Comments on: The finishing touches: getting it together for the big day. http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/ Hot Stuff from King Arthur's Hearth Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:32:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Eric http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-9084 Eric Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:49:03 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-9084 <strong>chocolate christmas gifts</strong> Nice entry. You made some great points. chocolate christmas gifts

Nice entry. You made some great points.

]]> By: Monte http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8240 Monte Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:11:23 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8240 argg ... already feeling homesick, I decided to indulge my pain and visit this blog and of course I am now even more homesick! How I wish I was still part of your crew. sigh. And how I wish we were home for Christmas. The good news: I found a bag of KAF flour tucked away in some fancy grocery store, just in time for holiday baking! And we bought a countertop oven from an American who was leaving, so I made cookies (12 at a time), rolls (9 at a time) and today I'm making cran-orange bread. I hope you all had good holidays, and next time anyone comes to Hong Kong (yeah right!) let me know ... I'll bake up some goodies for you! <strong>Monte, remember: nothing is permanent. Live in the moment; try to enjoy the journey, because it's longer-lasting than the destination. The holidays must be hard for you, especially, I understand that. We miss seeing you in the kitchen decorating those endless cookies... But I hope your 12 cookies and 9 rolls and cran-orange bread came out well, and your small tate of home cheered you up. Finn must be doing all kinds of things now... Take care- PJ</strong> argg … already feeling homesick, I decided to indulge my pain and visit this blog and of course I am now even more homesick! How I wish I was still part of your crew. sigh. And how I wish we were home for Christmas. The good news: I found a bag of KAF flour tucked away in some fancy grocery store, just in time for holiday baking! And we bought a countertop oven from an American who was leaving, so I made cookies (12 at a time), rolls (9 at a time) and today I’m making cran-orange bread. I hope you all had good holidays, and next time anyone comes to Hong Kong (yeah right!) let me know … I’ll bake up some goodies for you!

Monte, remember: nothing is permanent. Live in the moment; try to enjoy the journey, because it’s longer-lasting than the destination. The holidays must be hard for you, especially, I understand that. We miss seeing you in the kitchen decorating those endless cookies… But I hope your 12 cookies and 9 rolls and cran-orange bread came out well, and your small tate of home cheered you up. Finn must be doing all kinds of things now… Take care- PJ

]]> By: Margy http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8222 Margy Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:26:05 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8222 Trader Joe's calls their faux-reos Jojos. The seasonal peppermint Jojo's are delicious, but the chocolate-covered ones are indescribable (and I don't much like store-bought cookies), especially straight from the freezer where mine are now residing (to hide them from the nieces and nephews and my self!) Just finished making 10 dozen milk, white and dark chocolate truffles to give to my co-workers this coming week; don't want to look at any more chocolate for, oh, maybe, at least an hour. (IS there any such thing as too much chocolate?) ;-D Trader Joe’s calls their faux-reos Jojos. The seasonal peppermint Jojo’s are delicious, but the chocolate-covered ones are indescribable (and I don’t much like store-bought cookies), especially straight from the freezer where mine are now residing (to hide them from the nieces and nephews and my self!) Just finished making 10 dozen milk, white and dark chocolate truffles to give to my co-workers this coming week; don’t want to look at any more chocolate for, oh, maybe, at least an hour. (IS there any such thing as too much chocolate?) ;-D

]]> By: Rachel http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8206 Rachel Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:38:44 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8206 As far as cloning holiday cookies goes, does anyone have a good recipe for those Danish Butter cookies? I haven't found anything that quite replicates the flavors and textures in those wonderful tins...Recipes? Suggestions? As far as cloning holiday cookies goes, does anyone have a good recipe for those Danish Butter cookies? I haven’t found anything that quite replicates the flavors and textures in those wonderful tins…Recipes? Suggestions?

]]> By: Marcia http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8142 Marcia Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:38:43 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8142 I made the KA Morning Glory muffins for Christmas brunch. There was more batter than would fit in a doz paper liners in the silicone pan. So, I made 2 cute little heart shaped ones. I bought the mix at Williams Sonoma on sale. I am waiting on the sourdough starter to be ready to use. Not sure what to make with it. Maybe I can find a sourdough cookbook. My Christmas present is an 11 cup Cuisinart food processor. The DVD makes it look easy to make dough of all kinds. I can hardly wait to get started. Can't find whole wheat pastry flour though, but I am stocked up on yeast. and 3 kinds of KA flour. Also bought parchment paper which I never use except at Christmas. My problem: just me, and I sort of went overboard this morning. I made a loaf of cranberry bread with those delicious Trader Joe dried cranberries, plus 2 handfuls of walnuts. Then, because there was room in the oven, I made an 8x8 pan of gingerbread! Freezer for sure, until school starts then my students will gobble up anything not nailed down. I teach HS and those boys love to eat. They work hard if food is involved. Trader Joe sold out of those chocolate coated "Oreo" with crushed peppermint on top. I should have bought more the first time, but think they would be easy to make. There are 6 TJ stores in metro ATL now. Their shopping bags with ATL and a peach are big sellers. <strong>Marcia, try our <a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/RecipeDisplay?RID=91" rel="nofollow">Rustic Sourdough Bread</a> recipe - think you'll enjoy it. -PJH</strong> I made the KA Morning Glory muffins for Christmas brunch. There was more batter than would fit in a doz paper liners in the silicone pan. So, I made 2 cute little heart shaped ones. I bought the mix at Williams Sonoma on sale.

I am waiting on the sourdough starter to be ready to use. Not sure what to make with it. Maybe I can find a sourdough cookbook. My Christmas present is an 11 cup Cuisinart food processor. The DVD makes it look easy to make dough of all kinds. I can hardly wait to get started. Can’t find whole wheat pastry flour though, but I am stocked up on yeast. and 3 kinds of KA flour. Also bought parchment paper which I never use except at Christmas.

My problem: just me, and I sort of went overboard this morning. I made a loaf of cranberry bread with those delicious Trader Joe dried cranberries, plus 2 handfuls of walnuts. Then, because there was room in the oven, I made an 8×8 pan of gingerbread! Freezer for sure, until school starts then my students will gobble up anything not nailed down. I teach HS and those boys love to eat. They work hard if food is involved.

Trader Joe sold out of those chocolate coated “Oreo” with crushed peppermint on top. I should have bought more the first time, but think they would be easy to make. There are 6 TJ stores in metro ATL now. Their shopping bags with ATL and a peach are big sellers.

Marcia, try our Rustic Sourdough Bread recipe - think you’ll enjoy it. -PJH

]]> By: Cathie http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8130 Cathie Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:51:07 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8130 LOL, Susan, hope you DID remember that suitcase! I am SO looking forward to the recipe for Hermit Bars! Regina, Hermits are a recipe from the 1880s (maybe earlier) that calls for coffee, lots of spices, chopped walnuts, and an insane amount of raisins. They are soooo gooood.... I would imagine that if one changed the raisins for a dried fruit mix, they could easily substitute as an alcohol-free fruitcake (cookie). OH, they are so good. So. My favorite once the baking was partly done turned out to be the same as ever--those Cowboy Cookies. (I think the easiest thing to call them is Coconut Cowboys.) I added cinnamon, walnuts, and coconut to the basic recipe and then used a combo of white and dark chocolate chips.... like Hermits, they're best when barely baked. Unlike Hermits, too many got eaten; I have to bake the rest to have enough for all my cookie trays, lol... My least fav (and I gave them all away) was a new-to-me Spritz recipe that called for half a teaspoon of almond extract... guess I just don't like almond extract. I'm going back to my old favorite simple Spritz recipe, butter, flour, sugar, eggs, vanilla. The people who got the Magic in the Middles were thrilled! *grin* Happy Holidays to everyone! Cath, back to the kitchen, sweet taters in the oven, turkey still to be stuffed for a late dinner... LOL, Susan, hope you DID remember that suitcase! I am SO looking forward to the recipe for Hermit Bars!

Regina, Hermits are a recipe from the 1880s (maybe earlier) that calls for coffee, lots of spices, chopped walnuts, and an insane amount of raisins. They are soooo gooood…. I would imagine that if one changed the raisins for a dried fruit mix, they could easily substitute as an alcohol-free fruitcake (cookie). OH, they are so good.

So. My favorite once the baking was partly done turned out to be the same as ever–those Cowboy Cookies. (I think the easiest thing to call them is Coconut Cowboys.) I added cinnamon, walnuts, and coconut to the basic recipe and then used a combo of white and dark chocolate chips…. like Hermits, they’re best when barely baked.

Unlike Hermits, too many got eaten; I have to bake the rest to have enough for all my cookie trays, lol…

My least fav (and I gave them all away) was a new-to-me Spritz recipe that called for half a teaspoon of almond extract… guess I just don’t like almond extract. I’m going back to my old favorite simple Spritz recipe, butter, flour, sugar, eggs, vanilla.

The people who got the Magic in the Middles were thrilled! *grin*

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Cath, back to the kitchen, sweet taters in the oven, turkey still to be stuffed for a late dinner…

]]> By: Beth http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8120 Beth Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:27:25 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8120 Here's a tip for weighing out multiple batches with only one scale: Instead of putting the container for the batch on the scale to measure how much you've added, put the ingredient container on the scale and measure how much you've taken out. I think most digital scales will read negative weights. I work in a Food Science lab and this is how we weigh almost everything. <strong>Excellent idea, Beth - thanks! PJH</strong> Here’s a tip for weighing out multiple batches with only one scale: Instead of putting the container for the batch on the scale to measure how much you’ve added, put the ingredient container on the scale and measure how much you’ve taken out. I think most digital scales will read negative weights. I work in a Food Science lab and this is how we weigh almost everything.

Excellent idea, Beth - thanks! PJH

]]> By: Sue http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8118 Sue Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:55:18 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8118 Merry Christmas to all of the fine folks at KAF. I love the blog and check it regularly so I'm grateful to everyone who contributes to it. Have safe travels and peaceful times. <strong>And let me be the first Dec. 25 entry here - HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone from tha 167 employee-owners at King Arthur Flour! PJH</strong> Merry Christmas to all of the fine folks at KAF. I love the blog and check it regularly so I’m grateful to everyone who contributes to it. Have safe travels and peaceful times.

And let me be the first Dec. 25 entry here - HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone from tha 167 employee-owners at King Arthur Flour! PJH

]]> By: Susie http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8110 Susie Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:02:08 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8110 Thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes you've shared. Just this month I've enjoyed success with the Linzer cookies, the gingerbread, and the lemon bliss cake from a few days ago. All baked with KAF, of course! I enjoy your blog so much. Hope you all have very happy holidays. <strong>And the same to you, Susie - thanks for your kind comments. PJH</strong> Thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes you’ve shared. Just this month I’ve enjoyed success with the Linzer cookies, the gingerbread, and the lemon bliss cake from a few days ago. All baked with KAF, of course! I enjoy your blog so much. Hope you all have very happy holidays.

And the same to you, Susie - thanks for your kind comments. PJH

]]> By: Eric http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8104 Eric Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:58:08 +0000 http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2008/12/24/the-finishing-touches-getting-it-together-for-the-big-day/#comment-8104 PJH - are those the Trader Joe's Oreo-knockoffs with peppermint dust in the middle filling? DON'T DO IT! Save yourself! I'm hideously, hideously addicted, and no attempts at reason or rationing last longer than a block from the store. I am *deeply ashamed* of how much I love them, and the only thing that keeps me to a mere eighth of a ton of mass is their seasonal nature. Don't MAKE ME think about how Faux-Reos spiked with a touch of bakers ammonia (to get that commercial texture) and ground-up-left-over candy canes would be sooo delicious after TJs abandons my bloated craving-wracked carcass. Don't make me break out the black cocoa. Stop it! The kitchen is wrecked as it is! I'm out of Cambros and gallon ziplocs! I can't bake anymore. *sigh* Eric, Hitting The Eggnog Until The Urge To Bake More Wanes <strong>Eric, remember this important fact about eggnog: a moment on the lips, forever on the hips. But then again... it's Christmas! Let the good times roll... Actually, the TJ's cookies Julia sent were like crunched up Oreo cookies (sans filling) enrobed in a peppermint-spiked chocolate coating. I haven't seen the ones you're talking about - since I'm about 3 1/2hours from the nearest TJs, it's not a regular haunt for me like it must be for you... :) PJH </strong> PJH - are those the Trader Joe’s Oreo-knockoffs with peppermint dust in the middle filling?

DON’T DO IT! Save yourself!

I’m hideously, hideously addicted, and no attempts at reason or rationing last longer than a block from the store. I am *deeply ashamed* of how much I love them, and the only thing that keeps me to a mere eighth of a ton of mass is their seasonal nature. Don’t MAKE ME think about how Faux-Reos spiked with a touch of bakers ammonia (to get that commercial texture) and ground-up-left-over candy canes would be sooo delicious after TJs abandons my bloated craving-wracked carcass. Don’t make me break out the black cocoa. Stop it! The kitchen is wrecked as it is! I’m out of Cambros and gallon ziplocs! I can’t bake anymore.

*sigh*

Eric, Hitting The Eggnog Until The Urge To Bake More Wanes

Eric, remember this important fact about eggnog: a moment on the lips, forever on the hips. But then again… it’s Christmas! Let the good times roll… Actually, the TJ’s cookies Julia sent were like crunched up Oreo cookies (sans filling) enrobed in a peppermint-spiked chocolate coating. I haven’t seen the ones you’re talking about - since I’m about 3 1/2hours from the nearest TJs, it’s not a regular haunt for me like it must be for you… :) PJH

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