honey cake

October 30, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in cake, baked goods

I developed this recipe (as well as these lemon cardamom cookies) to showcase the honey from my friend Bob’s hives at Urban Bee Company. having grown up with the 'honey bear,' I had never really thought about honey as a flavoring agent in and of itself. it was always just a sweetener that I added to my tea (or my whiskey) when I was feeling a bit under the weather. but when I subscribed to Bob’s honey CSA, I discovered that each month’s honey had a distinct flavor profile depending on where the hives were situated in the city. if the bees have been foraging on wild fennel, there was an anise-seed finish to the honey. the honey from south Seattle had a citrusy start, but ended with an almost piney finish, as there were evergreens near the hives.

pumpkin spice and storms can be nice

October 16, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in lunch, savory

the weather has been stormy here in Seattle. walking the dog yesterday meant risking the storm. the streets were nearly empty, as most folks were bundled up inside, and I was eager to get back home myself, but when the dog stopped and sniffed, I stopped too. Although we were getting soaked standing there, I took a deep breath in and was rewarded with the intoxicating tinge of wood smoke carried on the rain-swept wind. the scent was quintessentially October in Seattle: rain and maple leaves and fire, underscored by the damp piney freshness of the evergreens.

spice cookies: two ways

October 02, 2016 by Stesha Brandon

I love to bring people treats—practically speaking, it’s a great way to make sure that I don’t subsist solely on baked goods, but really, I love seeing people smile when they realize that I brought them a little treat, just because.

so you can imagine how excited I was to see this idea formalized by the wonderful Dorie Greenspan. Dorie has been working on her forthcoming cookie cookbook (which is GREAT!) and started giving away cookies so she wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the test batches. she started the #cookiesandkindness project, inviting other bakers to share cookies, to "make the world a sweeter place." I found the perfect opportunity to participate in the project when I was heading to a trade show where I would see lots of colleagues. I thought about what cookies my friends would enjoy, and what would travel well, and decided that these spice cookies would be the perfect sweet treat for a busy fall day.

green chile chicken stew

September 28, 2016 by Stesha Brandon

as the weather gets cooler, I begin to crave meals that warm, but don't stick-to my ribs. I want something hearty, but healthful; flavorful but not fatty. this stew is the answer. it's well-seasoned and warming without leaving you beached on the couch after dinner.

it's gingerbread weather

September 22, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in baked goods, cake

autumn has always been my favorite time of year. it's a little sad to say good bye to the sunny days and long evenings that summer in Seattle brings, but I love the sense of anticipation that comes with the cooling weather. for some reason the world seems to vibrate with potential. maybe it's the bright blue skies, or my favorite thing of all, 'apple cider air,' crisp and fresh against your cheeks, carrying with it the sweet muskiness of falling leaves.

making hay (and muffins), or five things I learned in the professional kitchen

September 14, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in baked goods

I have been cooking for a long time, in professional spaces as well as personal ones, and I find that some of the tricks of the trade really come in handy at home. some of these are super obvious, and some are super simple, but friends are often surprised when I mention them. so, from my kitchen to yours, here are a few of the things that I've learned.

chocolate chip pecan cookies

September 09, 2016 by Stesha Brandon

a friend recently asked for this recipe after I had made these cookies for them as a thank you. it's essentially the classic chocolate chip cookie recipe from the back of the Tollhouse package, with a few little tweaks.

nectarine preserves

September 07, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in sweets, preserves

you don't see nectarine preserves as often as peach preserves, and I think that's a shame. nectarines have a lovely natural acidity, which beautifully balances the sugar required in an old-fashioned preserve.

plum crumb coffee cake

September 03, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in sweets, baked goods

it's that time of year when summer edges up against fall. the weather is changeable, shifting from sunny and warm to grey and rainy over the course of a few hours. summer fruit is still abundant but the cooler days call out for a comforting treat. that's where this coffee cake comes in.

why now?

September 01, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in sweets

why start up the site again after letting it languish for so many years?