Bouchon Bakery | Apple Crumbles

Bouchon: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Maybe the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie isn’t special enough for a holiday cookie but it IS popular enough. Almost everyone enjoys a good oatmeal cookie. This one from Bouchon Bakery’s special recipes is one of the best. See this post on Bloglovin: Follow my blog with Bloglovin Crisp on the outside, chewy in the middle. Isn’t this the perfect oatmeal raisin cookie?! Slight variations were made in the recipe below to the one found in the book. *The book suggests baking by weight as I typically do in my kitchen but I know most home cooks use measuring cups and spoons. [...]

By Joanne|2013-12-11T10:16:19-05:00December 10, 2013|cookies|2 Comments

Bouchon Bakery: TLCs

I’m still on my little running vacation. A welcome time off from the past marathon training. If it wasn’t for a grumbling hamstring and sore hips, I’d probably still be pushing the miles upward of 35 per week during off season. Right now, I don’t think I’ve been running 25. The little hiatus is needed. It has helped. I’ve been cross training and doing more stretching, incorporating yoga into a few workout routines. The later morning wake up alarm is nice. A little more sleep, a little more relaxing, a little more enjoying foods/drinks I’d normally pass up when training. [...]

By Joanne|2013-12-02T20:11:21-05:00December 2, 2013|cookies|7 Comments

Bouchon: Banana Muffins

First, a weekend wrap up. Saturday started with an enjoyable 8 mile run with first, Zoey, finishing with Shane. The weather wasn’t too bad but I have to admit, it’s tough getting used to the colder mornings. After a little pre-muffin prep (the recipe below requires batter preparation a day ahead of baking), Ted and took Saturday afternoon for sofa hunting. We found two sectionals we liked but after some internet research, discovered neither one was the quality we wanted. All that sitting and rising, testing one sofa then another is a workout in itself! Not enjoyable at all! Sunday [...]

By Joanne|2013-11-10T20:18:15-05:00November 10, 2013|Baking|2 Comments

Bouchon: Pecan Sandies from Thomas Keller

A couple of years ago when Ted and I went to California as winners of the Raisin Bread Contest, we visited a very well known bakery in Yountville, CA called Bouchon. It turns out there is a book of recipes for the delicious sweet treats, scaled down for the home cook. Chef’s Sebastien Rouxel at The French Laundry and Matthew McDonald, Bouchon’s head baker offer the best of their experience in the recipes. As I opened the book and began reading, even before getting to the main chapters, Thomas Keller, the books author, offers a favorite recipe from his childhood, [...]

By Joanne|2013-10-27T12:55:27-04:00October 27, 2013|cookies|2 Comments

Baker’s Intoxicated on Grains

Another beautiful day in California. On this particular morning, Gary (the grand prize winner in the commercial category of the Raisin contest for 2011) accompanied me on a morning run. Gary is not an obsessed runner like me but did put in a good mile to start. We ran and walked and talked until I left Gary to find my other fitness partner, Ted. Ted was walking so I ran loops, up ahead then back. It was a relaxed 9.24 miles. Vacation runs are the best. A much deserved break before the hard work begins again to get ready for [...]

By Joanne|2012-03-13T04:17:08-04:00March 12, 2012|Life|7 Comments