Colorado or bust was my mantra. #Denver2014 was my hashtag. For nearly 6 years we’ve tried to make our way out west. After our last move to Connecticut, we promised ourselves that we’d pack up and make the Rockies our backyard once Kev finished his postdoc here. No excuses. Here we are 4 months from wrapping up his postdoc. And guess what? We’re not moving to Denver.
Some doors shut. Some doors never open. And some doors open to places you’d never expect—like Minnesota. We’re moving to the Twin Cities this summer! We landed there last weekend (me for the first time) just in time for the blizzard to start. I’m a snow junky, so I took no issue with the weather. It just gives me an excuse to buy taller snow boots at the end of season clearance.
Our last morning there was spent with Sarah (The Vanilla Bean Blog) and her family, the real reason we’re moving to Minnesota. I’m only half kidding, but knowing she’s there made the decision an easy one. She made a variation of these muffins. And sent us home with the leftovers. I ate every last one even after Kev accidentally sat on them on the plane. Ay yi yi. Sarah and I have been talking about getting together for years. I’m pretty sure I talked a mile a minute trying to squeeze in lost time, forgetting that we’ll have endless amounts of time to talk in the future. That is, if I haven’t already scared her off.
Her kids, Winter and River, took to Hal right away and she to them. I got a little misty. They played for a good long while—at least long enough for me to eat two muffins, granola, and a cup of coffee. That’s magic.
It was Sarah that turned me on to cacao nibs, which I’ve been buying by the bucket full. And it was Zoë, who I’ve been following for years, that turned me on to the Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day. (Zoë lives in Minneapolis too.) So I thought, there’s no better way to announce this move to Minnesota than to make Chocolate Braided Cacao Bread, a joint effort recipe-wise between Sarah and Zoë. Secretly, I dream of making bread with them or at least being a fly on the wall watching them knead their magic.
This bread is so, so good. And so, so beautiful, though the beauty credit goes to the recipe and not me. This recipe will make you look and feel like a seasoned bread maker. I want to make a thousand more loaves now. And I might because it surprisingly took no time at all. And because the loaf may be gone tonight after we make french toast out of it.
This will be our third move across states within 6 married years. Maybe we’re getting old, but we’re ready to say goodbye to our gypsy lifestyle. We’re ready to plant ourselves and, as cliche as it sounds, put down roots. We’re ready to go deep with people and establish long lasting friendships. We’re ready to exist without a time stamp over our heads. I’ve had a tendency these last couple years to stick to myself. I haven’t wanted to get close to people for the fear of having to say goodbye and start all over. Again and again. This move is indefinite. There’s no time stamp. I’m looking at it kind of like a marriage. I’m saying I do to a new city and a new state. I’m saying, for better or worse, for short winter or long winter, I’ll love you. I’m ready to make this city my city. Minnesota, we’re coming for you.
Head this way for the Chocolate Braided Cacao Bread recipe.
Notes on the recipe: I made it pretty much verbatim with a few tiny alterations. I’d highly recommend getting the Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day book which you’ll need for the brioche recipe. However, they’ve also posted the it on their site. Divide it into thirds to work with the Chocolate Cacao rendition. To the chocolate mixture, I added a pinch of kosher salt and only used a pinch of cardamom. I braided my loaf a bit different, but only by accident. Once the dough was rolled into a log, I did 4 cuts, so I had 4 rolls to braid rather than 2 (a little extra stretching gave me the length I needed). I braided them the same way as the recipe showed, however, after braiding, I formed it into a circle. And did the same to the remaining 2 rolls (braid then form into a circle). Then placed it in the pan to bake. Don’t let the bread go to waste if it goes stale on you. Make french toast or bread pudding with. It’s killer.
You had me drooling the entire time with the break photo. And the chubby baby arm! ACK the cuteness.
I use the Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day book too and just love it. Thank you for pulling this one to my attention. And love your stories!
This post is so beautiful. I loved every word. Cannot believe we were almost new neighbors in Denver, but it has been so lovely watching you embrace the Twin Cities and your new life there. Your nomadic lifestyle sounds like my husband and I’s, and I’m ready to commit somewhere too. Best wishes to your new snowy home from ours here in Denver.
Hi, so how much do you need of the brioche dough to make the chocolate bread? half the brioche dough recipe??
Check the “notes on the recipe” section at the bottom of the post if you haven’t already. I divided the brioche recipe in thirds. Let me know if any other questions pop up. Hope you love it!
Too funny! My husband and I were determined to head back to the West Coast for his medical residency, but he just matched into a program at Minneapolis. Here’s to the men in our lives and the Twin Cities!
I’m SO SO excited for you!! Minneapolis is great and a place I’m so very proud to call home. Let me know if you have any questions about the neighborhoods or schools or fun things to do. I mean you have great resources in Sarah and Zoe as well. I go back at least once a year so we’ll have to plan to meet up on a forthcoming journey back to my home state, once you’re all settled. You’ll love it, even if it isn’t Denver 😉 Congratulations on putting your roots down there.
Just catching up on your big news over here. Congrats! We have family in Minneapolis and visit a couple of times a year. Maybe the three of us gals can get together on my next trip west. xx yossy
Gorgeous bread! Could eat a loaf by myself!!
The bread is absolutely stunning! I adore the pretty swirls of chocolate.
What a wonderfully happy post!
Well Kevin better chalk you up to being the best wife ever because if my boyfriend (from Wisconsin, currently getting his PhD in sunny, warm Houston) ever tried to get me to move to Wisconsin or anywhere in the Midwest, I would NOT be a happy camper. You = “I’ll just buy taller boots!” Me = “That’s amazing.”
I just love reading your blog and I’m looking forward to hearing about your adventures in a new city!
Delicious!
Melissa, this sounds so, so delicious and I’m sooo jealous that you get to hang out with Sarah all the time! Sending all my good juju for a happy move and the excitement of some new surroundings. xo
Hello, Melissa! I know what you mean about wanting to put down roots. We’ve been moving backwards and forwards between 3 countries for the last year and I’m sooo ready to get settled. Hope the move preparations go well. Oh, and the bread is beautiful, both the photos and the idea of a lovely chocolaty brioche loaf!
This is really exciting, congrats! I hope Minnesota will be good to you. At least you’re in fabulous company! 😉 And this chocolate bread? I’m dying zo make it! It looks beyond delicious.
Hey Melissa!
I may not be a Minnesota blogger but I have lived in the Twin Cities most of my life and I wanted to say congrats on your big move!!! I’ve been trying a number of your recipes and am becoming very popular with my friends thanks to your Italian Meringue Buttercream – they have never tasted a frosting like it and are going crazy about it. You will be loved here 🙂 Hope the packing and moving process goes smoothly for you!!
Rachel
Woohoo!! Fellow Twin Cities dweller here…welcome to the ‘hood!! 🙂
First, I’d like to add myself to the long list of Minnesotans that have extended a warm welcome to you and your family!! I promise the hot, humid summer days will last just long enough to make you forget about the frigidness that is winter in MN. 🙂
Second, I LOVE the way you braided this bread…it’s definately a show stopper! When you cut the roll into four pieces instead of two, did you make two perpendicular cuts (one length and one width)? I guess that is my assumption, but I thought I’d ask just to clarify.
This chocolate bread is gorgeous. And your upcoming move to MN? Excellent news! Of course I’m biased, like the other awesome MN food bloggers who have already commented here. The Twin Cities has a vibrant and varied group, I know you will be a fabulous addition, and warmly welcomed. Welcome to Minnesota! 🙂
Congratulations on, yet, another move! It’s so exciting that you have some connections there already and are fond of snow. New boots do help….that’s what I have going for me right now.
The bread looks incredible! I’ll be making it tomorrow….while I’m snowed in again.
That is SO SO SO exciting!! I think one of the best things about this whole blogging thing is knowing that no matter where I travel, there are almost always instant friends there, even if we might not have met in real life yet.
This loaf is such a beauty! I’m in desperate need of it in my life.
Good luck in your new adventures. This chocolate bread sounds amazing. Just pinned.
Wow! Huge news, I’m so excited for you guys and your new adventures. You just never know where life will lead! I love how you brought the best of new friends together in this gorgeous loaf (I’m in love with Artisan in 5, too!).
Also, Linden Hills has THE BEST children’s bookstore – The Wild Rumpus (maybe you already visited it).
I already commented on your instagram, but I want to say YAY! Again. Minnesota, FTW! It’s really a wonderful state. And sooo family friendly. The Cities are super fun, and there may not be mountains (sigh), but there’s wonderful nature everywhere. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking, xc-skiing… You’ve got to get yourself up the north shore, lady. 🙂
Congrats on your move and new adventures to come. This bread is stunning..
How exciting! And, even better, how wonderful to already have the beginnings of a community. I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures xo
I am so happy for you and I loved reading this post. Although, I REALLY wish you were moving to CO!!
I too wish I could some day bake with Sarah and Zoe, they are amazing. As is this bread, but that is obvious. Looks amazing!
That’s so exciting Melissa!! I’ve been a student for 6 years now, and I’ve moved 6 times and I’m so sick of it. It’s so cool that you’ve found where you want to be. I’m still so unsure, Toronto…Ottawa… maybe a whole other province or country =O
Kudos to you, and best of luck! That break looks amazing, I’m definitely going to check it out ^__^
beautiful, gorgeous, delicious-looking bread. now you must disclose how you braid it like that!
Bread looks absolutely delicious. And welcome to the Twin Cities! Lived here most of my life and couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow up in than the western suburbs (working downtown rocks, too!) Welcome!
This bread looks amazing! I don’t believe I could create something so beautiful, but I’m totally going to try! Best of luck with your move.
Yay! You’re coming to Minnesota! This has been an exceptionally cold winter, but it’s usually more tolerable. I love living in a small town, but sometimes I wish we lived in a big city so we could meet fellow bloggers and go to events. 🙂
And your bread looks amazing. Love the little hands in the third picture.
Hope you have a great move!
That is so exciting and I’m jealous that you will get to eat Sarah’s and Zoë’s food all the time! Between the three of you it’s going to be an amazing food fiesta. Good luck with the move and congratulations to you and your family. The enamel loaf pan, I love that we both have a thing for all cookware enamel….cause I ended up collecting some more stuff last week.
Yay! So happy it’s official. 🙂 Can’t wait to meet you in person soon, lady!
This is stunning news. Sarah and I are planning a party already! Oh, there are so many good folks here for you to meet and share food with. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you find your way. Imen is right, Linden Hills is awesome, I lived there for 20 years. We just moved closer to the city, and I love it here too! So many options. Yay!
Cheers, Zoë
This bread looks amazing – I can’t wait to try it!
My boyfriend and I have spent the last few years trying to move to Denver as well (we only live an hour and a half north of it but jobs in our fields are scarce) and we have suddenly found ourselves moving to Seattle next month instead!
Best of luck with your move and thanks for the fantastic recipes and tips!
Your words are beautiful just like this bread! I got chills reading the ending. I’m sad you won’t be making it this way but so so happy for you. All the best!!!! XO!
AWESOME! Congrats, lady! And the bread has me weepy.
My heart took a huge leap after the Guess what? Hoping it’d be followed by a WE’RE MOVING TO DENVER. *Sigh*
BUT! I’m so happy for you and your little family and getting to have Sarah within reasonable driving distance. Big love to you, lady. <3
What great news!! I am so happy for your fam, and for you and Sarah – the beginning of a face-to-face friendship!! xo
So so exciting, congrats! I’m in Milwaukee so I will be feeling you on all the weather (hopefully the crazy winter is over!). Also, this bread looks gorgeous!
I totally got teary-eyed reading this; can’t wait for you all to get here! And, your bread is beautiful. I love making braided bread – one of my favorite things. xo
Well, first of all, that bread looks amazing – as in, the prettiest bread I’ve seen all year. I’ve been wanting to make a braided chocolate bread; thanks for steering me in the right way. I’m never disappointed in your recipes! Second, I’m really happy for you that you have a path – a plan! Despite it not being what you hoped for, it sounds as thought it will be a positive blessing. And ahem, don’t forget that I live in Minnesota, too. I think I would die of happiness if our paths ever crossed. Of course, I live in the extreme Northern reaches (basically Southern Canada) but I get to the cities often and hope to meet you some day. Good luck with all the details of your move! And PS, that picture of your sweet babe reaching for the bread is too much. Baby hands kill me.
tall winter boots are the only reason i like winter, and im talking Dallas winter not the mid west kind :p this is so exciting!!!
and the bread, i cant even…
I’m only a new reader of your blog, but love everything I’ve read so far, especially this absolutely heavenly bread! I’m mesmerized by it. Beautiful photos, especially the little ones and the little hands 🙂 Like Lindsey, wishing you the best in your move! (You and Sarah Kieffer in the same city? I hope it’s ready to handle the greatness!)
What a wonderful announcement! As a Twin Cities girl, I think you’ll love the food community here. So many wonderful people like Sarah and Zoe, plus a whole slew more. Have a safe move and hope to meet you someday in these parts, hopefully when it’s a little warmer 🙂
Congrats on the upcoming move! Lisa and I are both Twin Cities girls and would love the chance to welcome you after you arrive.
High-fives for life-decisions, planting yourself and growing roots, Sarah Keifer, and chocolate bread! I adore these photos, especially the image of your little one making a go at the bread. Best of everything to you and your family, Melissa!
Looks really delicious! I look forward to making it! I wish the recipe was printable.
Hey Celia! Typically I post the recipe here which is printable, but since I didn’t change anything, I wanted to link directly to the source. I think you’ll love it if you end up making it!
Melissa, this is SO exciting! Minneapolis is becoming a food blogging mecca, yay!!!!!! I know we’ve never met, but I just have the feeling that you will LOVE Minny. It stole my heart! Where are you thinking of moving? I lived in Linden Hills before moving to Ireland. Super sweet neighborhood near a beautiful lake, it’s like it’s own little darling village in the city. But, there are so many unique neighborhoods to choose from…it is quite the creative city and very family-friendly! We will be there this July/August so would love to meet up. Good luck with it all! xx
Imen, I would love, love, love to meet you! We will be moving mid-July. We’re on the house hunt now. My husband will be working near downtown St. Paul. We can’t decided whether to live close to work or live in Minny. I loved Minneapolis a lot a lot. So many decisions. Can’t wait to hug in real life.
I remember seeing that beautiful bread around the internet and oh my, yours is pretty. Congrats on your midwest move! You’re not going to be far from Michigan now 😉
We lived in Chicago before we moved to CT 2 years ago. So close to you! I kept my head stuck in the mud and met no one. That and I can be shy at times. Wishing I had met you then. Maybe it’ll happen when I’m back in the midwest?!
Exciting! I’m originally from North Dakota and the Twin Cities have a special place in my heart (trips to “The Cities” were such a big deal). I love Sarah & Zoe’s work (along with yours, too) and I’m a bit jealous of your coffee date…. How fun that you’ll get to move to not just a great place, but a place with such wonderful people 🙂
I feel super lucky! If you’re ever in the area we must meet. Of course, I’m a fan of you too!
ohmygoshohmygoshmygosh that is so sooo exciting!!!! i am right on the border of minnesota and north dakota, about five hours north of the cities, so in upper midwest terms we are PRACTICALLY NEIGHBORS! and i am so glad you embrace the winter too. YAY for new boots!!!!
this bread is gorgeous, i think i need some of it in my life on the asap.
Yesss! I’m glad we’ll be state neighbors! Call me when you come to the Twin Cities and I’ll do the same when we venture to ND.
wow – what great news. I’m glad you like snow 😉 And this looks so yummy…reading this right before lunch is torture!
bread looks great, the kids are adorable, and you and the bloggers mentioned are awesome so it’s very exciting to hear you are going to be close together! congrats and safe travels on your move
Thanks Janelle!