Preheated Baking Podcast

Ep 75: Kit Kat Candy Queen

Inspired by Stefin's trip to Finland, Andrea's discovered Juustoleipa, the Finnish squeaky cheese, in her local grocery store, made by the Carr Valley Cheese Company in Wisconsin. Warm it up, drizzle it with honey and walnuts or dunk strips in your coffee for a delicious treat.

If you find yourself traveling to Eastern WA, visit one of Stefin's long-time friends Solveig at the Voltage Coffee House in Grand Coulee, WA and try her homemade brioche cinnamon roll, cookies, and brownies.

Two thumbs up for the Chocolate Biscuit Cake from Chef Darren McGrady, Queen Elizabeth's favorite dessert. Andrea's husband dubbed this cake a "Homemade Kit Kat bar," and listener Vickie noticed this cake is no-bake, and only has 5 ingredients. Both hosts will try some different pans next time around, and Stefin will use a smoother and less bitter chocolate with lower cacao content.

Next week's bake along is the cake heard round the world! We're celebrating the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle with a Lemon Elderflower Cake with Lemon Buttercream from Hannah at SprinkleBakes.com. Whether you bake the same recipe we're using, or another, tag your posts with #royalweddingbake on social media so we can feature your special version of this delicious dessert.

Stefin had so much fun researching royal food trivia, from Princess Diana's trips with her boys to the McDonald's on Kensington High Street, to Queen Elizabeth's dislike of garlic. Learning about the kitchens and food preferences of the royal family truly brings them to life in a way that history books sometimes can't.

You can read the show notes here.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

Ep 74: You Are Cordially Invited ...

Hear ye, hear ye: You are cordially invited to the first episode of this most delicious month celebrating all things British! In anticipation of the big wedding on May 19, Stefin and Andrea have crowned themsleves with royal titles, and are gleeful that Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, was recently sited shopping at (wait for it) Waitrose! Andrea gives a shout-out to listeners who took part in April's Citrus Month, and issues a PSA about picking up crucial ingredients well in advance. Next it's on to the first bake-along of the month, and the duo are starting at the top with the cake Queen Elizabeth loves so much she travels with it! Will Stefin and Andrea ask their footmen to pack up this Chocolate Biscuit Cake on their next holiday? Hard to believe, but true: Stefin has been an ex-pat for almost a year! Andrea leads a follow-up conversation on what she's learned and loved in her adopted country (and her adopted kitchen), then Stefin turns the tables and quizzes Andrea to see how much British culture she's absorbed from afar.

You can read the show notes here.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

Ep 73.5 April Bonus: Such Sussex Success

April has five Mondays, so your Preheated hosts are up with a sweet bonus episode to award their coveted Citrus Month Blue Ribbons. But first, Andrea's exploring healthier bakery options that feature ingredients out of her comfort zone -- think millet, seeds, groats and buckwheat -- not to mention her old nemesis, the raisin! Has she stumbled into a dried-fruit paralllel universe, or is she simply refining her tastes? Check back in 2038 to find out! Meanwhile, Stefin is delighted to see her J.Crew lemon sweater being worn by actress Leslie Mann in her new movie. (Leslie seems like a Preheated kind of gal.) Next up, the duo review Guardian food writer Felicity Cloake's Sussex Pond Pudding, an historic British steamed pudding featuring an entire lemon in the middle. Stefin steamed hers in the traditional water bath, but Andrea used her Instant Pot and brought this nearly thousand-year-old recipe squarely into modern times. Both methods delivered a beautiful, delicious and, dare we say, special dessert, that's really one of a kind. Finally, the duo pin their Blue Ribbon awards on two of their favorite desserts from this bright and zesty month.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

Ep 73: Dessert in an Instant (Pot!)

Raisin lovers everywhere, unite! Stefin starts the show with an impassioned defense of the much-maligned Raisinet, and then the hosts reveal what their favorite candies say about their personalities. Andrea's dark-chocolate profile seemed mostly accurate, while Stefin's love of chocolate-covered raisins painted her as a gal ready to let loose on a Friday night with music and drinks! Hmmm, we'll have to see if that prediction comes true.

Our hosts had a few challenges with the Orange Polenta Cake from Jamie Oliver. The recipe contained some mysteries, and while both hosts loved the cardamom in the syrup, Stefin didn't love the orange blossom water flavor. Andrea substituted Fiori di Sicilia from King Arthur Flour for the orange blossom water, which turned out wonderfully. Thanks to King Arthur Flour Baker's Hotline for help with the measurements! Also thanks to Alice Medrich for this great article on How to Make Your Baking Recipe Fit Your Pan Size. Andrea liked serving this cake warm, and recommends keeping this pretty dessert in your arsenal for those times when you want a naturally gluten-free treat.

Next week's bake along is a Sussex Pond Pudding from Felicity Cloake at The Guardian. It's a steamed pudding with an entire lemon in the middle, perfect for Citrus Month! Finally, our hosts step into the Gadget Garage to discuss Andrea's experiences making desserts in the Instant Pot. So far she's tried crème brûlée, lemon cheesecake, and chocolate molten cakes with varied success. Taste and ease of cooking are the big plus points, but she's still fiddling with the recipes to try and get the best taste.

You can read the show notes here.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

Ep 72: Tapioca Pearls Uncovered in London!

Andrea's raving about the Lime Sablé Sandwiches by Fearless Baker author Erin McDowell (apologies for calling her Erin McDonald on the show!) and both hosts are thinking about baking with grapefruit, perhaps in the Grapefruit Almond and Lemon Thyme Cake from Ocada, or in a Grapefruit Gingersnap Pie or Grapefruit Bars.

Stefin gamely embarked on the challenge of locating tapioca pearls in London, ultimately finding exactly what she needed (and many more options) at her local Asian grocery store. Our hosts and their husbands both loved the warm, comforting Coconut Tapioca Pudding with Mango and Lime from Kay Chun at Food & Wine, and Stefin thinks the smell alone earns this dessert a top spot.

Up next week, an Orange Polenta Cake from Jamie Oliver that's naturally gluten-free using polenta and almond flour. If you want to bake along with us, be sure to locate some orange blossom water and cardamom pods in advance.

Finally, our hosts decided to give some love to the spicy side by talking about some of their favorite savory bakes. Thanks to all of the great Preheated listeners who weighed in on the Facebook group with their favorite savory bakes: Cheese puffs, savory scones, cornbread, pumpkin cream cheese sage muffins, breakfast strata, and Lamb Swirl Buns!

Read the show notes here.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

Ep 71: Citrus Twist

They must've known it was Preheated's Citrus Month: Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle have announced the cake flavour for their royal wedding in May, and it's an on-theme choice: Lemon-Elderflower. Both hosts are losing their minds over this inspired selection (though they first have to discuss what exactly an elderflower is) and are relieved to see that Harry and Meghan are #teambuttercream. Coming back down to earth, the duo review Sunny Lemon Bars from Stella Parks, and though both had some issues with the custard's texture, they gave the vibrant taste and color two enthusiastic thumbs up. Taking one for the team, Andrea did some independent lemon-bar investigation and decided she's going to try a thinner layer of custard and a larger bar size, like the delicious version she ate at Eugene, Oregon's Sweet Life Patisserie. Speaking of independent investigation, Stefin's on the hunt for tapioca in London for this week's bake along, Coconut Tapioca Pudding with Mango and Lime. Finally, the duo discuss tools and hacks to make squeezing juice easier and seed-free, Andrea admits she wants a zester, and a misguided search for a citrus implement leads Stefin to a new fashion accessory.

You can read the show notes here.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

Ep 70: Hello Sunshine!

It's the 70th episode of Preheated, and the duo waste no time jumping into sunny Citrus Month. Andrea is pleased to see that fashion designers clearly got the memo about the month's theme, but is not surprised that Stefin's closet is already bursting with several items of citrus clothing. Andrea also offers a cautionary tale about keeping Meyer lemons in the fruit basket, and Stefin updates listeners on her massive recipe organization project, which has turned into an entertaining walk through her personal food trends from the past 20 years. (Parsnips and sangria anyone?) Next, the duo introduce the month's first bake along: Sunny Lemon Bars from Bravetart author Stella Parks. In Citrus 101, Andrea gives a run-down of the anatomy of a citrus fruit, from the zest to the juice, and the duo share some of their favorite citrus desserts -- from a Key Lime Pie to a Blue Ribbon-winning Lemon Drizzle Cake.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

Ep 69: Two for the Dough

Brunch talk has our hosts thinking about sourdough and...baked beans? Andrea's baffled by the cover recipe from Watrose's March Food Magazine, which leads the hosts to wonder what makes a sausage roll a sausage roll. Deep thoughts, indeed.

Both hosts agreead that this week's recipe Homemade Monkey Bread from Sally's Baking Addiction was fantastic and a real showstopper. Andrea used mini bundts, and Stefin ran into a slight challenge with her risen dough, but this deicious recipe still got two thumbs up for Pull Apart Cinnamon Rolls (Andrea's preferred recipe title)!

This week's bake along is not one but two recipes from our hosts: No-Knead Cast Iron Bread from Andrea and White Yeast Bread from Stefin. You can read the fascinating origin story about the No-Knead bread from Mark Bittman's article No-Knead Bread, Ten Years Later. Stefin's White Yeast Bread from Rachel Allen is a great option is you love to knead, so set your timer for ten minutes and enjoy the therapuetic benefits of getting your hands in the dough!

Next up, Preheated Book Club! Sourdough by Robin Sloane was an enjoyable book for both our hosts, mainly becuase it talked about bread baking as a way of building community, which is exactly why our hosts started the Preheated podcast.

A few other baking or bread related books listeners may enjoy: Bread Alone by Judith Robin Hendricks and Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich. Warning: bread reference is in title only on that one.

Listeners, we'd love your bread related (fiction or non-fiction) book recommendations!

You can read the show notes here.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

 

 

Ep 68: Hot-Buttered Yum!

It's the third week of listener-requested Bread Month, but first Andrea wants to know if Stefin has seen or heard of a new Colombian berry: the Goldenberry. No, it's not the star of the next James Bond movie, it's a sweet-tart grape-tomato-sized berry that can be used in place of citrus fruits in desserts like lemon bars. Stefin reports on a UK study that proves the mental health benefits of baking bread. Is it the kneading, the mindfulness, or the wonderful aroma of home-baked loaves? Maybe all three! (And study researchers: If you need more test subects, please send us an email!) Next up, the duo review King Arthur's Hot-Buttered Soft Pretzels and agree that you shouldn't be alone when these come out of the oven. Then it's on to a sweet treat: Monkey Bread from Sally's Baking Addiction. Neither host know what to make of its name, but both are excited to tackle this overnight indulgence, baked in the podcast's favorite pan: the bundt! Finally, the Globetrotting Gourmet heads to Finland for a plethora of berry desserts, hot cheese and porridge bread.

Book lovers, the Preheated Book Club is reading Sourdough by Robin Sloane this month. We hope you'll read along with us, and listen to our review on Episode 69.

You can read the show notes here.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!

Ep 67: No-Knead, Indeed!

It's the second week of listener-requested bread month! But first, Andrea recaps the winners from the final Olympia Pie Fest -- ninjas, fruits of the forest, and a Cooks' Illustrated classic all took top honors. Meanwhile, Stefin admits it's difficult to forget about the recipes that don't make the cut every month, and griddles up some delicious homemade naan without setting offer her smoke detector. Then the duo dive into the listener-suggested No-Knead Peasant Bread from Alexandra's Kitchen, and agree it's an easy, delicious and versatile loaf that deserves a regular spot in listeners' ovens. Finally, the hosts introduce King Arthur Flour's Hot-Buttered Soft Pretzels (sure to make Stefin's husband happy), and discuss some magically delicious treats to try for St. Patrick's Day.

Book lovers, join us in March with our Preheated Book Club. We're reading Sourdough by Robin Sloane and we hope you'll read along with us.

You can read the Show Notes here.

Bake along with Stefin and Andrea in their baking Facebook group, Preheated. You can find links to recipes on their baking website www.preheatedpodcast.com, as well as on their Pinterest page. You can also follow the hosts on Twitter and Instagram, using handle preheatedpod. Join the fun!