Jennifer Moorman's Blog, page 21

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Blood Orange Sauce

Blood oranges not only have a more vibrant, deeper color than regular oranges (such as Naval), but their flavor also is more intense as well. Blood oranges are slightly more bitter (although, at times, some varieties are even sweeter) than regular oranges.In my opinion, blood oranges are oranges with a kick. This is one way to describe the difference between love and passion. Passion is love with a kick. And this kick can send you to the moon or send you into dark, bitter sections of yourself...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Galaxy Cake

Anna O'Brien owns Bea's Bakery in Mystic Water. She cares about the bakery's patrons, and she makes special treats and pastries for them. With all the excitement over the solar eclipse, Anna wanted to do something special for me!Nashville is on the direct path of the eclipse. Supposedly a million people might descend upon the city. The hotels are sold out, and people have been selling solar glasses on street corners.What goes better with a rad pair of solar glasses? How about an awesome galax...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Passion Fruit Torte

Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged people to do one thing every day that scared them. I have often tried to incorporate this ideology into my life. Baking a new recipe can sometimes fall into the category of “scary attempts.” I’ve ruined chocolate tortes (and cried), dried out cakes (and cursed), and had cakes that refused to set (and swore I’d give up baking).This is my first passion fruit torte based on a recipe I had never tested. Trying new recipes can either go swimmingly or end up added to th...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Spice-Kissed Pumpkin Pie

Some of my favorite movies are romantic comedies. I love watching two people fall in love, and I love all the wonderful, fluttery feelings that tag along with falling in love. Butterflies in the stomach, starry eyes, held breath. All the clichés—I love them.Simply thinking about the feelings associated with falling in love pulls a big girly sigh from my lips. But you know what I also love about finding that perfect someone? Having a best friend who knows you better than anyone else.Someone wh...

Cooking Through Fiction: Percy Jackson's Blue Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love mazes. I love to try and solve them on paper, and I love to walk through the giant ones constructed from corn or boxwood hedges. I’m not discouraged by dead ends. I just backtrack and choose another path. I never think I won’t find the way out. Neither does Percy.In book four of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, titled The Battle of the Labyrinth, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson must navigate Daedalus’ labyrinth in order to save the world. Again.Unlike a corn maze (or a munc...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Bear Claws

My friend Jenna says everyone needs at least one 3 a.m. friend. This is the type of friend (guy or girl) whom you can call at 3 a.m. Regardless if you have a flat tire, a broken heart, or are stranded in some seedy night club because you’ve deserted the total jerk you showed up with, this friend will answer the phone.And not only will he or she answer the phone, this 3 a.m. friend will come and pick you up, talk to you until you can breathe again, or tell you to pack a suitcase and drive over...

Cooking Through Fiction: Boone Crowe Buttermilk Biscuits

I remember watching westerns on TV with my daddy when I was a little girl. Normally, when I’m home for the holidays, there’s still bound to be a western or two watched. Because most westerns follow a specific pattern, we like knowing what’s going to happen, laughing about the swooning-but-tough-girl leading ladies, and knowing without a doubt that the good guy is going to win.I don’t know if it’s because of these westerns or because I would have always had this specific adoration, but I have...

Cooking Through Fiction: Percy's Ambrosia Brownies

Sometimes life is difficult. If you’re a demigod, you can multiply your problems by at least ten. In my day-to-day existence, I don’t normally battle monsters, such as evil Titan lords, but Percy isn’t as fortunate as I am. Monsters sniff him out. Literally.Even small tasks that Percy believes are easy enough usually result in a battle for his life. In The Titan’s Curse, Percy’s is sent out to recruit two young demigods. He ends up battling a manticore that is masquerading as a vice principal...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Black Sticky Gingerbread

Uncle Remus said, “You can’t run away from trouble. Ain’t no place that far.” Anna, from The Baker’s Man, would be the first person to agree with him. She’s tried to be a good girl, follow the rules, keep everyone around her happy, but she's in over her head with an aching heart.In Chapter 10, titled Black Sticky Gingerbread, Anna is being hit with wave after wave of complications. There are many decisions to be made, and, unfortunately, none of them are simple.Anna has always believed love w...

Cooking Through "The Baker's Man": Mickey Mouse Club

My birthday is just around the corner! Birthday cakes are personal and normally bought or baked with a special someone’s likes in mind. They are sometimes brought to a table with candles blazing like a fire (this happens as you grow older). Sometimes they have sparking candles that you can’t blow out, and the crowd thinks it’s funny, but you keep trying to extinguish the flames anyway.I’ve had all sorts of birthday cakes through the years. My favorites are usually chocolate, but I wouldn’t tu...