Falling Leaves, Old Houses & Small Joys.
I just had a craving for a rice krispie treat. Puffed rice in a sweet web of marshmallows and butter. It’s like the sweet taste of childhood. What is it about food that can transport you so vividly to a moment in time even decades ago? Like the first time I had a krispie treat at a childhood friend's birthday party. Or is that backwards? Sometimes, is it something in life that makes you crave a simpler moment of goodness? These days, amidst the juggling of careers, running and expanding a bakery, and keeping up with the maintenance of a 154-year-old property, we could use a simple moment. So, this afternoon I set aside a long list of to-dos and planning to melt marshmallows in a swirl of butter. To spend a few quiet minutes right there, in the moment. And enjoy a treat like I did when I was barely tall enough to reach the first one on a party pink birthday table.
With tomorrow comes a new day, a new week, a new menu, and a new juggle. While we find ourselves surrounded by a few more falling leaves and enjoying cool night breezes through open windows, we're sourcing fall flavors like toffee, plums, cardamom, and brown butter. Maybe even a little pumpkin.
We're also beginning a little needed care in The Bakery area of 1871 which means, for the next two weeks, The Bakery will be closed while we make sure this beautiful old house lives on to carry more stories for another 154 years. The Curated Pantry will be open every day from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, with fresh bread and pastry Tuesday through Saturday. With our sincerest apologies, we will not be able to take pre-orders. Instead, we will do everything we can to fill the Pantry shelves with goodness.
And, just in case you also need a simple moment of child-like goodness, here’s what I did with rice krispie treats in the Sunday Kitchen…
Melt 3 Tbsp brown butter in a large pot over low heat.
Add ¼ cup cocoa powder let bloom for about 30 seconds.
Add 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or the caviar of ½ a vanilla bean.
Add ½ tsp real cinnamon.
Stir in 12 ounces marshmallows until melted and combined.
Add 6 cups puffed rice cereal and stir until evenly coated.
Spread gently into a buttered dish, size depending on whether you like your treats tall or many. Don’t press too hard or pack them down.
Let cool and cut into squares. Or, wait until just cool enough to safely touch and pull apart like a child living in a sweet moment.
