Baking
Red White and Blueberry Cake
Not to toot my own horn, but I love it when I have a cute baking idea that actually works out. You know I’m no fancy cake decorator and more often than not, my attempts at making cute baked goods end in tears of despair and icing all over my face. But this time I…
Read MoreBaklava
Baklava is a dessert as old as time, to use the phrase loosely. Originating from Turkey probably in the 15th century but perhaps earlier, this layered pastry has now spread throughout the Balkans and Middle East: Serbia, Bulgaria, Jordan, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Syria, Georgia, Greece. The recipe varies slightly from country to country and region to…
Read MoreBuckwheat Waffles
Though both of my parents were a smidge too young to really be hippies in the Woodstock-and-Vietnam-protest-sign sense, they adopted many hippie behaviors and interests: gardening and smoking doobs, eating whole grains and not eating sugar, for it is the Devil. (My dad focused mainly on the first two, my mom the latter activities.) I…
Read MoreLussekatter — Swedish Saffron Buns
Lussekatter Video Demo (Scroll down for recipe) Part nine in my Christmas Around the World series! Christmas in Sweden, focus on: LUSSEKATTER! Thank you to Helen for explaining the origin of these buns. And thank you to Sophie for emailing with me about Swedish Christmas traditions! Lussekatter, or St. Lucy’s Cats, are a sweet saffron…
Read MoreSicilian Fried Dough Balls – Christmas in Italy
Part eight in my Christmas Around the World series! Christmas in Italy, focus on: DOUGH BALLS! Big thank you to my friend Mel for joining me on the show again to share her family tradition! Yay! Fried dough balls! A simple bread dough; little bites of it filled with cheese or pepperoni or anchovies, then…
Read MoreGerman Cinnamon Stars – Zimtsterne
Cinnamon Stars Video (scroll down for printable recipe) Part six in my Christmas Around the World series! Christmas in Germany, focus on: ZIMTSTERNE! A naturally gluten-free almond meringue cookie. I’d be lying my ass off if I told you these were in any way “easy” or “foolproof”. “Pain in the ass” and “kind of frustrating”…
Read MoreScotch Shortbread — Christmas Cookie Recipe
Walkers Scottish Shortbread was always in our Christmas stockings from my grandmother Hornsby. She loved shortbread, especially with a cup of tea (bonus points if it was Yorkshire Gold) but I think I’ve mentioned many times by now, she never cooked or baked much of anything herself. So maybe she wouldn’t even like this shortbread…
Read MoreHomemade Dog Treats
Boy do I have a treat for you! A dog treat. HA.HA. Anyway, here are two homemade dog treats for you! One extra stinky one from me, and one delicious-smelling one from my friend Jen at JustEatLife. The stinky treats are made with sardines, any kind of whole grain flour you want to use, and…
Read MoreSufganiyot – Hanukkah Jelly Donuts
Thanksgivukkah is nigh! The first time since the dinosaurs that Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coincide! Perhaps not quite that long, but for sure the once and only time it will happen in our lifetimes, so it might as well be Jurassic times. Sufganiyot (or sufganiyah, singular or סופגנייה in Hebrew) are the original jelly donuts, I’d…
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