Baking with Herbs

Summer is not just ideal for baking with fruit, it's the perfect time to experiment with fresh herbs. Visit any farmer's market and you'll see the selection is bountiful–and cheap! I love using herbs in my desserts–they are the perfect floral or spicy counterpart to something sweet. Run your hand through the woody stalks of a rosemary plant, pinch a plump basil leaf between your fingers. Let the unique fragrance of each herb open your mind to the creative possibilities!

Some pairings to get you started:

Basil: apricots, blueberries, citrus, honey, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, vanilla, watermelon
Lavender: almonds, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, citrus, honey, peaches, pistachios, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, vanilla, walnuts
Mint: blackberries, chocolate, citrus, mango, raspberries, strawberries
Rosemary: apricots, citrus, figs, grapefruit, honey
Sage: blueberries, cherries, citrus, pears, pumpkin, walnuts

Some ideas to get you started:

• Macerate blackberries with fresh mint
• Steep whipping cream with dried lavender
• Infuse cherry compote with sage
• Roast apricots with rosemary and honey
• Grind dried lavender with sugar
• Top your strawberry shortcake with thinly sliced basil

What's your favorite herb? What dessert does it inspire you to make?

Pie Season

Are you ready for pie season? Because it's just around the corner.... Yes, I love autumn pies–apple, pumpkin, and pear. But really, I'm obsessed with spring and summer fruit pies. The minute strawberries and rhubarb start hitting the farmer's market, I know that cherries, blackberries, and raspberries aren't far behind. And don't get me started on stone fruit!

Because the seasons can be short for each fruit, it's good to know when to get your bake on. Here's a sense of what's in season and when:

May/June- Rhubarb, strawberries, cherries
June/July- Apricots, plums, blueberries
July/August- Blackberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines

Until my cookbook arrives on book shop shelves, here are some of my favorite pie and tart cookbooks to get you inspired (most of which are recommended by Junita at Stack of Cookbooks):

Essential Baker's Pantry

What kind of baker are you? Do you plan weeks in advance, or do you only bake when the spirit moves you? As gratifying as it can be to make a complicated dessert, I love spontaneous, simple baking. Friday night fruit crisp. Sunday morning muffins. Random weeknight crepes... for dinner. Sometimes the best treats are the ones that come together with little or no planning. With a well-stocked pantry, you can pull off almost anything. Here's what I recommend:

Dry Ingredients

Flour: all-purpose, cake

Sugar: granulated, light brown, confectioner's

Baking soda

Baking powder

Salt

Chocolate Chips

Cocoa Powder

Dried Fruit

Nuts

Perishable Ingredients

Butter 

Eggs 

Milk

Heavy cream

Sour cream

Lemons (or some other citrus, for the zest)

Spices etc.

Vanilla extract

Vanilla beans

Ground cinnamon

Bonus Ingredients

Dark brown sugar

Turbinado sugar

Fresh ginger

Jam

Greek Yogurt
Corn syrup
Molasses


What are your favorite recipes for spontaneous sweets?