Weekend Baking: TNT #8 Buttermilk Shortcakes

These were the most tender biscuits I've ever tasted. Admittedly I don't make or eat many biscuits but these were exceptional and might persuade me to have them more often.

Recipe: Buttermilk Shortcakes from Baking Bites
Changes: added extra butter as I had an extra ounce left and didn't want it lurking around the freezer; added zest from half a Meyer lemon to cut the richness of the buttermilk.

TNT #7: Meyer Lemons

This is the first time Meyer lemons have been available at a reasonable price in the local supermarket. I've been saving lemon curd recipes for this happy day. Two small batches of curd later and with no difference in taste, the microwave recipe will probably be the keeper for ease of cleanup. The preserved lemons have been started but it'll be a while before the end result is ready for testing.


Recipes: Preserved Lemons from David Leibovitz
Substitutions: omitted spices for this time

Microwave Lemon Curd from Allrecipes
Lemon Curd from Epicurious

TNT #6: Focaccia

My second attempt at focaccia was finally successful! An earlier attempt never rose, leaving me with a dense hard loaf that was finally binned after a couple of days. While this didn't rise as much as expected and the inside never achieved the open, holey texture of a typical focaccia, I am still chalking this up as a success, as a decent, edible loaf of bread was created. The added cheese cubes did make it a bit tricky extracting the loaf from the pan. Definitely a good starter recipe to adapt and improve on.

Recipe: Blitz Bread: No-Fuss Focaccia from King Arthur Flour
Changes: added provolone cubes

TNT #5: Green Chile Muffins

Very moist to the extent that one got mouldy within three days. Otherwise a good addition to the savoury muffin genre. (Mild) green chiles were fine but not a wow! ingredient. Maybe the hot ones will be better.

Recipe: Green Chili Muffins from Food.com
Substitutions: added half can of tuna

TNT #4: Baking with Yeast

Finally acquired a small jar of instant yeast at the local Middle Eastern market! English muffins were an excellent first foray into baking with yeast. No kneading required; dough rose as it was supposed to and "pan frying" the muffins was trouble free.

Recipe: Cinnamon Raisin English muffins from Baking Bites
Changes: substituted instant yeast and adapted mixing methods as a result. Increased raisins and omitted my nemesis, cinnamon.

TNT #3: Matzoh Soup

A cold, cold day led to this nearby recently-opened deli for matzoh ball soup and a corned beef sandwich. The matzoh ball was tasty and surprisingly light. Together soup and half sandwich made a just-sufficient portion for lunch.

TNT #2: Pumpkin Pancakes

My second time cooking with pumpkin: canned pumpkin added to Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Pancake mix.. Half a can of pumpkin had previously been sacrificed in an attempt at crustless pumpkin pie which ended in failure. These pancakes were more successful and were tasty topped with crunchy peanut butter, but probably not a repeat due to the surprisingly vegetal flavour of the pumpkin.

TNT #1: Stuffed Pepper

First meal of the new year is my first attempt at stuffed peppers. Same mix as the burrito from last year.