I started getting complaints from my kiddo because of the recent cease of baking. Well, there’s still no time for baked sweets, but I thought these muffins, although savory, could rehabilitate me. I served them warm with a green salad and a chicken effortlessly grilled whole on a beer can. Turned out a pretty decent lunch.
I’ll better start with some explanations. I haven’t abandoned my blogging, although it might recently seem like that. I am sort of on a maternity leave taking care of my new baby girl – a 10 week old Doberman puppy. She is a handful, but also an amazing joy. There’s almost no sleep for me nowadays. As for the puppy, she naps briefly giving me very little time just to fix simple meals for my family and no time for baking at all. I apologize profusely for my absence here lately and for a delay in replying on your e-mails and answering the questions. I’m planning to dedicate an upcoming Saturday entirely for this purpose. And once our girl is housebroken and doesn’t require constant supervision, I’ll post way more often, that’s my promise.
Obviously, the recipe below would suit fine people in the situation like mine – who don’t have much time or/and energy for lengthy dessert preparations. The recipe makes more fruit compote than needed for a topping, but it keeps for a couple of days in the fridge and tastes great over plain yogurt for breakfast or just on its own.
The cake is sort of a lighter version of classic pound cake. Ricotta cheese replaces half of the butter which results in no less delicious and outstandingly moist cake. Good quality cocoa, chopped chocolate, and a double shot of espresso provide a superior chocolate flavor.
The cake on the photo is impatiently sliced warm.
I often make brioche dough on Friday, bake it fresh for Saturday breakfast, and turn the leftovers into some kind of bread pudding on Sunday – very little fuss, really, and a lot of appreciation from the family.
The brioche recipe I use these days (and I’m not looking for another) is an Alice Medrich’s adaptation of Desiré Valentin brioche, the best bread I’ve had. The brilliant idea of the chocolate banana jam belongs to the local genii – Dominique and Cindy Duby. It can perfectly replace Nutella for those who can’t eat nuts.
I probably have never gone so long without posting. But it seems an unfortunate habit for me to pick up some nasty flu virus when the flu season is already over and everybody else but me enjoys outdoors, warm weather and sunshine. I had a miserable week. And I haven’t baked anything since. These cupcakes I made just before. I was recently interviewed by The Globe & Mail regarding homemade cheeses and, after a photo session, had a whole batch of fresh ricotta left on hands. Always happy to experiment, I put the cheese into a good use.
I spotted this idea in Bon Appétit a couple of years ago and fell instantly in love. I’ve been making the marmalade regularly since then, as often as I lay my hands on organic blood oranges.
Adapted from Bon Appétit.
