Posts made in October, 2021

Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

Posted by on Oct 27, 2021 in Blog, Bready or Not, cookies | Comments Off on Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

A necessary clarification first thing: these Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles are named thusly because they include pumpkin spice, not pumpkin.

Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

If you do want Snickerdoodles with pumpkin, I can help with that, too. Even in bar form.

Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

These cookies look like normal Snickerdoodles with crackled tops, but the flavor is much more complex thanks to that spice mix. These really taste and smell like autumn.

Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

However, these are so good, they are fantastic year-round. As I’ve said before, the things you enjoy–be it food or music or décor–shouldn’t be confined to one season. If you like it, like it whenever you want!

Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

This recipe makes a decent batch, about 50 cookies using a teaspoon scoop, and will be best if eaten within 3 days. Therefore, make them to share with a crowd, or you may experience a Snickerdoodle overdose.

Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

This fresh take on Snickerdoodles uses pumpkin spice mix, not pumpkin, to create delicious cookies. Pumpkin spice is associated with autumn, but these are so good, you’ll want to make them year-round! Makes about 50 teaspoon-sized cookies.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookies, snickerdoodle
Servings: 50 cookies
Author: Beth Cato

Equipment

  • parchment paper
  • teaspoon scoop

Ingredients

Topping

  • 3 Tablespoons pumpkin spice
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cardamom
  • 1/3 cup white sugar

Dough

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 cubes) room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat an oven at 350-degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together the three topping ingredients. Set aside.
  • In another bowl, combined the flour, cream of tartar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Gradually work in the flour mixture until it’s just combined.
  • Use a teaspoon scoop to form small bowls of dough. Roll the dough in the topping spices, one at a time, and place spaced out on the baking sheet.
  • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the tops are crackled and just set, but not browning. Let them cool at the sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a rack to fully cool.
  • Store cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

OM NOM NOM!

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    Bready or Not Original: Sugar-Crusted Pumpkin Cake

    Posted by on Oct 20, 2021 in Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, cake, chocolate, pumpkin | Comments Off on Bready or Not Original: Sugar-Crusted Pumpkin Cake

    This Sugar-Crusted Pumpkin Cake is moist, delicious, and packed with autumnal flavors!

    Bready or Not Original: Sugar-Crusted Pumpkin Cake

    There is a definite pumpkin pie-like vibe to this thing. The white chocolate chips melted along the bottom (hence the direction to grease the foil well) and formed a sort of scrumptious crust, too.

    Bready or Not Original: Sugar-Crusted Pumpkin Cake

    This thing is even pretty. I like using turbinado sugar as a top crust because it’s pretty, texturally delightful, and tastes darn good!

    Bready or Not Original: Sugar-Crusted Pumpkin Cake

    This cake will keep for at least 3 days, covered and chilled, and maybe longer. It also freezes like a champ.

    Bready or Not Original: Sugar-Crusted Pumpkin Cake

    Since this makes a 13×9 pan, it’s probably a good thing it can be portioned out over days and weeks!

    Bready or Not Original: Sugar-Crusted Pumpkin Cake

    This easy-to-make pumpkin cake makes a lot of hearty, moist cake loaded with fall flavor. It keeps well in the fridge for days, and can also be frozen for later.
    Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: applesauce, cake, chocolate, pumpkin
    Author: Beth Cato

    Equipment

    • 13×9 pan

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 4 large eggs room temperature
    • 2 cups white sugar
    • 1 cup vegetable oil
    • 1/2 cup applesauce
    • 2 cups cake flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
    • 1 cup white chocolate chips

    Topping

    • 1/2 cup turbinado or other coarse sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice

    Instructions

    • Line a 13×9 pan with foil and apply generous nonstick spray or butter. Preheat oven at 350-degrees.
    • Mix together the eggs, white sugar, vegetable oil, and applesauce. Add the cake flour, baking soda, pumpkin spice, and salt. Follow up with the vanilla extract and pumpkin puree. Fold in the white chocolate chips.
    • Pour batter into the pan and level out. Mix together the two topping ingredients and sprinkle over the cake.
    • Bake for 1 hour, or until the middle passes the toothpick test. Let cool at room temperature, then store in fridge. Cake will keep for at least 3 days in the fridge, but can also be sliced and frozen for later enjoyment.

    OM NOM NOM!

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      Bready or Not Original: Apple-Frangipane Galette

      Posted by on Oct 13, 2021 in apples, Blog, boozy, Bready or Not, breakfast, French, nutty, pie | Comments Off on Bready or Not Original: Apple-Frangipane Galette

      This Apple-Frangipane Galette is like a leaner apple pie. It’s the way to enjoy a sweet treat without going full overkill.

      Bready or Not Original: Apple-Frangipane Galette

      This recipe has a lot of ingredients and steps, but they can be spread out over a few days, if you want. The actual recipe is pretty straightforward!

      Bready or Not Original: Apple-Frangipane Galette

      I’ve been doing a number of recipes that use frangipane, and I get asked almost every time: “what is frangipane?”

      Bready or Not Original: Apple-Frangipane Galette

      To quote Wikipedia, it’s: “a sweet almond-flavored custard used in a variety of ways including cakes and… pastries. …Today it is normally made of butter, sugar, eggs, and ground almonds.”

      Bready or Not Original: Apple-Frangipane Galette

      In other words, it’s a spreadable, sweet, nutty layer of goodness. It acts as the perfect complement to apples in this recipe.

      Bready or Not Original: Apple-Frangipane Galette

      Do note that this is best enjoyed the day it is made. It’s fine, though, to freeze slices of it right away. When you thaw them later, enjoy the pieces that same day!

      Bready or Not Original: Apple-Frangipane Galette

      This Apple-Frangipane Galette is like a lighter, thinner version of apple pie, made all the better by the rich-almond filling beneath the apples. Note that this should be eaten the day it is made, but it can also be frozen to be eaten later.
      Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
      Cuisine: French
      Keyword: almond, apple, pie
      Author: Beth Cato

      Equipment

      • parchment paper
      • food processor
      • pastry brush

      Ingredients

      Crust:

      • 1 cup all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
      • 4 teaspoons white sugar
      • 1/2 teaspoon salt
      • 6 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
      • 1 large egg

      Frangipane:

      • 2/3 cup almond flour sifted to remove lumps
      • 1/4 cup white sugar
      • 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
      • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter room temperature
      • 1 large egg
      • 1 Tablespoon apple brandy such as Calvados (optional)
      • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
      • 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
      • pinch salt

      Apple filling:

      • 2 medium apples such as Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious
      • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar packed
      • 1 Tablespoon white sugar
      • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
      • 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
      • 1 large egg beaten
      • turbinado or other coarse sugar

      Glaze:

      • 2 Tablespoons honey
      • 2 teaspoons apple brandy such as Calvados

      Instructions

      Make the crust:

      • In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and chop until it’s pea-sized. Add the egg and pulse until it comes together; if it doesn’t, add tiny drizzles of water until it does–just make sure the dough ends up cohesive, not wet. Turn out the dough onto a big piece of plastic wrap and compress the dough to form a disc. Wrap it up and chill it in fridge for a few hours, minimum, or a few days.

      Make the frangipane:

      • Use a rubber spatula to combine the almond flour, sugar, flour, butter, egg, apple brandy, vanilla, pie spice and salt, making it smooth. Stash it in the fridge until ready to use.

      Assembling the galette:

      • Preheat oven at 400-degrees. Prepare a big cookie sheet with a piece of parchment. Bring out the dough to warm for a few minutes, then lightly flour a surface and roll it out to about a 12-inch round. Move it to the parchment paper.
      • Spread the frangipane over the dough, leaving a blank 1 1/2-inch border. Set the baking sheet in the fridge while preparing the apples.

      Prepare the apples:

      • Peel the apples and slice to 1/4-inch thickness. In another bowl, stir together the brown sugar, sugar, lemon juice, and pie spice. Add this to the apples, and toss them to coat. Bring out the galette dough. Arrange the apples on the frangipane starting from the middle, spiraling them outward while slightly overlapping them. Fold the blank edge over the apples to form a thin, pleated crust. Brush the beaten egg over the crust, then sprinkle it with coarse sugar.
      • Bake galette for 35 to 40 minutes. Apples in middle should be fork-tender when done. Cool for about 30 minutes.

      Make the glaze:

      • In a small saucepan on the stovetop or in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave, warm the honey and brandy until it is loose and spreadable. Using a clean pastry brush, brush glaze over the apples.
      • Let galette cool another 30 minutes, minimum, before cutting it–a pizza slicer is great for this. The galette is best eaten the day it is made, or promptly frozen in slices to be eaten soon after it thaws.

      OM NOM NOM!

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        New Publications Galore!

        Posted by on Oct 7, 2021 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on New Publications Galore!

        I’ve had a lot of works published in September and in recent days. Here’s the recap, and expect another post soon–I’ll have more things published in October!

        “Your Cat” at Daily Science Fiction. A tear-jerker about time travel and cats.

        “Shared Pain” in Nature. A story for those of us who deal with chronic pain.

        – A story based on the letter H in the new anthology G is for Ghosts, just released on Tuesday, and available for purchase everywhere! My story features airships, floating islands, and spirits who just want to get home.

        – Southwest Review Volume 106, No. 3, a prestigious literary magazine, just published my poem “The Exorcist Does a Consultation and No More” in their Halloween issue.

        – Star*Line 44.3 includes my poem “Out of All the Experiences.” 

        Issue 2 of Black Cat Magazine is available for free download, which features my poem “As if My Anxiety is at Last Depleted.”

        “But You Mustn’t Look Back,” a poem co-written with Rhonda Parrish, in the October 1st issue of The Dread Machine.

        #SFWAPro

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        Bready or Not: French Apple Cake in a Springform Pan

        Posted by on Oct 6, 2021 in apples, Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, cake, French | Comments Off on Bready or Not: French Apple Cake in a Springform Pan

        This French Apple Cake is thick with apples, not cake. There’s actually just enough batter to adhere everything together.

        Bready or Not: French Apple Cake in a Springform Pan

        The apples are the star, so get good ones. I recommend doing about half Honeycrisp and Pink Ladies, but go for a combo of two good kinds of baking apples. (Not sure which ones are best for baking? Google has lots of recs!)

        Bready or Not: French Apple Cake in a Springform Pan

        I’ve had a springform pan for years, but I’ve never used it like I did in 2020. That particular pan makes this cake extra good, too, because it creates a high cake with nicely browned edges.

        Bready or Not: French Apple Cake in a Springform Pan

        One thing I’ve noticed about French and Irish apple cakes is that they really emphasize the fruit. American cakes and pies add a lot more spice. As much as I love loading on the cinnamon, it’s refreshing to do a take like this sometimes.

        Bready or Not: French Apple Cake in a Springform Pan

        Let the fruit taste… well, fruity. Here, the addition of Calvados or another apple brandy brings that out even more. You don’t end up with an alcohol taste in the final result, but it does draw out more of the apple flavor.

        This cake is a great one to slice up and freeze for later, too. Make the goodness last even longer!

        Modified from Bake from Scratch September/October 2020 issue.

        Bready or Not: French Apple Cake in a Springform Pan

        This apple cake that lets the flavors of the apples shine through rather than with spices, as with American-style cakes and pies! There is just enough batter to adhere the apples together. Modified from Bake from Scratch September/October 2020 issue.
        Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
        Cuisine: French
        Keyword: apple, cake, springform pan
        Author: Beth Cato

        Equipment

        • 9-inch springform pan
        • uneven spatula
        • parchment paper

        Ingredients

        • 8 large baking apples totaling about 800 grams mix of Honeycrisp and Pink Lady recommended
        • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
        • 3 large eggs room temperature
        • 3/4 cup white sugar
        • 3 Tablespoons apple brandy use Calvados to make it especially French
        • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or substitute vanilla extract
        • 1 cup all-purpose flour
        • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
        • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
        • 2/3 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
        • 1 Tablespoon sparkling sugar
        • Confectioners' sugar for serving

        Instructions

        • Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Prepare a 9-inch springform pan by cutting a piece of parchment to fit the base. Apple nonstick spray to the pan, then add the parchment, and spray it as well. In addition, tear a piece of aluminum foil to cup the bottom of the pan to catch any drips.
        • Peel the apples and chop into 1-inch pieces. Toss with lemon juice. Set aside.
        • In a big bowl, beat eggs until they are pale and foamy. Add the white sugar, apple brandy, and vanilla.
        • In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the big egg-sugar bowl along with the melted butter. Scrape the bowl as needed, stirring everything until just combined. Don’t expect a huge amount of batter–it’s there to act like delicious glue for all of the apple pieces!
        • Reserve 1 heaping cup of the apple chunks. Fold the rest of the apples into the batter, coating them. Dump the mix into the prepared pan and even out with an uneven spatula. Arrange the remaining apples on top, pushing them into the batter and smoothing them out as much as possible.
        • Bake for 20 minutes. Add sparkling sugar over the top. Bake another 20 minutes and check on the cake. It is done with apples in middle are tender and a digital thermometer plunged into the center reads at least 200-degrees. If needed, cook longer; if it’s browning too much, cover with foil.
        • Let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes on a cooling rack. Carefully release the springform ring to let it completely cool for at least an hour; place in fridge to speed the chilling process, if desired.
        • Slice into wedges. Enjoy cold, at room temperature, or warmed, with confectioners' sugar sprinkled over the top. Pieces can also be individually wrapped and frozen for later.

        OM NOM NOM!

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