Sharing

I want to share with you. With whats been going on and whats been motivating me as of late. Because sometimes hearing things that motivate others, well, might just ring with you too.

1. Others: I have been reading, and talking, and listening a lot lately. Surrounding myself by words, people, etc. that are in tune with how I want to live my life.... is so motivating. The ideas they give me, the inspiration, and the support. Its awesome. Lately, Ive been wanting to healthify myself, by eating better and exercising, expand my passion for teaching, simplifying, and creating, and just feel all around happier. So as I mentioned I started to read blogs by people who live this way in their life. They are awesome.

2. Running: I never thought I would say this. I am loving running. Weird right? Its punishment! Its pounding! And not to mention, at a sizable 5'11" female, that's a lot to smack down on the concrete for an extended period of time. But! alas, it has been getting my blood pumping while leaving me with my mood elevated, craving healthier foods, and just making me full of energy.

3. Muffins: So when I mentioned creating above, I primarily meant creating food. And recently I am obsessed with creating healthier muffins. Of course, I like to slather mine in peanut butter, but what don't I love to slather in peanut butter? Primarily meat stuffs, because well, I don't really eat them. And that would just be a terrible waste of the nutty goodness.

Carrot Spice Muffins

adapted from Oh She Glows

1 cup spelt flour

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/4 cup oat flour

1/4 cup cane sugar

1 tablespoon flax meal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/3 cup apple butter

1/2 cup coconut milk (just the creamy goodness on the top...very yogurt like)

1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons almond milk

1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract

1.5 cups grated carrot

1/2 cup raisins, soaked in water and drained

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Wow. Thats a lot of goodness right there.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all of the dry ingredients together. Then the wet. Then stir to combine. Shopping for the ingredient is definitely the tough part to this recipe. Scoop the thick batter in muffin liners and pop in the oven. Sprinkle a bit of coarse sugar on top if you want them to look all perty before baking. They will take about 18 to 20 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy.... they are totally breakfast worthy. :)

Music Paring

Ive been enjoying the Johnny Cash pandora station. I think you should too.

On Change.

Lately, instead of doing a lot of personal writing or blogging, I've been finding myself reading blogs. Lots of blogs. New blogs. And not just new to me blogs, but new types of blogs. I generally look for beautifully photographed food, great recipes, beautiful photography in general... and well, it mostly ends there.

Ah! But now. The new blogs. Funny blogs. Fitness blogs. And forever and always food blogs. But mostly Ive been gravitating more toward healthy lifestyle blogs, and the ones that I like generally say the same business over and over. (I mean this in a fantastic way) Don't diet. Don't restrict. Move a lot. Focus on your passions and be positive. Have so much fun. Listen to you and eat how you think your body operates at its healthiest. I say, "Totally!"

So after reading this sort of material over and over....over the weekend, well I just started subconsciously doing it. Ive changed my diet in the past week, coming to terms with the fact that I feel better and enjoy a mostly vegan diet more than anything Ive done before. Lots of greens, whole grains, mushrooms!, all the farmers market has to offer, spices, and of course a small sweet treat almost every day. I just love my sweets. For me a little red meat or fish once a month or so is perfect... and if I want more or less I do it. But finding your way along this food journey is never about labeling and cutting out any one thing forever, its realizing what you love and what makes you feel great. I like eating plants. I love it in fact. I'm still figuring things out, obviously we all, always are, but this is what I know now.

I also changed up my moves this morning and went on about an hour long run (well, I walked for a nice portion also), but I really enjoyed myself. I felt good to move differently. I might even do it again....

Other things.... Don't worry I am continuing to bake for the cafe like usual... butter! whole grains! vegan cookies! I want to supply people with treats that they both like and support the way they like to consume goods. I would never impose what is good for me, onto them. With that said, I'm planning to have at least one alternative baked good each day... gluten free, raw, vegan, etc etc. to support other people's chosen lifestyles.

So, this all leaves me wondering... what lifestyle changes are making you feel good lately?

I'm In Print!

Happy Sunday everyone. I hope your Sunday is as peaceful and sunny as mine is. There is (almost) nothing like a Sunday after a super busy and dizzying week.

A busy week indeed. And some rather exciting news to boot. My baking workshops were reviewed in the Monterey Herald last week by their new restaurant reviewer, Raul Nava. Check out his food blog too!

There is something about seeing your name in print that just makes you feel a little more legitimate. As I am still just truckin along, doing what feels right to me, its hard to admit that its actually a job.... let alone something worthy of a review. Anywho, thanks so much for the support I have out there. Its so nice!

How To Have a Lovely Day

I stumbled across this image via Pinterest this morning, trying to find motivation, inspiration for writing, and well.... just trying to create a lovely day.

I think that my idea of a lovely day is pretty close... although I think I might swap reading any old a book for pinning through my favorite cookbook or art book. I might add a bit of sunshine if its available or hot chocolate in front of a fire place if its not. And lets throw in an awesome new music discovery while we're at it. Sometimes I forget to think about the little things that make my day lovely. Thank goodness we can always remind one another.

What makes your day lovely?

On Beauty

So, I am constantly around food. All. The. Flippin. Time. I worked at a restaurant. I currently bake at a cafe. I love to cook, experiment, shop at farmers markets, and when I'm feeling social: entertain. I grew up in a family where we talked about the next meal while we were enjoying the current one. Dinner parties are my favorite types of parties, other than pajama parties.... with sundaes of course. And for the most part, I feel as though I have (after a long and hard battle) a good relationship with the wonderful stuffs that fuel me. (note: this does not include McDonalds) And lately, I have been wondering how I got to this place. How is it that someone can go from having a completely terrible relationship what with is suppose to nourish them, to actually nourishing their mind, body, and taste buds?

It really turned a corner when I moved to Paris. Ah, Paris. (cue delightfully European Jaques brel melody) Paris, with its supreme hold and expertise on the senses and how to utilize them, taught me to appreciate beauty. And not just beauty in the Louvre or the fantastic lighting that creates the most brilliantly unmistakable back lit Parisian nights. No, it was more than that. Paris taught me to open my eyes and see what was always in front of me, and while living in Paris that was often times a croissant au buerre. Everything that was created, had so much sense of pride, so much focus and attention to detail, that it would have been a crime to not take your time and enjoy every second of every meal. And, well, not just meals! Even a tiny espresso at a cafe made me feel like some royal family member. It was the passion of the people, and it wasn't something to be taken for granted or to be overused. I began to examine the cups and saucers, the people around me, the pastries and their incredible rich flavor.... and most importantly: myself.

I soon began to realize that these breaks in my day left me recharged and my senses restimulated. I stopped grabbing things and eating on the run. I stopped not paying attention to what I was eating. Eating became a social hour, it became the beauty of my day. While it was almost always stunning visually, it was beautifully tasting, feeling, and socializing with others while I did all of this. We talked about flavor, about art, about life and how what we were experiencing was really what many of us were missing in our daily lives. Seeing the beauty in everything we did.

So, I challenge you, take some time for yourself, to make something beautiful. It might be by creating a spot that you love and enjoying a scone all to yourself. It may be by arranging your dinner beautifully on a place and enjoying it with nice silverware while having a nice glass of wine. But in these sometime hectic times, remember to treat yourself by taking time and focusing on everything that is beautiful. It really is wonderful. That's one of many lessons Paris had for me. We all have to eat, so why not love every second of it? C'est tres manifique. Oh la la....

Bake It Girl

One of the new elements that my new career (yikes! Career? Really?) as a baker has yielded are my baking workshops held monthly at Happy Girl Kitchen in Pacific Grove. When I met Todd and Jordan Champagne, the owners of HGK, they explained their philosophy and love of preserving the harvest by pickling and jamming their favorite foods. I remember my first glimpse of Todd, noting to myself that Ive never seen a twinkle in someone's eye quite like that fellow. A sure sign this couple is doing what gives great meaning and fun to their lives. We immediately knew what a perfect fit we were for each other, appreciating quality food, beautiful food, and challenging people's expectations and norms.

So, after months of baking and a great reception from the locals, I decided to share my passion and love of the homemade by teaching others how they can do the same thing in their own homes. The concept is simple and humble. Whole ingredients and the less tools and more dough on your hands the better. I try and show my students how to utilize their five senses to really gain more from a recipe than just taste. And once you feel how the dough is really suppose to be, the less need you will have for measuring cups and spoons, precision, and limitations that often time a baking recipe leaves us with. We learn how to substitute and trust our intuitive baker, something I believe everyone has deep inside them... some just a little deeper than others. I truly believe that when you learn to trust your intuitiveness in one area, it will inevitably permeate other areas in your life.

So, I just wanted to share with you how wonderful the last workshop went. Both my mom and my old roommate/greatest pal Megan visiting from back east were standing by my side selflessly washing dishes , getting the attendees anything they needed, and most importantly being a quiet and strong sign of support by my side. Although the workshops give and teach me so many things, the strength that my loved ones give me always is a reminder of how I want to live my life and support the causes and people I care most about.

My mom slaved away, creating the most adorable party favors and folders to hold all of our recipes.

The ladies and gentleman had so much fun (or at least that's what they said) and I am constantly surprised by how wonderfully each team always pulls of the recipes. No precision and mostly their own senses to guide them, they always turn out so many wonderful things.

Creating, laughing, feeling, tasting, and smelling it all, the long days work left all of us exhausted, but filled with a great sense of accomplishment.

Alas, finally a quick recipe that we baked over the weekend. A savory scone with rosemary (or other herbs if you like) sun dried tomato, manchego cheese, and a whole lotta lovein.

And thanks so much to the great Megan Moore for visually documenting our fun day. The pics turned out awesome. Megan is amazing in so many different aspects, but you should definitely check out her food narrative over at Foodie Can't Fail.

Sun Dried Tomato & Manchego Scones

They remind me slightly of a pizza scone and go great with salad, soups, or for someone who has a savory tooth in the morn. Feel free to change up the ingredients: swap olives for the sun dried tomatoes, use the cheese you have on hand, and play with all sorts of herbs. Just listen to what feels right. Let me know how it goes.

1 cup all purpose flour

½ cup whole wheat pastry flour

½ cup spelt flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons herbs of choice (we used rosemary)

about 2 teaspoons cracked pepper, more if you like

2 teaspoons salt

1 sticks or 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled

½ cup buttermilk

1 egg or egg substitute (we use a flax egg)

¼ cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped

¼ cup chopped Manchego cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit. Combine the flours, baking powder, sugar, fresh herbs, and pepper together in a medium sized bowl. Work in the chilled butter with your fingertips so it resembles course meal or oats. The key is not to overwork your butter; you want nice butter pockets in your scones! Stir in cheese and sun dried tomatoes.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg and add the buttermilk. Stir to combine. Add the dry and the wet ingredients together. Don't over mix, just form into a nice ball. If there is some flour leftover, that's ok.

Flour a work surface and form a round disk that is about 2 inches thick. Brush some milk on the top of the disk and sprinkle with a little salt and herbs. Cut into six even triangles and place on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Enjoy! Yay.

Music Pairing

"Calvary" by Bon Iver

There isn't any real tie between this recipe and this song other than I adore them both, but I heard it the other day on NPR's All Songs Considered Podcast and have since listened to it about a zillion times. I can't wait for their new album. June 21st. Yay.

Tumults

I know, I know.... I've been rather neglectful around here. I have excuses, loads actually, but I'm sure you wouldn't be very interested in them. Simply put, since last fall, my life has seemed a bit tumultuous. We all have so much going on in our lives, each of us searching for peace, quiet, and balance somewhere between the lines. I know how to do it,I just haven't been able to get there; mainly with time being the issue. I generally find myself coming back to this one idea, over and over again. Most of the time (hehe), there just seem like there is enough of it. So, in the last month, I quit one of my jobs. I decided it was more draining than it was worth for the exchange in currency, it was putting me in an unhealthy environment for myself, and most importantly: I dreaded going.

Excuse me before I start to sound rather cliche, but I began reflecting, and actually, most often I was too tired and too emotional to even have time to reflect. I stood back and observed myself; my thoughts, my behaviors, my patterns, and ultimately didn't like what I saw. I began to think of the larger scope of things... this one life (or maybe more deepening on your beliefs) that we are given to do with what we want. Of course we have to pay attention to the fact that we don't have ultimate control over everything, but what we do have is enough. I don't want to waste anymore of it doing what I don't love, or even don't like. Hard work I'm sure lies ahead... but when that work starts to be the kind that feels right, feels invigorating, and fuels your heart.... you can be sure you are on the right path.

So why all of this blabbering you may ask?? Well for one, I want to be in this space more often. This is truly something I love to do, sharing with my few readers what I'm creating, what I'm feeling, how we are all navigating this wondrous life. And secondly, all of this has made me even more certain that while I've had a bit of a rough patch here and there (and hell, who doesn't??) I love to be engaged with food. Healthy food. Beautiful food. Celebratory food. With family and friends, sitting at a cafe by my lonesome, beckoning back to my days in France, sharing with everyone the idea tat hell, if we have to do it anyway, lets make it awesome. Lets eat and drink, and take the time to actually notice we are doing it; and maybe, just maybe, enjoy it.

All of this makes me want to go, "yay." Enough said.

So I have a simple recipe for you today. A recipe for thoughtfulness and awareness. Take 15 minutes. Take your favorite drink and maybe a tiny treat. Sit with yourself some place that feels wonderful, that makes you feel great and cozy and content. And just eat and drink. Concentrate on those flavors, those moments, for that is all we have for right now. The more we can live like that, well, the rest will just fall into place a little easier. And who doesn't want to make things easier with a little cookie?

Have a super day everyone.

Spring... Its Sprung.

Ah, spring. It is the time of year when I feel most alive. The time when I wake up from what seems like a long winters nap, amidst more and more fresh produce at the farmers market, longer days and later sunsets... oh yes, a few extra winter pounds that smuggled themselves in there somehow. I always look back or look ahead to winter, trying to visualize warmth and coziness in front of the fireplace, roasted root vegetables, Christmas with family, and the exciting times of a new year. But, truth be told, the winter every year for me is a hard time. I feel less motivated, less alive. And I try to fight it. I try and fight it with optimism and baking and yoga. But, it just seems natural for my body to want to hibernate for a while... not do much of anything and eat more than my fair share of cookies.

But this is not winter my friends, and spring has finally shown its pretty little face. I feel as though my new year is ready to begin, as all seems bright and new, and myself refreshed. I wanted to share with you my next month long cleansing and rejuvenation plan. Sometimes my body yearns to be reset, and now is about that time! I try not to incorporate extreme ways into my lifestyle, so this detox of sorts is really just a gentle purging to make room for all the goodness that spring has to offer. So here's my little ol plan:

1. Diet. Not "to diet", but rather "my diet." I'm trying not to focus on what I am not going to eat but rather let the season give me all it has to offer and supplement with whole grains and minimal amounts of dairy and eggs. So that means tons of the freshest produce, whole grain rices/quinoas, and some yogurt/cottage cheese thrown in there too. So for the next month I'm saying goodbye to added sugars, breads, anything processed, and all meat. It is a very gentle cleanse of sorts, that seems right for me... right now. I am excited to reset my palate, enjoy the simplicity of food and appreciate and remember what its first and foremost function is: nourishment.

2. Mind. This winter has been somewhat of a whirlwind for me for several different reasons. I started baking professionally, which has always been something I have been interested in pursuing. I started a new and wonderful relationship. I started teaching baking. My dad relapsed from his cancer. I have continued with some of my own health struggles. Oh yes, and it has been the season when I feel most vulnerable, most fragile. So it has been an emotional time for me for good and bad, but it has left me feeling that I have less time with myself, less time to focus on me. I need and appreciate this time almost as much as anything else in my life. It brings me clarity and peace. It is my religion of sorts (other than peanut butter the great I guess) and my goal is to set aside time each day for mediation. It can be for five minutes or it could stretch for an hour .(doubt it, but hey it could happen!) Making time for myself is nonnegotiable in my daily adventures, so I am excited to have a place in my life for that again.

3. Body. Yoga for myself is a given. What is it that centers and calms your mind and body? But not just through exercise, I plan to care for my body and prepare it for the livelier months. Taking care of my skin by making homemade masks, taking baths, rubbing aloe on my predictable oven burns... Being kind and caring for your body. In short, putting more awareness into how I handle myself and my surroundings.

So folks, this is what I have so far. It is my first month long cleaning of sorts, and I am excited. I'm most excited to learn more about myself and how I will react to different challenges.... not to mention what will be a challenge, and what wont be. I will post some recipes, some findings, and I hope you might do your own version (however intense, however minimal) with me. Journeys with support always seem a bit more doable. Good luck and happy new year.

Song Pairing

"Years" by JBM.

This song reminds me of stretching in the morning and waking....little by little.

On Remembering Why

So, if you haven't guessed by the overuse of barley and spelt flours not to mention all these bizarre baking concoctions I've been up to.... I have a bit of inner hippie in me. And I boast it with joy. Don't get me wrong, I love hot showers, electric blankets, and cozy cashmere sweaters.... but there is another side to me that flourishes when I cook and bake. So bare with me here. Baking for me is not only about discovering an end result that inspires your taste buds, but it is about involving all of your senses; using your eyes to see how beautiful the process it, your touch to understand and nourish doughs in lieu of a leaden kitchen aid mixer. This idea that is baking has given so much to my life that I can't help but give it more and more attention as I grow into my person. So, as of late I have been trying to give more attention and focus into my passion, and wanted to share this little poem I came across awhile ago from one of my favorite cookbooks. I hope it inspires you, like me, to take time and experience your journey, whatever it may be, and realize the end result, like a piece of pie, is simply beautifully ephemeral and another journey awaits proceeding your last; all of which should be handled with care.

A Composite of Kitchen Necessities

Bringing food alive with your

loving presence.

To have compassion, to have respect

for fresh foods, for broken bowls,

for dirty napkins and little bugs.

To care of leftovers,

not saying, of that's alright, we have plenty

we can throw that away.

Because everything is saying love me,

have compassion, hold me gently.

Please hug me now and the

(we're really one, not two),

but don't get attached

(we're really two, not one).

The bowls and knives, the table, the teapot,

the leftovers, the molding vegetables,

the juicy fruit,

everything is asking this of you:

make full use,

take loving care

of me.

The cups, the glasses, the sponges,

the sticky honey jar,

all asking to fulfill.

Just to make deepest love all the time,

concentrating not on the food, but on yourself:

making your best effort to allow things

to fulfill their functions. In this way

everything is deliciously full

of warmth and kindness.

Music Pairing

"Rakhe Rakhan Har" by Aurora

I received a mix CD from a yoga teacher during Christmas and found this song on it. For some reason it always seems to bring peace and understanding to my day.

And We're Back!

Greetings strangers. I know, its been quite some time since Ive been to this space.... but I guess my writings and ramblings parallel my sanity... they are sometimes in and they are often out. Anywho, these past few months have been filled with so much new, so much wondrous-ness, and occasional overwhelming-ness, that I just haven't found the time to be here. I guess it has been more that I haven't found the right time. Every moment I meant to write or share, the words just never seemed to come, so I didn't push them. But, I have been baking....a lot.... and I can't wait to share with you some of my new favorites in coming posts.

One of the aspects that I love about baking during the winter is that it is almost forced time spent indoors next to your stove. Forced time to take the time to experience and feel the season through creating and feeding yourself and others. I find myself reaching for more ginger on those cold rainy days and comforting foods such as sweet potato biscuits, apple pandowdy, and handfuls of oats to boot. I love how food helps us experience each season, and when you live in California, allowing it to help create a faux atmosphere of a cozy winter via spices and root veggies when the sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky.

So, I have a new recipe to share with you. One that I would never reach for if it weren't late fall or winter. Enter: the sweet potato biscuit. Warm right out of the oven with a pad of butter, being enjoyed wearing a chunky scarf swirled around your neck 4 times, rainy clouds as a backdrop (even if the closest thing you can find is wallpaper), and a cup of spicy tea following every bite. And scene.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

I have thus far only used bright orange sweet potatoes because I am in love with the beautiful orange buttery results. But, that being said, feel free to experiment with japanese sweet potatoes which are so flavorful and mellow in color. You can also skip a step by buying canned sweet potato, or heck even pumpkin, although the flavor just wouldn't be the same.

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup spelt flour

1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

2 TB light brown sugar

2.5 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

6 TB unsalted butter, chilled

3/4 cup pureed sweet potato

1/3 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees prepare your sweet potato for roasting. For 3/4 cups of puree you will probably need a medium size to large potato. Rinse and poke several times with a fork and then wrap in foil and stick it in the oven until very tender... about 45 minutes. After the root is done cooking you can scrape out the insides and mash with a fork or puree in a blender or food processor. Let cool.

Now for the dough. Sift and whisk all of the dry ingredients together. Using a pastry blender or fork or extremely chilly hands cut the butter in the dry ingredients until nothing but little bits resembling rice grains are left. Mix together the sweet potato and buttermilk in a separate bowl and add everything together. Try to handle the dough as little as possible. You want everything to come together, so if its a little sticky add some flour... if its a little dry add some milk. You'll get it. Knead the dough 5 or 6 times et viola... vous etes presque termine. Flatten out the dough on a floured surface so its about an inch thick. Cut biscuits with a round cutter or a jar works as well. Bake at 425 for about 20-25 minutes or until golden.

Music Pairing

"Truth" by Alexander

And again, whistleing just makes me happy. And so do sweet biscuits and cozy weather.

Oatmeal to Go

So the primary reason I opted not to call this one a cookie was, well... I worried it might deter you from eating it early in the morning. And I would never want to go and do that.

But really, this cookie delicious breakfast alternative to oatmeal is compact, simple, and even gets better as it sits around for a couple days. What more do you want? Really the only downside is that they disappear before I can get around to sampling them as they perfect during the following days.

I almost caught myself telling you how surprisingly good they taste because of all of the nutrient dense ingredients....but I guess I never really understood why people say that. All of the ingredients on their own are pridefully delicious... almond butter (yum) honey (yep) oats (also delicious) etc etc... that of course the end result would be nothing but. What does it matter that the components are whole and grainy? Well, I think it does matter actually, but it matters in a great way, not in the way that should prompt any sort of begrudging face quirks.

Anywho, enough ranting for now. I formulated this recipe after making some baked oatmeal and then figured why not take it a step further to cookie-esq form? Well I couldn't find a good enough reason not to, so I went ahead and did it. I know, I know...rebel. And what pairs better with fall than baking and oatmeal? Yes, I guess pumpkin, but who asked you anyhow?

Oatmeal to Go

If you can bear it, these delights improve dramatically if you let them sit for a day. Also, do not overcook! Just let them turn a little golden brown and remain a bit gooey inside. Just trust me here. Also, word of warning, if you are a diabetic-loving sugar addict, just don't bother. These are not overly sweet, although they are wholesomely delicious.

1/2 cup oats

2/3 cups almond meal (or simply stated ground almonds)

1/4 c wheat germ

1/2 cup oat or barley flour

1/4 c almond butter

1/4 cup honey

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

dash of almond or soymilk

handful of raisins

Mix up oats, almond meal, wheat germ, oat and/or barley flour, and salt in a bowl. In a pan on the stove top, heat up the honey and almond butter over medium heat. It should be warm, and make sure it doesn't get hot enough to reach a boil. When heated a bit, take off the stove and mix in the baking soda. It will create a reaction slightly reminiscent of chemistry class, but not as impressive. In a separate bowl beat up the eggs and add the honey/almond butter mixture to the dry ingredients... along with the vanilla as well. Stir until it is all nice and combined, potentially having to add just a dash of soy or almond milk to make the dough a bit more wet. Stir in raisins.

Bake these puppies (now can anyone explain the etymology of that phrase?) for about 7 or 8 minutes, or just golden. The end result will still be a little gooey on the inside.... perfect to replicate oatmeal...but, to go! And please do enjoy in the morning.

Music Pairing

Ray LaMontangne "New York City's Killing Me"

Its the east coast fall that always prompted me to make, or at least long for, oatmeal. The chill in the air and the unexpected change of colors that the lacking trees in New York City were suppose to bequeath.... just delightful. And it just makes sense, speaking of the city, that these fall-y treats would be, alas, to go.

Chocolate Pear Cake

The first few weeks in my new place of residence, the Monterey Bay, I am becoming acquainted with the new job and the folk it brings along with it, the farmers markets, the yoga schedules, and most importantly the new (to me) oven.

After woefully under cooking a perfect batter of spelt zucchini bread, I optimistically set my sights on a brand new recette: Chocolate Pear Cake. A friend of one of the roomies came over one day, with freshly picked pears from her tree... and that was enough to make her my friend too. I usually lean more toward the apple camp than the pear, but heck... throw in a bit of chocolate and Ill eat mostly anything. So, welcome fall with pears and chocolate. It just seems wrong not to.

I brought it into my new job at the restaurant, trying to gain baker/cook approval. So if you care it is La Bicyclette in Carmel, CA approved. Whatever that means to you.

Chocolate Pear Cake

For this recipe I used some barley flour along with almond meal because I like the soft and nutty crumb that it produces for cakes. But, if you want, you can always substitute the barley for regular or white whole wheat flour. The almond meal is a keeper.... although hazelnut flour would not be a bad call...

4 oz butter, unsalted

1/2 cup sugar

4 eggs

4 oz dark chocolate

1/4 cup barley flour

1/4 cup white whole wheat flour

1/2 cup almond flour or meal

4 TB cocoa powder

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

4 pears, halved and poached (origin: preferably from a neighbors tree)

Poaching:

Don't let this step deter you. C'est tres facil... easy peasy for you non-francophiles. Just bring 2-3 cups of water to a boil along with 1/2 cup of sugar. Throw in your halved pears, potentially having to add more water to cover them and let cook for about 20 minutes on medium heat or a low boil. When finished, they should be tender when pricked with a fork.

Caking:

Set the oven to 350 F. Again, my friendly European counterparts...google the conversion. Butter a 9 or 10 inch round pan. Next, melt the chocolate and set aside. (Note: you can melt the chocolate by bringing one small saucepan with water to a boil and placing a larger bowl on top of the pot with the chocolate. This will ensure that your chocolate wont burn during the melting process) En suite, sift all of your dry ingredients together (flours, salt, baking powder, coco powder). In a separate bowl beat the butter and sugar together. After a couple minutes and the mixture is nice and fluffy, add in one egg at a time...incorporating each once well before adding the next. Then stir in the melted chocolate mixture. Finalement, go ahead and stir in the flour mixture in two separate parts. Don't over stir... or rather until just combined.

Pour batter into prepared cake pan and arrange the pears on top of the batter in a nice fashion. Push them down a bit. It should take 30 to 40 minutes depending on your oven. Remember convection bakers, your oven is an overachiever so watch your cakes extra carefully and maybe turn down the temperature a bit. You don't want to over bake this cake... it should be moist.

Serve with some fresh whipped cream and cozy up to the fireplace you may or may not need in this transitional seasonal period. But still... you have to love chocolate, pears, and coziness. You just have to.

Music Pairing

Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs. "New York City's Killing Me"

Hes so fall-y. And I just love his husky voice. Its almost as though he means what hes a sayin. Which sometimes feels like a rare find.

Cozy Breakfast

My move to Monterey is swiftly becoming settled into the county where fall reigns year round.... or at least the morning time feels like it. We are welcomed by the perpetual AM cozy fog and the chilly damp air that can only be answered with warm cable knit socks, chai lattes, and fire places. And although I (and my renauds) love the heat, I also can't resist the feeling of a great fall.

I am still adjusting to the bizarre-ish hours of the restaurant life, eating either a rather early dinner or being pushed through a rushed plate late into the night sometimes not being hungry at all in the morning and other times tearing the cabinets open. This morning I woke up to the fog rolling in, yearning for something substantial to offset yesterday's time in the sun, greens, fruits, and bike riding with a warm and sturdy meal. Breakfast and cozy weather tells me two things: oatmeal and spices. So who the hell am I to argue?

Yesterday, perusing the Carmel Valley farmers market, I was called to some lovely carrots, just pulled from the ground, with the intention of making either carrot muffins with a strudel topping or a carrot cake loaf accompanied by (of course) cream cheese frosting. But this morning, I decided to forgo the two previous inclinations and fix myself a steaming bowl of carrot cake oatmeal. I always love when you can rationalize dessert for breakfast. Anywho... Spices. Check. Vanilla Soy. Check. Walnuts and Raisins. Double Check. It was my first bowl of the steaming stuff since last winter and it feels good to be back. Peter Rabbit and my childhood are mightily proud.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Serves 1 hungry gal

Everyone has their own favorite take on the glorious carrot cake. This oatmeal is made with pretty standard fare, and I don't think it needs a bit extra. It is soooo good. But, if you love your oatmeal with those extras, you will undoubtedly love your carrot cake oatmeal like that as well. Suggestions? Well, I've seen crushed pineapple, coconut, brown sugar wouldn't be a bad call, and maybe you could even mix in some cream cheese for the frosting effect? Might be gross, might be glorious. Let me know how it goes.




handful of rolled oats (I have rather large hands)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of wheat germ
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup walnuts
1/8 cup raisins
1/2 cup vanilla soymilk
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
pinch of salt
honey, to top it off


Start with a small saucepan. Turn the stovetop onto a low setting and place the oats, cinnamon, and wheat germ in the pan to toast them. After about 1 minute you can add the water and carrots. I like to let this cook for about a minute. I dont really know why... I just do it. Then go ahead and add the rest of the ingredients (except the honey) and let cook for about 10 minutes on low, covered. When the oatmeal is finished, wither add more soymilk if you like it runnier or cook the goodness with the lid off and it will become thicker. Top with honey and enjoy!






Music Pairing


I curled up in my chair with cozy socks and oatmeal in tow, so Jose Gonzalez seemed like the right fit the start of my oatmeal and foggy mornings. If I may suggest "Save Your Day" for obvious, oatmeal superhero-esque capabilities.

Im Borrowing: Lemon Lavender Shortbread

So the other week, my wife (seen at her badass foodie blog here) directed me to one of her old classmates' new endeavours. I explored, thinking it would be good, but wow, this one is a winner. Yummybooks blends her love of lit with that inner push that finds us crazy bakers in front of the oven with hot oven rack marks left all over are forearms.... or is that just me? She gives you a preview for what might be your next classics read and what for sure will be accompanying your side (and tastebuds) during the adventure. The featured recipe was inspired by the Secret Garden...which I think inspires some of my daily day to day life.

I chose to borrow Yummybooks lemon lavender shortbread mostly because they looked delicious, but it didn't hurt that we welcomed a new lavender plant to the garden the other day. And I must agree with this baker... use fresh. use fresh. use fresh lavender. The plant is beautiful and smells wondrous... not to mention it will withstand the sweltering hot California Valley heat that (knock wood) seems to have forgotten us this year. And of course it didn't hurt when I read she topped her cookies with sea salt. I love salt. Especially from the sea.

I thought I had my favorite shortbread recipe. This one, fairly thin and so flaky, is quite the contender. It will be served alongside peaches and vanilla ice cream for a dinner party tonight to make somewhat of a deconstructed peach pie. So fresh, so delicious.

Thank you so much Yummybooks for a new read in your blog and this delicious idea for a recipe. Profitez le weekend tout le monde!

Lemon Lavender Shortbread

adapted from Yummybooks

I tweeked this recipe a bit here and there, but the delicious idea remains the same. My best results turned when I refrigerated the cookies on the pan right before popping them in the oven and with a bit of whole wheat pastry flour for a nice crumb.

8 Tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1/4 cup cane sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour

1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon fresh lavender

zest of one lemon

sea salt to finish

Start by beating up your butter and cane sugar nice and well. Sift together the salt, flours, and powdered sugar. Once the butter/sugar is beat up for a couple minutes go ahead and slowly add your dry mixture as well as the lemon zest and lavender. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to incorporate all the goodness. It should come together into a ball. Refridge for 2 hours or so.

Once your dough is nice and chilly lightly flour a rolling surface. Set oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough so it is about 1/4 inch thick and cut out whatever shapes you desire. I stuck with the inspired design because I thought they looked nice and will work well with the peach pie sundaes I am adding them to. Place them on a baking sheet and sprinkle (just a tad!) of sea salt. They bake for about 10 minutes or until just golden brown. Let cool on a rack and they will firm up and be delicious.

Music Pairing

Audiobook of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Its not music, but its sound. Might as well dive back into the classics with a shortbread in hand.

Cherry Barley Scones, Oh My.

My Apologies. I built up cherry season so much, promising jams, pies, salads, and basically anything one could possibly think of pertaining to cherries (the food that is).... and I just never did post anything. Before you get too mad, please picture a mid 20 something girl, so overwhelmed by the bountiful-ness of cherry season happening in her backyard that the tiny stone fruits are flailing through the air, leaving the grout on the kitchen tile a delightful but equally maddening shade of red, and all this while running around on a sugar high from the foods that were made subsequently from the mass influx of this great fruit.





Ok. I'm exaggerating a bit. But just a bit. Our cherry season went wonderfully and I managed to can some jam (even though I heard my mother say the word botulism 567 times), dry some cherries, make a grain salad with them, and then of course were these delightful scones.

If you've been at the other end of my baking, you know I love cooking with kooky (as it may seem to some) ingredients. I love to try and obtain a depth and interesting flavor that is a little beyond the grasp of white flours and sugar. Not to say they aren't delicious! Please. I would never say that. I do love a wondrous and simple croissant of course. But, more than sometimes a little creativity is worth your pursuits, and I don't think that this recipe with fall short of meeting high expectations. I used barley flour here, which is a tinge sweet with a malty sort of flavor. Indeed, I think its my new fave. I should have a biscotti recipe also using this flour comin at ya very soon as well. But you know me.... maybe that happens.... maybe that doesn't. But until then, please try these...

Cherry Barley Scones

adapted from Good to the Grain

If you love cooking with whole grain flours, Kim Boyce's cookbook Good to the Grain is essential to have. It meets all my criteria for a great book, hitting the high mark in fields of photography, interesting and innovative recipes, and not to mention the pic of the author in the bck is adorable. And she looks happy too. What baker shouldnt look happy? Anywho, tangent, mangent.... Feel free to experiement with different types of jams you have on hand from the season. I would guess that peach, nectarine, and berry work very well also in this recipe.

1 cup Barley Flour

1 cup white whole wheat flour

scant 1/4 cup turbinado sugar plus 1 TB honey, or 1/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

4 ounces (1 stick) cold unsalted butter

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 egg

to finish:

1/2 cup Cherry Jam

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

1 tablespoon sugar

Les Directions:

Go ahead and set your oven to 350 degrees F. Rub a baking sheet with butta.

Sift all of your flours, sugars, powders, sodas, and salts into a bowl. Cut up the cold butter into small-ish chunks and add to dry mixture. Then you may either:

1. use your fingers, swiftly, to break butter into smaller pieces, resembling tiny pebbles or large-ish grains of rice. If you have hot hands.... forget about it and...

2. Use a pastry cutter or even a fork. This will buy you more time, not melting the butter while working.

Ok. Back to work. In a separate bowl, wish the egg and the buttermilk together. If you don't have buttermilk don't fret, just combine milk with a tablespoon or so of vinegar or lemon juice. Let it set for a minute et viola... your replacement for buttermilk.

Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined. Don't worry about leaving behind a few crumbleys. The less hands on time, the better the scones. Separate the dough in two. Turn the first of the two doughs onto a lightly floured surface. Flatten out to make a fairly thick round... about 1/2 inch. Do the same with the second dough. Now its time to make the scone sandwich. Spread the jam onto on one of the rounds and place the second on top. Cut into about six triangles and you are there. To finish, spread melted butta on top and sprinkle with some sugar.

Bake for about 20-30 minutes and enjoy!

Music Pairing


"Little Lion Man" by Mumford & Sons
Barley's a lil country and so are these guys.

My Favorite Breakfast

I've converted many a naysayer before, so it comes as no surprise that everyone doesn't share the same affinity for the rice cake as I do. The poor things do get a lot of crap. And if you are talking Quaker, then, yes it is even warranted crap. But next time skip over the styrofoam stuff and pick up a natural foods brand, like Lundburg. Top with some pb, raisins, banana, and cinnamon, and you wont be sorry. Pick up the Sunday Times..... and now thats a morning.

Seconds Please: Zucchini Spelt Bread

I feel like every post has become an "Im bacK!" post. Apparently its the fault of the migrant lifestyle I've become accustomed to. I just cant seem to stay put, now can I? I even found myself planning my next move before I returned home to California, from family vacation.... where I leapt to after camp counseling in Monterey, and that's what I did when I got back from Paris. I mean, I need to get a flippin grip. So, I'm trying something new... I'm just here in Stockton,CA....today. Not somewhere in my next 20 adventures, but just here. And there is nothing that brings me back to the right now with a smile on my face like baking. And my garden. Any maybe goblets filled with jewels. So, when I can incorporate 2 out of 3 into a recipe, I barely recognize that there is still a world happening outside of my kitchen.

This recipe is one of my favorites Ive put together in a while. It is pretty multifunctional; working as a breakfast item, an afternoon tea snack, or a light dessert....or not so light dessert when some people (maybe me, maybe not me) pair it with Haagen Dazs ice cream. I have so many monstrous zucchini squash in my backyard that there wasn't any way they were escaping the oven in a bread form. And everyone just loves it when you can tag on a veggie in the title of a sweet bread. I guess it lowers the guilt factor? And nothing says summer better than fresh zucchini and well, I just love it. I hope you like it too. Take it to the beach. or a picnic. Or ship it to one of your pals that you wish you were at the beach with.... or hell, even a picnic.

Zucchini Spelt Bread It Is!

inspired by Silver Palate Cookbook

makes 1 delicious loaf

I started the way I start most baking experiments, with a fairly simple base recipe, and then changed everything I possibly could. I decided to make this one with spelt flour because I think its absolutely delicious. And if you ask me, it completely makes this bread what it is.... and that is glorious.

oil/butter for the loaf pan

3 eggs

3/4 cup oil

1/2 cup milk

1 cup cane sugar

1/2 cup UNpacked natural brown sugar

1.5 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups grated unpeeled raw zucchini

1 cup spelt flour

3/4 cup white whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1.5 teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

3/4 cup raisins (I didn't add them by request... but I really wanted to. Why don't raisins get any love?)

Sea Salt and Coarse Sugar to top it off

OK. Pretty simple recipe. Go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 degrees. If you are from Europe I am not providing conversions so use google.

Oil a rectangular loaf pan. Beat the eggs, oil, milk, vanilla, and sugars until combined and slightly thick. Fold in the shredded zucchini.

In a separate bowl sift together the flours, baking soda and powder, the glorious salt, and cinnamon. Add to the wet mix and stir until all is nice and combined. Fold in your walnuts and raisins. I'm guessing chocolate chips wouldn't be a bad call either. Instead of the raisins that is. But, oh so not necessary. Pour batter into the oiled loaf pan et voila! The zucchini is about to meet its fate dans le four!

I almost forgot my favorite part. Sprinkle just a TEENSE of sea salt and turbinado sugar on the top of the bread before it goes in the oven. Its too good. Just be careful with the salt. A little bit makes it amazing, but too much kills it. I would aim for about 1 teaspoon if not less.

It takes about 50 minutes in my oven, but it generally bakes things rather fast. Stick a knife in the middle and if it comes out clean, the bread is done. Enjoy...

Music Pairing

"SummerTeeth" by Wilco.

Its Summer. Nuff said.

A Take On The Chocolate Chip

Oh, camp.

One Breath. Two Breath. Three Breath, four. These chicas are wild.

For those of you who are unaware, I have been spending the past three weeks being a Camp Counselor in Monterey, CA. A beautiful place, spent with hundreds of energetic and lovely (for the most part) young ladies.

The other day was the sanctuary of my week, my 24 free continuous hours granted every glorious Wednesday accompanied simply solo with the liberty to do as I please. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my girls, and camp is a blast... but sometimes you just need a break. As a matter of fact, I think they do too. There seems to be little time to linger and enjoy what is happening right now... and as our first session is wrapping up everyone is wondering where all the time went. In short there is little time to do "things" let alone do them well or even notice when they are happening. A problem indeed. It actually becomes impossible when your daily schedule is on autopilot and consists of:

7am Wake up

8 Breakfast (although I did see a camper take an entire peach pie to breakfast this morning; so I use the term "breakfast" loosely)

9 Class 1

10 Class 2

10:55 Snack

11 Class 3

12 Lunch/Fustercluck Time

1:30 Class 4

2:30 Class 5

2:25 Popsicle Break/ Sugarfest

3:30 Class 6

4:30 Free Time (Squeeze in hygiene maintenance, telephone calls, screaming, jumping, and maybe 3 seconds of sitting time)

6pm Dinner

7 Evening Activities/ Fustercluck #2

8:30 Night Meeting

9:30/10 (more like 10:30 in reality) wrestle the little ones into bed and hopefully regain sanity (usually 50% success rate)

Throw in crazy amounts of sugar, occasional disorganization and I cant flippin believe our girl's heads are still attached. Funny enough, all of this wondrous craziness was my inspiration to make some chocolate chip cookies. There is nothing that is more connected to childhood and understated than a chocolate chip cookie. We tend to dismiss them swiftly as being rather consistent, unchanging, and even boring (gasp!) using the standard ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, and chocolate chips. Its understandable how one might mistake the results of these darlings as being rather stable and unchanging. Au contrare my friends, since there is so much variety to look for in this sweet treat, I could seriously make hundreds of batches and not repeat the same flavor /texture/experience profile once. When you take the time to peer a bit closer, you begin to notice the techniques and elements that make all the difference in the world. Brown sugar lends a molasses flavor and chewiness. You want lightness and lift? Try beating your butter and sugar together on high for 4 or 5 minutos. Make your jaw work a bit more with a grainier flour and thus a denser cookie. Guaranteed chocolate in every bite, you request? Great idea... instead of adding more and risk overloading, cut up dark chocolate bars and find slivers and chunks throughout.

Its actually camp and its girls that make me think about my childhood and how I wish I would have paid more attention to the details then. The closer you begin to look at the one genre of anything the more varieties and differences unfold. So, I chose to look at the chocolate chip cookie. The other night I tried three different batches... the first too cakey, the second missing a certain je ne sais quoi, and the third just right. They will be dished out hot with milk to the girls on their last night, made with love as always, but more importantly....they are made with time. If only one notices, I'll feel triumphant, and hell if no one does... I always have my personal stash of leftovers and a chocolate laden smile.

Enjoy your time. Reading this. Baking these. And eating every morsel.

Les Cookies du Chocolat

adapted from here

1 3/4 sticks (10 TB) of unsalted butter, softened

2 TB cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup Turbinado sugar

1 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

2 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/4 cups white whole wheat flour

1/2 cup almond flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

12 ounces dark high quality delicious chocolate cut into various sized pieces

more turbinado for tops of cookies

Preheat the oven to 360 degrees.

Cream the butter and the sugars in high for about 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides a couple times. Beat one egg into the mixture at a time, making sure each is incorporated individually. Sift your dry ingredients together: flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this mix slowly to the batter, reserving a teence for the end. Once everything is mixed up nice and neat fold in the rest of the flour mix and the chocolate chunks and slivers. We are now ready for the magic to happen.

Using a spoon or small ice cream scoop, drop the dough onto cookie sheets. Pop into the oven for around 8-12 minutes, depending on your oven and how done you love your cookies. After they start flattening a bit sprinkle some turbinado sugar on the tops...it makes all the difference. I like them when the edges are just turning brown and they are still nice and gooey. But hey, thats just me.

Enjoy with friends, family, and campers alike.

Music Pairing

Since I find it impossible to let myself recommend any camp friendly music coming out of Lady G*G*'s mouth, I will meet in the middle with Spice Girl love. Baby Spice would completely adore these cookies. And summer camp for that matter.

Girl Power.