Louise Miller's Blog: snapshots - Posts Tagged "chocolate"
It's almost Spring!
This week in New England we had deliciously warm days and deeply cold days, but no matter what the temperature, I know spring is on it's way. Proof: the light is heart-achingly beautiful, I have heard bird song every morning, and the witch hazel is blooming. I am all hope.
What I am reading: Modern Girls by Jennifer S. Brown. I am very lucky to have an ARC of this wonderful historical novel set in 1930's New York about a mother and daughter both having to make unthinkable choices. It's coming out April 5th!
What I am listening to: Grant Lee Phillips' Ladies Love Oracle. I believe this was GLP first solo project after Grant Lee Buffalo broke up. This record is a wonderfully dreamy, lo-fi collection of stories. Every year it creeps back into rotation. http://www.grantleephillips.com/album...
In the kitchen: I made Dorie Greenspan's Sunday in Paris cake from her wonderful cookbook Baking Chez Moi. Here is a picture:
Book news: My book has blurbs! By wonderful writers I love and admire! They are now on the book's Amazon page for the world to see. http://amzn.com/1101981202
Random cheer: You need to watch this video of tiny donuts being made in a tiny kitchen. trust me.
Happy week to you all!
What I am reading: Modern Girls by Jennifer S. Brown. I am very lucky to have an ARC of this wonderful historical novel set in 1930's New York about a mother and daughter both having to make unthinkable choices. It's coming out April 5th!
What I am listening to: Grant Lee Phillips' Ladies Love Oracle. I believe this was GLP first solo project after Grant Lee Buffalo broke up. This record is a wonderfully dreamy, lo-fi collection of stories. Every year it creeps back into rotation. http://www.grantleephillips.com/album...
In the kitchen: I made Dorie Greenspan's Sunday in Paris cake from her wonderful cookbook Baking Chez Moi. Here is a picture:
A photo posted by Louise Miller (@louisethebaker) on Mar 3, 2016 at 9:19am PST
Book news: My book has blurbs! By wonderful writers I love and admire! They are now on the book's Amazon page for the world to see. http://amzn.com/1101981202
Random cheer: You need to watch this video of tiny donuts being made in a tiny kitchen. trust me.
Tiny Donuts | Tiny KitchenHow to make Tiny Donuts
Posted by Tastemade on Friday, March 4, 2016
Happy week to you all!
contrasts
This weekend has been deliciously quiet. I have a few plans--mostly in the form of walks and meals with friends. After the adventures of the past couple of weeks, I am really enjoying being at home getting caught up on things like emails and ordering cat food and making handouts for an upcoming workshop I am giving with Kate Racculia.
I've been thinking a lot about the need for this sort of ebb and flow in life. I think all joy comes from these contrasts. It's the thing I love the most about living in New England. Spring feels *so good* after a long winter, in a way that it never could in southern California. Chocolate is in itself good--but it tastes even better after eating french fries. Contrast invites us to have fresh experiences. I think the key is to try and not to play favorites. I am totally enjoying the contrast of being home, even though I loved every minute of traveling.
What I am reading: just finishing up the amazing Kissing in America by Margo Rabb. Next up: no question. It is time to re-read all three books in Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Cycle, starting with The Raven Boys, because the last installment of the series, The Raven King pubs APRIL 26th, PEOPLE. That's just 2 short days after my birthday! I love, love, love these characters so much, and am in awe of Ms. Stiefvater (if you ever need someone to fangirl over The Scorpio Races with, drop me a line) and basically I CAN'T WAIT.
What is on repeat: I've been listening to The Velvet Underground's The Velvet Underground and Nico. What else is there to say about this seminal album? Just this piece of advice. If you are home, even when you think you are alone, do not listen to this record with headphones on, because you will start to sing along. And you will start to sing like Nico. You won't even realize that you are doing it. And you will not sound good. At all. And guess what? You left a window open. And your neighbors are unloading their groceries. And they just heard you singing in the accent on an German model-chanteuse.
In the kitchen: My favorite desserts are always concoctions of leftovers, and my best dessert this week was made from just that. I had a quart of extra passionfruit curd and a flat of little ripe mangos in the kitchen...and voile! tropical shortcake with passionfruit cream and fresh mango and pineapple tossed in sugar and lime zest. Yum. It also looked like springtime:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEEGhK2PZ...
Book news: All's quiet on the debut novel front. I have been taking a lot of book two notes, which are starting to come together and feel real to me. At the same time I have been doing a little dreaming (and a little scheming) about The City Baker's Guide to Country Living. I have some ideas for events that I would love to create, and goals I would love to achieve--and August 9th is coming up fast!
It's a strange and funny time, trying to write a new book while letting go of the first. I wrote about it for the Debutante Ball this week: http://www.thedebutanteball.com/book-...
It's a piece where I talk about each novel as a love affair i'm having.
Random cheer: newborn goats in hand-knit sweaters. do you need me to say more? this is what the internet was made for:
http://laughingsquid.com/a-trio-of-ne...
Thanks for reading, friends. May all the contrasts of life bring you joy and not suffering, this and every week.
I've been thinking a lot about the need for this sort of ebb and flow in life. I think all joy comes from these contrasts. It's the thing I love the most about living in New England. Spring feels *so good* after a long winter, in a way that it never could in southern California. Chocolate is in itself good--but it tastes even better after eating french fries. Contrast invites us to have fresh experiences. I think the key is to try and not to play favorites. I am totally enjoying the contrast of being home, even though I loved every minute of traveling.
What I am reading: just finishing up the amazing Kissing in America by Margo Rabb. Next up: no question. It is time to re-read all three books in Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Cycle, starting with The Raven Boys, because the last installment of the series, The Raven King pubs APRIL 26th, PEOPLE. That's just 2 short days after my birthday! I love, love, love these characters so much, and am in awe of Ms. Stiefvater (if you ever need someone to fangirl over The Scorpio Races with, drop me a line) and basically I CAN'T WAIT.
What is on repeat: I've been listening to The Velvet Underground's The Velvet Underground and Nico. What else is there to say about this seminal album? Just this piece of advice. If you are home, even when you think you are alone, do not listen to this record with headphones on, because you will start to sing along. And you will start to sing like Nico. You won't even realize that you are doing it. And you will not sound good. At all. And guess what? You left a window open. And your neighbors are unloading their groceries. And they just heard you singing in the accent on an German model-chanteuse.
In the kitchen: My favorite desserts are always concoctions of leftovers, and my best dessert this week was made from just that. I had a quart of extra passionfruit curd and a flat of little ripe mangos in the kitchen...and voile! tropical shortcake with passionfruit cream and fresh mango and pineapple tossed in sugar and lime zest. Yum. It also looked like springtime:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEEGhK2PZ...
Book news: All's quiet on the debut novel front. I have been taking a lot of book two notes, which are starting to come together and feel real to me. At the same time I have been doing a little dreaming (and a little scheming) about The City Baker's Guide to Country Living. I have some ideas for events that I would love to create, and goals I would love to achieve--and August 9th is coming up fast!
It's a strange and funny time, trying to write a new book while letting go of the first. I wrote about it for the Debutante Ball this week: http://www.thedebutanteball.com/book-...
It's a piece where I talk about each novel as a love affair i'm having.
Random cheer: newborn goats in hand-knit sweaters. do you need me to say more? this is what the internet was made for:
http://laughingsquid.com/a-trio-of-ne...
Thanks for reading, friends. May all the contrasts of life bring you joy and not suffering, this and every week.
grown-up
Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!
I don’t have children myself, so when I think of Mother’s Day, the images that come up are mostly of baking--being in the kitchen early in the morning, rolling out scone dough for my work’s annual Mother’s Day brunch. It’s one of the only Sundays that we have to work during the year, and the chef always brings in these really good donuts for the staff, so it ends up feeling like a special occasion. I like to sneak a peek into the dining room and see the moms in their colorful dresses and the kids all dressed up—it’s a sweet event.
The funny thing about not having kids is that it is hard sometimes to feel like an adult. I’m 45, but the texture of my life looks an awful lot like it did when I was 25 (note that I said my life looks the same—I do not look the same!) I still live in an apartment in the city, still spend my time in bookstores and coffee shops and taverns with my friends. I go to more plays than rock shows these days, and I hate to admit it, but when I do go to rock shows I prefer a venue that has seats vs. standing up in front of the stage. But for the most part I’m still interested in the same things: indie movies, reading all the books, connecting with new people, making up stories,traveling as much as my bank account will allow, art of all stripes, city rambles, eating all the delicious food, being cozy at home. It’s a happy life. But sometimes I wonder--what does it feel like to really feel like an adult? Does anyone feel like an adult? Or do we all just feel like ourselves all the time? I keep thinking that maybe I’ll feel like a grown-up when the book comes out. Being an official Published Author sounds very adult-like. I’ll let you know.
Book news: My wonderful publisher is running a book giveaway of The City Baker's Guide to Country Living right here on Goodreads! It has been exciting to see people enter. I want everyone to win!
What I’m reading: When Breath Becomes Air. I am so in love with this book. The prose is so beautiful. it’s written in deceptively simple language, but it asks big questions. Every so often I raise my head up from the book and think about the fact that he wrote it knowing he was dying. That urgency is under every sentence.
On the Ipod: I’ve been listening to a lot of Broken Social Scene this week. The first time I saw them play, they had two full drum kits on stage, and two drummers, and honestly it was THRILLING. I love how creative they are, I love that they reference all of my favorite musicians from the 80's while making something brand new, and I love that they aren't afraid to make a ten minute song.
In the kitchen: Meh. It’s still the spring rush, so it’s a sprint AND a marathon, but I made a gooey chocolate pudding cake that stopped me in my tracks. Click here to see a picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE84G3XvZ...
In celebration of Mother's Day I wrote a blog post for The Debutante Ball about the lesson my mom taught me that made me a better writer. Here is the link!
http://www.thedebutanteball.com/how-m...
Random cheer: Goats in totes! Goats in totes. BABY GOATS IN TOTES. Thank you, L.L. Bean. https://www.instagram.com/p/BFFeDXZPZ...
May we all hold on to that feeling of being a ten year old kid riding a bicycle on a warm summer night while being the best adults we can be.
I don’t have children myself, so when I think of Mother’s Day, the images that come up are mostly of baking--being in the kitchen early in the morning, rolling out scone dough for my work’s annual Mother’s Day brunch. It’s one of the only Sundays that we have to work during the year, and the chef always brings in these really good donuts for the staff, so it ends up feeling like a special occasion. I like to sneak a peek into the dining room and see the moms in their colorful dresses and the kids all dressed up—it’s a sweet event.
The funny thing about not having kids is that it is hard sometimes to feel like an adult. I’m 45, but the texture of my life looks an awful lot like it did when I was 25 (note that I said my life looks the same—I do not look the same!) I still live in an apartment in the city, still spend my time in bookstores and coffee shops and taverns with my friends. I go to more plays than rock shows these days, and I hate to admit it, but when I do go to rock shows I prefer a venue that has seats vs. standing up in front of the stage. But for the most part I’m still interested in the same things: indie movies, reading all the books, connecting with new people, making up stories,traveling as much as my bank account will allow, art of all stripes, city rambles, eating all the delicious food, being cozy at home. It’s a happy life. But sometimes I wonder--what does it feel like to really feel like an adult? Does anyone feel like an adult? Or do we all just feel like ourselves all the time? I keep thinking that maybe I’ll feel like a grown-up when the book comes out. Being an official Published Author sounds very adult-like. I’ll let you know.
Book news: My wonderful publisher is running a book giveaway of The City Baker's Guide to Country Living right here on Goodreads! It has been exciting to see people enter. I want everyone to win!
What I’m reading: When Breath Becomes Air. I am so in love with this book. The prose is so beautiful. it’s written in deceptively simple language, but it asks big questions. Every so often I raise my head up from the book and think about the fact that he wrote it knowing he was dying. That urgency is under every sentence.
On the Ipod: I’ve been listening to a lot of Broken Social Scene this week. The first time I saw them play, they had two full drum kits on stage, and two drummers, and honestly it was THRILLING. I love how creative they are, I love that they reference all of my favorite musicians from the 80's while making something brand new, and I love that they aren't afraid to make a ten minute song.
In the kitchen: Meh. It’s still the spring rush, so it’s a sprint AND a marathon, but I made a gooey chocolate pudding cake that stopped me in my tracks. Click here to see a picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE84G3XvZ...
In celebration of Mother's Day I wrote a blog post for The Debutante Ball about the lesson my mom taught me that made me a better writer. Here is the link!
http://www.thedebutanteball.com/how-m...
Random cheer: Goats in totes! Goats in totes. BABY GOATS IN TOTES. Thank you, L.L. Bean. https://www.instagram.com/p/BFFeDXZPZ...
May we all hold on to that feeling of being a ten year old kid riding a bicycle on a warm summer night while being the best adults we can be.
Happy Valentine's Day!
"He leaned forward and pressed his forehead into mine. I closed my eyes and breathed him in. He smelled green and new, like the tender grass that sprouts on a muddy riverbank in earliest spring."
Hello friends! It is almost Valentine's Day and love is in the air. No matter how you celebrate, (or if you don't celebrate) I hope your day is a sweet one.
To get you in the mood, watch Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers sing and dance to one of the dreamiest songs ever written, Night and Day
https://vimeo.com/89400031
And if you want to make something chocolately for your sweetheart or bestie, here is my favorite chocolate truffle recipe. It calls for bourbon, but any liquor will do (and of course, you can leave it out if you don't like anything getting in the way of your chocolate.)
https://tmblr.co/Z3kyxk2IQVYMz
And for some The City Baker's Guide to Country Living romance, here is the song that I listened to every time I was working on a scene between Livvy and Martin:
https://play.spotify.com/track/6bRoGi...
May you make everyone around you feel loved
xo
L
Hello friends! It is almost Valentine's Day and love is in the air. No matter how you celebrate, (or if you don't celebrate) I hope your day is a sweet one.
To get you in the mood, watch Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers sing and dance to one of the dreamiest songs ever written, Night and Day
https://vimeo.com/89400031
And if you want to make something chocolately for your sweetheart or bestie, here is my favorite chocolate truffle recipe. It calls for bourbon, but any liquor will do (and of course, you can leave it out if you don't like anything getting in the way of your chocolate.)
https://tmblr.co/Z3kyxk2IQVYMz
And for some The City Baker's Guide to Country Living romance, here is the song that I listened to every time I was working on a scene between Livvy and Martin:
https://play.spotify.com/track/6bRoGi...
May you make everyone around you feel loved
xo
L
snapshots
a quick peek into Louise's week--books, music, baking and random cheer.
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