And by that, I most definitely am not referring to people. Flaky people are one of the worst, and I don’t even want to go into detail because that would have to be a whole blog post on its own (I’ve got a lot of experience from my university days, believe me). But flaky pastries? Now that is the only good kind of flaky in my book. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s funny how carefully I am going through Dorie Greenspan’s cookbook. I believe the correct term for what I am doing is savouring her book. Baking the recipes one by one is perhaps a testament to my love, positive review,…
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- Baking Recipes, Cupcakes & Muffins, Dearly Dreaming Dorie, From the books, My favourite things, The Breakfast Bin, Timeless Treats
{Dearly Dreaming Dorie} The BEST Corn Muffins. Ever.
I think I have established by now how much I absolutely adore things made with cornmeal. Most of these goodies look really simple: cornbread, corn muffins, scones… Just by looking at those words one would never assume there was anything special about them, but people who have had the pleasure of eating them know that indeed cornmeal adds something special to what would have been a common dish. This is one of the reasons why I love it so much. It makes the food look so no-frills, and yet taste so so good. It is such a classic example of how not to judge a book by its cover, or…
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{Countdown to Christmas} Of Linzer Sables and snow
I’ve always wondered about snow. The only time I was ever in a country with snow, it had already fallen and was beginning to melt away on the ground, leaving only wet, icy signs that it was ever there. I want to see it falling on me at least once in my lifetime, and then I’ll be okay. However, given that I am afraid of very cold weather, I would have to be wrapped in at least 5 layers of clothing, and I would probably only stay outside for no more than an hour. I guess that would be enough to appreciate the magic of falling snow right? Snow is…
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{Dearly Dreaming Dorie} A Black and White birthday cake for Papa
I don’t tend to say it out loud, but I like going out of my way to do things for my Dad, big or small. That’s why despite having zero experience and practice in making real layer cakes, I stubbornly pushed through with this one. I wanted to make him a birthday cake. A few open cookbooks later, I decided on one of the most elegant-looking cakes in Dorie Greenspan’s wonderful cookbook. It’s become such a habit for me to pick a Dorie Greenspan recipe whenever I’m baking something for the first time. I have had much success using her recipes; but I turn to her mostly because I like…
- At home, Baking Recipes, Christmas & holidays, Dearly Dreaming Dorie, From the books, Spoon desserts & puddings
{Dearly Dreaming Dorie} Chocolate Pots de Creme with a spooky twist
When I was very little, I dreamed about Halloween. I could visualise my tiny self braving those neighbourhood streets lined with scary yard decorations to get my candy fix; knocking on doors with my little trick-or-treat basket, anticipating the sort of person who would answer and the sort of trick and/or treat they would share. There would be other kids pointing to the direction of haunted houses created inside rickety shacks, where flashing lights and screaming would seep from covered windows. There would be important decisions made on what kind of face my jack-o-lantern would have, or what kind of crazy costumes my brothers and I would wear. It was a…
- Baking Recipes, Bread-making, Cookies, Dearly Dreaming Dorie, Experiments & experiences, From the books, Yeasted breads
{Dearly Dreaming Dorie} Of things fair and golden
The first thing I ever baked when I got my copy of Dorie’s book (not counting the recipe I found online before I actually bought her book), if I’m not mistaken, was her Lenox Almond Biscotti. It caught my attention because, for one thing, I hadn’t made biscotti in a while, and for another, they looked luscious from the photo. And really, I haven’t found anything made with cornmeal that I hadn’t liked to some degree. I’m fairly determined to bake through Dorie’s book, mostly because I’ve been pleased with all the recipes I’ve made so far (most of which I haven’t gotten around to writing about yet, but I promise…
