Miss E Bakes CROISSANTS for the Holidays!

Oh what FUN!

Our kitchen was transformed into a top notch bakery over Thanksgiving Weekend. Friday, November 29, 2024 at 8:40am to be exact. After our Turkey dinner the day before it was now time for our “personal Chef” to do magic with flour and lots of butter (among other things)! But first, a quick coffee run and then it was off to the races. 

This was serious business as everything needed to be weighed and measured and weighed again for accuracy and to assure good results. My method of a pinch here and a handful there went out the window. I was on the sidelines taking in all the steps and careful measurements while gathering tools as needed from the kitchen. 

While the dough was rising the butter was weighed for accuracy.

It was then left on the counter for softening.

PERFECT!

Time to start rolling the butter, wrapped in parchment paper, to exact measurements so that it would fit the rolled and precisely measured pastry dough. 

Exact Measuring is a must. 

Then it was time to roll the dough out.

Then wrap and refrigerate.

Then back to rolling again.

This time the butter is rolled between layers of dough.

Many measurements are taken to ensure accuracy.

Once the dough is the correct size the butter is added.

And then incased in the dough.

The top edges are pinched closed.

It is finally ready to be rolled out again.

More rolling….

….wrapping and refrigerating. 

Folding…

…wrapping and back in the refrigerator!

Still at it!

Finally….time to put this back in the refrigerator for the

last time today.

Up and At ‘em!

Miss E was back at it by 7:00am. It was time to roll the dough out once again and then form into the infamous rolls.

Now the real fun begins!

They are so beautiful!

Another rise!

And look 👀 at all those layers!!

It is almost time for the oven!

Now, what we have all been waiting for….

…time to bake!!  { 9:39am }

Tada!!🎉 

BEAUTIFUL!

It doesn’t get better than this!

FRESH HOMEMADE CROISSANTS…

...a true LABOR of LOVE!

Yum!

Homegrown Brussels Sprouts

It was finally time to pick our Brussels Sprouts!

Just before Thanksgiving we picked the first stalk.

We wanted to try them out before we served them for Thanksgiving.

We cut a stalk and tried them and they were amazing.

SO Fresh!

Nothing fancy, just steamed. They were perfect!! 

We served them up with homemade spaghetti & homemade bread. 

It doesn’t get better than that!!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Smashed Cucumber Salad ( 拍黄瓜)

This year for Thanksgiving we made a salad recipe given to me by one of my friends from school. We work together and love to talk about traditions, food and cooking whenever we have a chance. 

Last week she shared a spicy cucumber salad recipe with me. It is one she always makes for Thanksgiving so we were very excited to add it to our menu!

Miss E helped me gather all the ingredients and prepare this new salad.

First we washed the cucumbers and then crushed them with a clever. It never occurred to us before to crush cucumbers for anything but we followed the directions to a "T" and prepped our main ingredient as instructed.

Once they were crushed Miss E carefully cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Next, we made up the dressing to marinate the cucumber slices.

Easy Peasy! 

Into the frig they went to marinate while the Turkey roasted.

The salad turned out great and was a hit at Thanksgiving!

Of course I shared photos with my friend and she was so pleased that we liked it so much.

It is sure to be a recipe we use often throughout the year.

Happy December!