tag: butter

Guys, I’m on a scone jag.

A couple weeks ago I had an incredibly disappointing scone from (sigh) Starbucks. It was so unsatisfying, such an affront to the good name of moist, flavorful scones, that I made three different kinds of scones that weekend alone – making my pastry-loving friends and colleagues very happy. And my freezer very full.

This recipe is a variation of the very first scone recipe I fell in love with, back in high school when I first discovered the magic of the oven. Rich with the mahogany sweetness of brown sugar, bumped even higher with a bit of molasses, and loaded with toasted pecans and brown butter, this is a far cry from the sad, dry scones in the coffee shop pastry case.

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Posted in: cooking, desserts, snacks, Uncategorized | Tags: baking, breakfast pastries, brown butter, brown butter pecan scones, brown sugar, butter, cooking, food, food photography, pastries, pastry, pecan scones, photography, recipe, scone, scone recipe, scones | 3 COMMENTS

You know what I don’t understand? Crustless quiche. First of all, isn’t that just a frittata? Secondly, the crust is clearly the best part of quiche, so why would you want to get rid of it? (I know, I know, it’s because it’s fattening… but seriously people, we need to get over our fear of butter for some things, and quiche is one of those things.)

Perhaps I’m biased because, well, I make some excellent pie crust. It’s the easiest thing, and I like to have a couple of discs of it in my fridge at all times just in case some fruit takes a turn and must immediately be turned into pie, or I have savory leftovers begging to become pot pies.

The only equipment you need is your fingers, a counter, a bowl (though this is optional), and about ten minutes of your time for an outstandingly flaky, buttery, versatile crust. Here’s how I do it.

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Posted in: back to basics | Tags: back to basics, butter, cooking, food, galette, hand pie, kitchen basics, meat pie, pastry, pâte brisée, pie, pie crust, pie dough, short crust, shortcrust, tart, tart crust, tart dough | 11 COMMENTS

The arithmetic of baking:

Butter + flour + water + (time x work) = puff pastry.

Puff pastry + heat = delicious flaky layers.

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Posted in: cooking, desserts, party food, snacks | Tags: brie, butter, camembert, cheese, confiture de fraises, pastries, pastry, pop tarts, puff pastry, strawberry, strawberry preserves, tart | 3 COMMENTS

I don’t make this banana bread every day, but I kind of feel like I should. It’s just a comforting thing to have around, banana bread. Friends drop in unexpectedly? Banana bread. Need an afternoon snack? Banana bread. Don’t feel like making dessert but want to end your dinner with a sweet bite? Banana bread.

You can also sing it to the manah manah song.

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Posted in: cooking, desserts, snacks | Tags: banana bread, bananas, butter, chocolate, dessert, loaf, quick bread, snack | 3 COMMENTS