coconut cranberry bread // coffee glaze

Every year for as long as I can remember my Aunt Nancy makes Cranberry Bread for Thanksgiving, Christmas + Easter, her cranberry bread is the anchor among the cream cheese filled celery sticks and olives that serve as our pre dinner snack  alongside bowls of "crack your own" nuts and cashews. For 20 years I thought her cranberry bread was homemade......people, I was deceived. Our entire family was deceived, our beloved cranberry bread was from a box. I was heartbroken.

When Paradise Meadow brand by Decas Cranberry Products, Inc reached out to see if I would like to bake with their new Julienne cooking + Baking Cranberries  I jumped at the chance. I thought, move over boxed cranberry bread, there's a new bread in town ready to take over the Holidays.

anadama bread

When I was probably around 10 or so there was an amazing bakery located in a building that my Uncle owned, it was about a 10 minute walk or so to the bakery from our House. I remember the Baker/Owner was younger, had a wonky eye and always had on his floured covered white bakers apron when he greeted us. 

The one thing that stands out in this memory was his Anadama Bread- my Mom and I would make special trips to the Bakery just for a loaf of his Anadama. The bread was incredible and to this day nothing compares. My Anadama comes close, but its not the original from my Childhood memories.

cinnamon apple pecan pull apart bread

My inspiration and creativity comes and goes- ebbs + flows. I can pick out patterns throughout my years of blogging and see where my creativity was at its peak during certain months and at other times not. Not only was this Summer incredibly busy I just never felt fully inspired, it was to the point that Justin was wondering if I had given up on blogging all together.

My inspiration and creativity change with each passing season. 

This time of year is one of my favorites, it' just so happens to be the time of year I feel most creative.

rustic seeded boule

 I fell hard and fast in love with this bread. I mean I love all bread, but time after time seeded, crusty, rustic bread steals my heart. I want to eat this bread all day, every day no exceptions. Not only does it taste amazing slightly warmed slathered in orange marmalade or butter but is also makes a pretty incredible grilled cheese & panzanella. Oh rustic seeded boule, if I was stranded on a dessert Island with the choice of only five things to eat you would be my number one, right alongside sweet potato, avocado, peanut butter & blueberries.

peanut butter donuts // chocolate pb frosted

 

I cannot begin to tell you the heartache associated with these donuts ; much like the brownie fiasco of 2013 this recipe took multiple times to get just right...like so many times that Justin sighed and grumbled every time he asked me "whatcha baking" and I replied "...donuts". Now don't get me wrong, he loved the first two times I whipped up a batch, however I probably have made at least 6 batches of donuts within the past 2 months. Let me share with you what I have learned on this doughnut making adventure.

coconut chocolate chip banana bread {gf}

OMG whoever said gluten free baked goods are dry, crumbly and lack the amazing taste and texture that their traditional counterparts have, was so wrong. This gluten free banana bread is incredible; moist, flavorful and so freakin' good! Chocolate, banana's, flaked coconut make a drool & lust worthy gluten free banana bread. Once you have eaten the entire loaf you will be so very sad it is gone and wonder why you were so nice and shared a piece or two with your friends. Next time, you will be certain to make a loaf for you and a loaf for your friend.

cranberry ginger pull apart bread

This bread and so amazingly good and festive; the colors and flavor scream holiday! Which I totally need more of in my life right now. I am sad to say I have been hit with the bah humbug of the Holiday season for the first time ever...I mean ever. Typically I am the girl who at every chance she gets will sing aloud the praises of the holiday season - but not this year. I think it may be because Thanksgiving ran so late this year, I typically get a reprieve between Thanksgiving and the kick start of Christmas, which for me is the first of December. Or, it may be because I have a lot on my plate right now and the thought of lugging up all the Christmas decor just to lug it back down in three weeks puts me in a sour mood. So instead of focusing on the decorations this year I am focusing on the experience of the season- baking, cooking and creating meaningful gifts for friends and family. Maybe, just maybe (I am really hoping) that will finally put me in a jolly mood, if that fails I'll just bust out the Champagne and my all time favorite Holiday album from She & Him!

multi seeded baguettes

Do you know what I love more than bread? Seeded bread! I absolutely adore all shapes, sizes and textures of bread but head over heals in love with multi seeded breads & bagels. So in love.

Bread making may seem tedious to some, but I love the motion of kneading, watching the first rise and the smell of baking bread. Baking bread  is a labor of love which involves all senses. Truthfully, it really isn't that hard to make a beautiful loaf of bread at home, just a little bit of practice and time.

pumpkin beer bread {quick & easy}

There was one point in time that I thought beer bread could only be made from a box, well actually a lot of  baked goods I thought were made from a box. What can I say, I am a product of the 80's and early 90's where convenience food was king. Don't get me wrong, we ate plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, birthday cakes were homemade (the cake being from a box) with my moms homemade frosting. It wasn't until I started baking on my own in my early 20's, that I began experimenting with making baked goods from scratch. Baking from scratch can seem intimidating at first, you will have some failures (we all do!) but you will also have some amazing baked goods coming from your oven in no time!

sourdough date bread

As promised, the best sourdough bread I have ever made - dare I say it may be the best bread I have ever baked. Really, this bread was perfect - super thick crunchy crust on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside with a bit of sweetness from the dates. 

Absolute perfection.

DIY kitchen series: sourdough starter

Plain and simple - I love bread. Bread of all shapes, sizes, tastes and textures have a place in my heart. Hot out of the oven, grilled or toasted with butter & jam or dipped in olive oil - no matter how it's served you will never find me passing up the bread basket.

Truth is, sourdough starters intimidated me - in my mind starters seemed finicky and time consuming. There is a dizzying amount of information about how to create the perfect starter- some methods are really basic (like mine!) and others are really scientific...honestly my mind doesn't do science or math, it overwhelms me.

One of the reasons I am lucky to have Justin, he is blessed with a science/math/music mind (lucky boy he is!). Last week I set my sourdough scardy pants aside and put on "I am going to Conquer a Sourdough Starter!" pants on, and you know what? Making a Sourdough Starter is super easy!

Welcome to the 3rd edition of the DIY Kitchen Series : Make your own Sourdough Starter

falafel // homemade flatbreads + tzatziki

I was first introduced to falafel 9 years ago, in the form of a Near East box by Justin. Ever since, I have been in love with the little chickpea rounds of goodness. Early Summer, our city holds a Multi Cultural day where several of our neighbors gather to celebrate the different cultures found in our City. We have several groups of refugees that call our little City home. I love seeing what a diverse culture we have, I also love all the amazing food each group brings to the table. Families set up tents throughout downtown, where they make and sell food that showcases the area from which they are from. One vendor sells an amazing Falafel - my sister and I love heading down for Falafel {along with some amazing Bhutanese food!) then finding a seat in the Rotary Park to watch some pretty incredible performers. Performances from African Dancing & Drumming, to traditional Indian Dance are scheduled every hour throughout the day.

I thought it was about time that I created my own version of Falafel, one that is inspired by the traditional Lebanese preparation - each region has their own way of preparing Falafel, this is the one I favor the most.

sweet or savory baguettes

 

Despite the pictures in this post not being super pretty or all that great, I still had to share. You know, how could I not share a recipe for chocolate almond stuffed baguette or the most amazing olive & artichoke stuffed baguette. Come on people - bread and chocolate? 

I think so, it would be a crime not to share this with you.

mexican salad pizza // quinoa crust

Justin and I have a few food traditions that began early on in our relationship - Sunday morning breakfast and Friday night pizza, beer & movie night. We have continued with these "dates" religiously, hands down Sunday's and Friday's are my favorite days of the week.

I love salad pizza's, a warm pizza loaded with veggies and topped with fresh greens - this pizza has a Mexican flare which I love and topped with a healthy dose of greens & fresh tomatoes, which I love even more.

rustic pumpkin toasts

sometimes i just want toast - prettied up toasts, plain toast, pb & jelly toasts.

after making the rosemary & olive peasant bread i was totally craving a big ol slice toasted with a whole lotta goodness piled high. almost like an open faced sandwich that thinks it's classy.

a classy little rustic pumpkin toast is what it turned out to be.

a few of these beauties served along side beluga lentils & butternut squash and

you could say i was one happy girl

rosemary olive peasant bread

so, if you have been reading this blog for a while now you already know that i love bread!

in the summer it is waaaay to hot to bake bread, plus my local farmers market and csa supports my bread addiction during the summer months so i kindly allow them to heat up their kitchen to support my habit -

i am so nice aren't i?

but once the cooler months move in i start to get that bread making itch.

i love everything about the bread making process - the yeast, the kneading, the rising, the baking and of course the eating!

pumpkin pistachio cranberry sweet rolls // cinnamon cream cheese icing

mmmmm sweet rolls.

say it with me, mmmmmm sweet rolls.

doesn't that just sound and feel so good to say.

its even better when you are shoveling one after another in your face - no that really didn't happen, well maybe it did

but who can resist pumpkin, pistachio & cranberry all wrapped up and drizzled with "cream cheese" icing - if you can then you are super human

 share your super power with me....please

smokey tempeh sliders

i am in love...

with these sliders - i know i say this a lot, but really, these are incredible.

plus, they are so much fun to eat - mini foods are just so adorable.

this was my first time preparing tempeh, i have no idea why i allow certain foods to intimidate me. 

i watch from the sidelines, let everyone else play for a little while - then when i gather up the courage i go for it.  this is after a few packages of tempeh have been thrown out because i didn't muster up the courage soon enough - expired, good as gone.

well, i'm glad i took the leap into tempeh making - seriously guys, if you too have been intimidated don't be. preparing tempeh is super easy and fun - you just have to plan a little ahead for marinating.

really, do it - make that tempeh work for you!

coconut cinna ring

i have had the pleasure of meeting some really fantastic people through blogging.

amazing people, that along the way have become friends.

friends that share the same obsession passion for creating good, wholesome food as i do.

i want to introduce to you one of these people. melissa from vegan fling is one of the sweetest bloggers i have had the opportunity to befriend.

her blog and recipes are clean cut, simple & straight forward which is one of the things i love most about her space - her pictures are awesome and love her composition.

so head on over to vegan fling and check out my coconut cinna ring with maple glaze which is almost just as amazing as melissa is over at vegan fling - i hope you love her space as much as i do.

panzanella

well hello there sexy, I've missed you.

i missed your tomato, balsamic & olive oil soaked slightly toasted cubes of bread.

crisp cukes and oh so good & fragrant basil - tossed with a bit of salt i never want to be apart from you for the whole month of august.

quite frankly, you are at your best this month and this month alone.

oh panzanella, how i love you.