Gesine Bullock-Prado's Blog, page 32

Mango Matcha Cheesecake Day

In honor of national cheesecake day this Friday the 30th, I present my favorite creamy flavor pairing: mango and green tea. But before we get to the specifics, our first order of business is to settle on a base cheesecake recipe.

I'm a super fan of a recipe that is highly adaptable, one that can take the pressure of infinite flavor combinations. This base cheesecake recipe can do that for you. Once you have the plain batter, you can mix and match with the addition of purees or powders or m...

Running in Circles for Helga & a Recipe to Aid a Moving Benedition

(Helga Racing)
I started running in 2000.  I'd put on my ratty sweats, roughly scrape my hair into a pony tail, check to see that mom was comfortable and then I'd walk the half block down 26th street to North Fillmore, cross the street and then I'd start what had become a moving prayer.

I ran a 1/4 mile loop over and over, a loose circle lined with childhood memories:  That's where the Carreys lived until 7th grade, and the Rattigans were nestled down that side street until sometime in 4th grad...

Passion to Celebrate

I've finished the first draft of Sugar Baby and it's with the publisher.  To celebrate, I made my favorite summer treat:  passionfruit cocoa macaron.  What are your celebratory foods?

the perfect dessert?

That's what Ray called it.  And I've made him many a dessert...

but it's for Sugar Baby.  So you'll have to wait until 2011.  Bwahahahaha.

Puff the Magic Pastry

Who needs fireworks when there are layers of crisp, flaky buttery goodness to be had?

Anything made with puff pastry is a party in your mouth and the gift that puff pastry gives, aside from the monumental caloric and cholesterol ingestion, is that whatever you don't use can be frozen and thawed for later use.  And this is a rare case when you can buy something in the freezer section of high end grocery stores and know that it's going to be as good as you can make at home.  Dufour is a company...

Putting the English on a Muffin

Ray wanted something "Benedicted" for breakfast   Eggs, hollandaise and English muffin, not necessarily with Canadian bacon.

He wanted it without much fanfare.


I wanted it because I wanted to make the muffins.

We both got what we wanted, just a little late.  So we had Benedict for brunch.  And we're happier for it.

English Muffins

(makes 8 large muffins)

(metal rings)
Muffins are cooked on a griddle, not baked. In order to achieve the perfectly round shape, you're going to need a round metal ring....

To Retail or Not to Retail

I once had a shop on Elm Street in Montpelier. It was lovely and filled with my pastries. We've since moved on and away, to a place where I bake professionally, write about baking but all tucked from the madding and public crowds.
However, life is a little constrained when you limit yourself to internet sales, especially when locals and visitors just want to sample the wares. If you're right in the neighborhood, why spend money on shipping? And when shipping around the rural corner costs ...

Living in Freegrace

(where'd you go to?)I had another blog called Living in Freegrace . In mid March, I took it down due to some rather awful circumstances but I've missed writing about simple things that bring unexpected joy. So I've started it back up with some changes.
Come visit to share in our freewheeling Vermont adventures.

The American Cancer Society:

The American Cancer Society:
I'm running the Marine Corps Marathon, my mother's marathon, to honor her and every brave soul who has battled cancer.

Say Sugar!

(Tina arranging malt candy skulls "just so" for their closeup)
Tina, Deborah, Elizabeth and Yvonne. Four lovely people who slogged all the way to Vermont from New York to take pictures of sweets. They schlepped loads of camera equipment and props across state lines, jerryrigged a professional studio in the living room and organized an extensive prop station in the dining room.
(skull #2 needs a touch up. Shiny forhead.)
I will be the first to tell you that I don't know how these things are...