Savory meets sweet and Italian Stromboli meets cinnamon roll. This post explores one of the holiday favorites in Venezuela. I’m talking about the Venezuelan Pan de Jamón, a savory with a little sweet holiday ham bread. “Pan de Jamón” is Spanish for “ham bread”. It’s a staple on a Venezuelan Christmas table. While there areContinue reading “Venezuelan Ham Bread: An Indulgence of Savory & Sweet”
Author Archives: Summer
French Spice Bread: A Happy Blend of Gingerbread & Spice Cake
The French Pain d’Épices is a yeast-free, dense, quick bread that is reminiscent of both gingerbread and spice cake. The words “pain d’épices” are French for “spice bread”, literally translated as, “bread of spices”. What make it unique are the additions of dark rye flour and one cup of honey. My version includes chopped candiedContinue reading “French Spice Bread: A Happy Blend of Gingerbread & Spice Cake”
How to Make My Favorite, Indulgent Cinnamon Rolls
The smell of homemade cinnamon rolls is one of my favorite scents during the holidays. I find myself giddy over the aroma of butter, cinnamon, and sugar baking in swirls of enriched, yeast dough slowly permeating through each and every crevice of the house and up the stairs. There’s a reason you can buy cinnamonContinue reading “How to Make My Favorite, Indulgent Cinnamon Rolls”
Sour Cream Pocketbook Rolls: Buttery, Salty, Tangy, & Sweet
If you ask me what my last meal would include, I would say the same now as I would have said as a kid… ooey, gooey, cheesy, mashed potatoes and a buttery, salty, yeast roll, along with a warm, homemade chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Then again, I probably wouldn’t be hungry if I knewContinue reading “Sour Cream Pocketbook Rolls: Buttery, Salty, Tangy, & Sweet”
How to Make TRUE Crispy Gingersnap Cookies
Depending on where you live, spice cookies are called ginger nuts, Arnott’s biscuits, brunkage, or speculaas. In many places they are known as pepper cookies in the appropriate Swedish, Finnish, Latvian, Estonian, or Norwegian languages. In the United States and Canada, however, we call them gingersnaps. My gingersnap cookies would make GREAT holiday gifts orContinue reading “How to Make TRUE Crispy Gingersnap Cookies”
Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Pie with Gingersnap Crust: Rich & Chocolatey
Tis the season for all things pumpkin, even if, it’s only the spice. It’s hard to find a table during the holidays (in America) without pumpkin pie. Years ago, I wanted a change for my Thanksgiving table. Still pumpkin, mind you, but not the same traditional pie. Low and behold, I found it, or createdContinue reading “Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Pie with Gingersnap Crust: Rich & Chocolatey”
How to Make Flaky, Foolproof Pie Crusts: Tips & Techniques
Pie crusts can include the simplest of ingredients of only flour, fat, and water to complex blends of flours, fats, and liquids. Regardless of the ingredients, the key to making light and flaky pie crusts is almost always in the technique. Pretty much everyone has a standard go-to pie crust, even if it’s a store-boughtContinue reading “How to Make Flaky, Foolproof Pie Crusts: Tips & Techniques”
3 Simple & Flavorful Pie Crusts: Savory, Sweet, OR Gluten-Free
Pie crusts are about a simple a bake as you can make. A good, basic crust only includes flour, fat, and water. While it’s easy to buy pie crust from the store, why not make a couple of homemade versions when you can and freeze them for later use? I’m talking about the holiday timeContinue reading “3 Simple & Flavorful Pie Crusts: Savory, Sweet, OR Gluten-Free”
Authentic Austrian Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel) with an Autumn Twist
Guten tag! For many Americans, the country of Austria is synonymous with the Hollywood creation of the “Sound of Music”. While the movie is one of our favorite things, it’s definitely NOT one of Austria’s. In general, Austrians have a love/hate relationship with this American movie. For them, it’s sort of cheesy and historically inaccurate.Continue reading “Authentic Austrian Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel) with an Autumn Twist”
Babka: Spiced Sweet Potato Swirls, Streusel Topping, & Simple Syrup
Babkas are an incredibly popular rolled up, filled, sweet or savory bread enjoyed in many countries around the world. They have many variations including the British Chelsea buns and the American cinnamon roll. All are just rolled up enriched dough filled with yummy goodness! Cinnamon and sugar are the most common version. But how aboutContinue reading “Babka: Spiced Sweet Potato Swirls, Streusel Topping, & Simple Syrup”