Leslie’s Comments (group member since Jan 20, 2013)

Leslie’s comments from the Baking and Books group.

I picked up a Marcella Hazan cookbook and am organizing a potluck from this one cookbook. Am going to try my hand at gnocchi.

Hi jute,
I like both plans. I have had fun trying to create the foods served in the Harry Potter books. That caramel book sounds awesome, I will check to see if my library has a copy.

I actually found a bag of sugarplums in a middle eastern grocery. Didn't buy them but they were the discs of honey-colored sugar as described.

Anybody else making pizza for PI day?

That sounds amazing.

I want a low-fat bar cookie that doesn't taste like beans, and has a great texture (not cakey, but not goo either). I've tried many, but always end up disappointed. It just might be impossible, but thought I'd ask.

I'm probably a bit too late with this addition - but my family's favorite CC cookie comes from Joy the Baker, and is somewhat unconventional. It got black sesame seeds (in and on), and even a bit of soy sauce. The flavor has both the sweet chocolate power that brings you to the cookie and an umami power that completely charms. Interested? Its right here.

Does this group discuss the cookbook of the month, or post comments about recipes?
I'm working to borrow a copy of this cookbook. I actually got to visit this restaurant last summer - it was a fantastic lunch stop while touring MIT with my kids. If others will be cooking from it, I'd be happy to participate in a discussion of its recipes.

I agree, Jute. And there is something that is just so comforting about home-made bread that is fresh from the oven. Even if I cannot spread it with butter, it is just fabulous and makes me feel like I am taking care of my family.

I've got a butternut squash lasagna ready to cook for tonight's dinner. I'm on a lasagna bender this winter, looking for that perfect recipe. Do any of you have a favorite recipe? I promised my kids one lasagna a month for the winter ... and they proclaimed that 2013 would be the year that winter never ends...

I love to bake, too, and a year ago was diagnosed with high cholesterol. I've given up cheese and ice cream, and have started using coconut oil in some places in my cooking. And I'm trying to lose weight (nearly 10 lbs lost!).

I review the recipes I prepare at www.cookbooker.com, using the name "queezle_sister", and you can see my recent attempts to find healthy brownies. Black bean, white bean, etc. All were failures.

What do you think about breads? Healthy yes or no? So many people - not just celiacs - are avoiding it these days.

This is a seriously awesome set of video lessons. Although I'm swamped at work now, I definitely plan to try these various recipes. Not only are there videos, but you can also download a free 7-page booklet with his recipes.

How many of you make pizza dough at home? Do you have a favorite recipe?

I'm hoping to remodel my kitchen this spring, and bigger space for cookbooks is on the list!
Serious eats did a "cook-the-book" on the Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook, with several featured recipes. I had hoped to win a copy (*sigh*). You can see the various recipes here.

I found a great-looking bread pudding recipe. Its on serious eats, but taken from the "back in the day bakery" cookbook. You can find it here.

A word of warning, though, - along with delicious, this stuff is calorie and fat dense, and addictive!

so don't say I didn't tell ya so.

I have had a recent success with buns that could have been used for hamburgers. The recipe came from using a Laurel's Kitchen Bread book - it is a buttermilk whole wheat bread - and you can read my review and see a picture here.

Thanks for that link! I enjoy making pizza at home and am sure it will give me some ideas for improvement.

I've thought about getting that book, Jute. Have you used it for french bread yet?

I love home-made bread but because I work a lot of hours, and have an erratic schedule, I don't do much.

But recently, I've been making the no-knead bread. It is pretty forgiving on rise time.

That cookbook sounds like just my kind of thing! Thanks - I'll be sure to find a copy. Even the title makes it sound quite interesting. Thanks.

That is a good question, Bob. I used to make a very rich bread pudding with a whiskey-based sauce (lots of butter), but don't think my kids would like it. I was looking at bread pudding recipes yesterday and was surprised to find many savory ones - e.g. including cheese. Have you ever made a savory bread pudding? Or do you have a favorite recipe?

I like to prepare bread pudding with leftover bread, but since getting chickens its now much easier to turn it into chicken feed ;-(