Tag Archives: baking

Double chocolate and banana tart: putting the pieces back together

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

For once, I thought I’d easily conquered not only the tart dough on round one, but also the entire multi-step process without incident, aggravation, mistake, or calamity. Surprisingly, despite the fact that I had to make an appetizer and the … Continue reading →

Posted in children, family, food, mistakes, motherhood | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Sticky business: pecan sticky buns

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I made these pecan sticky buns from Baking with Julia so long ago that I barely remember what I need to say about them, except that despite my enduring love of butter, these buns had maybe more butter than I … Continue reading →

Posted in family, food | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Hungarian shortbread: getting a workout

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

This recipe was not quite as simple as it seemed. First, I didn’t know much about rhubarb, having never cooked with it before.  The rhubarb I’ve seen in photographs looked much redder and thinner than the giant stalks I found … Continue reading →

Posted in food | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Feeding the fever

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Saturday was dreary, cold, and blustery. More like a gloomy day in early March than a nearly May Saturday. Monkey Man, Gorilla Girl, and I  were feverish for sunshine, warmth, and spring. Since the sun remained hidden for most of … Continue reading →

Posted in bread, family, food, ice cream, spring | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Coconut friands: the mystery of the Vietnam tea cake solved

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Thanks to Dorie, this week’s  coconut friands — otherwise known as  tea cakes –solved a mystery. The recipe was so simple that I whipped up not one, but two batches (one for a baby shower at my husband’s school). This … Continue reading →

Posted in family, food | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Pizza rustica and love cakes

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

This weekend, I baked Pizza Rustica in Baking with Julia, and loved it.  I mean loved, as in, I could eat this every day if the cheese and egg count alone wouldn’t kill me.  It was amazing — sweet dough … Continue reading →

Posted in cheese, family, family meals, food | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Baking in the sun: cocoa sables

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

The recipe for French Fridays with Dorie this week was cocoa sables, and much as I enjoy a good chocolate cookie, I wasn’t sure if I’d get this one done, what with the heat in my kitchen already cranking up, … Continue reading →

Posted in carousel, family, food, spring | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Irish soda bread

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

We’re still eating the soda bread — and despite the warning that it would harden like the Blarney Stone, it has remained fairly moist and certainly tasty. Maybe it’s the humidity here in Chicago during this global warming-induced heat wave. … Continue reading →

Posted in bread, family, food, holidays | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Saint-germain-des-prés onion biscuits: baking the frantic way

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I missed the last FFwD — I actually cooked salmon and lentils, and we loved it.  I was damn near missing this FFwD, too.  I am out of sugar, so subbed in brown sugar.  I used a red onion instead … Continue reading →

Posted in food | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Rugelach: a budding pastry chef practices her trade

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

This week, the Doristas made Rugelach, from Baking with Julia, and though I’d never tasted Rugelach (nor do I think I can say it properly), I was more than willing to give it a go. The directions made me a … Continue reading →

Posted in family, food, lessons, motherhood | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments