Every year for my in-laws birthdays, when I can, I try to make a cake. I make the same cake. One that I came across a few years back, first called a "Persian Love Cake." I'm a bit uncomfortable as I'm not 100% sure where the name cake from. I've read that it was made … Continue reading The most delicious of cakes, a Love Cake
Desserts
Weekend Words #2 and Almond Snickerdoodle Cookies
Transitioning from night work to day work is a tough cookie, and I'm not just saying that as a clever transition into my upcoming cookie recipe. I've been at this residency business for three years now (3/4 done!) for three years now, and it doesn't get easier. If anything, it gets harder. You start out … Continue reading Weekend Words #2 and Almond Snickerdoodle Cookies
Exploring California Part 7: Mount Diablo + Rosemary Cupcakes with Honey-Brown Butter Frosting
We've been doing local hikes in the South and North Bay recently, but for our anniversary hike, Tyler and I decide to venture to the other side, the East Bay, and head toward Mount Diablo. It sits tall at 3,849ft above the ground in Mount Diablo State Park. We hiked to the North Peak via … Continue reading Exploring California Part 7: Mount Diablo + Rosemary Cupcakes with Honey-Brown Butter Frosting
On being loud and Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Banana Caramel
"35,000 units of heparin are in." "1/3 of the protamine is in." Recently, in the OR, I was jokingly told that I have a "trumpet voice," meaning I make sure what I'm saying is heard. It's true, I have my teacher-voice. Not the, oh why are you on the table dancing around? voice, but the … Continue reading On being loud and Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Banana Caramel
Orange Blossom Brioche Pull Apart Rolls
I'm in a bread phase. I'm enjoying making and baking bread, which is a new thing for me. I usually shy away from the yeast - rest and proof - beat back - second proof - roll into something - and finally bake. It just...seems like a lot. And it is, but boy, fresh bread...it … Continue reading Orange Blossom Brioche Pull Apart Rolls
Israel Part 1: What we packed and Caramel Cornflake Crunch
We went to Israel! It was so much fun -- the food, the weather, the people, the places. It's our last international trip for awhile, and I'm happy we pick Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, there was a lot to experience. Though...I won't recommend going over a 7 day period -- switching our internal clock around … Continue reading Israel Part 1: What we packed and Caramel Cornflake Crunch
Lemon, Orange-Blossom Semolina Cookies
Things are happening. Tyler's finals are around the corner, vacation is around the corner, I'm reading books, the dogs are happy, and we bought a small table for the porch outside. I've taken to baking a lot more again, whether I post about it or not. Allowing myself to be absolutely present with the dough, … Continue reading Lemon, Orange-Blossom Semolina Cookies
Baking with Dorie: Remarkably Good Brownies
The first bake of 2018. Or well, the first bake I'm posting. I bought Dorie's Cookies for my friend Lili for the holidays this year to celebrate her love of baking. When the book came in the mail though, I was so taken by the photos and the anecdotes that came with each recipe that … Continue reading Baking with Dorie: Remarkably Good Brownies
Welcome to Fall Bars, Pulgas Open Reserve
Milestone: we took Rain off leash for the first time in an open space. No fences, just us, our dogs, and their (relative) freedom. The moment we took the leash off, I expected her to bound off, but she just sat next to us, looking up. Slowly, she paced ahead, looking back every now and then. … Continue reading Welcome to Fall Bars, Pulgas Open Reserve
Gifts!: Soft Caramel Chews
Caramels can be finicky, too high of temperature and the caramels can be too hard, too low, it won't set properly. I've spent some time making caramel topping, hard caramels, and finally...finally tackled soft caramel chews. Those delicious bites, delicately chewy, sticking to your teeth in the just the right way, bursts of salt and … Continue reading Gifts!: Soft Caramel Chews
The Clumsy Cook 