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Ginger Aberffraw Cakes
…and he runs out intothe field where his mother is making welsh-cakes in the snow… – Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood. That’s pronounced Abber-frow because it’s Welsh, don’t you know. But you’ve binge-watched The Great British Bake Off so you already knew that, didn’t you? Speaking of GBBO, that’s where I first saw these beautiful little shell-shaped shortbread cookies.
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Eight-Strand Braided Bread
The art of bread making can become a consuming hobby, and no matter how often and how many kinds of bread one has made, there always seems to be something new to learn. – Julia Child. Boy, do I love making bread. It’s my favorite thing to bake, with pastry being a close second. The endless varieties of what you can make, the tactile joy of working with dough, the warm, feel-good aromas … it’s all beautiful and feels somehow essential. There’s a reason it’s called the staff of life, right? Speaking of which,
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Heavenly Honey Wheat Bread
“Smell this,” the baker said, breaking open a dark loaf. “It’s a heavy bread, but rich.” – Raymond Carver, “A Small Good Thing.” Really, is there any scent more enticing than baking bread? Cookies and cakes may smell amazing but there’s just something really special about bread. Beyond the visceral appeal of its aroma, there’s also something so humanizing about bread. Take the word “companion” for instance.
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Marvelous Macarons
HELMER: Not been nibbling sweets? NORA: No, certainly not. HELMER: Not even taken a bite at a macaroon or two? NORA: No, Torvald, I assure you really … I should not think of going against your wishes. – Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House.
