Biscuits and Breads

Cinnamon Twist Bread

June 4, 2016

Soooo…. I’ve been on a little bit of a work related hiatus. I won’t bore you with the details but, man, the last month or so has been out of control busy. BUT, I’m back. Officially!

And what better way to come back than with some ridiculous cinnamon twist bread. Let me break it down – this stuff tastes just like a cinnamon roll but with about half the work. AND it looks pretty impressive, right?! If you want to take the cinnamon rolli-ness to the next level you could easily spread a quick frosting on top. My taste testers felt fairly strongly that it was perfect stand alone but, let’s be honest, frosting makes everything better.

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Popovers

April 2, 2016

Popovers

Popovers might be one of the greatest inventions ever. They’re so easy. And so good. When I made these for Easter dinner I questioned my judgment for not making them more often. When I was fresh out of college I moved to New York City on a bit of a whim. My obsession with New York started right around the time I was 9 – mostly because my favorite Babysitter’s Club character (Stacey McGill!) was from the Big Apple. Living there became a goal so I got a job as a live-in nanny for a family on the Upper East Side. My experience was… interesting. It was an all around culture shock – West Coast to East Coast, middle class to upper class but, man, did I love those kids. I was broken hearted when I said goodbye to them.

Anyway, those kids LOVED popovers so much that I made them pretty often. When you find a crowd pleaser you stick with it. Now whenever I make them it reminds me of those kiddos and that crazy year of my life. If anything, it made for some pretty good stories…

I’ve always used the Ina Garten popover recipe. It’s pretty much fool proof and makes light, airy, and perfectly chewy/crunchy popovers every time.

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No Knead Bread

March 24, 2016

No Knead Bread

Oh carbs, how I love thee…

Before we went to Hawaii my sister-in-law and I did a 2-week, no/low carb diet. I nearly died. Well, that’s an exaggeration. BUT, I definitely missed carbs that’s for sure. It didn’t help that she lost 5 lbs and I gained 1. I think it was my body’s way of telling me that it NEEDS carbs… Or, at least that’s what I’m going to tell myself.

Baking bread is sort of overwhelming. I typically shy away from it because, honestly, it seems like too much of a chore when you can get an awesome loaf at a bakery for about $4.00.

Enter baker extraordinaire Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery in New York City. His recipe for no knead bread is, quite frankly, genius. And, SO EASY. Anyone CAN do this. And everyone SHOULD do this.

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Bouchon Bakery’s Banana Muffins

March 10, 2016

Bouchon's Banana Muffins

If you haven’t been to Bouchon Bakery in Yountville, CA, you’re missing out. Bouchon, in my humble opinion, is a baker’s mecca. Everything they make is stunning and oh-so-delicious. Beyond that, Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery cook book is awesome. It has recipes for everything they sell in the bakery but, more interestingly, there are dozens of notes, tips, and facts about the art of baking. I received this book 3 years ago as a Christmas gift and I still reference it every couple of weeks.

I’ve been making these muffins for years and they get rave reviews every time. I haven’t changed the recipe at all because they’re… well… perfect. Seriously, there is no better recipe for banana muffins out there. If you follow the recipe exactly you’ll need a kitchen scale so you can weigh all of your ingredients. I actually prefer this method when I bake but it does take time to adjust to.

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Chouquettes

January 21, 2016

Chouquettes

When I was in Oregon we visited a lovely little French bakery called St. Honore and I fell head over heels in love with Chouquettes. Chouquettes are made from classic French Choux Pastry and then sprinkled with pearl sugar. They’re typically enjoyed by French children as an afternoon snack although I can’t imagine any adult turning one down. They’re slightly sweet with a crunchy outside and a soft eggy inside. Bottom line – these little bites are super addictive and I’m so bummed I didn’t realize their greatness when I was in France a couple years ago. I think I need to plan another trip…

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Lightened Up Banana Bread

December 12, 2015

I’ve been loving the cooler weather lately. It’s been a long time coming for us in the Bay Area and it FINALLY feels like winter. This is my favorite time a year for cooking…. soups, stews, and cozy baked goods.

Banana bread is one those super comforting foods that everyone loves. This recipe is lightened up and oh so tasty. It’s light, moist, and very banana-y. Although I’ve never met a banana bread recipe that I didn’t like this is my favorite.

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