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Ultimate Whole Wheat Bread with Brown Butter and Buttermilk

Ultimate Whole Wheat Bread with Brown Butter and Buttermilk

Ultimate Whole Wheat Bread with Brown Butter and Buttermilk is light and tender with a tight crumb that makes an exceptional sandwich or toaster worthy slice.

“She heard the air whooshing into the big bellows in the forge and the practice tap for range of hammer on anvil. She heard Liza open the oven door and the thump of a kneaded loaf on the floury board.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Searching for a bread rich with whole wheat flavor that would slice easily, yet remain light and tender led to the development of Ultimate Whole Wheat Bread with Brown Butter and Buttermilk. With clean slicing and easy preparation Ultimate Whole Wheat Bread has fabulous flavor from the combination of nutty whole wheat flour and wheat germ paired with brown butter and buttermilk. A touch of honey lends a subtle warmth to this tight crumbed loaf of bread that makes an exceptional sandwich or toaster worthy slice. READ MORE . . .

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Chamomile Cookies with Brown Butter

Chamomile Cookies with Browned Butter

Tea Cookies

“Lee set a teapot on the table and shuffled away. Samuel began to talk to push the silence away. He told how he had first come to the valley fresh from Ireland, but within a few words neither Cathy or Adam was listening to him. To prove it, he used a trick he had devised to discover whether his children were listening when they begged him to read to them and would not let him stop. He thew in two sentences of nonsense. There was no response from either Adam or Cathy. He gave up. He bolted his supper, drank his tea scalding hot, and folded his napkin. Ma’am, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll ride off home. And I thank you for your hospitality.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

If you like chamomile tea, I have a luxurious cookie for you. Little scoops of brown butter goodness blossom into sweet and toasty cookies laced with chamomile. Very much like making tea, the chamomile flowers are steeped, in browned butter not water. The nutty taste of browned butter is a marvelous foundation for the sweet and floral tasting chamomile. The thin crispy edges of these cookies are fabulous. And the soft, billowy centers are mighty fine too. Don’t bother with store bought cookies. The taste, texture and calories just aren’t worth it when homemade cookies are so easy to make. If we’re going to indulge, make it worthwhile. READ MORE . . .

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Easy Yeasted Banana Bread with Toasted Pecans

Yeasted Banana Bread with Toasted Pecans

A Recipe for the Forgotten Bananas

“Breakfast, he said and nudged the door open with the edge of the linen-covered tray. He pushed the door closed with his knee. Want it there? He asked and gestured toward the gray room with his chin. No, I’ll have it right here. And I want a boiled egg and a piece of cinnamon toast.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I started making this bread with the forgotten bananas. My excuse was to make fresh bread for breakfast that included whole grain flour. But when this loaf is barely cool enough to slide from the hot pan thick slices have been cut and devoured, usually toasted and then slathered with both butter and honey. Leaving barely half a loaf for my breakfast plans. What’s left of the Yeasted Banana Nut Bread gets toasted for our for breakfast. To jump start our day we add a scoop of almond butter for protein. But if my vision of cream cheese ever so slightly melting on the warm toast sounds better, give it a try. If that’s not enough enticement, I’ve discovered that apricot jam is another fine option. READ MORE . . .

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Yeasted Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries, Pecans and Browned Butter

Yeasted Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries, Pecans and Browned Butter

With Gratitude and Thanksgiving — What We Have Forgotten

“Lee apologized for the dinner like an old fool. He blamed the gas oven which didn’t heat like a good wood stove. He blamed the new breed of turkeys which lacked a something turkeys used to have. But he laughed with them when they told him he was acting like an old woman fishing for compliments.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Home cooking and the gender of who cooks these meals is buzzing in the media. It’s not a new discussion though. Ever since women started working full-time outside the home, cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner has been a timely topic. There’s lots more too, budgeting, planning, shopping and clean-up. Even a bold essay about not cooking at all. I’ve wanted to comment on each of these blog posts, but my response is long and conflicted. I’ve had spurts of enthusiasm with cooking too. I still do. READ MORE . . .

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Pineapple Guava Bread with Browned Butter and Macadamias

Pineapple Guava Bread with Browned Butter and Macadamias

Urban Foraging

“Wherever a trickle of water came out of the ground a house sprang up and a family began to grow and multiply. Cuttings of red geraniums and rosebushes were planted in the dooryard.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I’m getting back to my old self again. I’ve been baking. And cooking for fun, not just because we need to eat. I’ve been working on my list of baking and cooking ideas. Lists are one of my most favorite things. My notebook has little drawings on the left hand side of the page to remind me of the idea— the colors, textures, setting and props. The sections for spring and summer are almost empty. It’s been months, early March, since I felt free enough to daydream. READ MORE . . .