You can ask me but I honestly can’t give you answer: Why on earth, of all things, would I have a sudden urge to stuff myself with things made of cornmeal? I don’t know, I don’t know. However I have to be honest with you… I liked it. I’m glad that I’m having these kinds of cravings to balance out my propensity to stock my pantry with cornmeal, even before I finish the old packet. I’m hoping to correct that, but I cannot be blamed for all the baked goodies I imagine myself making every time I pass by a box of these yellow sandy crystals. It seems only logical…
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{Dearly Dreaming Dorie} How Peanut Butter Crisscrosses invaded my life
As a child, I used to hate peanut butter. I don’t know if it’s because of the way that it sticks to the roof of my mouth, or how the very gooey brands tend to make a mess when spread on a piece of toast. I’ve always found it odd since I actually like peanuts a lot. This passiveness toward peanut butter extended until my teenage years, and I only “rediscovered” it, if you will, in the past two years. Ever since I started long-distance running, a lot of other runners advised me to have a cup of coffee with a peanut butter sandwich and a banana hours before each…
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{Dearly Dreaming Dorie} The most amazing Mango Bread
I’ve been waiting for mango season to roll around, and in my neck of the woods, it finally has! One of the best perks about living in a tropical country is that we’ve got mangoes all year round, however the best and sweetest of the crop are harvested around this time. The mangoes here in the Philippines are gorgeously shaped, yellow and very fragrant; with an addictive sweetness that makes them extremely hard to resist. Mangoes are one of my favourite fruits in the whole universe; second only to Chinese Honey Oranges, or ponkan. As a child though, mangoes were my uncontested favourite. I would often have it with my…
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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…
- 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…
