Sweet/tart Seattle

the perfect balance

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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.

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October 30, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
honey cake
cake, baked goods
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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.

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September 22, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
gingerbread, autumn
baked goods, cake
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resolutions

August 23, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in baked goods, cake, sweets

it was my birthday recently. I love my birthday. I love to celebrate and eat delicious things and generally be joyful. but I find as I get older, that each birthday is also when I really reflect on my life. It's a good time for it, I've found. I look back over the past year and check-in: am I feeling good? am I happy with my life? what will the coming year bring? 

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August 23, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
birthday victoria sponge
baked goods, cake, sweets
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