This week, in my ingredient challenge game, we’re doing things with peppers and chilis and I remembered that I had a whole lot of Thai Bird Chilis dried from last summer, so I decided to make some chili oil. It’s pretty hot, so definitely designed as a finishing oil. It’s got a bit of sesame seeds and sesame oil in it as well. Spicy, but not blow your head off spicy!
Brötchen/Brötle, Semmel, Weck/Weckle/Wecken, Bömmel, Schrippe, Rundstück, Laible, Weggen … and I am sure that I am missing some! Germans and their regional words for “bread roll” … English speakers aren’t much better, but when it comes to Germans and their love of the bread roll, it goes to a whole new level. These rolls even reference that Germanic culture in that they are Kaiser Rolls, with their distinct markings. I used a roll press to imprint them and they sort of stayed imprinted — I think my baker’s ratio made a little bit too lose of a dough (and I have to admit, Alice, my starter, was especially bubbly yesterday afternoon). These are delicious and light and perfect for breakfast with butter and jam, or a lunch sandwich. Just the perfect amount of crunch. Pleased with the result. You can also make them with poppy seeds or sesame seeds.
You know me, I am the queen of finding unique ingredients for my baking and this week is no different. I found limited edition Strawberry Ice Cream Hershey’s Kisses, so I though that I would make these Strawberry Kiss Cookies. How did I make the sugar cookies pink too? Nestle Strawberry Quik Milk Syrup. Clever, eh? They are very pink, very strawberry-ish and quite yummy with a glass of milk!
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.
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.