A Note from Marcy August 2012 Baker's Stash

 

Welcome to the August Issue of Betterbaking.com, aka Home of Bespoke Baking (I like it, I coined and I'm claiming it). What could be more appealing or more natural than a summery pie, cooling on a ledge?  

Enjoy Free Strawberry Rhubarb Raspberry Pie. The green and gorgeous pie plate is from www.EmileHenriUSA.com. Inside this issue you'll also find Salted Butter, Salted Caramel Cheesecake and coffee cake that totally rocks, Cinnamon Roll Cake among other inspirations de la boulangere. 


Dear Bakers and Friends,

Summer always seems sweetest in its last refrain. Why is that? Clearly, we (or some of us at least) have a tardy appreciation thing going on and August is stuck playing the role of seasonal hard to get. Or perhaps it's just once I find a pace to summer, it's already turning to something else. Something else like fall-on-the-way. 

In August, the weather is still balmy but the sun sets a wee bit earlier. Soccer and baseball play-offs begin (unless the Olympics are the only sports you think about lately and why not - they're super!) and the harvest begins flooding the farmer markets. Not harvest like out-of-season berries from out of state (or province) but stuff grown nearby sort of harvest stuff. How to keep up? Bake a little of a lot - which is also my secret to looking busy and interesting: do a little of a lot. It's worked for me for years.

As you can see in this and recent issues of BB, I've given up being too trendy or too seasonal and instead, most issues of BB feature recipes that appeal to me for random reasons. There is no rhyme or reason to my palate or mood other than I find things appeal or seem interesting to create or respin. Nonetheless, it's not all about me for I hope you enjoy my baking journey as well. There but for the grace of reason (versus the grace of my addiction to Downton Abbey), I might have been knee-deep into Apple Charlotte. (Surely some of you see the series and remember that kitchen scene - Apple Charlotte? Heavens.)

What's not in this month's recipe selection are my many attempts at French croissants  - all good, all easy and I so wish you embark on a similar Croissant Adventure of your own. Almost any croissant recipe will do. It really is about the technique. But homemade French croissants are magical.

I also made a deep fried Blooming Onion (like Outback Steak House), courtesy (minus the missing salt - OH HOW COULD THEY!) of the Food Network site. Here is the link:http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/almost-famous-bloomin-onion-recipe/index.html

Should you make a Blooming Onion? Yes, or at least make it once in your life and BBQ season is a perfect time. But do use salt which Food Network recipe missed (add at least 1/2 teaspoon to the flour part along with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder) and make a few smaller onions instead of one huge one. Smaller onions take the slicing gridlock really well but fry up far better. In this case, size matters but not in a good way, i.e. less is more. A fryer thermometer is also a good idea so do invest and besides which, you will need it for jamming season anyway. Buy an old- fashioned thermometer with mercury in it. It is more reliable that digital stuff and doesn't need batteries and what is more fun on a hot August day that peering at a sweat-and-steam covered thermometer and wondering, did it 
reach 400 F yet?

 Hope you check out http://pinterest.com/marcygoldman/ - which is the start of my Pinterest boards which are just starting up - and my new perfume reviews at www.MistressofScents.com and some amazing new product reviews (and more on the way - plus a special deal for BB readers at our friend at http://www.renaissance-art.com/

  I am wishing you warm tidings for August, and advise you to bake early, bake less, and spend more time swinging and dreaming in that hammock. 

Marcy Goldman
Author, Master Baker
www.BetterBaking.com
Est. 1997

Free!! Strawberry Rhubarb Raspberry Pie

This is the LBD of baking (Little Black Dress). Gotta have it....

Free!! French Bistro Quick Nectarine Tartelets

Free-form puff pastry tarts, also known as open-faced flans or as galettes, are a classic French pastry that bakes up into a buttery-crisp pastry no one can resist. Try and find freestone ripe nectarines for this recipe. 

Salted Butter, Salted Caramel Cheesecake


A new ice-cream spot in the city serves Salted Butter Ice-Cream. That's all it took to inspire me to created a one-up recipe - Salted Butter, Salted Caramel Cheesecake. Is this good? Is Sam Elliott masculine? 

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Some things are just so sumptuous it's hard to believe they start with flour and butter and a bit of heat.This is splendid baking.

Strawberry Cheesecake Biscotti

Vanilla and graham crumb batter, with a crown of cheesecake filling and fresh strawberries.

 Almond Poppy Seed Muffins

This is a symphony of great flavours resulting in a café style muffin like no other. It is golden and light of crumb but moist and packed with gourmet taste. You need almond paste but trust me, it’s worth it. 

 Summer Cherry and Raspberry Yeasted Butter Kutchen

I am totally in love with yeast, especially sweet yeast baking. These amazing buns, enlivened with fresh berries and sweet summer cherries should make you swoon along with me.