Basic Biscuits

One of the reasons I enjoy belonging to baking groups is that the decision of what to bake is made for me. I like baking things on my own, of course, but there are just too many recipes I want to try. It gets a bit overwhelming.

For the most part joining baking groups worked for me. That is, until I joined too many {TWD, Sweet Melissa Sundays,Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge, Daring Bakers} life got hectic, I needed sleep, etc. Now that I’m back to blogging, I’m limiting myself to one (1!) baking group: Tuesdays with Dorie (TWD v2.0).  Even though I’m officially joining only one (1!) baking group, I still want to finish all the original TWD recipes (after today I have 62 left!) and that’s the basis of today’s recipe.

The TWD Bakers baked Basic Biscuits in October 2011. There’s nothing basic about the taste and yummy-factor. They rose and were flaky. The recipe was hosted by Jennifer of Cooking for Comfort. You can find the recipe HERE or in Dorie Greenspan’s Baking…From My Home to Yours.

photo by paulrus

Hello? Is there anybody in there?

Where have I been? Since you’ve seen me last I’ve done a lot of running, some baking, and a little bit of travel. Last April 1st, like an anti-April Fool’s joke, the man of my dreams walked (or, actually,  it was more of a saunter) into my life. We sat around talking a bit and then he had to leave to go back to work. I asked my friend (his sister-in-law)  if he is single and she literally jumped up and down in excitement. In trying to sell him to me she mentioned, “You like to bake and he likes to eat baked goods!!” True. And that was that.  Long story short, Paul and I are now proud parents of Nani #17, a puppy we adopted from a labrador rescue, and we’re planning a casual backyard wedding in May.

I’ve missed blogging and I’ve missed being part of the baking community. I saw the celebrations when the awesome and dedicated Tuesdays with Dorie bakers posted the final recipe from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking…from My Home to Yours. I felt a twinge of sadness over dropping out of the challenge to bake every recipe in the book.

I will complete the challenge of using every recipe from the book. For my first recipe back to blogging, I chose Blueberry Brown Sugar Plain Cake. I had all the ingredients on hand. It’s a fairly simple recipe with an extra step of whipping egg whites and then folding them into the batter.

Cindy of Everyday Insanity hosted the recipe the week it debuted (June 7, 2011). You can find the recipe on her blog here: Blueberry Brown Sugar Plain Cake

Make it yourself. It’s super easy and quick. The combination of the brown sugar, blueberries, and the tiny bit of cinnamon indicates there’s nothing plain tasting about this cake.

photo by paulrus

{twd} chocolate oatmeal drops

*sigh* I thought it would be easier to get back into the swing of things. It’s definitely not easy, maybe it’s a bit hard. I have a lot going on. Work has become incredibly busy. Taking care of the house, training for a marathon, and life in general is a bit chaotic.

Cookies always help. Especially cookies still warm from the oven. Chocolate Oatmeal Drops was this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie recipe. A double chocolate cookie with oatmeal (hey! They’re healthy) that takes away worries. Just what the doctor ordered.

Thanks to Caroline and Claire of Bake With Us for hosting this week. For the recipe visit their blog or buy the book.

Until next time…

{twd} swirl cakes are my nemeses

Yes. There isn’t a swirl cake I can’t make ugly. Not on purpose. It just happens. I can make gorgeous croissants. I have no problem baking rolls that look like, well, rolls. I can’t make pretty swirls. I admit defeat.

Paula agrees.

Even though my Nutty Chocolatey Swirly Sour Cream Bundt Cake won’t win beauty contests, it was still mighty tasty. Those scraps did not go to waste.

Thanks to Jennifer of Cooking for Comfort for hosting this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie. For the recipe, visit her blog.

{sms} speakeasy, another boozy cake

Brandy. The one type of alcohol I do not have in my pantry and the type needed for this week’s Sweet Melissa Sundays recipe: Speakeasy, aka a boozy cake with chocolate. I have scotch, armagnac, cognac, rum (3 types), tequila, vodka (um, 8 types), Bailys, Kahlua, Frangelico, Applejack, Amaretto, triple sec, midori, gin, Calvados, Kirsch, Grand Marnier, and bourbon (2 types).

Without a pressing need to another bottle of liquor to my collection, I subbed in bourbon. The cake batter was easy to throw together especially with Diego assisting. Instead of making a full recipe, I halved it and baked two mini cakes.

Thanks to Jeannette of The Whimsical Cupcake for hosting this week. For the recipe, visit her blog or buy the book.