Some people, as they get older, find they cannot eat nuts in baked goodies. Some people are allergic to nuts, period. I’ve been experimenting with the use of browned butter in cookies to provide the taste sensation of nuts without using nuts even in the ground-up form. I’ve also been making browned butter frostings for … More Making Cookies with Browned Butter
In keeping with a tradition begun in 2020* with the publication of my daughter’s first book, I presented her yesterday with an edible celebration for the launch of her second book (albeit a month after the publication date.) I’m so proud of her yet again! She’s persevered while also working in a challenging job and … More Brownies for The Launch 2
One day last year when I was on a walk, I came upon two ladies standing by the trunk of a car, one of them holding a cake looking like this one. I asked what it was and the baker told me that it was her family favorite and she was taking it to a … More Sunday Cake: German Chocolate Cake with Seafoam Frosting
How’s that for a title? The birthday girl requested the Strawberry Well Cake* with berries and cream in the well, but chocolate frosting and definitely without dots like the one below. She said the family was looking at lower sugar than the last cake I made for them, but she hadn’t realized that angel food … More A Berry Well Birthday Cake
For several years I’ve been making some type of caramel for Christmas gift baskets except for last year. I admit to a bit of pride in making them without the addition of corn syrup, just cream and sugar and butter and some flavoring along with a lot of stirring over heat. I did not intend … More Accidental Chocolate Caramels
I’ve got an appointment tomorrow afternoon so I made some gratitude brownies in advance for the shuttle driver and the heart institute staff. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that the word has got out that I bring goodies to the various doctors and labs in my life these days. The shuttle drivers — … More Triple Chocolate, Double Cherry Brownies
Today (or at least the day I write it, the 24th of November) is the birthday of a special friend. He’s the husband of a friend and the father of two girls who are well represented in my sometime-series “In the kitchen with juliyya.” I’ve made birthday cakes for him and his family since they … More Surprise Birthday Cake, meaning full of surprises
For Veterans’ Day this year, I experimented with flavors in this quick bread, using whole rather than chopped dried tart cherries, chocolate chips, unsweetened applesauce for a smooth texture and a fresh orange crumble on top. It’s raining in Seattle today. (Surprise, surprise.) A great day for a slice of warm and a bit gooey … More Tart Cherry & Chocolate Chip Bread with Orange Crumble
Saturday was the birthday of the man who gave me his previous Yamaha electric keyboard piano when he got a new, updated model with gazillions of bells and whistles. We were introduced during the heat wave this summer in the only air-conditioned room here. It wasn’t long afterwards when he walked into it again one … More Happy Birthday to Jazz Pianist
To my friends and those celebrating Eid Al-Fitr as Ramadan 2021 ends beginning at sunset tonight in Seattle, May 12th, I wish you all a Blessed Eid. Today I made this Crazy Cake with Penuche frosting, a sprinkle of Sprouts’ Chocolate Gems and used my Arabic writing skills for the wish: Eid Mubarak. The cake … More Eid Mubarak
