pecan pies

i did explain just how terrible i am at following directions. but m. still asked if i could test this recipe. perhaps the point. if i could follow it, surely his staff could.
three recipes below.  a fantastically flaky crust, a pie where i actually followed the recipe, and a pie where i made a few minor adjustments.

spring has been pushing its way through the gray of winter's wake. bringing new color. new energy. new life daily.
a much needed rain fell this morning.
so during a break in the clouds, i put on my puddle boots and set out to capture that green which only spring can bring.

what i came back with was a robin making some home improvements,
the neighborhood cow (chained to a lamppost),
a brown bike with a red stripe,
and some blossoms.
which seem far less interesting than everything else.

strawberry rhubarb galettes

a simple recipe but with two of my favorites. rhubarb (a vegetable running around thinking it's a fruit) and sweet strawberries. which i've been hoarding in my freezer since we picked them last summer.

and this concludes my week of baking.

it was an odd experience. being organized enough to bake each day was challenging enough.  coming up with different recipes for people who's tastes i know little to nothing about, well this could have been down right stressful. 
and there were moments. of melting tart dough. excessively dry bread dough. and the odd communication breakdown.  but i absolutely loved this week!  loved being able to create and share. 

notes:
-maybe making recipes you aren't familiar with (regardless of your grand visions) isn't the best for situations such as this
-trust your instincts. if a recipe doesn't seem right. it probably isn't.
-plans are good. (i might try to have one next time)
-when in doubt. add cream. how could a bowl of whipped cream not make everything better?

blackberry ricotta

cinna mini caramel rolls

raspberry rhubarb coffee cakes

strawberry tartlets

sweet things

there's a cute canadian in my basement.
and i get to bake something every day for a week.

sweet things indeed.

rhubarb pastry

spring sprung and the rhubarb is coming up quickly!

this is the first of my many hopes and dreams for rhubarb season.

guinness cupcakes

this was meant to completed during my st patrick's day baking extravaganza...
alas. silly cold turned battle.

guinness. chocolate.
whiskey buttercream.
that ought to make things right.

eggs and excuses.

for over two weeks now i have been battling some spring illness. all energy has gone towards the recovery effort. kitchen activity has been limited to soups and teas.  as for easter, i managed to make some hard boiled eggs.
m. and i dyed the eggs with spices, berries, veggies, and more!

i am anxious to get back to baking. creating. living.