By Jeanne, on November 10th, 2011
The sun may have come out for an hour or two today. But mostly the blue-tinted sky had an ominous look about it. There’s another storm brewing. Last Friday, we had a glorious thunder and lightning storm that filled up our rain barrel in no time flat. The mountains still show patches of white snow among the evergreens, a sure sign that it’s been a chilly week. Just perfect for curling up on the couch with a cat at my side and a mug of tea and an orange oat scone on the coffee table in front of me.
Continue reading “Orange Oat Scones” »
By Jeanne, on October 22nd, 2011
Part of undertaking a challenge such as October: Unprocessed is getting out of your food comfort zone. I’ve always been comfortable with my routine of buying boxed cereal at the store. Of course I bought organic, and of course it contained only a few wholesome ingredients. But it’s still a processed food and it’s pretty intensely packaged. Five or six cups of cereal inside a plastic bag inside a paper box? Why pay for all that packaging?
Continue reading “Maple Walnut Granola” »
By Jeanne, on October 16th, 2011
It’s impossible to deny that things are crazy in our world right now. People are without jobs, homes, paychecks, and food. We are ever more attached to our jobs, computers, and phones; but disconnected from our families and neighbors. It is more important than ever for us to strengthen our local communities and take care of each other. Of course, none of us can effect major change on our own, but together we can build momentum to create a healthier society. World Bread Day and World Food Day seek to heighten awareness of global food issues and the struggle to provide secure food systems for the most vulnerable citizens of our planet. The bread that emerges from hundreds of food bloggers’ ovens today may not feed the world, but hopefully it inspires us and our readers to take a larger action for good.
Continue reading “Honey-Glazed Maple Cinnamon Rolls for World Bread Day” »
By Jeanne, on September 30th, 2011
We all work long days, and the temptation to grab a quick take-out lunch or another slice of the office birthday cake is something that we can all relate to. Consuming unprocessed, whole foods in the modern office environment is a task that takes incredible willpower and a knack for planning ahead. But there’s good news: there is evidence that your willpower muscles can be strengthened! October is the perfect month to start, since over 1,000 of us have already pledged to eliminate unprocessed food from our diet for October Unprocessed.
Continue reading “October: Unprocessed” »
By Jeanne, on July 17th, 2011
It’s that time of year when the population of squash grows at a seemingly exponential rate. You may enter your garden to find a new squash under each leaf, just when you thought you had consumed every squash in sight. We didn’t plant zucchini this year, but we’re still overwhelmed with the amount of squash to be consumed from our CSA and our friends’ gardens. We did, however, plant strawberries. Today we got the first three perfectly ripe and sweet berries that the bugs didn’t chomp first. And there are many more blooms that will soon turn to sweet red berries.
Continue reading “Strawberry Zucchini Muffins” »
By Jeanne, on June 22nd, 2011
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
-Charles M. Schulz
I made these muffins for my dear friend Monet. This incredible woman is surrounded by a loving network of family and friends, a darling housecat, and quite a fan base of fellow bloggers. She’s an extremely talented baker, so we all crowd around her blog eagerly awaiting the next recipe from her Austin kitchen, and the accompanying story or treasured memory that is inevitably woven into the prose. Even with such a large web of love and support, a strong soul can find itself worn down and weary in the face of tragedy. And for that, I prescribe double chocolate muffins and a large virtual hug, sent from my kitchen to Monet’s.
Continue reading “Double Chocolate Muffins” »
By Jeanne, on March 27th, 2011
The March 2011 Daring Baker’s Challenge was hosted by Ria of Ria’s Collection and Jamie of Life’s a Feast. Ria and Jamie challenged The Daring Bakers to bake a yeasted Meringue Coffee Cake.
This is no ordinary coffee cake. Or rather, tea cake in my case. Soft, sweet dough with plenty of oven spring envelops a dreamy citrus and meringue filling. The meringue is so subtle that you can hardly detect its presence. Perhaps it’s meant to be the baker’s secret for a fluffy and just perfectly moist cake interior.
Continue reading “Daring Bakers Challenge: Yeasted Meringue Coffee Cake” »
By Jeanne, on January 13th, 2011
I need to prepare for the 2011 LA Cupcake Challenge. I’m not sure what it takes to prepare for such an event. Cupcake visualization? An all-you-can-eat cupcake contest? Avoiding cupcakes for weeks prior to the event? I’m open to suggestions.
Last year, I made it through almost all of the cupcakes. I have been invited to judge the contest again this year, so maybe I can improve upon my ability to put away dozens of mini cupcakes within three hours.
Continue reading “Spiced Yogurt Muffins” »
By Jeanne, on November 18th, 2010
Thanksgiving is already upon us. The air has taken on the crisp, cool flavor of autumn. As the weather changes, so does my baking and my daily routine. I spend more time curled up with my cat, reading a book in the light of a sunny window. I seek out recipes that take advantage of fall fruits, filling the house with warmth and spicy aromas. Apples and cranberries fill empty space on my counter and work their way into bread and desserts. This quick bread is just as perfect for a Thanksgiving table as it is for breakfast on a crisp autumn morning.
Continue reading “Cranberry Apple Quick Bread” »
By Jeanne, on October 27th, 2010
The October 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up. Lori chose to challenge DBers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious.
There was never a doubt in my mind about how I would interpret this month’s challenge. Apple cider doughnuts fresh off the conveyor belt are a staple of my autumn weekends. I can’t drive past the orchard without stopping for a dozen mini doughnuts. The hint of cider and spice coupled with an outer crust of cinnamon and sugar is irresistible.
As I wait in line to buy doughnuts I am hypnotized by the rows of doughnuts being churned out from the small machine, four at a time. The machine plods along, unaware that the line winds out the door. However, most of us don’t mind the wait. We know that once we reach the cash register, the doughnuts in our white paper bag will have been scooped off the conveyor belt only seconds before. There is nothing better than a fresh, hot apple cider doughnut on a crisp fall morning.
Continue reading “Daring Bakers Challenge: Apple Cider Doughnuts” »
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