Baked Goods — Blog — Pear & Pecorino

Cranberry Cheesecake Tarts

Where did this month go? It started out so turbulent, so unsure. The beginning of November existed only in liminal spaces and pockets of time. In short days that slipped into nighttime. And in a new era.

This month, I’ve taken some time to just cook for myself. Without the lingering thought of preparing for photos or chasing the light. Going into my first winter as a natural light food photographer, I’m noticing the changing light. The nuanced tones of blue and grey that seep in. The strongest light that shines through earlier in the day. I wish I could just sit with it for a while, observing the new patterns and subtleties each hour.

Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaNovember 22, 2020cheesecake, cranberry sauce, thanksgiving, thanksgiving leftovers, tarts, dessertsComment

Roasted Grape, Mascarpone, and Pine Nut Custard Tart

Happy Autumn!

Although it doesn't quite feel like it here, I am so eager to get started on autumn recipes. Some of my favorite ingredients are at their prime this time of year: an abundance of apples, pears, mushrooms, and nuts that pair so wonderfully with spices and long peaceful nights of cooking. At its heart, cooking is made for the cooler seasons. For the long chilly nights and cozy days. For the preservation of everything at its peak freshness. And for the enjoyment of slow cooking, when life begins to pace itself.

Sometimes I feel like the heat and the smokey air drains my energy, like I'm waiting for just a day of cold weather to clear my lungs and my mind. There's a certain peace I find in autumn. When there's still color in the leaves and the world comes a little more alive. There's no sameness, and every day brings a little bit of change to the atmosphere.

Baked Goods, DessertsIsabellaSeptember 23, 2020autumn, tart, pie, custard, mascarpone, dessert, pine nutsComment

Sea Salt + Rosemary Focaccia

On days when the world seems a bit more grim, it's curious how I find comfort in making bread. Just as I have always loved the artful process of making pasta, pouring my energy and soul into a hand-shaped form, sometimes as we nurture the food we make, it nurtures us just the same. From parents making a cake with their children to creatives finding peace in nature, we all need something to keep us grounded right now.

Baked GoodsIsabellaApril 1, 2020bread, baked goods, focaccia, sea salt rosemary focacciaComment

Homemade Cherry Thyme Scones

I hope you all are safe and healthy. I've been spending a lot of time in the garden, going out each morning to check on our newly planted seedlings and any signs of new sprouts. These unusually rainy days have made me want to stay in even more, but I can't help but slip on a coat and boots to see my plants soaking up all the rain. It's such a rarity here, which makes everything feel even more strange. But, I'm grateful for our garden and the little bit of life I get to nurture.

Breakfast and Brunch, Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaMarch 21, 2020scones, baking Comments

Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies

So, I'm running behind this holiday season. Frankly, my whole family is. Well, maybe not my dad - he's a speed shopper. I have a feeling my grandma and I are on track to repeat last year's mad dash for Christmas presents. The late Thanksgiving threw me off! We still have leftover cranberry sauce in the middle of December! Regardless, the week before Christmas is cookie time in this house, and that holiday tradition is well on its way.

Chocolate Almond Orange Cake (Gluten Free)

Today's recipe marks the first chocolate recipe on the blog, along with my first brand collaboration with none other than Nestle Tollhouse! They were kind enough to send me some of their Artisan Collection Semisweet Morsels to create something scrumptious. Just the first of a few chocolatey recipes in the coming months! Okay, on with the post.

As I began brainstorming ideas for this chocolate recipe, I knew I wanted something besides a chocolate chip cookie. Something to really go all out and have the chocolate be at the forefront of the dessert. With semisweet chocolate, you get a super decadent, rich chocolate taste without a lot of bitterness. The type of chocolate you'd want in a cake, soufflé or pudding - where it's all about the chocolate.

Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies

Our first sweet treat for October: Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies! Hints of cardamom, cinnamon, and clove folded into buttery, flaky shortbread, served with a cup of hot tea for an extra cozy autumn treat.

Two months ago, I began a late-night quest to record a list of ideas for October. Among them were dishes filled with mushrooms, spices, and herbs. Slow-cooked, inspired by movies and Halloweens of years passed. By the time I'd finished, I had more recipes than days in the month. And the list continued to grow, spilling into November and December.

Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaOctober 10, 2019autumn, autumn recipes, chai, shortbread, vanilla chai shortbread cookiesComment

Lime Pie with Ginger Graham Cracker Crust

It's hard to believe we're halfway through September! Soon enough we'll be into the season of aromatic soups, slow cooked meals, and everything pumpkin. I've spent a few days this week planning out some ideas and testing recipes for the coming weeks. I'm so excited to dive into the season and share these dishes with you! Starting off with my Lime Pie with Ginger Graham Cracker Crust: an aromatic twist on one of my favorite desserts.

Pistachio Plum Cake (& saving our plum tree)

Today’s recipe showcases some of my favorite summer fruit: plums! I remember summers I would go to the farmers’ market with my family and fill up bags with peaches, apricots, and plums, savoring the stone fruit season while I still could. Sunday farmers’ market hauls would only last a few days, my mom and I devouring at least two each day. However, this year I’ve had trouble finding lots of ripe, sweet stone fruit, so when I finally spotted these deep purple plums, I went a little wild. With no one there to hold me back from filling my bag and memories of past summers I longed for flooding back to me, I came home with over 20 plums. This Pistachio Plum Cake is among the many creations I made with them.

Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaAugust 20, 2019cake, desserts, pistachio, plums, stonefriuit, summerComment

Cherry Cornbread Muffins

As cherry season reaches its end, and we enter this last month of summer, I wanted to share my recipe for Cherry Cornbread Muffins. It's an idea that's been bouncing around inside my head for a few months now; some remnant of a memory of a baked good. A lot of the time, cornbread is flavored with more savory flavors, such as jalapeño or cheddar. For some reason, the idea of cherries stuck with me. The cornbread is a little lighter and sweeter than usual, almost like a fluffy cake. These muffins are packed full of deep red cherries, and topped off with Orange Honey Butter!

Breakfast and Brunch, Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaAugust 8, 2019cherries, cornbread, desserts, summer Comment