A couple weeks ago my mom came into town. She was going to watch Hal while I got so caught up on work I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. Instead I spent most of the week hanging out with her and making Nutella Lattes. I also spent a good amount of time just watching her with Hal. Not the controlling over-the-shoulder kind of watching. More so the how-did-you-do-that kind of watching. Read more
Angel Food Cake was on the on summer to-post list unlike the Lemonade. I crossed it off, and it felt surprisingly good. But not nearly as good as it felt to serve to my extended family after a 3-hour turned 8-hour road trip to the beach last weekend. Fourth of July traffic on the east coast is mighty nasty. Read more
When adding doughs and batters to a baking pan, rarely do I just pour. A couple extra utensils make all the difference in achieving a uniform and professional looking outcome. When making baked donuts, I use a piping bag. When making cookies, I use a small spring release scoop. When making cakes, cupcakes, muffins, waffles, and pancakes, I use a large spring release scoop. When making sugar cookies and biscuits (and sometimes when making mini cakes), I use a biscuit cutter. There must be a million other tricks out there. What do you do?
For the perfect slice of cake, use a long, serrated knife (not a steak knife) and slowly cut straight down, skipping the urge to saw. This works even better on a chilled cake as the icing is firmer and will not drag down the side of the cake as you cut.
This is the first cake, cake, with layers and frosting, I’ve made since we’ve moved to Connecticut. I’ve been in a funk. Read more
This cake is my nod to fall. My nod that it’s coming. But not here yet. I may be wearing my favorite sweatshirt and yoga pants already. Working with the windows open. That’s allowing the tinniest of chills to blow through our apartment. Drinking warm coffee in the morning instead of iced. And we may have gone pear-picking already. Read more
Simple is hard. And it happens to be a big part of my day job. As a designer, I try to pare information down to its most simple form. Communicate only what is most important. Read more