Dough Puncher

Ciambella All’arancia (Orange & Anise Bundt)

I’ve always been partial to anise, and since oranges have been out of this world this year, this Italian olive oil cake with BOTH of these flavors was a must-bake. The recipe, featured in Christopher Kimball’s new magazine, Milk Street, is lovely as is – and true to the article, has a tender, doughnut-like texture. […]

Flaky & Sweet: Moroccan M’smen

Hands down my favorite snack while in Morocco was M’smen (I believe it’s pronounced em-semmen, but don’t quote me). A traditional flatbread often served rolled up with honey for breakfast, or with a sort of tomato-pepper jam for an afternoon snack from vendors on the street.I literally could have eaten m’smen for every meal. I didn’t – […]

Lemon & Meringue

{Lemon curd + Vanilla Mousse + Toasted Meringue + Candied Lemon slices} Candied Lemons 1 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup water 1 lemon, thinly sliced (1/8″) 1. In a medium saucepan, cook sugar and water over medium heat until you reach boiling and have a clear syrup. Turn the mixture down to low, add lemon […]

Belgian Yeast-Raised Waffles

Adapted from the always-reliable and winning recipe collection over at King Arthur Flour, these waffles are 100% my new go-to. The recipe as written requires a rest-time of anywhere from one hour to overnight, so naturally my goal was to tackle one frequently asked question from the comment section: honestly. Does rest time even matter? […]

Pastry School & Chicago

So I live in Chicago. In winter purgatory. Where rational people move when they mistakenly think that mid-western winters will be a slight price to pay for the metropolitan experience. Clomping through those impossible snowy-ice combos that you can both slip on and sink into in one of the most efficient physical fails known to […]

Pecan Stickies & Lime Tuile

Brown sugar cinnamon rolls, baked in caramel and chopped pecans, topped with whipped cream and a lime tuile. And a chocolate square. All about that garnish. Let’s do it y’all. Recipes ahead. Pecan Sticky Buns makes 8 large or 16 regular sized buns Sweet Dough 1 1/3 cups warm water 1, 0.25 ounce package yeast 2 […]

Pistachio Caramel Bonbons

How I survived the last week, in 3 bullet points: REO Speedwagon. Specifically, the inspiration gained from Kevin Cronin’s perm. Devastating Greek sculpture. Specifically, Laocoon and His Sons. Brutal. Chocolate. No specifics, all of it. First off, I literally have nothing to complain about. I work in a chocolate shop, for heaven’s sake. I make […]

Tea Time

7:30pm. Tuesday night. Inadvisably large bowl of frosted flakes. The latest Netflix Original playing on the laptop that currently serves as both home office and home entertainment center. Also, stretchy-waist pants + the book I tell myself I’m going to read as soon as I finish up one more episode. Netflix Original of choice: Happy Valley. […]