Honey Rolls

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Honey Rolls

Honey Rolls

Bread and I have grown close together over the years—at times, almost too close. You see, bread is one of those "dangerous friends" that your mother warned you about (except she was probably talking about those kids in high school instead of the food you eat, but the lesson is the same). Bread is the friend that is oh so fun (and tasty) to be around in moderation. But the more you spend time together, the more you'll realize that Bread also has a hidden agenda.

Bread loves to encourage you to make bad decisions (like eat moremoremore). You see, bread is insecure about her own bulky weight—she thinks she's a heavy cinnamon log when she's really just a light dinner roll—and would love to see you gain a few (dozen) pounds to make her feel better about herself.

Honey Rolls

Over breakfast, she'll hint that a fifth piece of toast might hold you until lunch. Over lunch, she'll ask if you want another helping of bread and cheese (and have you ever been able to turn that down?). Over dinner, she'll softly encourage you to grab another dinner roll to soak up that last bit of gravy.

Whenever I try to distance myself from bread for more than a week, we'll end up bumping into each other in the supermarket. She'll complain that we don't spend nearly enough time together and ask me if we're still friends because I haven't called in awhile. She'll make me feel guilty enough to plan a dinner date for the following evening (where I'll eat an entire fresh baguette with baked brie).

Bread and I have fallen into this trap before. We'll spend too much time together (like an entire week) and suddenly my pants are a little too tight. I think I need to start listening to my mother and be more careful of those dangerous friends.

Then again, maybe I'll get on that after I finish eating another one of these...

Honey Rolls

These honey rolls are soft, tender, and sweet. The rolls are sweetened with honey and coated with a layer of honey and butter. They are a little on the denser side, but no heavier than your average dinner roll. These are the perfect beginning or side to any meal. You'll definitely have a hard time eating just one or two. I caved and ate three; can you really blame me?

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Almond Joy Tart

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Almond Joy Tart

Almond Joy Tart

One of the more interesting things I like to do when traveling abroad is to go shopping in foreign grocery stores. This may sound ridiculous. This may sound like a waste of time. Many of you may even be appalled that I'd take time out of sightseeing to peruse something so commonplace as a grocery store, but I'm going to stand behind myself on this one. It's quite amazing what you'll find.

It's one thing to dine in the unfamiliar restaurants of another country to get a sense of the food culture (and the flavors!), but dining out isn't how most of the population eats. I'm lucky if I dine out once a month. If you want to get a true idea of how people eat (and everybody eats), the market will show you just about everything you could wish to know.

Almond Joy Tart

I like to marvel at the differences from my own store and the foods I'm used to. Depending on where you live and where you are traveling, the fruits and vegetables vary. I've often picked up fruit I couldn't recognize, tried to translate the sign I couldn't read, and ended up snapping a photo to identify it later. The amount of boxed and processed foods scattered throughout the store can say quite a bit about the culture you're visiting. I've noticed that there seems to be a much greater focus on fresh food everywhere but the United States. I also find the sweet treats to be fascinating but, then again, my life tends to revolve a bit around butter and sugar.

Food says a lot about a culture and the people who live there. Next time you're in a far away land, eat as much as you can! But when you get full, take a minute or two out of your day to walk through a market and explore. You might just learn more than you expected.

Almond Joy Tart

Believe it or not, this tart tastes exactly like an Almond Joy. It is as if you've placed an Almond Joy on a flaky shortbread cookie and taken a big bite. Seriously. The sweet coconut is covered in just the right amount of chocolate—neither overwhelms the other. Sliced almonds are spread over the coconut giving each bite that rich and subtle almond flavor instead of the occasional big crunch in a real Almond Joy. This tart converted my coconut hating boyfriend into one who now requests I make more coconut treats.

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Orange Scones

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Orange Scones

Orange Scones

I can't believe this is my 100th post. I've shared 100 recipes, 100 stories, and well over 100 photographs with you. It doesn't seem like it can be possible! I want to thank all of you for your advice, comments, and inspiration to keep finding new things to bake! Thanks for sticking around so long. You, dear reader, make sharing my life and recipes worthwhile.

To celebrate, I decided to tackle a pastry that has alluded me for a very long time—scones. I have never made a successful scone (this is my shameful secret). Some people are afraid of making macarons or croissants. I'm terrified of making scones. I tried to make chocolate chip scones (on more than one occasion), but they turned into inedible, tasteless rocks the second they popped out of the oven. I made pear scones that were so awful I could hardly stomach a bite. I tried buttermilk scones that were so dry even jam couldn't save them.

The list goes on.

Orange Scones

In my efforts to make an edible scone, I brushed up on the different types of recipes. I learned there are two different types of scones—the American scone and the English scone. The American scone tends to be larger, drier, and much sweeter than its European counterpart. The European scone is often light and flaky like a biscuit and barely sweetened. With my history of bone-dry scones, I thought the European method might be just the ticket for me.

I was right. This recipe right here produced my first successful scone. They aren't just edible; they taste fantastic. I've had two taste-testers ask me for the recipe already.

Consider my fear of scones conquered.

Orange Scones

These orange scones are bright and full of citrus flavor. The scone is moist, light, and flaky. I would say the texture is somewhere between a biscuit and American scone. The orange flavor really shines through on these scones. I would recommend glazing them because it helps to balance out the lightly sweetened scones. I think these scones are a little reminder that spring is on its way.

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