We're having a heatwave! The butter knows...because I exposed it to the outdoors today in a little photo blog essay of sorts for my wonderful readers...you! Of course, I know what you are thinking...butter ALWAYS knows. Yes, I know that, too. But this was fascinating nonetheless. Heat and butter go well together...so might as well make the most of this heat.
The outdoor thermometer reads 121 degrees. That's right. 121. The TV and web news may be saying a high of 118. But I tell you, 121 it is (observe blurry photo below):
Butter ready for its close-up at 2:15 PM:
Butter at 2:20...FIVE minutes later:
Butter at 2:25...TEN minutes later:
Click here on "Why Butter is a Health Food."
Enjoying the dog days of summer.
Well, I'm hooked. Anyone else?
If you're not sure what this show is about, read this:
A new competition baking series on CBS! The American Baking
Competition will feature skilled amateur Americans competing in
baking challenges with one ultimately being crowned the winner.
The 10 bakers were chosen from a nationwide search of amateur
bakers at local casting bake-offs. Proving the joy of baking's broad
appeal, the six female and four male home bakers have varied lives
and jobs, including a firefighter, photographer, homemaker, attorney,
advertiser, home health care provider, college student, retiree,
project manager and a baking enthusiast trying to go pro.
Each week, The American Baking Competition will feature these
passionate home bakers competing in three unique challenges -
"Signature Bake," "Technical Bake" and "Showstopper Bake." The
contestant who out-bakes the rest is that week's "Star Baker," while
the one whose creations fail to impress is eliminated. The final
challenge will be between the three remaining contestants, one of
whom will go on to be crowned the best amateur baker in America and
win the $250,000 grand prize. The winner will also be awarded a
publishing contract with Simon & Schuster to publish their own
cookbook with Gallery Books. The Series -- shot on location in North
Georgia www.tourgeorgiafilm.com
-- premieres Wednesday, May 29th at 8/7c!
It's so fun and good for the whole family.
June 16 is National Fudge Day!
Happy National Fudge Day!
I wrote a review of some fab, local-ish fudge here.
I very much would love to travel to Botswana "for reals" one day. The wonderful books by one of my favorite authors have made me long for this part of the world. Thank you, Alexander McCall Smith!
So, imagine my joy when I found this cookbook.
Yes, this is the kind of thing I geek-out about:
My baking motivation is suffering from an overly-dramatic heat exhaustion I know is really plain laziness. Due to this, I have not tried to bake anything from this book (my local library doesn't have it and I am trying not to spend too much money on books! Argghh. Not easy!) But here is a recipe for a perfectly named treat from this cookbook called Persuasive Fruit Cake. If you are a fan of Mma Ramotswe you will appreciate this cake name completely. You know it is good because Mma Ramotswe would not make anything bad. While focusing on Botswana today, I would like to share a blog with you I have found in my recent online culinary travels. I made a reference to this blog in a recent entry. The writer here has tried some recipes from Botswana and even shares photos from her life in Africa. She is awesome and can be found at A Hungry African.
Be well, my fellow international dessert travelers.
Lemons and blueberries - they're just where my taste buds are at this moment.This lovely bundt cake is called Easy Polish Lemon-Blueberry Bundt Cake.
In my alphabetical dessert travels, I am nowhere near Poland. In fact, I have been on my way to Botswana for quite some time and have been rather at a standstill. Customs! No, seriously. I have found a wonderful African writer's blog about her culinary journeys in Botswana and will be sharing her with you soon. She has an awesome blog and makes all sorts of African main dishes and desserts. She is truly a find.
In the meantime, if the summer heat is getting to you as it is me, then perhaps you might enjoy this little detour to Poland.
I am on this soda-inspired dessert kick.
Gorgeous and super-easy recipe here.
How retro is this? Coca-cola cake.
There is something so very Mad Men about this.
And this recipe is va-va-voom good.
My Mad Men vintage dessert love continues.
