (apple, cherry) … Read more

Essential Baking Fixes Every Home Baker Needs to Know

Even experienced home bakers have off days. A cake sinks, cookies spread into one sheet, bread turns out denser than you expected. That doesn’t mean you can’t bake—usually a small detail upset the balance. Once you learn what to check, most fixes are straightforward. First, a few common problems that affect almost anything you bake. … Read more

Stop Onion Tears and Remove Onion Odors: Simple Kitchen Tricks

If chopping onions feels like an emotional experience, you’re not alone. Some onions hardly bother us, while others have us reaching for tissues before dinner even starts. I tested a variety of techniques in my kitchen and gathered reader suggestions to find the most effective ways to stop onion tears. There are five core strategies … Read more

Lemon Blueberry Almond Flour Scones (Gluten-Free Recipe)

Upgrade your breakfast with these easy Lemon Blueberry Almond Flour Scones. They’re gluten-free, vegan, and can be finished with a simple lemon glaze if you like. If traditional wheat scones are off the menu, these almond flour blueberry scones are a delicious alternative that still delivers a tender crumb and bright flavor. [feast_advanced_jump_to] Why you’ll … Read more

Classic Yellow Cake with Rich Chocolate Frosting Recipe

This is the farmhouse birthday cake we always make — familiar, simple, and reliably delicious. The combination of cake flour and buttermilk yields a tender, moist crumb that stays fresh for days. Dress it with sprinkles and a candle for an easy-from-scratch celebration. The cake itself is tender and perfectly moist, but the frosting is … Read more

Chewy Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bites Recipe

Easy Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bites Recipe – a simple, festive candy perfect for the holidays and a great homemade gift for chocolate and caramel lovers. I make these every holiday season and serve them on a tray alongside sugar cookies and red velvet crinkle cookies. They’re festive, addictive, and always a crowd-pleaser. CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PRETZEL … Read more

Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken Recipe for Tender, Tangy Flavor

I first shared this recipe on my other blog, A Few Short Cuts, before Moms With Crock Pots existed. It’s a simple, crowd-pleasing meal that’s easy to assemble and perfect any night of the week. Crockpot Pineapple Chicken Prep Time:5 minutes mins Cook Time:6 hours hrs Total Time:6 hours hrs 5 minutes mins Ingredients 3-4 … Read more

Crunchy Braised Cabbage with Savory Caramelized Edges

When we were four, one simple way to tell the twins apart was that Lyssie claimed to love cabbage — though Tammy loved it too. Even now, cabbage remains a staple for us. If you peek into our shopping carts any day, at least one of us will have a purple cabbage. More often than … Read more

Maple-Brined Pork Chops on the Big Green Egg: Juicy Grill Recipe

A New Approach to the Perfect Chop

I used to think brining was an optional extra. I enjoyed good results with other seasoning methods and didn’t see the point of another step. Then my daughter gave me Dr. BBQ’s book Flavorize and I decided to try the Maple Brine on thick, bone-in pork chops. One bite changed my mind—these were the best pork chops I’d ever eaten.

Why Brining Makes a Difference

Brining works by osmosis, drawing moisture and flavor into the muscle fibers. That matters a lot for pork, a relatively lean protein that can dry out quickly over high heat. Submerging chops in a brine of salt, sugar and aromatics effectively plumps the meat, creating a buffer so the chops stay juicy and tender even if they remain on the grill a minute too long.

This maple brine adds a subtle sweetness that balances pork’s natural savor. It delivers a layered flavor you won’t get from a simple dry rub. Sit back with a glass of Oregon Pinot and try this recipe for Big Green Egg Maple Brined Pork Chops.