Model Bakery English Muffins

Gracing the front cover of the Model Bakery cookbook are the Napa bakery’s famous English muffins. I’ve made muffins before but they look authentically like store-bought ones versus these golden puffy pillows that sell out every morning at the downtown St Helena shop.

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When I tasted my first Model Bakery muffin it was unlike anything I’ve ever had – this is how it’s supposed to taste? – I thought. The muffin had been in the freezer for about a week and I placed in a toaster oven to re-crisp. It was so flaky, crisp and buttery. Thank goodness for the book, because I had to have them, at any time I wanted. Lucky for me, shortly after my experiment I got to meet the owners of the bakery so I could see firsthand how the muffins were made and get some tips in the process. So here we go, my muffin adventure!

My Homemade Cronuts

I’m talking about the cronut again? Yes. I’m addicted. I made my own version which I’ll call a cro-not. Mine are close but I’ll need a few more tries (Chef Dominique Ansel tested about 10 versions) before I confidently say I’ve got it. And even then, after spending an entire day making them, Jenn’s Cronut Truck is not in the works.

It’s been two months since I had my first cronut but the food memory is still fresh and I’m happy with how these cronuts turned out. A big thank you to my friend and photographer, Johnny for being ambushed into a photo shoot. I wanted to concentrate on baking and not accidentally drop my iPhone in the fryer. Yes, he was compensated with a fresh cronut.

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Photo credit: Jenn Yee

Bouchon Bakery: TKO’s (Thomas Keller Oreos)

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C is for Cookie

There are a couple of cookies I consider classics, one being Chocolate Chip and the other, the Oreo.  Thomas Keller’s Oreo or TKO for short is a much more sophisticated sandwich cookie. The dark exterior comes from the cocoa powder in the dough and Chef Keller asks for cocoa noir or black cocoa to get a deep, rich flavor that is not as sweet as the traditional Oreo. The cookie is balanced with a sweet, white chocolate ganache filling that is smooth in contrast to the chalky consistency of the store bought version.

UPDATE 1/14/13: Serious Eats has featured this recipe on their blog with permission from Chefs Thomas Keller and Sebastien Rouxel. You can view the recipe here

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