A Bit o’ Brittle

November 5th, 2009  |  20 Comments

Unbeknownst to me, I’ve been on a caramel magic carpet ride. I didn’t even realize this was the case until I saw Julia’s beautiful round-up of caramel desserts. For one thing, she had the brilliant idea to theme it up for the month of October by working with only caramel in all its glorious splendor. […]


Read More...

Vols-au-Vents, the Forgotten Fillings

October 31st, 2009  |  19 Comments

How do you like that? I win an award and disappear. Isn’t that typical of us big-headed rock stars. But, really, let me fill you in (like a vols-au-vent, heh). In the last few months, Scott and I have gone from  On-The-Rocks to Splitsville. I sure wish it didn’t have to be this way, but […]


Read More...

Yes, you can make your own puff pastry (when the Daring Bakers tell you to)

September 27th, 2009  |  59 Comments

What is it about puff pastry? The mere mention of it sends shivers down every baker’s spine. Could it be the knowledge that it has 944 microscopic layers of dough and butter, which seem to break all laws of physics? You look down at your own two hands and think, “These two hands? All by […]


Read More...

Orange Lace Cookies

September 18th, 2009  |  35 Comments

They kind of look like potato chips, don’t they? They really are impossibly delicate. Scott saw these all strewn about the table and his immediate urge was to smash them with his fist. Is there something about these that tap into man’s desire to go to war? Against a lace cookie? An easily conquerable foe, […]


Read More...