BakerAunt

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  • in reply to: What are you baking the week of August 12, 2018? #13215
    BakerAunt
    Participant

      I had three peaches left from yesterday’s jam session, so on Thursday afternoon, I scoured various recipes and settled upon Peach Apricot Crumb Crostata from Ken Haedrich’s The Harvest Baker (p. 277). For the crust, however, I used my buckwheat flour adaptation of Dorie Greenspan’s crust that I used for the galette on Monday. I also substituted peach jam for the apricot jam that is spread over the center of the crust before the peaches are arranged on top (with a bit more put onto the peaches), since I had some left over from canning yesterday, and I do not have apricot jam. Although the recipe called for 1 to 1 1/4 cups of jam, I just used the scant half cup that I had available. I only made half of Haedrich’s streusel recipe (and substituted in 2 Tbs. of whole wheat flour), and I only used half of that reduced amount of streusel on the crostata. (I’ll save the rest for muffins or coffee cake.) We each had a slice for dessert tonight, with a bit of vanilla ice cream. I will certainly bake this recipe again.

      • This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by BakerAunt. Reason: clarity
      in reply to: What are you baking the week of August 12, 2018? #13212
      BakerAunt
      Participant

        It's amazing how many Germans settled in Texas. Before living there, I always thought the Germans went to the Midwest.

        in reply to: What are you baking the week of August 12, 2018? #13209
        BakerAunt
        Participant

          Thanks for posting the link to the video, Mike.

          In my high school German club, we had an Apfelstrudel social every year. Our teacher and club advisor had a recipe, and we would gather to make the strudels. She would have people stand around the table and work as a group to stretch the strudel dough. We sold it by the slice, except for one strudel that was auctioned off. Frau Hodjera, our instructor, usually managed to be the one to buy it!

          I was only able to participate for one year because one had to be in second year German before being allowed into German club, and then in my senior year, Frau Hodjera went on sabbatical. I only peeled apples the first year, so I never got to do the dough stretching--something that I've regretted since my interest in baking increased.

          • This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by BakerAunt.
          in reply to: What are you baking the week of August 12, 2018? #13208
          BakerAunt
          Participant

            I've also been making the buttermilk pie crust with all butter (subbing measurement for measurement with the shortening). The first time I did it, I had put in all butter by mistake. The dough baked up beautifully, and I thought, well, why not keep doing it?

            I've been using pastry flour. Instead of an egg wash, I brush with heavy cream.

            in reply to: How are the 2018 Gardens Progressing? #13204
            BakerAunt
            Participant

              We have had one tomato from our garden. Today my husband picked about five or six. I am looking forward to bacon and tomato sandwiches in a few days.

              A couple of tomato worms were on the plants, but wasps "parasitized" them. Thank you, wasps, and I will be careful not to get stung.

              in reply to: Canning Season Will Begin! #13203
              BakerAunt
              Participant

                I made peach jam today, using those luscious peaches from the farmers' market. I had enough for only one batch, with three peaches left over. I need to buy more on Saturday, so that I can make a second batch of jam. The yield was just short of four 1-cup jars. Sigh. I canned three 1-cup jars and one 1/2-jar. The remainder is in the refrigerator. Half a peach more would have given me the four 1-cup containers.

                We don't particularly eat a lot of jam, but I am discovering that it can be used in a variety of recipes that I hope will brighten our lives in the fall, winter, and early spring.

                in reply to: What are you cooking the week of August 12, 2018? #13202
                BakerAunt
                Participant

                  My husband cooked boneless pork chops last night. We had it with macaroni and cheese made with the Vermont Cheese Powder that only KAF sells. Sigh. We also had steamed broccoli. Tonight, we will re-run last night's dinner, but with peas from the freezer.

                  This Wednesday afternoon, I made peach jam. Details are on the canning thread.

                  in reply to: What are you baking the week of August 12, 2018? #13201
                  BakerAunt
                  Participant

                    Apple Strudel is a wonderful dessert. One day, I need to try baking it. Happy experimenting, Bev. You might want to add 2-3 Tbs. sugar for a sweet crust. (I cannot recall if I put that in the recipe.)

                    in reply to: Cinnamon Rolls and Chili #13196
                    BakerAunt
                    Participant

                      Interesting article! When Mike first started talking about chili and cinnamon rolls I was puzzled that anyone would serve the two together. However, the more I think about it, the more I think that the flavors would go together nicely. Perhaps I will give it a try this winter.

                      in reply to: What are you baking the week of August 12, 2018? #13195
                      BakerAunt
                      Participant

                        After dinner on Tuesday, I put together a new recipe, Blueberry-Barley Pinwheel Scones, from Bob's Red Mill:

                        https://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes/how-to-make/blueberry-barley-pinwheel-scones/

                        These sit unbaked overnight in the refrigerator, then are to be baked in the morning. Having come this far, I found the recipe has some issues. The first one was with the website. When I printed the recipe, part of the section at the end of #1, until #4, was omitted. (I felt, in a much lesser sense, that I was in the technical challenge of the Great British Bake Off, but unlike those contestants, I was able to go to the computer, copy the portion that would not print, paste it into a word document and print it.)

                        The dough was very sticky--little wonder that the instructions say to make liberal use of flour. I think that 3/4 cup half and half is too much, although perhaps the barley flour will absorb more of the liquid? I've used barley flour in other scone recipes, and I can't say that it seemed to absorb an unusual amount. If I make the recipe again, I might cut the half and half, and only add more as needed. I was able to get the filled dough rolled up, by using my bowl scraper to help it along, but the sticking caused a couple of tears.

                        I used some of my three-berry jam (blackberry, strawberry, blueberry) for the filling. I did not coat the rolled-up dough in poppy seeds because my husband has issues with poppy seed. I used KAF sparkling sugar, in part because I thought it needs something on the outside to form a "skin". I was able to cut the rolled-up dough with dental floss, as I do with yeast rolls. I ended up cutting the roll into 16 pieces that stayed together reasonably well when transferred to a parchment-lined baking sheet. I've covered it with saran and refrigerated it. I will bake it tomorrow morning and add a note.

                        NOTE: These baked into wonderfully light little “biscuits” with jam swirled inside. After seeing the result, I would probably use only a smidge less half and half—perhaps 2/3 cup instead of 3/4 cup. I also wonder if letting the dough rest in the refrigerator, after forming it into a rectangle but before putting the jam on it, would give the barley flour time to absorb the liquid and make it a bit easier to roll up the filled dough.

                        Additional disclaimer: I did the mixing by hand rather than using a food processor.

                        • This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by BakerAunt.
                        in reply to: Bön Appetit: The Decline of a Cooking Magazine? #13194
                        BakerAunt
                        Participant

                          Even after I stopped subscribing to Bon Appetit, I would buy the Thanksgiving and Christmas issues.

                          At least I still have some issues to page through, as well as recipes I pulled out to try.

                          in reply to: Red Anjou Pears #13193
                          BakerAunt
                          Participant

                            That does sound good, Joan. I cannot get away with pineapple, since my husband cannot take its acidity. I have found a crosata (Italian version of the French galette) recipe that uses Anjou pears. They are cooked down until soft, then removed, and the juices cooked until thick. If the pears are still available at the market, I may try that recipe.

                            in reply to: What are you baking the week of August 12, 2018? #13187
                            BakerAunt
                            Participant

                              Navlys and anyone else--I'm going to start a new thread in which we can discuss the changes in Bon Appetit.

                              in reply to: Pastry Week on the Great British Baking Show #13180
                              BakerAunt
                              Participant

                                I have learned that what I am watching is Season 5 of The Great British Baking Show. It was featured in a Sunday insert magazine note about the finale this Friday. It mentions also that Mary Berry is 82, so perhaps that is why she has decided to leave the show after this season.

                                In the last episode, they were doing French pastry. I've not tried baking any of that, and I do not know if I ever will. I'm looking forward to seeing which of the three finalists (nice to have a final with three finalists).

                                Is anyone else watching?

                                in reply to: What are you cooking the week of August 12, 2018? #13179
                                BakerAunt
                                Participant

                                  Sunday dinner is roasted chicken legs, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with poultry seasoning and sweet curry. Side dishes are leftover potato salad and steamed broccoli. We also sliced our first ripe tomato from the garden.

                                Viewing 15 posts - 6,526 through 6,540 (of 8,180 total)