Ginger, Date & Clementine Muffins with Orange Glaze & Tulips

So many photos of baked items are shades and bumps of brown because … well, baking. Muffins are a good example. No matter what you put in them to give them flavor or texture, they come out of the oven brown on top, so I shoot fixings. Sure, the close-up isn’t exactly brown but I … More Ginger, Date & Clementine Muffins with Orange Glaze & Tulips

Caramel & Kahlua Ice Cream with Kahlua Fudge Ribbon Globs

This ice cream was created last night instead of the consolation cream I’d hastily planned after the Great Peanut Butter Rolo Cookie Disaster. Before I texted a neighbor to ask if the Rolo-splattered Owlie could find a home with his family, I considered chopping the thing into bits and stirring it into a caramel ice … More Caramel & Kahlua Ice Cream with Kahlua Fudge Ribbon Globs

j’s Crookies, Chip Snicks and Cinnamon Toast Snicks

Recently I experimented with some chocolate shard cookies* made with Seattle’s Theo Chocolate bars and froze some of the dough for further experimentation. Last night I made doughs and completed preparations to bake some newbies this morning and deliver up some sweetness and love to my daughter in her office later today. Some people have … More j’s Crookies, Chip Snicks and Cinnamon Toast Snicks

Sourdough Yogurt Bread, Garden Roses and Tiny Tomatoes on Deck

Somewhere and sometime during a recipe search for something, there was a reference to using yogurt to boost the sour power of sourdough bread if one was in a rush. Some large commercial bakeries do it with added ingredients, so why not try it? I wanted fresh sourdough bread in a hurry, didn’t think about … More Sourdough Yogurt Bread, Garden Roses and Tiny Tomatoes on Deck

Mexican Chocolate Brownies & garden art for a birthday girl

Having discovered a neighbor’s taste for Mexican chocolate, I decided to surprise her on her birthday today, August 12th, with some fudgy brownies made with Ibarra chocolate, well-known to bakers.  A little goes a long way, so the icing was a simple, plain fudge. She loved them. In honor of her birthday, in addition to … More Mexican Chocolate Brownies & garden art for a birthday girl

Composting: A Rant

In the city of Seattle, food waste is not allowed in the rubbish nor are recyclable items. Food waste joins lawn and garden waste in a big plastic bin collected every week on the same day as the rubbish, in a separate truck and for a different destination. Seattle composts, mostly citywide, but there are … More Composting: A Rant