Heather Baird's Blog, page 48

Salted Caramel Fondue

Two years ago my husband gave me a beautiful Swiss-made fondue pot as an anniversary gift. It's now one of my most loved possessions because it sparked a full-blown obsession with all things fondue. My first foray involved bubbling up Emmental, Gruyere and a bit of white wine which was delicious to eat and entertaining to share. Soon after, dessert fondues became a regular after-dinner event, although we didn't always have company to entertain. 
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Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Returning to a place of normalcy after moving house has been much harder than I expected! We've unboxed what is essentially the past ten years of our lives in just a few weeks. We've donated more than half of our wardrobes for a mindful restart. We've been exploring the quirks of our circa 1930 home, discovering beautiful old doors in the basement and flipping light switches that don't seem to turn anything on (ha!). It's been an adventure, and one that requires a batch of homemade cookies to smooth ragged edges and make somewhere new feel familiar.
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Spiced Pear Filo Tart

Hello, it's been too long! Major things have happened since last we met here. We moved into a new house and all my cake-ing and baking supplies moved into their own little studio. I've spent the last month sprucing it up (see here) and now I'm ready to start using it for all it's worth! Honestly, I feel like one of those toy cars that you pull back in order to wind up, and when you let go it races full speed ahead. I am that kind of ready!

This spiced pear tart with crisp filo crust proved to be a nice way to ease back into things. It's a quick fix, and with its crinkled edges it's a rustic beauty. Winter citrus is still available to keep our spirits buoyant, so I couldn't resist adding a few blood orange slices on top.
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Moscow Mule Soft Caramels

My current beverage obsession is the Moscow Mule, a cocktail made with spicy ginger beer, tangy lime juice, and vodka - all served in a copper mug. There are a few variations to the drink. Some swap lemon juice for lime or add fresh mint, but nothing beats the combination of fresh lime and ginger if you ask me. It's so zingy! That's what inspired me to make these caramels.
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Champagne Gelées

The days between Christmas and New Year's Eve always make me feel a little fuzzy-headed. What am I supposed to be doing again? There are no more presents to wrap and I've actually had a chance to put my feet up! Perhaps I should embrace this small respite, because 2018 holds a big change for us. We've purchased new (old!) house, which you can read a little about here. I'm so excited about this new adventure, and over-the-moon that I will have my own little studio in which to bake and photograph sweet things. It's a dream come true, really!

I'm raising a toast to all of this newness with these little Champagne Gelées, which are so simple to whip up. They are sweet and boozy, and your reward for making it to the bottom of the glass is a chocolate truffle!
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Toasted Coconut Shortbread

Merry Christmas Eve, friends! I hope you've enjoyed my daily posts as much as I have enjoyed baking and sharing them. My final advent treat is yet another shortbread cookie recipe, but one can never have too many if you ask me. These were my husband's favorite this season. He loves all things toffee, and even though these cookies don't have an ounce of toffee in them, the toasted bits of coconut may trick you into believing they do.
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Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Bundt Cake

Yesterday I woke up with a powerful craving for red velvet cake, but with all the gifts to wrap and tidying to do, I knew I wouldn't have time to create a fancy layer cake. I decided to make a bundt cake because it's quick, and I'd have an hour to do other things while it baked.

Wow, talk about tasty! A thick layer of cream cheese filling runs through the center of the cake, and it tastes like a cross between vanilla custard and cheesecake! It is lovely inside and out - what more can I say?
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Lemon Sparkler Cookies

We're just days away from Christmas! Are you ready? I've not wrapped a single present yet, but I have been making scores of cookies. These Lemon Sparklers have been a crowd favorite with their crunchy exterior and cake-like interior. The dough is rolled in coarse sugar and as they bake, they puff and crackle in the oven. They glitter like jewels and look extra-pretty stacked on a serving plate.
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Mini Mince Pies

I've been hesitant to try my hand at homemade mincemeat, and now I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was mention of suet in many recipes (and I haven't been acquainted with that ingredient since this 2010 post!). Or maybe it was the seemingly endless list of dried fruits to procure. I'm happy to report that I found all the ingredients needed at my local grocery store, and it's not difficult to make! It's also SO satisfying to check that item off of my baking bucket list!
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Norwegian Christmas Bread (Julekage)

If there were ever an opportune time to make this bread, it is now.  First of all - it's Christmastime! And this bread was named for the season by our Scandinavian neighbors. I've been told that Norwegians cannot imagine a Christmas season without Julekage. (Is this true?) Second, at the end of the baking day you'll have three gorgeous golden loaves, which means one to keep and two to give.
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