Breads, General Reference/Tutorial

Swedish Honey Wheat Sourdough Loaf (Öland Wheat)

I’ve been experimenting, using my sourdough (Alice in Wondoughland) and some new-to-me and interesting flours from Maine Grains in Skowhegan, Maine. I am calling this one Swedish Honey Wheat Sourdough Loaf because it uses Öland Wheat. Öland is an island in the Baltic Sea where the Swedish Monarchy has their summer home (there will be a pop quiz on the names of the Swedish Monarchy later today, go study up). It a slightly nutty, slightly golden in color wheat, and I added some local honey (well, local to Cambridge Massachusetts, not to Öland, nor to Skowhegan) and came up with this lovely loaf. It’s delicious. The one thing that I am beginning to learn though, is that it takes a bit of trial and error when experimenting with new flours, to get the hydration levels just right. The first dough I made was a gloppy mess and I kept on overcompensating, and then the sourdough ratio was totally off. This attempt is better, but still a little too dense, but definitely flavorful.

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Desserts, Sweet Snacks

Celebratory Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Hey! Happy Independence Day / 4th of July, Everyone! Here are some Celebratory Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes for the day! Who knew that you can bake directly in ice cream cones. Learn something new every day. Would be cute for a children’s birthday party too. Swap out your favorite cake flavor — I made chocolate cake, but vanilla, strawberry or even lemon might do. Fun dessert for the holiday!

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Cookies, Sweet Snacks

Star-Spangled Graham Crackers

These cookies remind me of stars on the American flag. Yep, I know that that is the point, I realize, but it actually struck me as I was editing the photos. You’re a grand old flag, You’re a high flying flag, And forever in peace may you wave. You’re the emblem of the land I love, The home of the free and the brave…. now you’ll have the song stuck in your head as well! 🙂 These are Graham Cracker style cookies and at Christmas, I had found these great star chocolates. Now all you need to do is set a marshmallow on fire and you’ll have yourself some s’mores. Or just snack on them as it. They are very flavorful, and like my last treats, very festive.

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Candy, Cookies, Sweet Snacks

Red White & Blue Double-Fudge
From-Scratch Brownies

It’s getting to be Independence Day Soon. OK, still a bit over a week, but here is a quick and easy idea for the holiday, if you’re going to a BBQ or potluck. And yes, I make fron-scratch brownies, but I won’t tell if you make the “from the box” type either. The M&Ms (and the peanut variety) are everywhere right now, so pick yourself up a bag for baking. Or sharing. Or just plain eating. This from scratch recipe uses melted butter and lots of chocolate in multiple forms. Positively festive!

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Cookies, Sweet Snacks

Bananas Foster Shortbread Bars

How to make a long week (despite a Monday bank-holiday) slightly more tolerable? Yes, you’ve got it: sticky sweet, very bananananana-y and gloriously delicious Bananas Foster Shortbread Bars. If you’ve ever been to New Orleans and ha Bananas Foster prepared table side, you’ll know that it can be a sugar-rush like no other. These Shortbread bars are no different. Find yourself a cold glass of milk or some whipped cream and enjoy. I didn’t, however, flambe the shortbread bars like the “real” Bananas Foster.

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