"Butter makes it better"

I've always been of the opinion that food evokes emotion and can spark the best memories. There are some foods that have created such a great feeling for me I still remember them to this day. There was fruit punch my piano teacher made for me when I was too sick to sing in the choir, chicken mole our best man's mom made when our first child was born, queso fundido from a little restaurant in Florida on our first vacation, my Mother in law's Texas sheet cake on 4th of July. That's just the beginning of my gastronomic memories.


When I was little I used to sit at the kitchen table, head in hands and watch while my mom prepared certain sweets, apple pie and cinnamon sweet rolls were two of her favorites. It was my first introduction into baking. I watched in awe as the dough was rolled out and in anticipation as leftover pie dough was rolled into a smaller pie dish and then quartered and savored later with jelly. It was a treat for just us two and sometimes my Dad. I gazed on as she plumped the raisins for sweetrolls in warm water and brushed ribbons of butter on absolutely everything as she exclaimed,' butter makes it better'.

It's true, and I don't just say that because I'm from the dairy state and have extraordinarily high cholesterol. Butter does make it better. I love you Mom!

All the best, Kate

Autumnal Equinox

Fall is my favorite season! Aside from the cooler weather, I love everything about it, the colors, the scent and the culinary delights, the food!! I can't think of a better time of year for cooking and baking. The markets are full of squashes and apples, pumpkins and corn, gourds and harvest vegetables. What more could a pastry girl ask for?

I have amassed an array of lentils in various shades, rices and quinoa, a variety of beans and a large stock pot at the ready and I'm dreaming of soups and stews and hearty bread.

This is the time of year that I become energized about new recipes and delight in leafing through books and magazines, pouring over recipes, experimenting and looking for new favorites. I ran across a majestic little jem at my local library and it's called 'Sustainably Delicious' by Michel Nischan.

It's such a great book I checked it out twice and renewed it until all my grace periods were used up and finally purchased it from Barnes and Noble. His recipe for macaroni and cheese is amazing and well worth the time it takes to make as is the mushroom and bacon dish, pumpkin soup, corn chowder and everything else in the book. I have many, many beloved cooking and baking books from professional tomes to the Star Trek cookbook and I've asked my gentleman husband to build me a wall of shelves with a sliding library ladder to house them and I definitely can't live without this particular book.

Next week we go to Cranberry festival up North so there will be a plethera of cranberries to behold and with that, cranberrry apple tart, cranberry coffee cake, cranberry hazelnut biscotti, cookies, oatmeal bars, to name a few and that doesn't include apples, nuts and pumpkins. It's getting exciting and fun and we'll have recipes to share!

Pastry Girl Chhaya and I have lots of plans for fun cooking and baking projects for the holidays, infinity and beyond. We're looking forward to our Gingerbread project as well as our holiday cookie project and if you catch us on a good day we might sing for you too! 

Now, take time to admire your flours!  All the best, Kate