Espresso Burnt Sugar Shortbread

I always get inspired and want to write a blog post whenever I have breakfast at this wonderful little cafe/restaurant called the Mud House. I don’t know why the place feels so special to me--maybe it’s the cozy atmosphere and good coffee. Maybe it’s the fact that I always have eggs there and eggs are just one of the best things ever.  Perhaps the food reminds me of food I would make myself at home. Anyway, this morning I had pork confit and chorizo hash with chickpeas, cauliflower, and peppers. And poached eggs. You can’t forget the poached eggs. I swear I could write a whole book about my love of eggs.

Regardless, the last time I was home I went on a baking spree and made these delicious espresso shortbread’s from the book Ovenly by Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin. These treats are perfect with a hot cup of coffee as a little mid-afternoon pick-me-up. A note on Ovenly--this book is wonderful, definitely recommend it to inspire some spontaneous baking!

Espresso Burt Sugar Shortbread or

“The Sumptown Shorty”

from Ovenly 

yield 24 bars

Ingredients

Melissa Clark’s Cornmeal Waffles with Banana Bourbon Syrup

 I love love love breakfast. Eggs, pancakes, hash--breakfast in general, is just comprised of delicious food. Thanksgiving break at home was great because I could just wake up and make whatever I wanted for breakfast. The first morning home I made Melissa Clark’s Cornmeal Waffles with a maple, walnut bourbon syrup.  Melissa is so great. I am totally in love with her. If you don’t know who she is, here is the link to her videos. 

(shh. I’ve definitely watched every single one)

Melissa Clark’s Cornmeal Waffles with Banana Bourbon Syrup:

Winter Spaghetti with Marinara and Chorizo Meatballs

It’s frustrating to make pasta in the winter when bunches of fresh basil aren’t readily available. I crafted a delicious, hearty sauce with dried herbs to help satisfy your pasta cravings on cold, wintery nights. Parsnip (my fav!) and carrot in the sauce add some natural sweetness, which goes wonderfully with the almost nutty dried herb flavor. The meatballs that I paired with this sauce are very easy as well, just be warned that they take some time to cool in the fridge. If you can, I recommend using fresh herbs for the meatballs--they will add brightness to the dish, and lighten everything up.

Winter Spaghetti with Marinara and Chorizo Meatballs

Lavender Cinnamon Buttermilk Wheat Biscuits

It’s fall. Sigh. A lot of me hates the fact that it is cold outside, but I guess that the cold gives me an excuse to drink lots of tea and bake delicious things. I’m also going home soon and am so incredibly excited to finally have a kitchen and make things all day. My mom and I have discussed our extensive Thanksgiving feast menu and hopefully I’ll get to share some of our creations on here!

Apple Pastry Pockets & Pinwheels

Pumpkin Bread Muffins with Chocolate and Walnuts

 I’m finally writing my first post from the lovely confines of my dorm. Unfortunately being in college means crappy kitchen and no time, so I’ve barely been able to bake. Since the beginning of October though, everyone has been jumping on the pumpkin bandwagon and every blog post I read is about something pumpkin . I thought I’d join in and share these pumpkin bread muffins I made with some pumpkin puree that was left over in my fridge. The muffin’s turned out absolutely lovely, and  they’ll make a great breakfast for the rest of the week.

Pumpkin Bread Muffins with Chocolate and Walnuts

Classic Brownies

One of my favorite recipes for a perfect classic brownie comes from none other than Cook's Illustrated.  Tomorrow I am headed off to France to study abroad for a semester, so I decided my last baking endeavor before I leave would be this homey treat. I stumbled across this recipe when Sachi and I first became friends and have loved it ever since. It is truly the perfect brownie, not too cakey or too fudgy; it is just right! Feel free to add your favorite goodies to this recipe, such as peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, nuts, candies…..

Classic Brownies