Sweet/tart Seattle

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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.

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September 07, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
jam, stone fruit, nectarine preserves
sweets, preserves
1 Comment

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.

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September 03, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
plum crumb coffee cake
sweets, baked goods
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why now?

September 01, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in sweets

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

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September 01, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
chocolate zucchini cake, mission
sweets
2 Comments

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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almond pound cake

August 16, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in sweets, baked goods

This recipe came to me from my friend Andra. I worked for her catering company back in the 1990s, baking pastries for the front-of-house coffee shop, pulling espresso at said shop, and pitching in on the catering prep. I used to joke with Andra that I would like her to make this as my wedding cake; when I got married this summer, we chose pies instead of wedding cake, but served this pound cake to our guests at breakfast the morning after.

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August 16, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
almond pound cake
sweets, baked goods
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almond cakes

August 15, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in baked goods, sweets

these almond cakes are, hands down, the cookie that is most requested by my friends and family. They are based on Marion Cunningham's Almond Butter Cake, which she bakes as an 8" cake. I love to make these bite sized, as it improves the ratio of the crisp exterior to chewy interior.

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August 15, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
almond cakes
baked goods, sweets
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blueberry crostata

August 13, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in sweets, baked goods

this crostata is based on a sour cherry crostata from the Gourmet cookbook. I've adapted it with a variety of fruits, including rhubarb and strawberries. The blueberry remains my favorite, when sour cherries are hard to find.

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August 13, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
blueberry crostata, fruit
sweets, baked goods
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brown sugar shortbread

August 01, 2016 by Stesha Brandon in baked goods, sweets, cookies

these shortbread are my friend Abby's favorite. Based on the sour cherry shortbread from Macrina, a wonderful bakery here in Seattle, these cookies have a delicious savoriness to them.

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August 01, 2016 /Stesha Brandon
baked goods, sweets, cookies
2 Comments