All the Cool Crumbs Are Doing It: Graham Crust
Who among us has not baked a pie/tart/cheesecake/bar with a graham cracker crust? Though there are plenty of other perfectly good pastry crusts out there, the graham crust is one of the tastiest, easiest, and most versatile crusts in existence– no pie dough to fuss with, no blind baking with pie weights. Perhaps most importantly, […]
Sealed with a Kiss: Chocolate Heart, X & O Cakes
The symbols of X & O representing kisses and hugs are of course among the most recognizable symbols associated with love and, by extension, Valentine’s Day. I never really knew where this came from, though I assumed that the letters simply resembled their corresponding affectionate gesture: X looks somewhat like puckered lips, and O looks […]
Baked Sunday Mornings: Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookies
I have been having a blast researching Valentine’s Day baking recipes for the past couple of weeks, as this is my first V-Day since beginning this blog. I’ve got some cute stuff coming in the next several days, though this week’s Baked Sunday Mornings recipe, Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookies from Baked Explorations, didn’t really set off […]
Les Macarons, une Histoire d’Amour: Christmastime in Paris (Part II)
“Macarons only weigh a few grams, but that’s enough to leave your senses quivering with pleasure. Their thin, crisp shell, slightly rounded shape, tempting colours and tender interiors draw devotees to devour them with their eyes, and caress their smooth surface. Their flavours solicit the nose and, when one bites into that crisp shell, the […]
Baked Sunday Mornings: Cheesy Focaccia with Sautéed Spinach (Hold the Caramelized Onions!)
There is literally *nothing* that I find more repulsive in terms of food than ONIONS. Except maybe a slab of pork or a can of tunafish. Fortunately neither of those are found in any recipes within the Baked Elements cookbook! When I saw this week’s recipe for Baked Sunday Mornings, I was not thrilled: Cheesy […]
Les Rêves d’une Pâtissière Américaine: Christmastime in Paris (Part I)
Bonjour, ma belle– Que tu m’as manqué! (Hello, beautiful– How I missed you!) I studied abroad in Paris for a year in college, and I can safely say that that year changed my life. It was my first significant travel experience, and though it wasn’t necessarily an easy year, it instilled in me a profound love […]
Baked Sunday Mornings: Bananas Foster Fritters
A few words to express how I feel about bananas: I would not eat them at the table I would not eat them with an organic label I would not toss them into oatmeal I would not buy a 2-for-1 deal I would not munch them with granola I would not chase them with a […]
Baked Sunday Mornings: Malted Milk Chocolate Pots de Crème
Happy New Year! I hope everyone has been enjoying this holiday season and indulging in some delicious, sweet goodies! I’ve been traveling for the past two weeks and got home just in time for this Baked Sunday Mornings recipe. In truth, after a week in Israel and a few days in Paris, I am (*gasp*) sugared-out! […]
Baked Sunday Mornings: Holiday Spice Cake with Eggnog Buttercream
Updated (again) photo from Christmas 2016 remake– update at the bottom! You know how athletes often learn to visualize a victorious race or a perfect routine? When I’m baking something new, especially something exciting and beautiful, I often have a mental image of what I want it to look like; it’s usually pretty, elegant, professional-looking, […]
Baked Sunday Mornings: Soft Candy Caramels
I have never made soft caramel candy before; the thought of this would normally strike fear into my heart and cause shivers down my spine. My mother would likely chuckle at the idea of me working with sugar in the first place– she likes to remind me of the time, when I was a teenager, […]