By Jeanne, on January 27th, 2012
Audax Artifex was our January 2012 Daring Bakers’ host. Aud worked tirelessly to master light and fluffy scones (a/k/a biscuits) to help us create delicious and perfect batches in our own kitchens!
Simple pleasures are never underrated. A beam of winter sunshine slanting in through the window. A cat that knows just where that sunshine will fall on the floor each afternoon, and lies in wait. A mug of hot tea in the morning, with the power to warm cold fingers faster than the overtaxed heating system. Fifteen minutes spent with hands immersed in butter and flour, yielding a tray full of buttery flaky biscuits (or scones, if you live outside of North America).
Continue reading “Daring Bakers Challenge: I Say Biscuits, You Say Scones” »
By Jeanne, on January 20th, 2012
Don’t panic. Hostess may have filed for bankruptcy, but Twinkies aren’t going to disappear anytime soon. And even if the day comes when they’re no longer on supermarket shelves, don’t fret. I’ve got you covered. You can bake your own classic vanilla Twinkies, try something a bit different with pumpkin Twinkies, or satisfy your chocolate cravings with these double chocolate Twinkies. Each of these varieties has far fewer ingredients than the store bought version, and is far superior in taste. Besides, they’re so much fun to make! You can bake them in a cupcake pan, but using a canoe pan guarantees that authentic Twinkie shape.
Continue reading ““Death By Chocolate” Twinkies” »
By Jeanne, on January 17th, 2012
Attraversiamo. Italian for “let’s cross over”. While in Italy, Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with this phrase. She also fell in love with gelato, a fact that was glossed over in the movie version of Eat, Pray, Love. But her love for gelato is more pronounced in the book, where she muses that gelato is so popular that it’s even acceptable to eat it before lunch. Now THAT is a country where I’d fit right in! When I visited Italy, I fell in love with the word stracciatella, and the gelato flavor of the same name. Elizabeth Gilbert’s story inspired me to create my favorite gelato flavor at home.
Continue reading “Stracciatella Gelato” »
By Jeanne, on January 13th, 2012
Pink Lemons ≠ Pink Lemonade. It sure sounds like a pink lemon would be the secret ingredient in a glass of pink lemonade, but the variegated pink flesh Eureka lemon is pink in the flesh only. The juice runs clear. As for the ingredient that produces the famous color of pink lemonade, it’s been attributed over the years to an assortment of different fruit juices or other red items and the commercial varieties nowadays use artificial coloring. These muffins are closer to a traditional lemon yellow color, with light brown flecks of ground flax seed. They’re rustic looking and packed with bright citrus flavor.
Continue reading “Vegan Pink Lemon Muffins” »
By Jeanne, on January 9th, 2012
 Shot with a Polaroid Spectra and Impossible Project PZ600 film Have a Monochrome Monday post to share? Leave a link in the comments.
By Jeanne, on January 6th, 2012
These muffins came dangerously close to being devoured before they were even muffins. Let me just say that there is nothing like the flavor of browned butter, especially when combined with cinnamon, oats, and sugar. Whole wheat flour adds depth and nuttiness, and perhaps a bit of health to these muffins. I certainly had no guilt as I tested spoonful after spoonful of the batter, thinking “browned butter, where have you been all my life?”! Friends, this actually happened. I may need an intervention.
Continue reading “Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Muffins” »
By Jeanne, on January 1st, 2012
Happy New Year, my friends. I am ever so grateful that you visit my humble blog so often and share your kind words and friendship with me. I am truly inspired by the diverse talents and incredible treats that I experience on each and every one of your blogs. And so here we are on the first day of 2012, embarking on a new year of friendship, smiling faces, baked goodies, photography, and blogging. Thank you for being here. May I offer you a brownie?
Continue reading “Dark Chocolate Cocoa Brownies” »
By Jeanne, on December 27th, 2011
Our Daring Bakers Host for December 2011 was Jessica of My Recipe Project and she showed us how fun it is to create Sour Dough bread in our own kitchens! She provided us with Sour Dough recipes from Bread Matters by AndrewWhitley as well as delicious recipes to use our Sour Dough bread in from Tonia George’s Things on Toast and Canteen’s Great British Food!
I’ve been on a roll (pun intended) with sourdough lately, having been inspired by the daring bakers to dig my sourdough starter out of the fridge and restore it to its usual happy, bubbling state. This French country loaf is full of nutty whole wheat flavor with a definitive tang, and it just may contain enough bread to feed an entire country! It was close to 14 inches in diameter and just barely fit on my baking stone. This is a loaf that’s just perfect for sharing, and it gets even better when covered with cheese.
Continue reading “Daring Bakers Challenge: Sourdough Bread and Welsh Rarebit” »
By Jeanne, on December 26th, 2011
 Shot with a Polaroid Spectra camera and Impossible Project PZ 600 Silver Shade film My favorite sourdough recipe, without the garlic this time, shaped into a holiday wreath. Wishing you and yours a happy holiday and a joyous new year!
Have a Monochrome Monday post to share this week? Leave a link in the comments.
By Jeanne, on December 20th, 2011
On these chilly winter mornings, it’s essential to fire up the oven and create something warm and comforting. Something with a hint of holiday spice and a dollop of freshly whipped cream. Brew a cup of tea and wait for the sun to rise over the trees, finally slanting into the window later and later each day. During the dark days of December, my one small kitchen window receives only a precious hour or so of sunlight. This little window looks out on the white brick wall of our neighbor’s garage, which is about four feet away. My window faces east, but receives no direct sunlight due to the proximity of this garage. Instead, the early afternoon sunlight bounces off the white wall and into my kitchen. It’s the ultimate reflector for photography, and I am rewarded with great natural light if I time my baking just right.
Continue reading “Sourdough Gingerbread With Spiced Whipped Cream” »
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