A. Recipes & Baking

🥖 Recipes & Baking

Welcome to my virtual kitchen. Here, everything is made from scratch using time-tested methods, featuring crusty homemade sourdough bread, artisanal pastries, traditional sweets, and small-batch fruit preserves. Perfect for bringing classic, comforting flavors into your own home.

Tips for Successful Home Baking: Equipment Selection

Baking has become a beautiful source of comfort and creativity for many of us, turning simple ingredients into everything from decadent cakes to savory loaves of bread. But if you want to elevate your home baking game and achieve consistently perfect results, having the right equipment at your disposal is key. In my accompanying “Bake […] Read more…

Bake Like a Pro: The Secrets to Muffin Making Success

Banana Muffin Top view

You can make muffins from scratch; it really isn’t very hard. First, you want to read your recipe and become familiar with it even before you start. You have no idea how many people just jump in and start, not realizing what is involved. Next, you want to grab ALL the ingredients and bakeware you […] Read more…

How To Make Barley Malt Syrup

Jar of barley malt on a kitchen island with a number of baked goods ready to go in the oven.

Barley malt syrup is incredibly easy to make at home, and it adds an amazing depth of flavor, rich color, and distinct chew to a variety of baked goods. While traditional barley malt syrup is made by sprouting and processing actual barley grains, this quick shortcut method delivers that exact same deep, malty punch using […] Read more…

The Story Behind The Mardi Gras King Cake

Traditional round Mardi Gras King Cake decorated with purple, green, and gold sugar sprinkles and white icing on a festive background

It’s Mardi Gras season, which means it’s time to indulge in one of America’s most iconic desserts—the legendary king cake! But what’s the story behind this colorful, delicious carnival treat? The Ancient Origins of King Cake The king cake is a rich tradition that dates back centuries. Its humble beginnings can be traced all the […] Read more…

Homemade Apple Cider Donuts Recipe (Easy & Crispy)

Freshly fried old-fashioned homemade apple cider donuts stacked on a cooling rack.

Nothing says cozy autumn days quite like the aroma of fresh, warm donuts wafting through the kitchen. If you’ve ever wanted to recreate the magic of orchard-fresh farm stand treats at home, this homemade apple cider donuts recipe is exactly what you need. These old-fashioned, cake-style donuts are incredibly soft and tender on the inside […] Read more…

“Piece of Cake” Blog Begins

Honey Cake - My Lovi LLC

Today begins a new category on my blog about all things “baking” (though I will throw in some candy making). This category titled “Piece of Cake” is to share what I have learned, tips and conversations about the business of baking. There is so much to learn, especially if you are not using a commercial […] Read more…

Authentic Moravian Sugar Cake Recipe

A freshly baked golden-brown Moravian sugar cake with characteristic thumbprint pockets filled with melted butter, brown sugar, and dusted with cinnamon, served on a kitchen counter.

Moravian cooks traditionally make this delicious yeast cake throughout the year, but it is especially popular at Easter time when families gather and welcome guests. Baked in shallow sheets, this classic recipe is famous for its distinct, sweet pockets of melted butter and brown sugar. This recipe is passed down from the rich culinary traditions […] Read more…

Are Whoopie Pies a Snack or a Dessert?

A classic chocolate whoopie pie with a thick layer of white creamy marshmallow filling on a decorated background plate.

It appears that the State of Maine has spent quite a bit of time focusing on what should officially represent us when it comes to a state dessert versus a state snack. As someone who spends a lot of time baking small-batch confections, I’ve always been intensely curious about the massive attraction behind this particular […] Read more…