High Altitude Bread Baking Adventure

December 27, 2020 by Alyssa D in baking

Basic bread. That’s all I wanted to make. Nothing crazy. Not baguettes or sourdough or ciabatta or bagels, although that makes more sense, knowing me. Just a crusty bread at altitude. But successfully producing something so simple proved elusive. Pun intended.

Several years ago I made the unwise decision to attempt a first-ever loaf of homemade bread after a full day of holiday baking. I pictured the heavenly, crusty boule of Kalamata olive bread that my friend Laurel’s neighbors made to share with us, back when she lived in Corvallis, Oregon.

What I wrought in Boulder was closer to hell.

Dad’s Greek Bread Adventure

January 17, 2019 by Alyssa D in baking

During my first spring living in Colorado, I opened a box that my dad had overnighted from Vermont. After opening the flaps, I breathed in the most glorious smell of fresh Greek bread. Dad sent me two of the precious loaves he’d made.

Our family’s recipe for Greek bread makes four loaves or one large braided vasilopita — a special New Year’s version covered in powdered sugar that hides a lucky coin. When my mom typed it up ages ago, the recipe spanned multiple pages. Since then, more notations emerged.

I’d never attempted it. This holiday season, however, I asked Dad to teach me how. This lesson would be his present to me. So, on my birthday, we got to work.

British-American Teatime Adventure

May 22, 2018 by Alyssa D in baking, appetizers, breakfast

“What is the difference between British scones and American buttermilk biscuits?” We must have asked this question at least half a dozen times in the past couple weeks. Eggs? Butter? Amount of flour? Folding? Shape? Rising agents?

Ultimately the answer didn’t matter as we gobbled Guillaume’s high-altitude buttermilk biscuits shaped like mini scones and my assortment of tiny crustless tea sandwiches. Our spread included Marcona almonds, a bowl of fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, and Pim’s orange cookies.

We’d waited long enough. Not just to eat, but to see Meghan and Harry get married. Although the latter was really just an excuse to make all this food.

Pear and Chocolate Bundt Cake Adventure

December 14, 2017 by Alyssa D in dessert

I used to get angry at recipes that called for a stand mixer, mumbling some expletives before turning off my phone. It seemed like only newlyweds and professional bakers got to have these magic machines. Then Black Friday rolled around.