tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18243354226744204792012-02-10T13:40:57.176-08:00Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.comBlogger1211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-75231551172246104162012-02-10T13:40:00.000-08:002012-02-10T13:40:57.191-08:00

Light and dark, light and dark... Blondies Pecan and Cacao Nib Sables both from Alice Medrich, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies After last week's re-debut, it is back to the regular schedule now.  I had to start cooking on Monday night this week, a day early, which meant planning on Sunday night.  When I am feeling a bit time-stressed, I just reach for the familiar and

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-84102523390734662602012-02-06T11:45:00.000-08:002012-02-06T11:45:18.198-08:00

For February 2, 2012 OK, well, I guess we fell off the blogging wagon there for a while.  I DID actually make cookies after mid-September, and I even took pictures of most of them!  But getting the pictures and the info on the cookies onto the blog, well...it didn't happen.  Alas.  I thought for a while that I would go back, organize the photos, use them to remind me of which recipes I made,

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-258768835217761102011-09-28T16:09:00.000-07:002011-09-28T16:09:33.700-07:00

Still catching up!  OK, this was what we had LAST week. Bittersweet Decadence Cookies, from Alice Medrich, Chewy Gooey (you know the rest by now...) Maple Crisps, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion A couple of highly divergent cookies this week.  First, chocolate.  I made the bittersweet decadence cookies - how about that for a name? - some time ago, but it was out of a different one

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-6372443349442729662011-09-28T15:30:00.000-07:002011-09-28T15:30:54.254-07:00

OK, trial and summer travel are over, so it is back to the oven for me! This week two repeats (more or less): Sweet and Salty Brownies, adapted from Baked: New Adventures In Baking, by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito Whole Wheat Sables with Hazelnuts, Currants and Cacao Nibs, from Chewy, Gooey, Crispy, Crunchy, Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies, by Alice Medrich The brownies are adapted from an

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-29671949984547688562011-08-11T10:13:00.000-07:002011-08-11T10:13:57.241-07:00

OK, well, how was YOUR July?  I just got my time records back, and it looks like I billed over 240 hours of time at work in July.  Which would explain why there were no cookies.  But now, things are settling down, and we are back to butter, flour, chocolate (LOTS of chocolate) and other good things.  Oh, and of course, a 400 degree oven during the summer.  Well, you can't win them all... This

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-16353927545232507032011-08-09T10:46:00.000-07:002011-08-09T10:46:52.812-07:00

Hi everyone, My trial is over, and I am back to baking this week:  Something old, something new.  More to follow later.

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-75123505830665010212011-07-03T14:33:00.000-07:002011-07-03T14:33:21.461-07:00

This is the last day of June.  It is also the last day of baking for me for a month or so.  I have a trial coming up on July 19, as well as an appellate brief due next Thursday, and I need to pull back from various responsibilities for July in order to take care of my clients and their needs.  Lucky for the Zen Center, Bob Gido Fisher has agreed to step in for me for a month while my attention is

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-62333554991094920062011-07-03T14:00:00.000-07:002011-07-03T14:06:03.686-07:00

These last two weeks were ones where time was extremely limited, and I was incredibly lucky to have Andrew Bodhi-Heart helping me out in the cookie-making department.  This week, it was two old favorites, both from Alice Medrich: Buckwheat Cacao Nib Sables, from Alice Medrich, Pure Dessert Classic Unsweetened-Chocolate Brownies, from Alice Medrich, Bittersweet Sables are a French version of a

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-88798871888551293222011-07-03T13:30:00.000-07:002011-07-03T14:09:44.976-07:00

This was a week with no chocolate.  I don't know how that happened, exactly, but it did.  We survived - luckily these non-chocolate cookies managed to suffice: Cherry Pistachio Biscotti, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionCornmeal Thyme Cookies, from Martha Stewart Cookies This is the first time I have made this particular biscotti recipe, and it was really great.  The recipe comes from

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-33684764944401730742011-06-10T14:32:00.000-07:002011-06-13T11:03:09.795-07:00

One new and one old recipe this week: Peanut Butter (and Currant) Cookies, from Mary Bergin, Spago Desserts Girl Scout Thin Mint Brownies, from The Food Librarian I have previously made the peanut butter cookie recipe.  Mary Bergin was the pastry chef at the original Spago in Hollywood.  She then went to Las Vegas to oversee the Spago there, and I don't know where she has ended up since then. 

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-67464573524838679992011-06-06T16:57:00.000-07:002011-06-06T16:57:44.008-07:00

A couple of new recipes this week: Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies, from Martha Stewart Blondies, from Alice Medrich, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt In Your Mouth Cookies I first encountered the Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies in a Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies magazine that I picked up in the grocery store last fall.  There are a lot of good recipes in there, but somehow I didn't really make

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-40684038979852927802011-06-05T19:47:00.000-07:002011-06-06T16:34:33.101-07:00

Best Cocoa Brownies, from Alice Medrich, Bittersweet Chocolate Chip Cookies, from Sherry Yard, Desserts By The Yard This week, as we near the unofficial beginning of summer with the Memorial Day weekend, it was time for two classic cookies.  Oh, and they don't taste too bad, either.  To accommodate my crazy schedule, each week I try to do one "bar" type cookie (which includes biscotti) and one

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-17286640681161349002011-06-01T17:12:00.000-07:002011-06-01T17:12:39.095-07:00

 Slowly catching up.... This week, a new recipe and an old one.  Very different, both delicious: Linzer Cookie Bars Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion The Linzer Cookie Bars are, well, bars that are an adaptation of Linzer cookies (which, I guess, are themselves an adaptation of Linzertorte).  Anyway, a shortbread style crust, a raspberry-lemon layer, and

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-57562885360994561102011-06-01T16:31:00.000-07:002011-06-01T16:31:04.075-07:00

I am so behind!  Yuck.  OK, well, even though I am posting this 3 weeks late, we did take pictures of the cookies at the time (see, no green spots anywhere) so I can report, to the best of my memory, on what we did: Almond Sables, from Alice Medrich, Pure Dessert Pleyels, from Nick Malgieri This was the week of the failed recipe.  On Tuesday night, I made ginger macadamia nut biscotti.   Seven

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-61889225643605114302011-05-11T12:29:00.000-07:002011-05-11T12:29:54.530-07:00

Back from our "spring break," which means it's time to get baking.  This week, we had two more Alice Medrich creations: Brown Sugar Butter Cookies Black Bottomed Pecan Praline Bars both from Alice Medrich, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt In Your Mouth Cookies Brown Sugar Butter Cookies Another yin and yang kind of week -  a simple, understated cookie and one that's well, not so much.  First

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-2352422439709274882011-05-09T15:01:00.000-07:002011-05-09T15:01:47.202-07:00

OK, this is a rather late, but since I want to get back on schedule, I have to clean out the backlog first! April 21 was the last Thursday night before Zen Center went on "spring break"; we have a more official name, but you get the idea.  I don't think anyone went to Key West or Lake Havasu, though, or if they did, they certainly weren't saying. Here are the cookies from that week: Macadamia

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-81511294998800097292011-04-14T15:32:00.000-07:002011-04-16T10:07:57.308-07:00

The last few weeks, there has been some defensible virtue to at least one of the cookies I've baked.  Not this week!  I will say, in my defense, however, that the second recipe was a "stumble upon" accident - I was actually browsing the book looking for a particular chocolate meringue recipe to make, but before finding it I found this other chocolate recipe and, well, uh, why make a meringue with

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-21156650799454593602011-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:002011-04-10T22:49:35.852-07:00

OK, a couple of new recipes this week, very yin and yang: Whole Wheat Biscotti Robert's Brownies My Way both from Alice Medrich, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt In Your Mouth Cookies Let's start with the biscotti.  This is an interesting recipe.  It calls for 100% whole wheat pastry flour.  Many recipes use a mix of white and whole wheat flours, but here we go all the way.  The only other

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-53178857018187506922011-03-31T00:38:00.000-07:002011-04-02T11:14:50.402-07:00

Last week, Zen Center was in a short sesshin that began on Thursday evening, so there were no cookies.  That was OK, it was a busy, crazy work week for me, and I was working late every night, so adding cookie baking to the mix may have pushed me over the top! Anyway, this week we have two new cookies, both from the new Alice Medrich book: Whole Wheat Hazelnut Cookies With Currants And Cacao

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-61497353132664763042011-03-17T15:08:00.000-07:002011-03-17T15:08:32.399-07:00

Hmmm, well, Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!! I guess I should say that up front, because it doesn't show up in this weeks recipes.  I totally forgot about the holiday, and didn't even wear anything green today!  (sad face here) Let's start with what we're NOT having this week:  Very Tangy Lime Bars, from Alice Medrich, Pure Dessert.  This week, for the first time, I had a recipe failure.  It wasn't

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-81066597370688008542011-03-10T10:43:00.000-08:002011-03-10T10:43:30.458-08:00

Why does it seem that the gap between baking sessions is collapsing into no-time?  Am I falling into a black hole and not noticing?  Or if I was falling into a black hole, would time elongate, rather than collapse?  Maybe I'm falling out of one, not into one?  Or is it simply that, having added gym time 6-7 days a week to my schedule (on top of everything else), the rhythm of my life has

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-67897668678594766502011-03-06T17:48:00.000-08:002011-03-10T10:25:12.720-08:00

Two new recipes this week, both from new Christmas/post-Christmas cookbooks: Sweet and Salty Brownies, from Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito, Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented Almond Sables, from Alice Medrich, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies A few weeks ago I made a recipe for brownies from the original Baked cookbook. Baked is a bakery in Brooklyn

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-19531199244367341732011-02-24T11:38:00.000-08:002011-02-24T11:56:03.844-08:00

Hi everyone,mostly well again - I guess this is what a chest cold is like - I don't like it. I am mostly better, although particularly at the gym (while gasping for air) I am finding I still have gunk in my lungs. Poco a poco.Anyway, this week, we are in a back to basics week: fairly simple round(ish) cookies, one chocolate, one sugar. Both are Alice Medrich cookies:Spicy Chocolate Wafers

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-53806608678664256382011-02-16T19:10:00.001-08:002011-02-16T19:33:30.336-08:00

OK, well, I am sick. And not in the "mental' way, just the physical way. Which I hate. I get sick so rarely, I think I am out of practice or something, so it just makes me more grumpy. Today, I had to cancel a training at Zen Center, a workout with my personal trainer, and a dinner with some of the partners from my law firm. Just so I could sit at home and drink liquids, then more liquids,

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-251593050384472832011-02-16T18:53:00.000-08:002011-02-16T19:33:55.591-08:00

One week in, and already behind. Sigh. Oh, well.Last week was another week of cooking out of my new cookbooks. I was not there for the talk (we went to see Kodo, the Japanese taiko group instead), but I saw the next day the paltry remains, so I guess people liked the cookies! Here is what they were:Hazelnut Sticks, from Alice Medrich, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-In-Your-Mouth

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-54996247856376713292011-02-03T10:51:00.000-08:002011-02-03T11:13:21.201-08:00

OK, back in the saddle again...I am trying to juggle a new (and LASTING) commitment to exercise and being more healthy with the job thing, the Zen thing, the baking thing...oof. I think most of the weight I put on in the last 5 years can be attributed to (1) slowing metabolism once I hit 40 and (2) baking cookies and not giving all of them away. It is basic Zen training that you have to give

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-33760829165421290132011-02-01T15:17:00.000-08:002011-02-01T15:29:05.796-08:00

January is gone, and with it the bare-bones practice month at ZCLA, which was marked by no talks and no cookies on Thursday nights. It has been more than 6 weeks since I pulled out the cookie sheets and baked. (Well, there was a little baking here and there, but not for a crowd.)Although certain people (ahem) did not help out by buying me ANYTHING from my Amazon wish list - which was basically

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-44815771085131678922010-12-16T10:58:00.000-08:002010-12-16T17:12:32.998-08:00

Hi everyone, it has been a long time since my last post - because it has been a long time since the last Thursday night cookies. Between that whole Thanksgiving thing, and then the Center had Rohatsu sesshin, which ran for 9 days and spanned 2 Thursdays, this is my first baking since mid-November. Well, my first cookie baking. I have been busy with a few other things around Thanksgiving and

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-8855538187054053102010-11-18T15:36:00.000-08:002010-11-18T15:52:02.800-08:00

Hermit BarsChocolate Gingerbread Squaresboth from Martha StewartA couple of weeks ago, I spotted a new, seasonal magazine in the grocery store - a Holiday Cookies magazine from Martha Stewart. While there was an older magazine of the same type - which eventually was turned into the Martha Stewart Cookies cookbook - this had lots of new recipes that I had not seen before. So I happily scooped it

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-67394442816124764302010-11-18T15:27:00.001-08:002010-11-18T15:36:33.433-08:00

This week, my niece and her daughter were arriving on Thursday, and I was really busy at work, so it was time to fall back on old friends. Well, more or less.Chocolate Chip Cookies, from The Secrets of Baking by Sherry YardHoney Nut Brownies, from Baking: From My Home to Yours, by Dorie GreenspanSherry Yard's chocolate chip cookies are a welcome standby. One of the things I like about them is

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-65181382908307364092010-11-18T15:17:00.000-08:002010-11-18T15:27:19.061-08:00

Spicy Cherry Chocolate Brownies, from the LA TimesMapledoodles, from the King Arthur Flour Recipe SiteRecently, the Los Angeles Times did an article on interesting cookie flavors involving combinations of sugar and spice. One of the recipes was for the spicy cherry chocolate brownies that I made this week. The recipe calls for a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. And the "spicy" in the name is not a

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-45995017269109125902010-10-21T16:52:00.000-07:002010-10-21T17:20:01.587-07:00

Next week, the Zen Center is in sesshin (a form of meditation retreat), so this is my last post for October. This marks the 5 year mark on this crazy cookie project - it was at the end of October 2005 that I received an email from Jotai in the office asking if anyone was willing to step forward and bring the cookies for the Thursday night tea and cookies. I volunteered and, being a bit

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-41548836789573268912010-10-21T16:38:00.000-07:002010-10-21T16:52:10.105-07:00

This week, Zen Center hosted Rev. Nakano from Japan, who was a Specially Dispatched Teacher from the Sotoshu on a tour of various Zen centers in the United States. Anyway, due to his schedule, he came and gave a talk on Tuesday night, which we followed with tea and cookies. This was an event that called for repeats, to wit:Whole Wheat Sables with Cacao Nibs, from Alice Medrich, Pure

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-2045351409860425772010-10-21T16:23:00.000-07:002010-10-21T16:38:47.730-07:00

I am a little behind on my blogging! The worst part is that my memory for what I am making starts to slip pretty quickly, so I do need to get my laptop by my bed and start doing these entries when I am just finished baking.Last week was a double Martha week; happily, most of her recipes are available online:Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Brown Butter Icing, from Martha Stewart CookiesHazelnut

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-338927309936961902010-10-13T15:59:00.000-07:002010-10-13T16:33:00.696-07:00

Last week we went to NY and CT for a long weekend to celebrate my sister's birthday. But before going, I baked and left some treats behind for the Zen Center! Here were last week's items:Toasted Walnut Cookies, from Deborah Madison, Vegetarian Cooking for EveryonePecan-Maple Shortbreadboth from Melissa Clark - Food WriterI am a big fan of Deborah Madison's, since she was the founding chef of

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-8704182130080523292010-09-23T10:32:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:55:36.716-07:00

This week, Mark Shogen Bloodgood is giving a personal practice talk at the Zen Center. Shogen is a vegan, and in his honor this week's recipes are both vegan:Toasted Almond CookiesChocolate Chip Browniesboth from Peter Berley, The Modern Vegetarian KitchenPeter Berley is a prominent cookbook author and chef whose first book, The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen, was almost entirely vegan. It is

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-73035839113579185942010-09-16T12:15:00.000-07:002010-09-16T12:33:24.459-07:00

Two very different cookies this week:Cinnamon sugar cookies, from Mary Bergin, Spago DessertsMelting chocolate meringues, from Alice Medrich, BittersweetI think this is the first time I have made each of these cookies. The cinnamon sugar cookies seem pretty much to be snickerdoodles in all but name, but maybe at a restaurant like Spago they can't call them by their true name. Well, anyway, this

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-41958873189715625332010-09-13T13:44:00.001-07:002010-09-13T14:07:24.687-07:00

The Center was closed for summer recess so there were no cookies on Sept. 2. For September 9, it was back to school, with two cookies:Chocolate Sparkle Cookies, via the Los Angeles TimesOatmeal Current Cookies, from Mary Bergin, Spago DessertsThe chocolate sparkle cookies were a happy byproduct - I have an ancient, bulging folder of recipes I have printed out or cut out of newspapers, etc. over

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-87958786276869011412010-08-30T13:32:00.001-07:002010-08-30T14:10:46.241-07:00

ZCLA is now on summer break, so there will be no cookies for Sept. 2. This gives me a chance to do a little catch-up, since I didn't post for last week. The cookies for Aug. 26 were:Palm Beach Brownies, from Maida Heatter, Maida Heatter's Book of Great Chocolate DessertsChewy Orange-Almond Cookies, from Martha StewartThis was week of opposites. The brownies are a legendary recipe from the

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-44877122571112338872010-08-19T15:49:00.000-07:002010-08-19T16:01:21.884-07:00

The blog is 2 years old this week. Happy Birthday!So today we get the freshest cookies ever - because they were made THIS MORNING. And not as in after midnight, as in 8 a.m. today. Apparently some sort of oil/sludge had gotten on the bottom of our oven so when I went to preheat it last night, smoke started billowing out. And even after I cooled it down and cleaned it as much as I could, smoke

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-85812651858280967132010-08-12T14:44:00.000-07:002010-08-12T16:40:23.554-07:00

Last week was all Martha, this week is all Sherry Yard, the pastry chef at Spago Beverly Hills:Chocolate Chip CookiesButterscotch Cookiesboth from Sherry Yard, The Secrets of BakingI am a big fan of this book, and I think both of these are repeats. I know that the chocolate chip cookies are, and although I thought the Butterscotch cookies were a newbie, seeing them cook they looked very

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-17330115122469820872010-08-12T14:31:00.000-07:002010-08-12T14:44:46.779-07:00

Another catch-up (not katsup) post. Last week was all about Martha:Citrus Cornmeal ShortbreadDouble Chocolate Browniesboth from Martha Stewart's CookiesBoth yummy - this week, in a first (or first in my limited memory), I came out liking the chocolate item less then the others. I really liked the shortbread cookies - they were buttery but also had a good dose of salt, so there was a sweet and

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-67489345418020280642010-07-29T10:25:00.000-07:002010-07-29T11:13:26.475-07:00

Last week was sesshin, so no cookies, just sitting. This week, back to the normal schedule.Two items, both from Dorie Greenspan, one new, one a repeat:World Peace CookiesAlmond-Currant Teacakesboth by Dorie GreenspanAs any reader knows, I am in love with this woman. Her recipes are just consistently great. I have made the world peace cookie a couple of times before. Andrew Bodhi-Heart says it

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-6258754945638036052010-07-29T10:24:00.000-07:002010-08-12T16:43:08.271-07:00

Lemon Cookies, from the King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionChewy Fudge Brownies, from the New York Times

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-6616640104152912292010-07-08T17:34:00.000-07:002010-07-08T17:35:10.302-07:00

Nibby cocoa sablesSelf-icing nutella mini cupcakes.

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-23586035774008482642010-07-08T12:40:00.001-07:002010-07-08T17:34:17.258-07:00

Last week, Andrew and I left for Tassajara on Thursday morning, but I made cookies to leave behind before heading out. Both cookies were from one of my favorite cooks, Alice Medrich:Nibby Pecan SablesReal Chocolate Wafersboth from Alice Medrich, BittersweetThe chocolate wafer cookie was a new recipe for me. The cookie is exactly what it says it is - a chocolate wafer. Probably quite good with

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-65372814758618712952010-07-08T12:37:00.000-07:002010-07-08T12:39:57.810-07:00

For June 24, I was just back in town from a week away. We had a guest baker this week, Bob Gido Fisher. He made two ridiculously good items:Chocolate Crinkles, from Martha Stewart CookiesOatmeal Lace CookiesThe oatmeal lace cookies were amazing. Lucky for me, Gido even gave me the recipe, so I will get to try it after a suitable break.Thanks, Gido!

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-58304891946851529882010-07-08T12:36:00.000-07:002010-07-08T12:37:45.268-07:00

What did we bake way back then? Hmmm.....

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-29896970374023448502010-06-09T23:41:00.000-07:002010-06-09T23:55:05.998-07:00

Quick post, very tired. Two very different cookies this week:Double Chocolate Cookies, from MilkOrange Cashew Biscotti, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionMilk is an amazing ice cream shop and bakery on Beverly Boulevard. While people go mostly for the ice cream, their baked goods are, IMHO, even better. This recipe for double chocolate cookies was printed about 18 months ago in the LA

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-33539267679995196982010-06-02T23:10:00.000-07:002010-06-02T23:37:00.967-07:00

OK, back on track, even if exhausted. This week, two rather experimental cookies - which is probably kinda silly, probably should have done only ONE experimental cookie in a week. But noooooo...... So here is the lineup:Iced Multigrain Oatmeal Cookies, adapted from Kim Boyce, Good to the GrainChocolate Chip Cookies with Buckwheat Groats, from The Wednesday Chef blogTwo interesting cookies. Now

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-41648260774683907862010-05-25T15:03:00.000-07:002010-05-25T15:30:11.549-07:00

OK, so I have been totally lame on blogging. Sue me. The big problem is that I really have absolutely no memory about what I made in the earlier weeks, making this an increasingly challenging exercise. Anyway, since I still have these hanging around my house, I am pretty sure about what I made last week. Here's the deal:Raspberry Honey Financiers, from Martha Stewart's CookiesCranberry

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-36135397040503754112010-05-25T14:55:00.000-07:002010-05-25T15:02:59.879-07:00

Need to enter this when I figure out what I made this week, too.Brownie BitesSpago Oatmeal Raisin Cookies?

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-83231184093914051362010-05-25T14:54:00.000-07:002010-05-25T14:55:48.427-07:00

I'll add my entry later - as soon as I remember what I made!

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-63814655425682202542010-04-22T16:46:00.000-07:002010-04-22T17:25:31.763-07:00

This week is "celebrity chef" week here at Joyful Mind Bakery. Or, at least, celebrity chef recipe week - no celebrity chefs were involved (0r harmed) in the baking of these confections! Anyway, here is the lineup:Buttery Pecan Rounds, from Martha Stewart's CookiesBrownies, from Thomas KellerOK, so the "Martha Stewart's Cookies" cookbook is a reminder of what great book design can be. Even if

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-86010229826139575832010-04-15T15:53:00.000-07:002010-04-15T17:09:11.690-07:00

Tax Day. It calls for cookies!Last night, Andrew Bodhi-Heart was working, so I was on my own. Luckily, I planned ahead and made one of my doughs the night before, so all I had to do was slice and bake on Wednesday ... and make the whole other set of cookies. Amazingly, all worked out OK, as I was pretty much done fairly early (as these things go). I am not quite sure how it happened.Here's

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-32614253590988052042010-04-15T15:37:00.000-07:002010-04-15T15:51:42.156-07:00

Last week I didn't end up putting up a post on the cookies, so I will do a quick "make-up" post now. Andrew Bodhi-Heart was not working on Wednesday night, and we once again shared baking duties - this time, each of us made one of the two items. It is nice to only have to be responsible for one item - it is like a mini-holiday! Anyway, here was the lineup:From Bodhi-Heart: Butterscotch

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-65903306274898745552010-04-02T15:10:00.000-07:002010-04-02T16:16:18.374-07:00

Last week the Zen Center began a retreat on Thursday night, so there were no cookies. Since we were in the midst of moving my offices, it was quite OK!This week, we ended up making two different recipes that originated in Paris bakeries. Here they are:French Butter Cookies/Les Punitions from Lionel Poilane by way of Dorie GreenspanPleyels (French Chocolate Almond Cakes) from La Maison du

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-70735248366782606662010-03-19T14:09:00.000-07:002010-03-19T14:28:21.115-07:00

This entry is a day late, due to some unanticipated work challenges involving a federal court brief filed at 11:53 p.m. on Wednesday night. I will say no more.Anyway, this was a chocolate week:Chocolate Peppermint Squares, from The King Arthur Flour Baking CompanionChocolate Friands, from Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson, TartineThe chocolate peppermint squares are a repeat. Sensei Merle

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-87766726837013486282010-03-11T13:29:00.001-08:002010-03-11T13:48:44.469-08:00

Two recipes this week, both from Tartine, by Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad RobertsonDeluxe Double Chocolate CookiesAlmond RochersThe double chocolate cookies are a deeply chocolate affair. They combine high-quality bittersweet chocolate (I am using three different chocolates, with chocolate percentages at 66% (Valrhona), 70% (Scharffen Berger), and 72% (Green & Black Organic)) and a substantial

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-63300287824445698092010-03-10T10:51:00.000-08:002010-03-10T14:40:05.346-08:00

OK, still a little catch-up work to do before tonight's baking begins. This week was a cookie week, to wit:Chocolate Chip Cookies, from Flo Braker, Baking For All OccasionsOatmeal Currant Cookies, from Alice Waters, The Art Of Simple FoodFlo Braker is another of the main movers and bakers on the scene today. I got this book quite a few months back, but finally took it out this week. This is a

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-10853230770428386892010-03-08T12:25:00.000-08:002010-03-10T14:39:13.124-08:00

Sorry for the delay in posting! It has been a bit crazy, and I haven't had a chance to post. So here is what has been happening:February 18 -Five-Spice Snickerdoodles, from The Los Angeles TimesBest Unsweetened Brownies, from Alice Medrich, BittersweetBoth of these are recipes I have made before, and both proved worth repeating. The Five-Spice Snickerdoodles are a variation on the traditional

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-90571788551241610832010-02-17T23:35:00.001-08:002010-02-17T23:43:37.580-08:00

The curse of the chocolate cookie has been broken! Hurrah! This week's cookies:My Favorite Chocolate Chip CookiesCafe Volcano Cookiesboth from Dorie Greenspan, Baking: From My Home To YoursWhile it is Dorie Greenspan who calls these her favorite chocolate chip cookie, they are awfully good. I like this cookie a lot - it tends to be very crispy/crunch at the edge, and a bit chewy at the center

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-64261655355307720862010-02-10T23:44:00.000-08:002010-02-10T23:59:09.076-08:00

I think we have to call it the curse of the chocolate chip cookie. Last week, I had planned to make Sherry Yard's chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I ended up getting home from work very late and ended up making a brownie recipe instead. This week, I planned to make Dorie Greenspan's chocolate chip cookie recipe, and I once again ended up getting home from work at 9 p.m., which is just too late

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-73589357670350123522010-02-03T23:57:00.000-08:002010-02-04T00:09:05.364-08:00

Happy 2010!January was bare bones month at the Zen Center - after a busy last 3 months of the year, we chill out in January, which means no talks on Thursday nights, which also means no cookies. But January is now history, and February is already upon us. Yikes!Work has been very busy, and tonight I only got home at 9 p.m. to start baking. So one of the recipes that I intended to make (

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-45109371799323944042009-12-03T12:25:00.000-08:002009-12-03T14:21:03.642-08:00

This has been a rather hectic and disjointed 2 weeks. Last week I was in San Diego for work on Monday and Tuesday, then we went to Yosemite for Thanksgiving on Wednesday. On Sunday we came back, and on Monday I went to Las Vegas for work. Got back Tuesday afternoon, and baked on Tuesday night. I thought I was going to go to the Center on Wednesday night, but I got out of work late, so I ended

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-84437617756774686472009-11-19T11:01:00.000-08:002009-11-19T11:24:26.172-08:00

OK, a lot going on. Andrew received jukai last Saturday, and now has the name Bodhi-Heart. Very beautiful ceremony, and a gorgeous rakusu! As for me, Roshi gave me the OK this week to go ahead and begin gathering fabric for my okesa (priest robe), which means that I am going to be ordained as a Zen priest sometime in 2010. Wow. Overwhelming. More on that later.This weekend is also the Zen

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-220663405340318832009-11-12T11:48:00.000-08:002009-11-12T12:11:40.923-08:00

Last week was a week with no cookies at all, just cakes large and diminutive. And no chocolate! After my car got keyed and my house tagged with demands for chocolate, I got the idea - please, I give up! No, really, just kidding.Anyway, this week we return to traditional values by embracing our inner cookie-ness. To wit:Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Icing, from Martha Stewart's

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-1461061551119478242009-11-05T12:06:00.000-08:002009-11-05T12:31:08.553-08:00

This week, we are taking a break from cookies and spending a week with their friends, the cakes. Two very different types of cakes, in fact:All-In-One Holiday Bundt Cake, from Dorie Greenspan, Baking: From My Home To YoursVisitandines de Lorraine, Little "Visitation" Cakes from Lorraine, from Nick MalgieriI believe I made the Bundt cake last year. It is chockablock full of stuff - pumpkin

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-40070733155333750122009-10-29T00:28:00.001-07:002009-10-29T11:08:47.985-07:00

Dinner:Corn, Bean and Pumpkin Stew, from Deborah Madison, The Greens CookbookArugula with Pecorino Romano and Roasted WalnutsCorn-Cheese Muffins both from Deborah Madison, Vegetarian Cooking For EveryoneDuring the Practice Period, we have Thursday night Sangha dinners at ZCLA. I signed up to cook this week, and based on tonight's prep and cooking, I was obviously completely crazy at the time

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-74865008032185960352009-10-29T00:27:00.000-07:002009-10-29T11:23:22.574-07:00

Vermont Maple Cookies, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionThis week, ZCLA was engaged in the annual autumn sesshin or meditation retreat. So there were no cookies on Thursday night. However, on Saturday night we had a ceremony in the Zendo called Honsaku Gyocha, for which I made these cookies. The sesshin marks the end of a year of training for the Head Trainee at the Center. For the

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-52633271398813867162009-10-15T00:09:00.000-07:002009-10-15T00:19:55.093-07:00

Chocolate Chip Cookies, from Mary Bergin, Spago DessertsMaple Walnut Bars, from The King Arthur Flour Baking CompanyThe chocolate chip cookies are a repeat. This is a nice recipe - very straightforward. This particular recipe calls for the dough to refrigerate for several hours before baking. From what I have been reading, this is now considered a better thing with many cookie recipes because

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-50570104421996747312009-10-08T15:08:00.000-07:002009-10-08T15:26:24.390-07:00

Autumn has finally arrived in Los Angeles, hurrah!This week's cookies:Applesauce Spice Bars, from Dorie Greenspan, Baking: From My Home To YoursCornmeal Thyme Cookies, from Martha Stewart's Cookies.Both of these are repeats, but not for a while. The applesauce bars are an autumnal nod - they have lots of applesauce, raisins, chopped apples, pecans and spices, and are topped with a light brown

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-37297319182811699242009-09-30T23:51:00.000-07:002009-10-01T00:00:41.710-07:00

Two recipes from an old source this week:Chocolate Mint SnapsRosemary Pine Nut Currant Biscottiboth from/adapted from the King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionI won't be at the Center on Thursday, because Andrew and I are going to see a fundraiser screening of the new movie Where The Wild Things Are. I am looking forward to it a lot, but I am sorry I won't be able to hear Sensei Ryodo's talk.

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-91027572460539339102009-09-26T22:37:00.000-07:002009-09-26T22:55:38.988-07:00

Oh yeah, that was two days ago! Oops.So Andy was out of town from Wed. through today, and I had a big brief due on Friday, so it has been a bit hectic. So I did do the baking, but the blogging has been delayed. But here it is, Saturday night, and I am lying in bed typing on a computer. Something is very, very wrong.OK, anyway, on to this week's recipes:Salt and Black Pepper Cocoa Shortbread

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-11302687280851423602009-09-16T11:45:00.000-07:002009-09-16T12:02:06.269-07:00

Back from Tassajara! Sigh. We had some good food, and good desserts and cookies (and one that falls in the "really?" category, but never mind about that...) Anyway, this Thursday, David Green will be receiving jukai on Thursday night, so our usual schedule is set aside - except for the tea and cookies (uh, sweets) part. And tonight one of our members is giving a recital at USC, so I had to do

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-11161280106009034842009-09-09T19:20:00.001-07:002009-09-09T19:34:13.429-07:00

Andrew and I will be out of town again this week - going to Tassajara for the last weekend of guest season, which is an old tradition for us by now - so there has been a lot of busy baking in advance, amid a week where Andrew has been sick and I have been super busy at work. Anyway, here is this week's line-up:Hazelnut whole wheat sablesNew bittersweet browniesboth from Alice Medrich, Pure

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-39425577125236273802009-08-27T15:05:00.000-07:002009-08-27T15:19:37.800-07:00

Back from Hawaii! Andrew and I were gone for 10 days on vacation. Now back. Sigh. A very hard landing on return. Anyway, amid the 100-degree heat, I was in the kitchen baking last night, and here are the items I made:Cranberry Oatmeal Bars, from Nick MalgieriMacademia Shortbread Brownies, from Alice Medrich, BittersweetBoth bar-type cookies this week - I didn't get home until 8 p.m. last

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-18522755394562775872009-08-12T23:42:00.000-07:002009-08-12T23:56:26.910-07:00

Two interesting recipes this week, both involving almonds:Lemony Almond Bars, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionChocolate Spice Quickies, from Dorie Greenspan, Baking: From My Home To YoursThis is the second week in a row I am doing a chocolate cookie recipe from Dorie Greenspan. In terms of technique, these are rather similar to the World Peace Cookies that I did last week, but they

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-35094287679947518182009-08-05T22:53:00.000-07:002009-08-05T23:10:20.021-07:00

I was in San Diego today, so Andrew took care of the cookies. So now I turn it over to our guest blogger, Andrew!World Peace Cookies, from Dorie Greenspan, Baking: From My Home To YoursOK, Tom actually made these Wednesday night. They are the kind of cookies that you roll into logs and refrigerate, so all I had to do was slice them up and bake them. I am always a little worried about sizing

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-70052234302194767572009-07-29T22:29:00.000-07:002009-07-29T23:36:53.378-07:00

Bittersweet Brownies, from Dorie Greenspan, Baking: From My Home To YoursRaisin, Pine Nut and Fennel Biscotti, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionBusy week, which means two relatively easy - but delicious - recipes. I am a big fan of Dorie Greenspan's; I don't think I have made one recipe of hers that has not turned out exceedingly well. This is a very straightforward brownie recipe.

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-78544827415689915282009-07-17T22:28:00.000-07:002009-07-17T22:47:24.249-07:00

Two recipes from Alice Medrich this week:Best Cocoa Brownies, from Alice Medrich, BittersweetWhole Wheat Sables, from Alice Medrich, Pure DessertThis was a crazy week. I am blogging two days late! Work has been intense - I worked 10 hours a day last Saturday and Sunday, and pretty non-stop since. (Today, this crazy push came to an end when I got two briefs that I have been working on for weeks

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-58819172433391937382009-07-09T16:21:00.000-07:002009-07-09T17:47:33.787-07:00

This is another crazy week. Oof. Andy is back from Arizona, his mom's stuff has been moved (but unpacking is another thing). And work is crazy! Oy. But still, the cookies must go on. So this week....Triple Chocolate Fudge Cookies, from Sherry Yard, The Secrets of BakingSummer Berry Crumble Bars, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionAfter my small "oops" with the chocolate cookies last

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-14381362476475977152009-07-02T00:06:00.001-07:002009-07-02T00:19:00.771-07:00

Chocolate Sugar Cookies, from Sherry Yard, The Secrets of BakingOur Favorite Pound CakeThis week, Andy is in Lake Havasu, Arizona, helping prepare his mom for her big move to Los Angeles. So I am handling both the cooking and clean up. Yuck!Anyway, some fun stuff this week. The cookie is from Sherry Yard's book, the Secrets of Baking. Sherry is the pastry chef at Spago, and I think this is an

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-33138405558566268232009-06-24T23:18:00.000-07:002009-06-24T23:35:24.674-07:00

Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionClassic Unsweetened-Chocolate Brownies, from Alice Medrich, BittersweetThis was the week where this whole baking thing veered towards the "are you insane?" side of the spectrum. Monday night I flew to Phoenix (where it was 85 degrees when I landed at 9:30 p.m.), took 2 depos in Phoenix on Tuesday, then flew back to LA; on

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-34910818036717736892009-06-17T22:49:00.000-07:002009-06-17T23:03:17.979-07:00

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, from David LebovitzPeppery Nibby Chocolate Sables, adapted from Nick MalgieriAnother crazy work week. Sigh. But two interesting cookies. Both of these come from noted bakers who have their own Web sites. The Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are from David Lebovitz' web site, but he is adapting a recipe from Nick Maglieri. These are good cookies and, even better,

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-51421094808726752502009-06-10T23:45:00.000-07:002009-06-11T00:05:56.340-07:00

Luxury Brownies, from the blog Chocolateandzucchini.comBenne Wafers, from The King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionVia David Lebovitz' blog, I found this brownie recipe at Chocolate & Zucchini, a cooking/baking blog written by Clotilde Dusoulier; she in turn had found it on the blog of a woman who sells baked goods at a market in East London. The chocolate in this is very intense - the recipe calls

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-52403777146157227952009-06-02T21:29:00.000-07:002009-06-03T12:22:47.043-07:00

Last week, we had a short sesshin begin on Thursday night, so there were no cookies. This week, I am going very early Thursday morning to Tassajara for a poetry workshop that begins on Thursday evening; however, while I will not be around to put out the cookies on Thursday, I (with a lot of help from Andrew) have baked them to leave behind. So for this Thursday, June 4:Spago's Chocolate Chip

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-90745198716443655532009-05-20T23:48:00.000-07:002009-05-20T23:54:05.472-07:00

Midnight CrinklesLemon Almond Biscottiboth from Dorie Greenspan, Baking:  From My Home to YoursIt is late, and I have to get up early tomorrow for a 7:30 meeting, so this is a short entry.  The midnight crinkles are a very simple cookie, but they have some cinnamon and cloves in them which is a bit of a surprise as you bit into them.  Next time I should add a bit of pepper to wake things up.  The

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-17572487143459816512009-05-06T20:45:00.000-07:002009-05-06T21:00:49.914-07:00

Nibby Pecan Cookies, from Alice Medrich, BittersweetWest Tenth Street Brownies, from Nick MalgieriThis week I am doing one repeat recipe, and one from a completely new source.  The repeat is the Nibby Pecan Cookies.  I am a big fan of Alice Medrich - her recipes are usually very simple and rely on the quality of the ingredients rather than complicated techniques or ingredients.  I made this

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-22066170784614132462009-04-29T23:05:00.000-07:002009-04-29T23:16:16.624-07:00

Chocolate Peppermint Squares, from The King Arthur Flour Baking Companion (and online)Flo Braker's Pain d'amande Cookies, from David LebovitzSensei Kodo Boyd has returned to ZCLA to visit for a few weeks, and in honor of her return I am making one of her favorite recipes (which also happens to be one of Andrew's), the chocolate peppermint squares.  While these are a holiday favorite, the

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-60565506305328453162009-04-16T00:03:00.000-07:002009-04-16T00:15:14.636-07:00

Apricot-Cherry Bars, from the King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionRoasted Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, from BakeWise by Shirley O. CorriherThat's the plan, anyway.  Due to a couple of snafus, the cookie dough is in the refrigerator tonight, to be baked in the early a.m.  But this is a very nice cookie dough - there is a substantial amount of roasted peans in this dough, and the flavor is great.  

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-49282684881065558982009-04-08T21:56:00.000-07:002009-04-08T22:09:17.931-07:00

Very Chocolate Cookies, from David LebovitzTangy-Chewy Fruit Nut Bars, from King Arthur FlourWell, these are not kosher for Passover.  Sorry!  But neither recipe uses any eggs, if it is any consolation.The chocolate cookies are interesting - they have a bit of a crumbly texture like shortbread.  They have cocoa powder, melted chocolate, hand cut chocolate chips and cacao nibs, so the "very" in

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-49133079751186196702009-03-31T15:30:00.000-07:002009-03-31T15:39:26.720-07:00

Cheesecake Brownies, from David LebovitzTea and Spice Bars, from the King Arthur Flour Cookie CompanionI am going to be out of town for work this week, so I had to do my cooking early. I am continuing to browse through the recipes on David Lebovitz' excellent blog, this time with a cheesecake brownie. Yum. These are rich, so cut small pieces if you make the recipe!Two weeks ago, I made a

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-79058635130792325082009-03-18T22:40:00.000-07:002009-03-18T22:48:29.050-07:00

Chocolate Hazelnut BiscottiFriendship Barsboth from David LebovitzDavid Lebovitz was a pastry chef at Chez Panisse for over 12 years.  He now lives in Paris (brat).  He has a wonderful, inspiring blog.  Anyway, this week I am making two recipes from the recipe list in his blog.  The chocolate hazelnut biscotti is an adaptation of his chocolate biscotti recipe - he calls for almonds, but I have

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-16615142493215471742009-03-11T23:05:00.000-07:002009-03-11T23:13:03.875-07:00

Oatmeal Raisin Almond Cookies, from the Magnolia Bakery CookbookBLD Fudge Brownies, from the Los Angeles Times and BLD RestaurantBLD is a wonderful restaurant on 3d Street here in Los Angeles.  It is the more casual sister to Grace.  Today's Los Angeles Times published the recipe for BLD's fudge brownie sundae; this is the fudge brownie part of the recipe.  It has to refrigerate overnight, so I

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-67479264402788948372009-03-04T11:47:00.000-08:002009-03-04T12:13:32.827-08:00

It is an act of pure faith that I am writing this now, before noon, on March 4. I made my batter and dough last night - both had to chill before baking - so, if everything goes right, and my oven complies (it has a malfunctioning control board that we are in the process of replacing, but it is not yet completed), here is the plan for tomorrow:Madeleines (both plain and chocolate) from American

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-78758796434543911552009-02-25T23:07:00.000-08:002009-02-25T23:14:42.445-08:00

Peanuttiest BlondiesChocolate Oatmeal DropsBoth from Dorie Greenspan, Baking:  From My Home To YoursLast week, I made an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie.  This week, I am using most of the same ingredients, but in a different way, in the Chocolate Oatmeal Drops.  Here, instead of keeping the chocolate as chips stirred into the oatmeal cookie batter, it is melted with the chocolate and brown sugar

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-15647230865249871182009-02-18T20:49:00.000-08:002009-02-18T20:56:53.491-08:00

Busy week at work.  My oven is broken.  Baking is crazy.Anyway, in my prior life I must have been a postal carrier or something - neither rain, nor sleet, etc. etc. etc.OK, so for this week:Chocolate Chip Oatmeal CookiesChocolate Almond Espresso BiscottiThe biscotti are from Dorie Greenspan's Baking:  From my home to yours.The cookies are a recipe given to me by Brenda Marsh.  Brenda is one of

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-22118136264524920752009-02-11T22:28:00.000-08:002009-02-11T22:42:02.074-08:00

Vanilla-Scented Madeleines, from the King Arthur Flour Web siteOlive Oil Cookies with Rosemary and Cacao Nibs, adapted from the New York Times food blog BittenThe madeleines are a different recipe than last week's - not quite as delicate, but still quite good - and they are coming out a lot better this time!  This time the butter did not separate and sink to the bottom of the bowl, only to be

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824335422674420479.post-71957680182597148082009-02-04T22:11:00.001-08:002009-02-04T22:17:45.036-08:00

We're baaaaaaack!After a long hiatus during the gray days of January (actually, here in SoCal January was pretty fabulous, warm, blue skies, etc.), we resume the normal schedule and that means talks, tea and cookies!Here is this week's lineup, selected specially for Gemmon and Betsy:Traditional MadeleinesDorie Greenspan's Best Chocolate Chip CookiesBoth from Dorie Greenspan, Baking:  From My Home

Dharma-Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11904793698203821525noreply@blogger.com2