It's a soup day!

Yet another storm is brewing to blow and rain and rain and blow...enough already! Even the wood oven is having a hard time keeping pace...what's a bunch of baker girls to do? Well, we plan and scheme and try to get ready for the next big thing! We are hoping to expand our storage and enclose a porch...maybe even buy a new espresso machine! It really does make these challenging weather days more exciting when we use this time to dream big! The summer hires are already jockeying for position (it looks like a most excellent and fun crew!) we may have a good part of our schedule already 'fleshed' out!

Today was a day of hearty soups and yummy seeded millet bread...Hearty Mediterranean Lentil stew and a spicy Rockfish Chowder were a warm accompaniment for that special bread.

February...with a vengence!

The one redeeming quality of the month of February is that it is short! this year not quite so, but still shaving a couple of days off of the coldest, most challenging month in the Calendar, helps a little! Even Valentines Day didn't distract us as much as it usually does...oh sure, we made heart shaped cookies, yummy honey lavender caramels and our very popular angel brownies, it justl didn't seem to melt the ice in our frozen little february hearts! It's a sad tale it's true...luckily summer does come with it's never-ending sun and maniacal ways, before you know it July will be here and I'll be wishing it was February!

Welcome to our winter wonderland!

WOW! We are living in a snow globe...one that has been taken over by a 2 year old and constantly being shaken! It's been great to have consistant snow since we all know it could just as easily be 4o degrees and raining! There is a big ski race in town this weekend called the Besh Cup...it's out at McNeil Canyon School and is a great community event...come show your support for your favorite skier! The Bakery is getting ready for a few extra people to be in town over the 3 day holiday...that for us means more STICKY BUNS! Well and sandwiches and soup and, oh yeah, there's the Ham Danishes...so yummy! We are here, baking away while the snow snows and the storms rage on the beach...every once in a while our friend Randy Keller dashes into the bathroom to change into his drysuit and then he runs down down to Bishops beach to kayak surf. Gnarly Dude! Maybe the waves will be good this weekend and we can have a skiing, surfing, sticky bun triathlon! You know which leg I'm going to be doing!
;)Carri

The little Croissant that could!

The one thing about slow winter days is that we get to try new things, while I realize croissants themselves are not new, the idea of us making them IS! Sharon finally acted on her urge to add another dough rolling task to our day (she must think my arms need toning) and made true croissant dough...now, we've always made our own Danish dough, a "rough puff' if you will, but we hadn't gone all the way to really testing our laminated dough skills by making the real deal...and what a deal it is! so light, so flaky! Can we make them everyday? (I really could use the exercise!:)- Carri

Happy New Year!

2008 is gonna be great! At least that's what my dear old friend Betty Snow whispered in my ear on her most recent visit here to the bakery...I agreed with her enthusiastically and walked away thinking that if Betty...getting on in years as she is, could get excited about the new year, then I surely could,too! We love new things around here...new spatulas, new towels...most especially new shoes, but new Years? sure! why not?! We have lots to look forward to with some minor building renovations and a super staff to take us into spring, which will be here before you know it! I've made my resolution to de-clutter my life...both for the bakery and myself...sounds good doesn't it? We'll see how I do! As for those of you out there with a little bakery in your heart, Happy New Year to you...may you live long and prosper! Now go out and enjoy the Snow! Much love to all, 'sister' Carri

Happy Solstice!

The darkest of our winter days have been brightened up by some serious snowfall and an amazing full moon! The snow has not put much of a damper on business, but it did put a little wrench in our celebrating...we posponed our own holiday gathering here at the bakery because of bad roads and high winds. we are all working so hard it may have been more of a relief! Everyone loves a good snow day...it looks like we ARE HAVING A SNOW WEEK! We are closed on Christmas and New Years Day but the rest of the time we'll be here, keeping the oven fires burning and ready to make you a warm espresso! Happy Holidays to all!

Now THIS is what it's all about!

This little band visits us on Mondays with their parents...They are always interested in what Tim, the baker, is up to...this week they were treated to an impromptu cookie decorating session! They even got to do some of the sprinkling and boy, were they excited! The Maple butter cookies were extra special, thanks to their magic touch!

Looking Out

This the little snippet from Barb Wyatt's Show that I promised! She has sold 7 paintings already, so better get down here and check out what's left! All paintings will be on display until Dec. 20th

Chug, Chug, Chugging along!

The Holiday Train has left the station and is well on her way to ...what was it again? Oh Yeah...Cookie Nirvana! We are in full swing here, especially now that Nutcracker is over and my full attention can be focused on helping drive this train! We catered our first party of the season yesterday, and these next two weekends are lining up to be very festive! Come and check out Barb Wyatts paintings if your looking for a unique and, dare I say, Colorful gift, her prices are very affordable! We have lots of new T-Shirts in as well as a new batch of hand made mugs by our friend Ruby Haigh at Jars of Clay...Childrens books by Marguarida Kondak and hand printed cards by the kids at Otter Beach, Whew ! I told you we were on a roll!

A celebration of our Madness!

"There can be no genius without some touch of madness" -Aristotle


Sharon has returned from her trip with her usual zest for work...now that the refridgerators are all reorganized, we can get down to the tasks at hand. We are stll wrapped up in the cookie craze, which seems to be hitting it's stride, just in time for Party Catering to be added to the mix! I'm o board for the most part but there are a few important things to tend to first. Here's what's on my agenda for the next 3 days...Today, Friday, will be spent in the kitchen replenishing cookies, finishing cheesecakes for the Homestead Restaurant, cooking chickens for the potluck backstage at tonight's performance of the Nutcracker(set up is at 4:30)...then racing back to the bakery to set-up snacks and get ready for our first friday opening of Barbara Wyatt's paintings. The show is called 'Looking Out' and is a colorful delightful collection of smaller canvases...very giftable! The opening runs from 5-7 pm. After that I'm back at the auditorium to help with makeup and costume changes and to clean up the potluck table. Saturday is the final show. The bakery is feeding the performers this day with creamy Tomato Basil Soup and Rockfish Curry Chowder and Pizza! After cleanup backstage it's off to the cast party for ribs and a big ole CAKE! Whew!
Sunday officially begins PARTY CATER 2007...! I'll be in the kitchen with Kate, Ben and Morgan, wrapping borekas and rolling gorganzola grapes. Luckily, it's just one party (for one of our favorite customers)...next weekend is shaping up to be a wild one...

Holiday Cookies r us!

Yesterday began the crazy phenomena that is, what we like to call...'cookie nirvana'. The full list is still a work in progress, I expect to publish in the mext day or two. What I do have now are Maple Butter cut-outs, Lavender shortbread, Green tea shortbread, Pumpkin cookies, Ginger Sables, Parisian Macarons and Chocolate gingerbread. Today I plan to make some Peanut Butter kisses and coconut macaroons and more! We are selling them for 9.50 per pound this year and they weren't in the case for more than a few minutes before we sold our first box...one lady came back twice for the parisian macarons! So,it's off we go...to the land where cookies rule, and customers drool!

Bread Goddess!

Thank You, Sharon, for getting up at such impossible hours to provide us with such wonderful Bread! Especially today when the second half of your day involved driving four hours to Anchorage to get on a plane with your two little boys! We hope you have a fantastic time visiting your family and that the travels are all smooth...just like this day was, because of you! We'll be closed on Thanksgiving but will reopen at 7 am on Friday with a totally turkey free day! Roast beef focaccias for everybody! Happy Thanksgiving!

Pie Town!

The pies are sliding out of the oven as we speak! These are blueberry lattice tops and double crust apple...lookin' good! We have sweet potatoe pecan and pumpkin coming out as well! The bakery is a cozy place to be today with the rain pouring down outside...ruining our beautiful snow fall from the other day, we were so looking forward to sledding on thanksgiving! It's one more reminder that just because we live in Alaska, doesn't mean winter is a sure thing...darkness, now that's a sure thing! and pie, pie is also a very sure thing! We'll be open tomorrow until all the orders are gone and we can't stand it anymore...I'd say probably around 5...but we might make it til 6, you never know!

maple carmels...oh my!

Yo, I shoulda made this photo bigger , cause these are rocking good! Maple syrup, brown sugar and cream with a little butter stirred in at the end...brilliant! One thing...I should've added a little salt, next time I will, you can be sure of it! The Thanksgiving train is leaving the station with the orders starting to roll in...pies, cheesecakes, lots of bread, of course! We'll be baking up a storm right through the holiday, so if you need something, give us a call or stop on by!

Macaron Madness!

I went nuts for these cookies on a trip to San Fransisco a few years back, during a visit to Pascal Rigo at Bay Bread Boulangerie. He graciously gave me a tour of his very authentic storefront and amazing production bakery in the back...I left feeling very inspired and more than a little full from all the macarons. They haunted me until one day, I received Pascal's cookbook in the mail and there it was, the recipe for my favorite cookie ever! I've tried to make them a few times before this without great success...perhaps I just wasn't paying close enough attention. With the holiday cookie season looming, I decided to try again yesterday. I first tried the brick oven, but no , too hot. Hey,it's always good luck to burn the first batch right? (i know, i just made that up) Well it worked for me! Then second time I put them in the convection and did not forget them (key point) and look they are beautiful!