SMiLes by Meg

Tag: baking

Tahini Brown Sugar Cake

When I picked this recipe, I didn’t mean for it to be a clear-out-the-pantry recipe. And I’m not sure what it says about my pantry that this recipe did clean it out – I only had to buy some buttermilk and unsweetened chocolate, and happened to have everything else on hand. I did pick it entirely because I wanted to use my sprinkles. I didn’t expect this, but leaving the sprinkles in an airtight jar resulted in them all starting to clump together. I’m guessing because our apartment is a bit on the warm side, and maybe because I should …

Caramel Peanut Brownies

“;.////////////////////////////////////p;//” – From Elwynn, who decided to walk across my iPad when I started typing this up. He did capture how I feel about this week though – I could use another 3 weekends right now. But I think that’s just February for you. Fortunately, I did get to spend some time making something new – caramel peanut brownies! Meg Fay, one of the other second years at my firm, has a birthday this week. She requested something “chocolate and peanut butter, or chocolate and caramel” and I was able to find something that was chocolate and peanut AND caramel. …

Fig and Olive Oil Challah

This was fun to make. I’m home for the long weekend, having a girl’s weekend with my mom, and she agreed to humor me and make a complicated braided bread on Saturday night. I love challah, she’d never had challah, and the idea of somehow getting a flavor woven into the challah made it a recipe I couldn’t skip. Start by making the base dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the yeast, warm water, and teaspoon of honey. Let sit for 10 minutes until it starts to foam up. Add the remaining honey, olive oil, eggs …

Cherry Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

This was one of those weekends where the only way I was going to have time to bake was if I pulled out Weeknight Baking. And made drop cookies, which are, besides bar cookies, the least time intensive baked good I can make. In looking at cookies, I decided to go with an oatmeal base, because I like the chewiness that comes with that. However, I am a firm anti-raisin baker, so I needed something else to go in them. Fortunately, Weeknight Baking had a solution: cherries and pistachios. Dried cherries are actually my favorite dried fruit. They’re a bit …

Soft Pretzels

So I’ve made pretzels before. But that was back in 2014. And, really, I’ve been at this blog for almost seven years – I think it’s probably time to start revisiting recipes, since I’m about 1000% sure I’m more proficient now than I was when I first started. Don’t worry, I’ll still predominantly be making new things. But when circumstances present themselves that seem to require a repeat, I’m not going shy away from it. This week, obviously, is Super Bowl. Which is a perfect reason for pretzels. Especially because I’m watching Super Bowl at my apartment with my work …

Sunflower Oat Cookies

I’m currently sitting in an airport in Seattle, on a layover heading back to Boston after an absolutely perfect week with Erik in Alaska. We skied on two lakes, spent a night in a dry cabin in -20°F weather, ate a lot of pizza, went climbing, and played a lot of board games. But mostly, we got a lot of much-needed hangout time, which is what I miss the most when we’re apart. Because I’m feeling sentimental, here’s a gratuitous picture of us doing fun things: One day this week, we had two of Erik’s friends over for dinner (Jake …

Father’s Famous Flying Flapjacks

I don’t know how I have other pancake recipes on this blog but not the most important pancake recipe in the world: my dad’s. He makes them for us maybe twice a year (Christmas and New Year’s), but they have always been my absolute favorite, and the standard by which I judge all pancakes. The recipe is simple – dump a bunch of stuff in a bowl, whisk it, and fry them up. Serve with plenty of butter and real maple syrup. Perfect for a family of four! This week, I’m in Alaska, and hadn’t done a blog post yet, …

Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies

I recently discovered the blog Hummingbird High when she was featured on another blog I like, Cloudy Kitchen. I feel like there’s this network of real baking bloggers that are all friends and go to each other’s places in New York and make really amazing and beautiful desserts and generally live pleasant lives. Michelle Lopez, behind Hummingbird High, recently released a cookbook, Weeknight Baking. The entire concept appealed to me – ways to bake delicious things in minimal time. And, the star recipe that seemed to be all over Instagram was Better-Than-Supernatural Fudge Brownies, so obviously I started with those. …

Grasshopper Tart

For New Year’s Eve last week, I wanted a lighter dessert that would go somewhat well with a heavier main course of mushroom risotto. I also wanted that dessert to include liquor, since I was baking for friends. So, obviously, I turned to Boozy Baker. I’ve made a version of this in the past as Grasshopper Pie, and I think my baking skills have come a long way since then. That pie looked kinda weird, was not a good green, and I thought I could effectively make a tart in a pie pan. This time around, I decided to actually …

Ginger Sugar Cookies

For my last post of 2019, I have one more Christmas cookie for you – Ginger Sugar Cookies. I wanted one more drop cookie for my cookie tins this year, and a sugar base is as good as any this time of year. Plus, I saw that the Star Market near me sold crystallized ginger, which, weirdly, Whole Foods doesn’t. Start by whisking together the flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the …