This is another one of those full disclosure type posts. I admit to never let a pesky little thing like being 100% accurate get in the way of telling a story. Not so much embellishing to make a story better – more like leaving out details that might dull it and make it ordinary.
What I do here is story telling, really – not news delivery. So while this blog isn’t fiction it certainly isn’t CNN either.
I would like you to believe that my house is always sparkly clean and smelling of freshly baked things but the truth of the matter is that my baking attempts are failures more often than not and that I am a disaster in the kitchen when I’m cooking.
Take my apple dumplings for example.
<heavy sigh>
I was trying to recreate a flaky little delicacy I had at the little sandwich shop Sara and I stopped at in Weeds. Their version was about the size of small baseball, filled with cinnamony apples and the flaky pastry was judiciously drizzled with just the right amount of glaze. It was really cute and really delicious and I ate it before my sandwich even arrived.
My attempt. Well there you have it. My seams came undone, my filling was too runny, and I forgot to buy more powdered sugar for the glaze. I don’t know how to keep them rounded like the one I had in Weeds. Maybe bake them in a large muffin pan?
I don’t always keep my cookbooks all piled up on the counter like that. We are having our floors refinished and we needed to move all the furniture off the hardwood floors. So the contents of bookcases, baker’s racks and china cabinets have been temporarily moved to any available surface.
Astute readers will also notice that we STILL don’t have a backsplash in the kitchen. It’s been, what? Over two years since we started the kitchen remodel.
Okay – I think that is enough disclosing for the time being.
I don’t know looks just like my dumplings! Are they not supposed to look like that? I don’t think anyone really bakes as well as we believe they do, they just post photos of the successful attempts!!
Those stacks of cookbooks make me wanna happy dance! I love cookbooks – and I see we have several of the same ones. That’s how my dumplings and “handpies” always turn out too. It’s still tasty I’m sure!
Your apple dumplings look yummy, even if they were not what you had in mind. I kind of like seeing all of your cookbooks piled up like that – as if you’ve been caught in the act of planning!
I would definitely try those dumplings again! Maybe put less filling in each one and use a bit of egg wash to hold the dough together?
Next time I pass through Weed… I’m stopping! Your apple delights look deeeeeeeeelicious!
Ohhh here is catering secret, cover it is caramel sauce and whipped cream and no one will be the wiser ;-P you should see the disasters I make too. We all do but I love that you are sooo honest with me. Keep trying and you will get it. Clarice
We can’t all be Martha in the kitchen and Heloise everywhere else. The dumplings look delish and if you put whip cream on top no one would know the difference. And who needs a backsplash with that gorgeous tray?
Just sayin’. 😉
yummy!!! those look fab!!!
jessi nagy
No matter what you say – they still look delicious and my stomach is screaming at me to give it one!
Hey – I adore your beautiful yard and your back deck!
We still would come over for a visit, smile while dining on your yummy dumplings, make wonderful commments about your cookbook library, and never mention your (or lack therof) backsplash! We love that you are real!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
They look so good, I can almost smell them. I tried and galette a few weeks ago and placed the nice cold dough on a very hot pizza stone…well you can just imagine. I like your wrapping paper idea too!