Whole Wheat Bread with Walnuts and Cranberries

Well, technically it's 44% whole wheat bread, but who's punching numbers here (besides me)?

This, right here, is a 100% deeeeeeeelicious bread.

So delicious that I baked six loaves already and plan on making another four in the next two days. That's pretty legit.

This bread made me believe in the power of toasted nuts... i.e, the extra depth of intensely nutty, woody (can I say woody?) flavor that magnifies the blend of whole wheat and molasses. That, paired with tart-sweet dried cranberries, was bread heaven.

This recipe is low-maintenance, straightforward, and virtually foolproof. If you measure correctly, then you won't have issues with mixing and kneading. The only hindrance I found was the position of the oven rack. The very first time I baked this bread, the fire alarm went off...and some things went down. The middle hadn't fully risen and the bottom was burned. I was bummed out. But baking near the middle instead of the bottom rack fixed that problem, and I just had fun with the process.

Baking bread at home is special that way. You learn as you go. You get to know your dough.

This bread is wonderful to have for breakfast with some good coffee. But it's also rustic yet tender enough to serve at the dinner table with your entrees. I like it plain and slightly warmed, but you can eat it with a slab of butter, jam, honey, whatever you like.

So it is with many blessings that I send you sweet souls to bake your own breads. Have fun, and eat to your heart's content.

And please, please don't burn down your house.

Homemade Wheat Thins

I was never really a Cheez-Its kinda gal.

But I was, and IS, a total Wheat Thins gal.

When I have those wheat thins, I don't wanna share. When I have those wheat thins, they disappear in about two days. When I have those wheat thins, I see no other cracker.

If you give me Wheat Thins, I like you lots.

If you're a boy who gives me Wheat Thins, then mister, we might talk. Unless you're creepy. Then I'm just going to take the box and run.

I found the recipe for these homemade wheat thins from Smitten Kitchen, a.k.a one of the best food blogs out there. I was thrilled, but I have to be honest here and say that these didn't live up to my (mile-high) expectations. Ms. Perelman is no doubt a fantastic baker and cook, so her wheat thins must have been nothing less than wonderful. Mine, on the other hand, I liked very much, but not enough to let go of the box from the store.

BUT that doesn't take away from the fact that I devoured these crackers in, again, a couple of days. The whole wheat flour gives the dough such an irresistible, nutty aroma. I stopped short of kneading and just... breathed. They're crunchy yet tender. Buttery. Tasty.

In short, these babies have their own charm.

Do you have to bake them? Gosh, no. But you can take a look at how I made them, because it's pretty cool. You can also, out of the goodness of your heart, leave me a nice comment or send me a sweet text, and totally make my day ^O^

Oh, and get me a box of Wheat Thins. Can't forget that. 

Mango and White Chocolate Biscotti

It still surprises me to see people dish out the big bucks for biscotti.

Why people would try drop cookies at home, but not biscotti, I have no idea. I think it has something to do with the double Ts. Maybe a "don't bake it when you can't spell it" rule I don't know about.

In all seriousness, though, I think it's the elegance. The fancy shmanciness that's so intimidating.

Believe it or not, baking biscotti is easy once you get the hang of it. And it's so easily adaptable to whatever your preferences. Did I mention that these also make for some fantastic gifts? I've never had anyone who didn't love the biscotti I made and gifted.

So just bake these already. Set aside a chilly afternoon just for baking. Dunk 'em in hot cocoa or coffee. Even the broken pieces are delicious.

We shall be eaters of homemade biscotti, you and I.

Sweet and Spicy Peppernuts

To the obnoxious driver who passed me on Hwy 29 and shot me a look,

Okay.

First of all, you suck.

Secondly, it was a hill. You know what happens when you drive up a hill? I'll give you a hint: it does the opposite of speeding up.

Look, dude. I understand that sometimes we're in a hurry. I understand that some of us have real issues with drivers who only go 5-10 above the speed limit. I even understand that sometimes we just have bad days. I have them, too.

But that's not an excuse to stick your head out the window, glare, and mouth an obscenity. And what are you even doing out at noon, anyway? You seriously look like you should be studying in a 12th grade English class somewhere. Not driving around like an aimless high school dropout.You know, possibly living at home and blaming his old man and the government for everything crappy in life.

Listen. I wish you a good life. I really do.

Because no one should be that pissed to take it out on the road.

To be perfectly honest I also wish you a speeding ticket. And that your girlfriend would leave you for the cop who gave you that ticket. But other than that, I wish you a curse-free life on and off the road.

So no more crappy road behavior, alright? Awesome.

Sincerely,
 The maker of these Sweet and Spicy Peppernuts.

Blueberry Smoothie

Not a lot of people know this, but I used to part-time at a smoothie store.

Job description included blending about 14 different kinds of smoothies in 4 sizes, as well as bubble teas, milkshakes, and protein shakes. Add in cookie/ice cream/muffin/candy prep and a 10ft-long line for three hours on a Saturday afternoon and you get a picture of how I might have come home at night.

However, in the middle of fruits and ice flying everywhere and the cash register ringing musical mayhem, I noticed something. I noticed that, as some people ordered, they mentioned something along the lines of: I'm so glad I'm getting a smoothie instead of (pretzel, chips, pizza, etc.).

i.e. smoothie= good, health-conscious treat that's actually tasty. And why not? Smoothies are made with fruits! They're blended right in front of your eyes! What could be wrong with a smoothie?

Well, the bananas and kiwis are fresh. (Trust me- I peeled enough of them at the last minute to know for sure.) Those are great quality frozen berries. That's genuine acai berry juice.

However, almost every fruit is sweetened with sugar syrup. (Strawberries and peaches come in their own.) A tablespoon of turbinado sugar goes into every regular-sized smoothie. Specialty syrups are everywhere.

So, all things considered, the fancy store smoothie probably won't help your waistline...nor your mistaken notions of a healthy menu.

But that's why we can make smoothies....at home!

Blueberry Pancakes

These pancakes were made in dedication to a fading summer here in Georgia.

Almost gone is the season of many an hour of frolicking on the beach in a teeny bikini...which I never did. 'Tis a time of farewell to cruise ships, Hawaiian sunsets, and pictures of said Hawaiian sunsets posted on facebook from those who actually went. I will miss the stifling Georgia humidity...NOT. (Amen to that.) Nor will I miss the mosquitoes, tan lines, and friends going away on internships/vacations/summer school.

What I will miss are the brilliant sunshine and the boundless energy of summer. The freshest, ripest, juiciest berries and mangoes and lemons and watermelons at the farmer's market. Children in sky blue T-shirts for their VBS. Outdoor barbecues and extras for everyone. The cool evening wind grazing the edges of my running shorts at the local park. The sense of the days bringing something unexpected, exciting, thrilling.

I made these pancakes with the best of summer in mind.

They're packed with plump blueberries and a little bit of semisweet chocolate to balance out the tartness. Topped with extra berries, bananas, crisp nectarines, and a drizzle of honey, these pancakes are what a good summer should be: breathtaking and memorable.

Surprise Cookies

Some of the nightmares I might have, in random order:

- Finding myself enrolled in a differential calculus class the day before the final exam. Having to take the said final without learning a thing. And the grade counts toward my GPA. (Yes, this was an actual dream I had.)
- My two favorite cousins hating each other. And then hating me.
- Being chased by a stalker.
- Boyfriend thinking my food is nasty. (This is okay; in real life you just dump that loser.)
- Standing in international court for a political crime I did not commit (it was a conspiracy). Having to defend myself in- oh, I don't know- Swahili, Cantonese, or Dutch. 

And....

- Finding myself back in high school.

High School.

I don't understand people who say high school was the best time of their lives.

I mean- really? They are the years of awkwardness aplenty (NOT the cute kind), pimples, standardized tests, waking up at 5:30 AM, not knowing how to dress yourself, how to BE yourself. It's the place where people know how to spell Abercrombie but not apropos.

Maybe it really was a great time. Maybe if you were popular or led your basketball team to State or were prom queen or a national anything champion, then I might understand. Maybe if you had the good fortune not to experience poverty, bullying, or a harrowing heartbreak. Maybe. But the best time of your life? I'm not so sure.

Truth be told, my high school years were terrible. I remember feeling overwhelmed, exasperated, and so utterly alone. I would have laughed more, had I had even a moment to take a breather first from ten AP classes, two part-time jobs, and constantly. asking. for. rides. I had so many secrets. Home seemed like a WWIII battleground. I felt as if I was carrying all of the weight of my world here in my little heart.

As a result, I was pretty unhappy. I gather most people mistook that sadness for irritation or plain meanness. Perfectly understandable, by the way, and I send out a huge apology for anyone whom I had wronged intentionally or unintentionally.

Here's the thing, though: it was only after leaving high school that I got to see it for what it was, and what it was not. It was a place that broke me- to pieces, it felt- sometimes, but it was not a place of utter devastation that I thought it was. Because when I got to college, I found that I was a lot stronger, and a lot smarter/funnier/more giggly than I thought. I also found what I liked, and didn't like. I discovered the joy of baking. I reconciled with my family. I learned how to wear liquid eyeliner. I learned that I have no tolerance nor respect nor time for those who can't bear to see me successful and happy.

What's more surprising is how some people from my high school changed, as well. A shy, reserved (but totally sweet) runner turned into this vibrant social butterfly. Some really bright folks who had to watch how much their intelligence unnerved some dummies are now living it up in the big city. Some outgoing, confident individuals turned out to be most insecure and pernicious. A few got engaged or married. I even think I heard a jail story somewhere.

It is shocking how I am now connecting with the people I thought I'd never talk to again. And how it took me a year after leaving high school to know and appreciate the most lovely teacher. How, with enough time, some things always stay the same and some things must change.

I know this is probably the lengthiest intro yet in this blog, but I just wanted to share my little examples of life's surprises. So that you wait it out if high school, college, grad school, or even post-grad life is bearing down on you...or if you feel betrayed by everyone you know...or if you feel there's nothing good or deserving in you.

Wait it out. Surprise yourself. Own your life.

Basic Chocolate Ganache

This isn't pudding.
This isn't sauce.
This... is a little piece of heaven we bakers call ganache.

Ganache is a wonderful French confection that, in its basic makeup, is a combination of chocolate and cream. Solid ganache can be scooped and shaped to make truffles. Liquid ganache can be used as a glaze on top of a cake. Whipped ganache makes for a pretty darn irresistible frosting.

In short, ganache is a superstar in baking heaven.

And it's so unbelievably easy.