Baking Therapy and Favorite Treats

Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes Cookbook Oreo Cheesecakes were one of the most requested treats my youngest daughter Ellie asked for. I don’t read the list of ingredients in Oreos. I don’t want to know how many unpronounceable words there are. It is the only time I buy them because I love Oreos and I do not want to have them available to me all the time.

Little Spoon Farm Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies I use craisins and chocolate chips in the ones I bake. I have been leaving these treats in the homes I host as short-term furnished rentals. I stayed in an Airbnb in Portland Oregon a few years ago and the host left cookies for us. I love how personal it felt and it was a great stay. Since then, I have left a personal note welcoming guests and some baked items and flowers when they’re in season. In July we have the most beautiful show of sunflowers. It is one of my favorite times to walk through the yard and I love sharing these gifts with my guests. I feel like it shows guests that even if a strand of hair floated in the door while they were loading their items in, they are staying in a real house and are valued as humans and we hope they can value the thought and love we put into hosting them during their stay with us.

Toll House Pie is never wrong. Paired with Ice Cream or whipped cream, coffee, or even wine or whiskey. It’s so rich having a strong beverage makes it that much better. I have recently switched from my all-butter double piecrust recipe to a sourdough double all-butter piecrust recipe. I didn’t think I would notice an improvement but, it’s noticeably better and I won’t go back to the non-sourdough variety of pretty much anything I have a sourdough option for. Sourdough improves the flavor and texture and while I have zero sources or scientific documents as evidence, I feel like it is easier on my stomach to digest. I had several years where eating gluten would cause my face to break out and my stomach would be upset. I was gluten-free for a few years. I have been eating sourdough for several years now and no issues with my stomach or skin.