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Inspiration. Have any to spare?

July 8, 2009 by Joy the Baker 303 Comments

Cream Scones and things i love

This is the part where I take a moment to ask for your help.

This is the part where I tell you how much I need you.

Seriously people…. I need some inspiration.  Give it up.  Please and thank you.

I think I’ve found myself in a bit of a kitchen rut.  What should I make?  What do you want to see?

Hot?  Cold?  Sweet or savory?  At what point will you stop putting up with my baking antics?  How much cranberry juice is too much cranberry juice to drink in one day?  What do I do about this giant blemish on my chin?

Ok… I suppose you should only answer the first few questions above.  Send me some inspiration.  Send me a dozen eggs.  Send me a punch in the skull.  I need your creative kitchen juice or your closed fist punches.  Let’s be a team about this.  I need you… but please don’t actually punch me.  I was kidding about that part.

Update:  You all are the most lovely people a blogger could ask for.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for all the inspiration.  I’ve already got a list working from all your suggestions.  Keep em coming!  I think you’re dreamy!

Aaaand another update:  You lovelies have blown me away.  Thanks for all the inspiration.  Amazing!  Let’s hug.  I’ll be in my kitchen this weekend and be back next week with some pretty fabulous treats for you.  Thank you.  One the real…. thanks.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MsMc

    July 14, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    I am thinking…spicy chocolate cake – seriously spicy with chilli pepper flakes, dried ginger, and may be a hint of cumin (or may be not).
    The leading taste, of course, would be regular sweet chocolate cake, and the after taste of spices should be a surprise hit at the back of the throat.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca

    July 14, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    OK, so I’m on my way to bed and don’t have time to read the other’s suggestions….Here are mine:

    Soft Pretzels
    Something w/ Choc./PB
    Sweet Bread ~ Banana/Zucchini/Other

    Love your blog!!!!

    Reply
  3. Jen

    July 14, 2009 at 8:38 am

    Summer is my most favorite time to bake. I love to bake with all the seasonal fruits and make jam. In fact, most people bake most in winter when there’s nothing to do, but summer is my favorite time. Fruit is my inspiration. I’m going cherry picking this weekend so there will be some cherry pie in my future and clafouti, coffecake, bread pudding. King Arthur Flour books and periodicals are wonderful for showcasing seasonal fruit recipes. Hope that helps you!
    Jen

    Reply
  4. S

    July 14, 2009 at 8:19 am

    Joy, you should try making black bean brownies! There are now many different versions out there, but try one anyway! They’re very dense and yummy. :)

    Reply
  5. mharper

    July 14, 2009 at 6:41 am

    Okay, there are seriously so many comments on here I haven’t a clue if this has been suggested or not. First off…how cool that you are asking for suggestions! :) How about simple suppers? You know, family friendly stuff that Mom’s can whip up fairly easily. OR how about yummy birthday cakes? As a Mom of 5 there’s always a birthday cake to bake. Or basic recipes to teach your child to cook/bake?
    Thanks Joy! ?

    Reply
  6. Sue

    July 14, 2009 at 1:03 am

    Dearest Joy,
    I would love you to show me any or all of the following:
    Steel cut oats
    Chox Pastry (not even sure this is how you spell it)
    What you made for dinner
    What you cooked at work
    Slice/bar recipes
    How to teach my 8 year old daughter to cook
    Thankyou for being so connected to all your faithful by asking us what we want.

    Reply
  7. Dava

    July 13, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    I’m on the search for a gooey cake recipe. All the better if it pairs well with ice cream. Thanks for askin’!

    Reply
  8. Alyson

    July 13, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    Hello Joy,
    I absolutely love your blog!
    I saw the post about needing inspiration, and I have to say the savory vittles you make are the coolest, so here’s a savory one! I have a recipe that I have been dying to try, but it’s not really Kale season, and the rest of the ingredients feel very Fall to me. I am sure you’re booked on stuff to make for a good while, but when the season starts to turn, you may way to try this one (it’s been HOT here in NC for the last week, so I’ve been indoors praying for October when the heat goes away.)

    The original recipe comes from a French Blog called A Flavor Capture.
    But my dear friend Bailey translated it for me!

    2 large onions
    2 shallots
    1 garlic clove
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    1 teaspoon cinnamon
    1 teaspoon powdered ginger
    40g unsweetened cocoa powder
    12cL light red wine
    1 tablespoon lime juice
    1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    2 bay leaves
    150g minced kale

    180g flour
    1/2 packet of baker’s yeast
    3 eggs
    8cL vegetable oil
    2 tablespoons of white cheese
    150g of extra sharp cheddar or Parmesan, freshly grated
    Salt
    Freshly ground pepper

    Mince the onions, shallots, and garlic. Add the ingredients to a hot saucepan with the olive oil. Add the cinnamon, ginger, and chocolate powder.

    Stir in the wine, lime juice, balsamic vinegar and bay leaves
    Mince the kale, and add it to the sauce so that it is covered.

    Let the mixture simmer and reduce the wine over medium heat for 15 minutes just until the kale is tender. Remove from heat. Remove the bay leaves.

    Preheat the oven to 180 C.

    In a bowl, mix (energetically) the flour, yeast, egss, oil and white cheese. Add the kale mixture, then the grated cheddar, salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly.

    Put in little silicon heart molds.

    Bake for 20 minutes.

    Eat almost hot, after removing from oven while the cheese is still melty, an aroma of red wine sauce, a bewitching fragrance of cocoa.

    Serve with a salad that is sufficiently neutral to fully profit from the taste of the cakes.

    So, if you’re diggin’ it, give it a try. And keep up the wonderful blogging.

    Reply
  9. Melody

    July 13, 2009 at 1:18 pm

    Coconut! I would love to have some good summery coconut recipes! I found a wonderful coconut milk cake thats just to die for and would love to have some more. We just love coconut at my house!

    Reply
  10. ilikemeatloaf

    July 13, 2009 at 10:17 am

    I’m a bit late on this one, but I was busy thinking. You know, lately I’ve not been terribly excited to make large or stunning dishes. That coincides with a huge amount of CSA veggies, so instead, I’ve been making easy-to-throw-together tapas-style dinners. Maybe more dishes than the usual meal, but prepared fairly simply. This has kept me going; maybe you?

    Reply
  11. Nanciful

    July 13, 2009 at 11:10 am

    Anything puff pastry-ish but will LOVE anything you decide to post!

    Reply
  12. ML

    July 13, 2009 at 5:23 am

    Some easy gluten-free desserts for those of us who don’t have many fancy ingredients or tools in our little European apartments? They would be much appreciated!
    Thanks! And good luck!

    Reply
  13. DivaGina

    July 12, 2009 at 11:18 pm

    Balsamic vinegar and strawberries is always a wonderful combination, and the Italians knew hundreds of years ago! So anything with those would be a bonus. But what I’d love to see is a jam cake. Years and years ago, when I lived in Tallahassee, FL, there was one baker who made this amazing cake with actual jams in the batter. I’d love a chance to have it again and make it for my kids, but nothing I’ve tried has quite recreated it. Of course, rasberry brownies are always a great hit, too. With fresh rasberries…Or maybe some interesting ways to cook fresh summer crookneck squash. I think we’re about ratatouille’d out! I suspect you have gotten enough feedback to do a couple of years worth of blogs by now, so I’ll stop! I look forward to seeing what you come up with-keep up the great work! It’s always fun to see what you’ve been up to and try one some of your recipes.

    Reply
  14. holly

    July 12, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    Cheesecake with balsamic strawberries? I made this just last week for a birthday to a thunderous applause and numerous pleas for seconds.
    The cake was an Italian-style baked ricotta and lemon – no other cheesecake worth the eating in my opinion – with a biscuit base, and the topping went something like this:
    1/4 cup sugar
    2 tsp balsamic vinegar
    1 tsp arrowroot
    250 grams of strawbs halved
    a few mint leaves, torn
    I dissolved the sugar in the vinegar with 1/4 cup of water over a low heat. Then I mixed the arrowroot to a smooth paste with 2 Tbls of water before adding to the balsamic and heating for a few minutes until syrupy. I let this cool and waited until it was an hour to cake-time before mixing in the berries and the mint. I didn’t want to combine them too early as I had read someplace that the vinegar will cook the delicate fruit.
    I poured this deliciously sweet concoction all over the cake before serving. It looked gorgeous, tasted divine and was super easy. I imagine you could pour it over ice cream, albeit rather sparingly – or even make a balsamic strawberry and mint ice cream…

    Reply
  15. Ashley

    July 12, 2009 at 7:54 pm

    Long time reader, first time commenting… First, I think you are awesome! I love your wit, writing, and master culinary skills.

    I’m not sure if food preservation is something you’re into, but I’d love to know how to make pickles, jams, etc.

    So, if you’re feeling inspired… that would be fun to learn!

    Reply
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