Alice’s Adventures in Wondoughland continue this week around in circles: Sourdough Poppy Seed Swirls (Sauerteig Mohnschnitten). These are incredibly yummy and easy to make. The dough is very easy to work with and soft. Very pleased with the result. If you’re a fan of poppy seed muffins, these might be right up your alley.
Browsing Category
Sweet Snacks
Tip of the hat — those famous hats! — for the Kentucky Derby! And because of this event, here is something as “Kentucky” that I could think of: Browned Butter Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Derby Bars. Browned Butter shortbread bottom, topped with a bourbon pecan brownie layer and caramel sauce. Very decadent and a true winner!
PS: Don’t mind the mint in the photo — the Kentucky Derby does always remind me of mint juleps, but there is no mint in the recipe; I just used it to dress up the photo a bit.
I may have mentioned this before (in fact, I know that I have), but I very much enjoy florentine-style (i.e. very thin and crispy) cookies. These are particularly yummy. Often, this style of cookie involves nuts, but this time I merely went with oatmeal and some toffee bits to add to the crunch, and then I sandwiched two together to make Florentine-Style Oatmeal “Jamwiches” (instead of sandwiches). Sweet and crispy cookies, tart and juicy jam. Quite lovely, actually.
Appetizers/Starters, Breads, Lunch, Sandwiches/Paninis, Sweet Snacks
Rosemary Olive and Honey Sourdough Focaccia
The issue with baking artisan sourdough bread is that it is delicious. And addictive. And frankly, I could eat this entire loaf of focaccia, if I didn’t have any self-control. It is *that* good. Salty and briny from the olives, sweet from the honey. Hearty. Stop me, before I just gobble this all up. Great as a bread side to dinner, with garlic olive oil as a started or a snack. Sneak a piece when no one is looking. It’s seriously delicious.
Breads, Breakfast/Brunch, Sweet Snacks
Sweet Cream + Lemon Brioche-style Danishes
Sweet Cream + Lemon Brioche-style Danishes
(Süße Quarkbrötchen) aka Heidi’s Cheese Buns
This post has a story, and the story is about my mum. You see, we as a family (translation: my mum) have been making these “Cheese Buns” for forever. In fact, back in the day, we has a stand at the Orono (Maine) Town Festival and boy, were these danishes popular. So what are “Cheese Buns”? They are actually what would be called Süße Quarkbrötchen in German: brioche-style sweet, soft buns, with a creamy, lemony filling. In Germany, there is a type of fresh cheese called Quark. Quark is like yogurt, but not, like cream cheese but not. You can find Quark in the U.S. but it is pretty hard to find (check the deli case), so the closest thing you might find in the US, that I have found at least, is “farmer’s cheese” (also available in the deli case, by the artisan cheeses). My mum used to actually make it herself. In this recipe, I use cream cheese mixed with quark, but you can also use a bit of sour cream. Any which way, they are a “family recipe” and one of my favorite childhood things. There are raisins — I know, I know, highly controversial in baked goods — but they are optional so omit them if you are anti-raisin. 🙂