By Jeanne, on August 9th, 2011
This weekend, we celebrated two milestones: a birthday and the continued world travels of Simple Math Bakery’s cookies. The Boyfriend’s birthday was last week (one of the big ones – it ends in a “0″). What better way to celebrate than with a giant cookie (cake)? As for my cookies, they have now officially been consumed by fish and humans 61 feet underwater in the Mediterranean Sea. My friend Susannah travels the world as an underwater archaeology photographer. Someday I hope to accompany her on expedition as her official Personal Baker, but until then I send cookie care packages across the Atlantic Ocean.
Continue reading “Birthday Cake for a Sandwich Cookie Lover” »
By Jeanne, on July 27th, 2011
Jana of Cherry Tea Cakes was our July Daring Bakers’ host and she challenges us to make Fresh Frasiers inspired by recipes written by Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson in the beautiful cookbook Tartine.
Fluffy lemon chiffon cake, ice cold whipped cream, and just-picked organic strawberries. What more could you want from a summer dessert? Though it may appear daunting, all of the components can be broken down into manageable segments that can be spread over a few days. You won’t have to be in the kitchen all day to create such a masterpiece. And believe me, the taste is just as impressive as the presentation. The cake has a pleasant lemon flavor, while the pastry cream filling manages to bring out the fresh flavor of summer strawberries without overpowering them with artificial sweetness.
Continue reading “Daring Bakers Challenge: Strawberry Fraisier” »
By Jeanne, on July 2nd, 2011
Happy Summer! If ever there was a Happy Summer counterpart to the Happy Winter cake, this is it. Berries fresh from the CSA, fleetingly ripe and fragile, paired with a simple layer of vanilla cake makes for a perfect welcome to a sweltering hot holiday weekend.
Continue reading “Cherry Boysenberry Upside-Down Cake” »
By Jeanne, on May 17th, 2011
How to develop a recipe featuring New Belgium beer:
1. Buy two six-packs of beer to inspire recipe creation (I decided on Mighty Arrow and organic Mothership Wit).
2. Drink most of the beers, making sure to save a few for the recipe.
3. Spend all morning in the kitchen, creating a recipe that ultimately fails. Drink the remaining beers.
4. Buy another six-pack of organic Mothership Wit, because it will pair perfectly with the organic Meyer lemons from the CSA.
5. Bake cupcakes (make sure to add some beer!), and enjoy the remaining beers.
Continue reading “Meyer Lemon Mothership Cupcakes” »
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 27th, 2011
The January 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Astheroshe of the blog accro. She chose to challenge everyone to make a Biscuit Joconde Imprime to wrap around an Entremets dessert.
The purpose of this challenge was to create a beautifully molded dessert with a pattern baked into the side – which it is, in this picture. So, technically, I completed the challenge. However, upon cutting the cake it all fell apart – literally.
Continue reading “Daring Bakers Challenge: Biscuit Joconde Imprime/Entremet” »
By Jeanne, on December 21st, 2010
Happy Winter! With the constant rain that has been falling in southern California over the last week, it certainly feels like winter has arrived. Even though we won’t be experiencing any snow days, we will be treated to an extraordinary view of snow-capped mountains once the rain clouds and fog lift.
And after all, a rainy winter day is not much different from a snow day. Once the excitement of stomping in puddles or making snow angels wears off and the cold and damp air settles into your bones, it’s time to head inside and enjoy a warm cup of cocoa and a slice of chocolate fudge cake.
Continue reading “Happy Winter Fudge Cake” »
By Jeanne, on November 26th, 2010
What would life be like if we measured our nation’s success based on Gross National Happiness instead of Gross National Product? If we valued health, education, and sustainable communities above cash and consumer goods? Or, at the very least, broke our addiction to material goods?
These are some of the questions that I have been pondering over the last few months. An ever increasing number of people are changing their perspective on our consumer culture, and today we celebrate that shift in thinking. Buy Nothing Day seeks to inspire consumers to break the habit of spending and avoid the stress of shopping. Let’s do things differently today. Go for a hike, read a book, create art and music, bake a cake. To kick off Buy Nothing Day, I’ll be cutting up this credit card.
Continue reading “In Celebration of Buy Nothing Day” »
By Jeanne, on November 12th, 2010
I love my readers. Truly I do. I am grateful for each and every one of you who stops to read my recipes and look at my photos. I strive to bring you the very best recipes, and to make them simple enough for anyone to make. I don’t like to post a recipe here unless it’s been tested and approved by The Boyfriend and I (tough job, but someone has to do it!).
I think it’s important to post recipes that could use a little work as well. I certainly have learned from others’ mistakes in the past. And with an entire community of food bloggers out there, collaboration will only make a recipe better! So I’d like to tell you about these pumpkin twinkies.
Continue reading “Pumpkin Twinkies” »
By Jeanne, on October 1st, 2010
Today I’m celebrating with four of my best friends. I have advanced to the third challenge in Project Food Blog, which requires the contestants to hold a luxury dinner party. As I brainstormed how to execute this challenge while staying true to my blog’s goals, I realized that creativity was the most important aspect. We are given prompts for the challenge, but allowed to let our imagination run wild. Sometimes, that can be a dangerous thing…
Continue reading “Cupcakes, A Girl’s Best Friend” »
|
Feeling generous? Donate for global disaster relief:
Need to make room for more cookbooks on your shelf?
|
Connect With SMB: