Tag: Baking

  • Irish Soda Bread

    Growing up at a summer camp I had access to the camp kitchen, and from the first moment I stepped foot in it I was fascinated. More than the stainless steel counters and over-sized equipment and canisters, I was fascinated by the cooks. All were women I could spend a day beside, watching their every…

  • Guinness and Irish Cream Cupcakes

    I wore no green, drank no beer and attended no parades in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. But our friend made corned beef and invited us to dinner Saturday evening and I got a little carried away making some Irish-themed treats to accompany the meal. After avoiding sugars, grains and dairy for a few weeks,…

  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Brownies

    At first I took one bite, then put these brownies aside. I thought they might be too rich for me. But four hours later I decided to try them again and was hooked. I don’t know what changed during those few hours, but I soon began sneaking bites of these brownies whenever I could. Luckily…

  • English Muffins

    Now that I have officially moved on from my old job and am working in the design studio I am feeling refreshed and good about life. However, I’m vividly aware that the tradeoff for happiness is money, and so with much less money coming in I’m worried we’ll starve. We absolutely won’t, but let’s just…

  • Bagels

    I liken my pre-film festival routine to the nesting expectant mothers do before their babies arrive. The weekend before the Festival is always the same for me. I hunker down, clean the house thoroughly, hand wash all the clothing I’ve not taken time to take care of, mend clothes and make lots of meals in…

  • Loaves upon loaves

    Normally I’m the kind of girl who likes a free-form, no-knead bread. I usually have the time to mix some yeast, flour, water and salt together and throw it in the oven.  Sometimes I’ll take a little more time and make braided Challah bread, but I never make anything resembling something you might find at…

  • Graham Crackers

    Growing up our cabinets were always stocked with a box of honey grahams. They were our go-to snack for every occasion. In fact, I had a friend over once in middle school who was allergic to multi-grain bread — the only kind in our cabinets. Having no other options on hand I made her a…

  • A Beautiful Mess

    This week I’m taking a break from work. Luckily part of my pay seems to be supplemented by a generous vacation policy and so each spring I find myself taking a week to stay at home alone and make things. It’s lovely that I have this luxury. Unfortunately, leading up to vacation I spend so…

  • Monster Cookies

    The first time I made Monster Cookies I made them as they were meant to be — in a monster-sized kitchen. As a kid growing up at a summer camp I made sure to take advantage of all those fun things around me. Kayaking? Check. Horseback riding? Check. High ropes course adventures? Check. Using the…

  • In the Kitchen

    When I was young my family lived in a brick farmhouse built in the 1800s. Of all the rooms in that house, I have more memories that take place in the kitchen than in any other room. I would stand at our Hoosier cabinet and sift flour for my mom when she baked. I’d curl…