January 13th, 2010 by MaryJane Robbins

Hey there, you. Yes, you the baker. It’s me, your New Year’s Baking Resolution. You know the one where you said you were going to be more adventurous, try new recipes, new ingredients, new flavors?
I’ve been hard at work searching for our first escapade, and have I got a doozie! Ready to learn more? Check out this Mystery Cake, it’s made with.. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 60 Comments »
January 10th, 2010 by PJ Hamel

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
HA. That’s all well and good for romantic winter-istas, who like to imagine beautiful flakes sifting out of a soft evening sky through lantern light.
Or for skiers, snowmobilers, sledders, or snowman-builders. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 39 Comments »
January 7th, 2010 by PJ Hamel

Yep, The Big Cheese-y.
That’s what I wanted the headline on the email accompanying this blog to read. I thought it was cute - you know, a nifty cross between The Big Cheese and The Big Easy.
But when I ran it past my Web teammates? THUD. Lead balloon, big time.
So nanananapoopoo, Webbies – it’s headlining this blog instead.
Where it’s absolutely apropos: what could be cheesier, or easier, than that classic comfort-food favorite, mac and cheese? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 45 Comments »
January 4th, 2010 by PJ Hamel

When is a waffle not a weekend breakfast treat?
When it’s a sugar waffle. A crisp/crunchy, waffle-pocket cookie, a cookie touched with malt for darkly delicious flavor. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 35 Comments »
January 1st, 2010 by PJ Hamel

Ah, chocolate cake, topped with light-as-air coconut frosting and filled with [the secret ingredient]…
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Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 29 Comments »
December 28th, 2009 by PJ Hamel

What? ANOTHER pizza recipe?!
Hey, pizza is like chocolate layer cake, Chinese food, and macaroni and cheese: you can eat it your whole life, and somehow never get tired of it.
Still, variations on the theme are always welcome. And Pizza Sfincioni, with its thick layer of crunchy bread crumbs on top, is unusual indeed. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 40 Comments »
December 24th, 2009 by PJ Hamel
From our kitchen to yours – happy holidays, and here’s to a bright and beautiful 2010!
Best wishes (and thank you) from your fellow bakers at King Arthur Flour.
Posted in Tips .:. 60 Comments »
December 23rd, 2009 by MaryJane Robbins

From chestnuts roasting on an open fire to dreaming by the fire in a winter wonderland, the holiday season is filled with references to crackling warm fires and the comfort that they bring to young and old alike. So, how did the traditional (and necessary!) fires of winter come to be represented by a cake? Let’s find out… Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 31 Comments »
December 20th, 2009 by PJ Hamel

December 21, the official start of winter, is the shortest day of the year – the winter solstice. And for those of us up North, this means a scant 10 hours of weak daylight – and over 14 hours of darkness.
It’s no wonder that northern Europeans used to gather on December 21 and burn bonfires all night long, imploring the sun to return. In Scotland, the tradition was enhanced with the addition of oat shortbread – baked in a round, and notched around the edge to resemble the sun’s rays.
The buttery shortbread we serve these days is a far cry from that original oatcake. But it’s still just about the simplest cookie you can make: flour, butter, and sugar, enhanced with a touch of salt, maybe vanilla. That’s your basic shortbread. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 35 Comments »
December 17th, 2009 by PJ Hamel

Ah, Christmas! The day so many of us have been preparing for lo, these many weeks. Now, believe it or not, it’s just 7 days away.
Do YOU have your Christmas breakfast strategy planned yet?
I mean, we’re talking a Big Issue here: how to enjoy Christmas with your family - the tree, the music, the kids’ explosive excitement – and still ensure everyone gets something yummy in the tummy before happy turns to cranky (as it’s wont to do, when breakfast is late).
Cornflakes? Too commonplace. An elaborate sitdown? Itchy kids can’t sit.
The solution? Make ahead, bake in the morning. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Test Kitchen, Tips .:. 52 Comments »