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Baker’s Block

September 7, 2010 by Joy the Baker 283 Comments

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Confession:  I have baker/blog writer’s block.

It all started after I used the last of my fancy cocoa powder on a ill-fated chocolate cake experiment.

Now I’m just staring down my butter and sugar…

It’s a staring contest and they’re totally winning.

Maybe I need to drink more coffee.  Maybe I need to stop trying to make myself chocolate cake for dinner.  Maybe I should just go buy a pound of bacon and see where it takes me.  Maybe I should stop watching The Real Housewives of DC because it’s rotting my brain.  Maybe I should get a puppy.

Maybe you can help.  What’s in your baker brain?  Let’s see if we can’t make whatever that is come out of my kitchen.

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Filed Under: Beyond the Kitchen

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  1. Melanie

    October 21, 2010 at 9:58 am

    I know this is WAY late, but…did you say you had coffee, butter and sugar? Assuming you have other typical baking essentials (which isn’t much of a stretch considering the nature of this blog), why not forego the chocolate, and make a coffee-cake? I don’t mean the typical breakfast munchie, thing. I mean a cake that would have been chocolate, but instead with coffee… and maybe another flavor to break up coffee (hazelnut? vanilla? nutmeg?…maybe not nutmeg?) I mean, really… coffee is the BEST smell in the morning for some people, and you say you love to bake in the morning. Why not combine the two and whip up something fabulous?! Good luck should “writer’s/baker’s block” come up again!

    Reply
  2. Jaina

    October 4, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    About a month late, but I would love you see you make caramel eclairs. I tried them once to bitter disappointment and haven’t had time to try them again.

    Reply
  3. Jasmine

    September 22, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    funny to read this as I am having a bit of bloggers block too and came to your blog searching for inspiration. despite this post you are always inspiring and just browsing your last few posts has helped to clear my mind and let me think about what I want to post so thank you!

    Reply
  4. anna

    September 22, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    Pumpkin Ice Cream. Just made a batch which is chilling in the fridge waiting to meet its fate in the ice cream maker. Smells AWESOME….fall is officially here as of today, so break out the cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkinds and apples! About to make an apple crisp to serve as an ice cream vehicle. Making the topping with almond flour, which is awesome and makes me feel healthy because it’s protein :)

    Reply
  5. Jackie Logan

    September 18, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    I’m even later to the party — but I vote for a puppy! I got a pug puppy this week and I have to say that I haven’t been so happy in a long time. I think I just forgot how important it is to play and to not take myself so seriously. But chocolate cake for dinner sounds good. Maybe you could try the whole bacon-on-donuts thing, but with a twist and put it on chocolate cake? Hope you’ve broken thru your block by now!! I enjoyed your writing and that of your readers!

    Reply
  6. bella

    September 14, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    have you ever heard the “Bob the Builder” theme song- you know the kids’ cartoon?
    “bob the builder…can he build it….bob the builder- Yes He Can!”
    Well, your name “Joy the Baker” has always reminded me of that little song…
    so when you are feeling your baker’s blog…just remember our little friend bob…
    “joy the baker…can she bake it…joy the baker- Yes She Can!”

    thanks for all the work you put into the blog…it is much appreciated…

    Reply
  7. Summer Delilah

    September 14, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    I’m thinking.. something with apples?? Home made applesauce, delicious! Or baked apples, or apple cake. Apples are in season, yum yum. My favorites are Pink Pearl apples – so pretty and vaguely perfumy tasting but still tart.

    Reply
  8. Kellie

    September 13, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    How about something Fallish…pumpkin yumminess?? That is what is on my brain. I am forcing fall upon Southern California…with all of the pumkin yumminess.

    Reply
  9. Robin O

    September 12, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    Hey Joy! Lordy I have a list of things I want to make! On said list is : Chocolate Earl Grey Cake filled with a Lavender Chocolate Ganache and iced with Lavender Honey Cream Cheese Frosting, Apple Strudel, Chai Ice Cream, Espresso Shortbread Brownie Bars, and Banana Cream Pie!!!

    Reply
    • Mandy

      October 21, 2010 at 3:24 am

      Robin O: Chocolate Earl Grey Cake filled with a Lavender Chocolate Ganache and iced with Lavender Honey Cream Cheese Frosting

      Where is the recipe for that? I am all over it!

      xoxo
      mandy

      Reply
  10. L

    September 10, 2010 at 8:18 pm

    i’d love to see strawberry cheesecake or something similarly fruity and delicious :)

    also….molasses cookies. always so delicious. do you have a recipe for those?

    Reply
  11. Abra

    September 10, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    In Saint Louis we are crazy about gooey butter cake.
    It’s pretty awesome. You could make a mean gooey butter cake. Let me know if you want my recipe!

    I like your posts about essential utensils that you use in the kitchen.

    Anything pumpkin? Fall is coming on and I love pumpkin in the fall.

    Thanks for your awesome blog!

    Reply
  12. stephanie h.

    September 10, 2010 at 3:16 am

    Hey Joy, how about….apple pie? :)
    I love you.
    And… I made your white chocolate and macadamia cookies last week. The men took them to work….. came back and said that their employer’s wife wanted the recipe! :) So I thought it was you that should have the credit for that one!
    They were absolutely incredible! (Wait…. incredible rhymes with inedible. That isn’t right.)
    Love,
    me

    Reply
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