A B O U T
Hi! Iβm Rebecca Firth, the food writer, photographer and creator of the desserts-focused blog, DisplacedHousewife and author of The Cookie Book and The Cake Book. I love to create dessertΒ recipes that are delicious AND beautiful (and sometimes easy and quick). Think of this blog as a collection of your favorite homemade dessert recipes with some jazz hands and flair thrown in to keep things interesting.
Iβve been working in food for almost a decade now: first with some catering, then slinging scones and specialty items for a local bakery (helllooo Solvang Bakery!) to now creating recipes for my blog, cookbooks and favorite brands.
My most favorite flavors vary by the seasons, but generally youβll find:
- A healthy dose of chocolate (like these Mega Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cookies),
- Brown butter (this Spiced Apple Cake with Brown Butter Buttercream is trending on Pinterest + Instagram right now!),
- Salted Caramel (Salted Caramel Sβmores Tarts),
- Espresso everything (stop what you’re doing and bake these Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies STAT),
- And of course, BOURBON (you must try this Pumpkin Bourbon Cake!!)
CURRENT TOP TEN FAVORITE RECIPES
My ten current favorite recipes are very indicative of 2020: comforting, not too fussy and completely delicious!
Sourdough Bagels
The time has come for you to make your own sourdough bagels!! Whip the dough up the night before and shape, boil + bake the next morning. SO GOOD.
Everyday Banana Bread
Banana bread isn’t dead my friends. Why everyone got miffed that this was the year of banana bread is beyond me — this beauty deserves its day in the sun. This one has a particularly crunchy and fabulous lid. You’ll die.
Granny Pete’s Chocolate Cake With Marshmallow Frosting
My grandmother, Granny Pete, aka Dolores Marshall, passed away at the beginning of 2020. We shared a deep love of everything sweet and chocolate-y and I made this cake in her honor. I talk a lot about what a wonderful person she was in this post — go read it!!!
Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies + intense espresso flavor — I don’t know what else you want out of life?! Go get it!
GF Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
You don’t have to be GF, DF or Vegan to like this cookie…I am none of these things and this cookies is FABULOUS. It’s my one and only copycat recipe on the blog and it’s a recreated version of Ererwhon market’s GF DF Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie. Don’t overthink this one, just make it!
Chocolate Coconut Cake
Mounds bar in cake form. Done.
Fresh Lemon Cake
A choose-your-own-adventure citrus party. This one is made with lemon, but I also tested with orange, blood orange and lime and LET ME TELL YOU, the lime is the sleeper hit of the century.
Favorite Blueberry Muffins
I love a classic. And here she is. Blueberries, lots of lemon zest and a sugary crust in all her glory. Breakfast sorted.
Apple Cinnamon Roll Pull-Apart Bread
This little number is new to the lineup and she’s causing quite a stir. Think about all of the deliciousness of cinnamon rolls, with half the fuss and a dough and glaze that can be made ahead of time. I mean, stop already.
Cherry Jam Streusel Muffins
Quick cherry jam and a heady lid of streusel. You too could be living your best life.
BOOKS + STUFF
The Cookie Book
My first cookbook, The Cookie Book, was released in 2018 and I was overjoyed with the response (so thank you to everyone that owns and loves it!). Food & Wine Magazine named The Cookie Book one of the top baking cookbooks to own (YAY!).
The Cake Book
My second book, The Cake Book, is out now and is loaded with classic cakes, casual cakes, breakfast cakesβ¦basically all of the cakes I want to bake and eat, all of the time! I love it so much!!!
Casual Brags
I was a finalist of the 2017 Saveur Blog Awards (Baking & Sweets category; you can read about it a bit here). And my work has appeared in Tasting Table, Sunset Magazine, Buzzfeed, Teen Vogue, Saveur Magazine, Food & Wine and The Washington Postβjust to name a few! I have a full list of press you can find here.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Could this be the start of a beautiful relationship? Idk, I hope! You can find me here, at my blog DisplacedHousewife. I update the site with new recipes 1-2 times per week, during what I like to call my busy season (who doesnβt like to bake obsessively from September through January?!?). During the rest of the year, I post once per week except for special occasionsβ¦sometimes I have a lot I want to say and share!
Newsletter
My newsletter subscribers get first notice of new recipes and book news, as well as subscriber-only giveaways (this is new, so if youβre a long-term subscriber, stay tuned). You can subscribe to my blog here. I love my blog subscribers, so thank you! And I will never sell your information, period.
My love of Instagram knows no bounds, you can find my @DisplacedHousewife Instagram here. I post in the morning and itβs where youβll hear from me the most frequently. Youβll also see behind-the-scenes photos of what Iβm baking (not always that glamorous), whatβs upcoming and what people in the DisplacedHousewife community are baking (I love reposting your DH recipes so always tag me @displacedhousewife #displacedhousewife on Instagram so I wonβt miss them!).
How can you not love food AND Pinterest β so go follow me and let’s look at beautiful things together!! Iβm obsessed with Pinterest and have boards for:
I also have boards for:
- Doors (from around the worldβ¦I love them),
- Garden * Outside * Happiness (gardening! chicken coops!),
- Home (from floor boards, to battered hardwood, white kitchens, farmhouse sinks, wraparound porches (I die), bunk rooms, mud rooms…)
and other fun stuff. Letβs dream together, shall we?
Iβm also hanging out over on Facebook; you can find me by clicking here! Iβd love for you to follow my page, show me what youβre bakingβ¦letβs just generally chat about it!
MY PHILOSOPHY
Baking should be fun, PERIOD. I try to make every blog post + recipe…
DELICIOUS
I want the photos to scream out: you must bake this RIGHT NOW!! And then I want the finished baked treat to be so delicious that you canβt wait to bake it again.
CLEAR
I strive for mega clarity in my recipes. What does it look and smell like at the various stages? How long will you be stirring? What should the final product look and taste like?
INFORMATIVE
I want you to leave with some new knowledge, but not in a teacher/student kinda way. More like Iβm standing in the kitchen with you, perhaps we have some champagne and we’re chatting about the process every step of the way. I recently posted two very info heavy posts that I still think are fun and beautiful and hella useful: How To Make Your Own Vanilla Extract and How To Make A Sourdough Starter. Both belong on your weekend to-do list!
FUN
Are we laughing yet? Are you relaxed? This shouldn’t be stressful. If it is, let’s chat about it…
ACCESSIBLE
Iβm here for you! I try to be quick in responding to baking questions, whether it be here on the blog or via Instagram. FYI I prefer the blog because it helps other people reference your feedback while theyβre baking the same thing!
WANNA WORK TOGETHER?
I have the good fortune of working with the awesome people at Smith & Saint. Please reach out to Kaila McWilliamsΒ ([email protected]) for rates regarding collaborative social media + blog posts, brand retreats, appearances, photography and recipe development.
I use this blog as a way to chronicle my favorite eats + sweets, but I also want to make your life easier. I want you to have a little laugh, relax and make something delicious for you and your friends and family. If you have anything you’d like to see on DisplacedHousewife, just email me [email protected]. I try my hardest to respond to each and every email…if you need a quick reply, please resend, comment on the blog or slide into my DMs on Instagram.
We’ll talk soon!
Rebecca Firth
xoxo
Representation
Business Inquiries: Kaila McWilliams, [email protected]
Literary Agent: Liz Parker, [email protected]
Ten Fast Facts
- Favorite cocktail: a fistfight between a Bone Dry Gin Martini (made with Hendricks) and a Negroni (also made with Hendricks).
- I have lived most of my life in California with time spent living in Hawaii (Hanalei, Kauai and Kameula, Hawaii) and Beijing, China. I chat about living in Beijing here.Β
- I have two kids, Stella and Gavin…they are pretty fab 99.8% of the time. Their cute little kids hands are in lots of the older blog posts and throughout the pages of The Cookie Book.Β
- I have my BA and MA in English Lit and it’s only by chance that I didn’t end up going on to my Ph.D…I still think if I’d choosen that path I would be deliciously happy. I love books and words and writing and the whole lot of it.
- Love love LOVE to make pizza. Join me on this gluttonous journey, won’t you?
- I’m a city girl living in a rural-ish part of California (Santa Ynez Valley). My favorite local things are: access to amazing fresh produce, wineries at every turn and parking less than 50 feet from the front of the grocery store.Β
- If I live in another foreign city I would pick Hong Kong, Barcelona or London. Maybe all three?
- I love exclamation points, hyperbole, alliteration and all caps. I’m not yelling, just excited to talk about it.Β
- I would perish without my electric stand mixer.
- My favorite two vacations ever were Argentina and Vietnam — if you get the chance, go!
Hi Rebecca, I got your Cookie Book and had trouble with the five spice mooncake cookies. I let them cool in the fridge for over two hours but when I baked them, they spread enough to loose the shapes! My butter was not warm so this was a surprise! Any advice?
Hi Rebecca,
I just signed up for your newsletter. Sounds wonderful! Also, after reading your 10 Fast Facts, I feel like we would be great friends, maybe even sisters! Love words, reading, cooking and all culinary activities. Thanks and Look forward to receiving your Newsletter!
Hi Mary Jo!!!! Well I have to say you sound completely fabulous!!! ;) Thank you so much for signing up for my newsletter!! Iβm always available if you have any questions. I hope you enjoy the journey with me!! xox
For the cake recipes in The Cake Book that have dark chocolate do you use unsweetened, bittersweet, or semi sweet. Thanks.
Hi Brenda! For the dark chocolate you can use a bittersweet or semi-sweet. I prefer the later as my go-to. Here is my favorite: https://www.gygi.com/Callebaut-Belgian-Semi-Sweet-Callets-5-5-lb-Bag
Only use unsweetened chocolate if I specify unsweetened.
Please reach out with any more questions…and have fun!! xoxo
Hi! Love following you in IG. Iβm headed to Santa Ynez valley next week and would love your recs for restaurants & wineries. Thank you!
Hi Alana! Thank you so much, I appreciate it! Here are some quickie recβs I just recently shared with a friend (that was staying in Solvang, so they lean that way)β¦feel free to ask more questions!!
Ok…so here would be my ideal day (some ideas):
Breakfast β Bobβs Well Bread (heaven)…in Ballard (not even 5 min from downtown Solvang)
Lunch β Bellβs in Los Alamos OR Vaquero Bar in Solvang…both are hella delicious.
Dinner β if you didnβt go to Vaquero Bar at lunch, I would pre-dinner there. Dinner at The Landsby (Mad & Vin) in Solvang OR SY Kitchen in Santa Ynez (delicious!). Also, Nella in Los OlivosβLOVE.
Shopping β Los Olivos General Store and Global Art Collective in Los Olivos; Santa Ynez General and Forage Florals in Santa Ynez.
Wine β Crawford Family Wine…thereβs a cheese shop next store…another great idea for afternoon snacks and wine.
Dana Vβsuch a fun tasting room, lots of outdoor seating. Thereβs another wine place next door that always looks fun too.
Love the bar at The Landsbyβgreat cocktails.
Get a shot of aquavit (skoal!) at the Bit OβDenmark (itβs so OG…I love the meatballs…you feel like youβre in an other country and decade).
Solvang Bakery β eat some Sarah Bernhartβs and think of me β₯οΈ
If you need a coffee, smoothie, gelato…I love Dolce Cafeβ¦
**Update: Iβve had dinner at Vaquero several times and find it more than filling and the food is fab. Google the menu.
Estate Tasting
Wine tasting at Presquile is an eventβyou can have lunch or just apps…yummy food, great views…
I donβt know if theyβre doing walk ins again…worth a call.
Estate Wineries on 246
Peake Ranch, Spear, Pence, Melville
Lompoc, the wine ghetto…great for just walking around a not very pretty place but tasting excellent wines.
Los Olivos
Carhartt back patio is so much fun…Larner (yummy; attached to Los Olivos General Store), Samsara, Liquid Farm (my fav Chardonnay producer in the valley); Blair Fox, delicious Syrah; Brewer-Clifton; Bien Nacidoβthis vineyard produces the best grapes
Ballard Canyon…near Solvang (10-15 min), Rusack. The view is fab…I love drinking wine there with out-of-town guests…you could bring sandwiches from Paninos (the #9 on focaccia with extra honey mustard is my fav) or a cheese/charcuterie plate from Cailloux in Solvang or Lucky Hen Larder in Santa Ynez
There are so many new places, this is definitely not everything!! Please reach out with any questions!!! Youβre going to have so much fun!!!
Thank you soo much! This info. is so helpful and I will definitely be using it as a reference during my trip!!
Of course!! Have the best time!! xo
Also Crown Point is great for tasting, viewsβ¦definitely need reservationsβ¦delicious wine! xox
I really enjoyed reading your site, the passion is infectious,
Thank you Jamie!!! xo
Iβm not sure if you have been to my business in Solvang, but I was so impressed with your website that I wanted to ask you who did you work with on it?
Thanks for sharing! Your site is fantastic. Love it!
Hi Rebecca,
I am not sure if this is the right place for a question but I’m giving it a shot. First off I love your cookie book. My friend Tina Grunzwieg turned me onto it and since last Christmas I’ve been busy trying almost every recipe! My question today is this. I am making your Peppermint Bark Shortbread Bites. The recipe calls for 3/4 cup crushed peppermints-divided. The divided part would indicate that their would be two applications but as far as I can see there is only one, and that is sprinkling on the perimeter of the cookie. Is there another application that I am missing? Thank you so much and I fully understand you must be insanely busy so if you can’t reply it’s not a huge deal.
Enjoyed reading your authenticity that is evident in your writing. I understand the single mom thing and your story of survival. You have made it girl! Congrats on your passion and love for food.
Rebecca
I have just stumbled on to your blog. The recipes look amazing. Thanks so much for sharing. Is there a cookbook in the works at all. I would buy it in a heartbeat!
Your blog and every single social media post looks AWESOME! You are a real muse. Great work!
Hi Lee! Thank you so much for your kind words!! xoxo
First off, that’s a beautiful photo, ginger hen and Fall in the background.
Secondly, your moxie is catching. Love your style.
Coco–You’re funny!! And thank you. Red thanks you too. xoxo
Hi Rebecca!
My name is Shea. I recently created a website called HOUSEWIFE: a curation of goods for the housewife & her home. It is a simple & lovely way to shop Amazon + Etsy.
I came across your Instagram today and thought I would reach out to you. Considering we both have “housewife” in our names, I thought it could be fun to collaborate in some way. I’d love to write a blog on your website. I have also been doing a blog series called “Picking Favorites: Mother Wisdom.” Basically, moms choose their 5 favorite items from Amazon/Etsy – tell us why they love them – & offer a simple piece of mother wisdom. I’d love to feature you as well and plug your website/blog.
Let me know if you’d be interested in either of those! Since I’m new to all of this I’m trying to build a following, so I would SO appreciate you sharing my site with your followers!
FORTHEHOUSEWIFE.COM
Talk soon,
Shea
I knew I had to follow your blog when you listed lounging as your favorite activity and expressed your love of all things pig. We are simpatico. I’ve only read a couple of posts, but look forward to getting caught up. And start that book! Clearly it will be a must read.
You love lounging AND all things swine?!? Clearly, we are a match made in heaven!! I’m so glad you’re here!! xoxoxo
What a great blog!
Thank you Nadia!! xo
When I first found your blog through Phyllis Grant’s post on Food52, I read through your blog in 2 hrs. You’re hilarious and any Tai Tai in Beijing would say “That gal is cray cray!”
Thanks for the compliments!!! I hope I’ve made my fellow tai tais proud!!! xx
After reading about you, I’m left feeling inspired.
Thanks a bunch Monica, that’s nice to hear!! xx
I like what you are throwing down! Keep it coming, please!
Thanks Amy!! xo
Hey, Tracey Porter likes you, so I am giving you a shout out for fun!!
Joy
Thanks Joy!!! xox
Lounging is essential – I prefer it to cooking….. but your photos and writing inspires me to get up off the couch and cook! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Kathleen! xox
Love it! Keep writing, keep sharing!