Spelt is one of the oldest varieties of wheat, nearly 9,000 years old! It's low gluten content has caused it to rise in popularity over the past few years, but while it has great flavor it is a bit trickier to bake with. It requires extra stretching and folding to build sufficient strength in the dough.
Read MoreThe most complex, nuanced loaves of bread develop through a series of fermentations. Each stage pulls something new out of the dough, evoking sweetness, nuttiness, sourness, and more. But the first phase of fermentation sets the stage for everything to come. It reminds me of the importance of the communities that flavor me, and that everything develops out of the very first community where I met God.
Read MoreBread is the most forgiving of foods. It is infinitely complex and yet it is also so very simple. Flour, water, salt, and yeast. Combined in so many different ways to evoke different flavors from the grain. Today we'll make our first loaf of sourdough, a small, simple round to put our new starter to the test.
Read MoreThis goat cheese cheesecake recipe is very versatile for those with allergies. Simple substitutions make it gluten-free or nut-free, and it's already free of all cow's milk dairy too. It's not too sweet but very rich, especially luxurious when garnished with pomegranate molasses.
Read MoreFor the past twenty or so years, come Christmas-time my family has pulled out the same sugar cookie recipe: written on the back of a friend’s Christmas letter in purple crayon. This year I decided to mix things up. These cardamom sugar cookies pack a punch with their birch and bourbon glaze. Form into a log for a slice-and-bake version or roll out and punch with cookie cutters. There's plenty of room for creativity with these tasty treats.
Read MoreThe rhythmic motions of making bread-the necessity of feeling and smelling the dough's needs-make it a valuable form of meditation or prayer. This recipe for pumpkin sourdough developed through my own use of bread making as a spiritual discipline. A tender blend of warm spices and tangy levain, this loaf is perfect for sweet or savory applications.
Read MoreI travelled halfway across the country with a wedding cake for a dear old friend. If you've ever found yourself questioning whether or not you could fly with a cake, I'm here to tell you that you totally can! But this zucchini olive oil cake with olive oil lemon curd need not be limited to special occasions. You can make it for yourself on any sort of day.
Read MoreInspired by my work with the flavors of the Middle East, this recipe for tahini honey cake with cardamom goat cheese frosting is sure to please any palate.
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