April Baker’s Notes
Plus recipes for sharing and celebrating this Easter.
Hi Bakers!
I don’t know about you, but lately we’ve been thriving off of snack plates. It started up again during Spring Break to end the lunch rotation of mac-n-cheese and quesadillas the kids were requesting. I’m talking about mini charcuterie boards and semi-artfully arranged platters of cut-up produce and dips. Of course this is not a new idea, but sometimes we just need a little reminder of these simple pleasures.
Yesterday I was reading a quick interview by one of my favorite food writers, Sarah Copeland, over on Gander. The two moms were discussing the power and possibilities of the humble tasting plate for their children. In Copeland’s book, Every Day is Saturday, she sets the stage for both a French-inspired Gourmand’s Lunch as well as a Hungarian Snacking Tray including dried sausages, pickles, peppers and stone fruit. She even suggests themed plates, like tomato and toast in the summer.
As we roll into spring sports season, sometimes the after-school snack needs to double as an early dinner. Depending on what we have in the house and the kids’ needs, this might look like sliced cucumber or bell peppers, cubes of cheese, salami, dried seaweed, pretzels, cut-up apples or fresh berries, nuts and dried fruit, and likely a slice of snacking cake or whatever else I’ve baked that week. The baseball bento (my saving grace that I always pack for my son’s games) also works extremely well for spectators too - keeping my girls fed and entertained into the 9th inning.
Easter is this weekend!
If you are still planning your menu, consider these:
Something Sweet…
Carrot Cake with Pecan Praline
This was our Birthday Cake Club recipe this month, but I can’t stop thinking about it and how perfect it is for an Easter celebration.
Something Savory…
French Onion Braided Bread Wreath
A filling of caramelized onions, butter, Dijon, and cheese gets rolled in enriched dough. Instead of slicing crosswise like cinnamon rolls, cut through the length of the roll to create two long strips then wrap into a wreath. Each strip will have layers of filling and buttery, yeasted bread.
Something to Share…
Almond Croissant Traveling Cake
Heading out for Easter? Bring this moist and buttery loaf to your host. The almond filling keeps it moist for days, so they can slice and share or keep themselves.
Something to Save for Later…
White Chocolate Lavender Shortbread
Besides its melt-in-your-mouth texture, ease of making, and incredible flavor, shortbread is the perfect edible gift. Shortbread has a long shelf life, so they are great for bringing as a hostess gift or to send off with parting guests.
Pack wedges in a tin with tissue paper or tie filled cello bags with ribbon.
Something to hold us over until lunch…
Planning an epic Easter lunch? Don’t forget to fuel up ahead of time. This one-pan pancake is something I like to throw together while the kids sort their Easter eggs before Mass.