Cake for Conversations: Vanilla Bean French Yogurt Cake (5 Ways)

Everyone seems to be having tough conversations these days, be it about the handling of COVID-19 or racial inequality, we are all having conversations that challenge people to see things in a new way. I find that one of the best ways to have these conversations is a drink in hand and something to eat. People dialogue better when they know what to do with their hands and can take a bite when they are thinking of what to say next. It’s science or something. These conversations are important and should be handled with empathy and personal responsibility. But maybe we can make them a little easier by pouring coffee and passing out slices of cake.

French Yogurt Cake is a classic and super simple recipe. It’s one of the first things most French kids learn to bake and it can be measured by the little 4 oz yogurt containers (that’s half a cup). Its usually eaten as the afternoon goûter, aka the 4pm-ish small snack that most French children have afterschool. Most recipes use lemon zest for flavor, but I have created a number of variations because I married a man who does not have the same love of lemon that I do.

This recipe is pretty standard no matter who you get it from, but I am partial to these two versions:

• The French baking king, David Lebovitz’s recipe from his book, L’Appart

• MonPetitFour’s Beeta Hashempour’s classic recipe

There are a few things you should know about this recipe before you start:

1. PLEASE, please use whole fat yogurt. This recipe relies on that fat for moisture and if you use a low-fat version, you will come out with a pretty dry cake.

2. This can be made a variety of pans. I have settled on using a loaf pan as I typically keep it on the counter and that shape bakes well. You can do a 9” round or even a small bundt. Try not to use round smaller than 8-9 inches or the outside will overbake (trust me).

Now let’s talk about variations. You can add almost any fruit to this recipe and it will turn out delicious. Small berries have worked best, but apricots, pears, cherries, and peaches have all worked well too. Floral flavors like lavender or rose-pistachio can be delicious. Chocolate or salted caramel chips are an easy addition. Below the recipe, you will find my three favorite variations (so far), but don’t be afraid to come up with your own. Experiment! Try something new. This recipe is forgiving and open to change.

Vanilla Bean French Yogurt Cake

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste (or 1 vanilla bean pod, scraped)

1/2 cup whole milk yogurt

3 large eggs

1/3 cup neutral oil (I use grapeseed)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder (aluminum-free)

To bake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease pan.

2. In a medium bowl, add sugar and vanilla bean paste. Use a rubber spatula to combine until you have vanilla bean scented sugar.

3. Whisk in yogurt; then add eggs; then add oil, vanilla extract and salt.

4. Mix in dry ingredients until there are no visible traces of flour.

5. Pour into pan and bake until top is golden brown and the center feels set (30-45 mins depending on pan size).

Variations:

1. Classic - replace half of vanilla bean paste with the zest of one lemon or orange

2. Blueberry - After Step 4, fold in 1 cup fresh blueberries.

3. Strawberry Poppy Seed - After Step 4, fold in 1 tablespoon poppy seeds. Pour 2/3 of batter into the pan and then add a layer of sliced strawberries; top with remaining batter.

4. Apricot - After Step 4, Pour in 2/3 of batter into pan; Cut 4 small apricots in half and sprinkle with cinnamon; layer apricots, cut side down, and then top with remaining batter.

Give these a try or make up your own. Best served with whipped cream and kind, respectful, and open dialogues about things that matter.

Flourless Chocolate Cake for Two (or One)

I wanted to write something today about empathy and personal responsibility in times of conflict and differing opinions, but after hearing about the death of a wonderful man after routine surgery, I just don’t have it in me. Almost six months after my grandmother’s passing and I am still anxious about the fragility of life. The weigh of that bears down on me to the point of a panic attack out of nowhere sometimes. So today, instead, I am choosing to focus on chocolate.

Like Amy Adam’s character says in Julie and Julia, “You know what I love about cooking? I love that after a day when nothing is sure and when I say nothing, I mean nothing. You can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick. That’s such a comfort.” In this case, it’s comforting if you melt some chocolate, add sugar, cocoa powder, butter, and an egg, you will end up with melty, comforting goodness.

Some nights, especially in the spring or fall, when the nights are cooler and there have been a few days of rain, where you just need cozy, warm, and comforting chocolate. And this recipe is perfect for two servings — or just one if it has been one of those days.

Notes:

• Please please please, spend a few extra dollars and get a good quality chocolate bar. I keep a few tucked away to have a square for dessert in the evening sometimes (and to be hidden from my sweet tooth husband).

• This is very flexible in terms of the baking dish. It can be made in two small ramekins or one small loaf pan or any other small baking dishes you may have. I have used a disposable mini loaf pan for this numerous times too. Because it bakes at 350 you can also use silicone baking items.

• This is also a great recipe to be made in a toaster oven so you don’t have to heat up a whole standard oven for a small little dessert.

Flourless Chocolate Cake for Two

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 oz Dark Chocolate (roughly chopped)

• 1/6 cup of butter (about 2.5 tablespoons)

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/6 cup cocoa powder (about 2.5 tablespoons)

• 1 egg

To Bake

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

2. Lightly grease baking dish(es) and line bottom with parchment paper; omit this step if using any silicone dish(es).

3. On low heat, melt chocolate and butter.

4. Once melted together, whisk in sugar and remove from heat.

5. Allow to cool slightly and then whisk in egg followed by cocoa powder.

6. Pour into the prepared baking dish(es).

7. Bake for 20ish minutes. Check after 10 mins and then every few minutes after. I like mine slightly undercooked but you can use a toothpick to test doneness if you want to bake all the way through.

8. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream or top with powdered sugar. Or just dive right in with a spoon.

So next time you need a little pick me up, give this quick and simple recipe a try!

My Favorite Kindle Books & Why You Should Get a Paperwhite

Dear Aly,
Is getting a Kindle worth it? And what are your favorite Kindle books?

Let me start off by saying I am a huge fan of Kindles. Don’t get me wrong, I love real books. I love searching thrift stores and used book stores for hidden gems. I collect old books (like pre-1920’s). I love the way they feel and smell. BUT when you move as many times as I have and lugged copy paper boxes full of books up and down countless flights of stairs, you start to see the value in e-books.

My dad gave me an original version kindle when he had moved on to something new, and I discovered the joy of discounted Kindle books. I get emails from BookBub daily that recommend books that are temporarily discounted by the publisher. I probably have over 100 books that I paid less than $3 for. After I got a new ipad, I started to use the Kindle app and forgot about my little OG Kindle. Fast forward a year and now I am working from home and in front of a screen way too often working from home, looking for something without backlighting. Enter the Kindle Paperwhite.

I am a huge fan of this Paperwhite (reasons why below) and I am even more a fan of the simple 5 months, no interest purchase option on Amazon to pick up a new one. Twenty-ish dollars a month for a few months to try out the new Paperwhite? Sign me up! So why the Paperwhite over my little original? Well, my first one was so behind on updates, I can’t really use it anymore. But even more great reasons:

• It’s waterproof! Unlike the snarky reviewer on Amazon said, this feature is an improvement and not because I read in the shower. But because I love bubble baths and pools and being able to read with no backlighting in a warm bath or poolside is definitely a perk to me. And speaking of those bubble baths,

• You can choose if and how much backlight it has! this is a great feature to me too. I can keep my eyes off a backlit screen 90% of the time, but if I am reading in bed when Daniel is sleeping or I am taking a candlelit bath, I can turn up the backlight and read there too. It’s fantastic.

• It’s small and compact and you can take it anywhere. This isn’t a new feature, but it’s so much less bulky than my iPad and easy to throw in my purse on the way out the door.

• You can download (or access if on wifi) dictionaries, including other languages to help you define words you don’t know.

Okay, so we have established why Kindle’s are great, but you don’t have to have one to use the Kindle app, which they have for iPhones, Androids, iPads, Chrome, or the browser version. You just have to have an Amazon account (Prime not required). So now what to read?

• Sign up for BookBub! They will tailor their recommendations to the books you are interested in and send you daily emails with a handful of books that are available for a few dollars or even free. You can also follow your favorite authors and get their recommendations as well as new books they publish.

• Check out my list of recommended books below. Cookbooks, travel books, memoirs, and historical fiction. Find out what I am reading and the authors I love!

My 10 Favorite Books on Kindle

1. My Grape Year - Laura Bradbury is my soul sister. Her books resonate with me so deeply. The Grape Series is excellent and she has recently published the first in a novel series as well. She shares her story of studying abroad in France and meeting a handsome young Frenchman. What’s not to love?

2. Women In Sunlight - This book, by Frances Mayes, the author of Under the Tuscan Sun, made me fall in love with Italy. I love her writing style and this book definitely made me interested in her other works.

3. Bringing Up Bebe - Maybe you already have kids, maybe you are planning on having kids, or maybe you have a cute niece or nephew. No matter what this is a good read about how the French raise their children and it definitely challenges you to think about social and health services in a new way. It’s engaging and full of entertaining anecdotes and I buy it for friends who are expecting because its such a great read.

4. Super Tuscan - This is a fabulous Italian cookbook and a delightful read. I am a weirdo who reads cookbooks like novels and I thoroughly loved this one. I return to the layered kale and polenta and use the super simple homemade tomato sauce over and over again.

5. L’Appart - David Lebowitz is the King of baking in my book and his book about buying and renovating an apartment in Paris, sprinkled with recipes I use over and over again is a true joy to read.

6. The Farm - Slightly dystopian, this is a novel set in the present about a center for surrogate mothers. It was a break from my normal easy travel and food reads (A BookBub purchase) that had me guessing until the end.

7. The Measure of My Powers - Not my usual read, but caught my attention because it has recipes. Its a series of vignettes that together tell a story of a season of a woman’s life. She was in a bad relationship that I could relate to and it stops in Paris. A great read if you’ve ever been stuck in a place that wasn’t right for you anymore.

8. To Dance With Kings - One of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read, it’s a beautifully webbed story and keeps you in the middle of the French Royal Court.

9. The Dress Thief - Another great historical fiction read but the glamour of Paris fashion in the first half of the last century. Wonderful details and insight into 1930’s Paris.

10. Nefertiti - A whole different kind of opulent historical fiction, this novel set in ancient Egypt, it’s an easy read that exposes you to a time that is largely a mystery to most of us. Bonus points because its the first in a three-part series.

I tried to be varied in this list because I feel like I have a hundred different books I love and read on my Kindle (although clearly I have a love for France and Italy). What great books available on Kindle did I miss?

Moving Into Your First Apartment

So you read all my tips for finding your first apartment and then you carefully read and signed a lease. You move in on the first of the month — so now what?

There are a few things that you need to do before you show up on day one.

• Pack! - This is obvious, but how you pack is what matters. If you have a lot of belongings, it’s really crucial that you think through what you are going to need your first week in the apartment.

  • Pack a suitcase with the clothes you need for that first week. Are you going to work? Make sure you have the clothes you need for that. Having a few friends over for a housewarming that first Friday night? Think through that too.

  • Think through what you can’t live without - think coffee maker, cups, plates, and silverware if you don’t want to buy some disposables (although that definitely makes life easier). If you don’t want to eat out, you will need a few kitchen items. For me, I always make sure I include my champagne stopper and favorite coffee mug. Label this box so you know which one it is.

  • Whatever you will be sleeping on. I have started sleeping on floors before (this is something my husband can’t wrap his head around), but whether you are sleeping on the floor or a bed, make sure you have whatever bedding you need without digging through a bunch of boxes when you are exhausted on that first night.

  • All of these items should be packed last. Probably in your car or the last box on the truck, so its the first one you can unpack when you arrive.

  • Suggestion: if you don’t have furniture yet, make sure you have some pillows included in this group so you have something to sit on the floor with until you get that furniture.

• Make sure you have a basic toolset! You will need one. When my husband moved in with me, he made fun of my $7 Ikea toolset, but that baby got me through 3 moves, disassembling and reassembling furniture. We have upgraded to this one which has everything you might need, but if you just need a very basic set, this one is perfect.

• Head to the store and make sure you have the following items:

  • Paper towels

  • All-purpose cleaning spray

  • Toilet paper!!!

  • Shower Curtain (make sure you know what the shower situation is and if you need a tension rod, curtain rings, etc.)

  • Trash bags

  • Disposable plates, cups, and silverware (if you are going that route)

• Once you have all these items, you are ready to go until you have those keys in hand. A few more things to consider:

  • Who is going to help you move? Friends? Family? Movers? Or are you bold and going at it alone? Either way, make sure you think about what food will be available for those hungry movers.

  • Create a tradition! Whether this is actually your first place or not, moving is always a great time to create a new tradition. I have one of eating good local pizza and drinking cheap champagne on the floor on the first night. It started on accident in my first apartment, but I have carried it on on the first night of each of the moves since. It helps give you a feeling of consistency, in an otherwise stressful and uncertain time.

    • I highly recommend unpacking your must-have items before you eat dinner. Once you open that pizza box, you will lose your last bit of energy and it will be a lot more enjoyable if your bedding is already set up and your coffee maker already ready for the morning.

  • Clean the next morning. You bought those cleaning supplies because the very first thing you should do once your belongings have arrived at your new place is clean! Wipe down every single surface in the place. You don’t want to put your dishes away in cabinets that are still a little dirty from the last tenant. This includes appliances (fridge, stove, etc.) and closet shelves.

These are definitely some of the little things that I have learned to make life a lot easier when moving into a new place. But above all, I really stress making a new tradition. It has been one of my best memories in each apartment.

Did I miss any tips? Have you created any moving traditions? I would love to hear about them!

Finding Your First Apartment

When I quit law school, my high school best friend and I decided to find an apartment in the St. Louis metro area even before I had a job. So we drove through the area we liked and wrote down the addresses and phone numbers of the flats we saw that had signs out front and then we searched Craigslist. And finally, on the coldest day of the winter, we went to look at places.

Somehow we found the sketchiest landlord in the city (probably not a strategy I would recommend), but that worked out because they agreed to rent to us with a double deposit even though I had a college degree but no current job prospects. We looked at several and then selected one that was a 1950’s two-family flat right on a popular street. It was the right place, at the right time, but I learned SO much about what not to do in the year we lived in that flat. Learn from my mistakes! The 7 things you need to do when getting your first place.

1. Figure out what you think you want - when you move into your first place, you may not have any idea what you want, but it doesn’t hurt to try and think of a few things anyway. When you imagine your weekdays, what do they look like? Do you have a short walk to work? Do you take public transit? When you think about your weekends, what do they look like? Are you going out and want to be able to walk (and save on Ubers)? Are you more of a homebody on the weekends? Is it important for you to have a garden/yard to spend time in? Do you want to live in a complex, a downtown loft, or a quieter flat or standalone house?

   All of these things are important and will help you cross places off your list later on.

2. Figure out what you can afford - What is a realistic budget? One that is going to allow you to save and still have fun? It is important to include utilities in your thinking. Do a little research online and figure out what you can expect. You probably don’t need a landline phone, but you will likely have to get your own internet service, in addition to electric and/or gas. Also find out in your area if it is common for the landlord to pay for water, trash, and sewer. Sometimes you can find a great deal because the rent includes heat and hot water if the building is on a boiler system or the landlord includes Wifi.

3. Figure out if you need a roommate - Once you have your budget and your “wants” list, go online and start figuring out if you can afford to pay for what you want. If you can, awesome! If you can’t you might need to decide if you want to start thinking about a roommate or if you want to scale back your “wants” list.

4. Start looking - This is the fun part! I don’t know about you, but I love looking for houses and apartments online. But it’s even more fun when you have a reason to go look in person! When my husband and I were looking for our first place together, we blocked off a day and went and looked at 4 places within a few blocks. We made a day of it. We got coffee at a local shop and then went and had lunch after to discuss the places we had seen.

   When you are looking, there are a few important tips:

   1. Take lots of pictures!! The places you see can start to run together. Pictures can help you keep it all straight and give you something to review when you are making decisions that aren’t realtor photos that can sometimes be deceiving.

   2. Only see places that are within your budget. Period. You don’t want to fall in love with something you can’t afford. Just don’t do it.

   3. Make sure you see the unit you will be renting. This isn’t usually a concern if you are looking at a flat, house or loft, but in complexes, sometimes they show you a model unit that can look pretty different than the unit they rent you. If they aren’t willing to show you the actual unit before you sign a lease - RUN away.

   4. If you will be renting alone, take someone else with you to look. They might see things you miss and can help keep your perspective on track. On that note, make sure you bring someone who will do that. The best kind of friend to bring on shopping trips, from apartments to wedding dresses, are the ones who keep your needs front and center and not just their personal preferences. You are the one who will have to live there after all!

   5. Try not to see everything through rose-colored glasses. Getting your first apartment is so exciting! Its the beginning of a new chapter in your life. But overlooking problems can ruin your life later. That cute 1950’s flat we moved into? Right before the lease was up, we had a water leak after a snowstorm that basically deteriorated an entire plaster wall and exposed lead paint…. and the landlord did nothing for weeks. There were warning signs we ignored.

      Look for signs of water damage, smells (cats, mold, etc.) because they likely will not go away and indicate a bigger problem, and finally WINDOWS. Windows are such a topic, they get their own bullet point below.

   6. Windows can make or break an apartment. If the apartment does not have new windows, your utility bills can be astronomical trying to heat or cool a drafty apartment. I have had aluminum frame windows and wood frame windows and I will never again have either one. Unless you like $400 surprise utility bills, just stay away. Sometimes landlords (good landlords) will replace them, but make sure you get that included in your lease before you sign.

5. Take a drive through the area at night - I was ready to sign the lease to a place until I took a drive-by in the evening with my windows down… and heard the house on the opposite side of the street had two big dogs that barked non-stop. You want to make sure that you see the area when people are home, not just when everyone is at work during the day to make sure it is really what you have in mind.

6. Read through the entire lease - And maybe have someone else read through the lease. I have done this for friends and interns before and some landlords can come up with really creative terms. Make sure you understand what you are getting in to and that you are comfortable with what you are agreeing too. Once you sign a lease, at least in the US, you are pretty stuck. For the 13+ months, you will only be able to break the lease if you pay a lot of money to buy out of the lease (hint: look for this clause when reading through the lease), or if your landlord does something really egregious - like takes a month to fix the heat in the winter.

7. And finally, make sure it feels like home! Maybe you aren’t a “vibe” person, but I always know when its the right place because it feels right. I can imagine what it will look like with my things moved in, cooking in the kitchen, sitting on the terrace. When you know, you know.

These are definitely my best tips based on my seven apartment shopping experiences. Did I miss anything? Share below! And don’t forget to check out what you need to know once the lease is signed here.

Quick & Customizable Vinaigrette

Store salad dressings can be full of things you can’t pronounce, mostly soybean oil, or full of hidden sugars. And arguments about whether or not those things matter aside, its so easy to make your own and customize it to the flavors of your meal, there really is not reason not to make your own!

This isn’t going to be a recipe per say, but more guidelines to help you start finding your own perfect version (flavors, proportions, etc.), though I will tell you what I make on a weekly basis.

The base:

• Oil - I typically use grapeseed oil because it doesn’t get weird in the fridge like olive oil, but if I am just making enough for one salad, I might use olive oil. You can use any oil that sounds good to use. Sometimes walnut oil is just the thing or lemon-infused olive oil will be perfect with the main meal. Its all up to you!

• Acid - You can use a vinegar or a citrus dressing (check out my favorite citrus tool here). Again whatever works. I tend to use a combo of lemon juice, balsamic, and red wine vinegars. I like a sour kick to things, but you might like something more subtle.

• Salt & Pepper - Classics. I use Trader Joes’s garlic salt, but the old standards will do too.

• Dijon - The classic French vinegarette would start with just a dollop of Dijon mustard. I tend to instead use a whole grain variation.

Other things you can add:

• Herbs - This is a great place for customization. Sometimes I use cilantro (and lime juice) or basil or some Herbs de Provence. Think about what goes with your meal and have fun!

• Honey - I love a version with a bit of honey and apple cider vinegar in the summer.

• Jams - Another way to sweeten up your vinegarette. Adding a spoonful of raspberry jam, orange marmalade, or get more adventurous with blackberry or blueberry, can make a nice, bright flavor.

• Shallots - I LOVE shallots. They are the perfect solution to my aversion to strong onion/garlic flavors. They overwhelm my tastebuds. But shallots are delicate while bringing something to the table and I am here for it. Finely diced, they are the perfect addition.

To assemble:

• You can go old school and put a dab of dijon in the bottom of a bowl, add a splash of your acid, some salt and pepper, and then your oil. Maybe add in some of those finely diced shallots and quickly whisk with a fork. Add your lettuce and gently toss. Et voila!

• You can apply the same concept to any variation to make a batch for one salad

• Once a week, I make a jar of what has become my standard version in an old Bonne Maman jam jar:

  • 1 finely diced shallot

  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

  • 1/2 tablespoon honey

  • TJ’s Garlic Salt & Pepper

  • 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon Whole Grain Dijon

  • Fill the rest with grapeseed oil

Did I miss a great customization? Let me know below!

How To Give Thoughtful Gifts

In my late twenties, I have really figured out that one of the main ways I express love is through gifts. Pretty much every time I go to the grocery store (or any store), I come home with a few “surprises,” as I call them, for Daniel. Things from the Target dollar section, a new hot sauce to try, several kinds of gelato… no matter what it is, I can’t wait to bestow these little gifts on him when I get home.

I love sending copies of Madeline to friends who have shared they are having a little girl, sending flowers to my mom, sister, or a friend for any myriad of reasons, or anything that can be ordered online and delivered directly to the recipient to share some happiness.

Giving gifts brings me joy. And I like to think I have gotten pretty darn good at it. And with a little planning and thoughtfulness, you can give great gifts too! Here is my strategy for great gift-giving…

1. Like most of my advice, this one starts with a more practical piece of the gift-giving puzzle: budget. I try to set a budget and stick to it. For family, I typically apply the same amount to all of our siblings and our siblings’ kids. For parents, I keep another budget, etc. This helps keep things equitable and also helps me plan in our household budget. I keep a Trello “directory” of birthdays and anniversaries so I know what months are going to be the most expensive and so I never miss a birthday!

2. Try to write down ideas when you have them. You know when you are out shopping and you see something that is perfect for your mom? Or your best friend? I drop a note on Trello with the person’s name, the item(s), and where I found them as I find them — that is, if I don’t just go ahead and buy it right then (but sometimes that’s not in the budget).

3. If you don’t have an idea tucked away, start by brainstorming things you know they like. When my husband and I started dating, I quickly discovered that while he gives me great gifts, that’s about where his gift-giving skills ended. He grew up in the kind of household where you gave your parents a list and they usually purchased a few items on it for you, without a lot of guesswork. So trying to think of thoughtful gifts for his three sisters who I barely knew at that point was a challenge. I started thinking through what I knew they liked - Harry Potter, the St. Louis Blues, nail polish, Nightmare Before Christmas, Disney in general, you get the idea. Thanks to a trip to see my family in Florida in early December, we came home armed with great gifts from Universal and Disney for them. You don’t have to know everything about someone! Just take what you know and run with it. Do they like to bake? Are they coffee drinkers or tea drinkers? What’s their alcoholic beverage of choice? Do they love to travel? Answers to these really basic questions can help you find the perfect gift for them. Keep those easy questions in mind when you spend time with people and be observant and you will be halfway there already when their special day rolls around.

4. Consider a signature gift or two. As I mentioned above, I love giving friends who have announced they are having a little girl (which honestly, has been pretty much all my soon-to-be parent friends; where are the boys?) copies of Madeline. But for all my bi-lingual-couple friends, I also give them copies of the second language version as well. This is definitely one of my signature gifts.

5. A word about cards: Please, please write a message in cards, don’t just sign your name! A thoughtful gift should have a thoughtful note. I use a simple formula most of the time that makes is super simple to personalize that card:

   I saw this and thought of you! I hope that you have a birthday that is just as such and such (wonderful and fun, etc.) as you! Happy Birthday! Love, Aly.

   It’s short and sweet, but so much better than just a name, n’est-ce pas?

Keep these simple five tips in mind and you are well on your way to giving your friends and family the perfect gift on their next birthday!

Best Williams Sonoma Open Kitchen Buys

I am a huge fan of affordable quality, which seems hard to find these days. But one place where I feel like I have really discovered something great is Williams Sonoma’s Open Kitchen line. Like the great Alton Brown, I don’t like single-purpose items, so I don’t own a cherry pitter or popcorn popper. But I do love kitchen items. If we had more than two cabinets and six drawers and had a billion dollars, I would own everything at Williams Sonoma. But I don’t. C’est la vie.

So instead, here is my list of some of the best things you can buy in the Open Kitchen line. Especially if you have a tiny kitchen or are just starting your first home.

1. Baking Stone - This is what started my obsession with this line. I was looking for a stone small enough to fit in my toaster oven that didn’t come from some made-up sounding Amazon store. This one was perfect for my Daily Demi-Baguettes.

2. Citrus Press - This metal citrus press makes it simple to whip up a quick lemon vinegarette or to add some lime to a margarita. They have ones for lemons, limes, and oranges (or this lemon-lime combo) but I like to use my lemon one for everything, even smaller grapefruit.

3. Acacia Cutting Boards - I bought the long and skinny one for my narrow credenza “countertop” in my pseudo-kitchen. It was a perfect size and we use it constantly. I like to keep a cutting board on the counter so we don’t get lazy and cut things directly on the counter and it just makes things look homey. These cutting boards also turn into great cheeseboards!

4. Champagne Stoppers - You should have several of these on hand in my book. Who knows what reason you will find to open a bottle of champagne on a Tuesday and then a bottle of Lambrusco on a Wednesday?

5. Latte Bowls - If you a really trying to recreate the French cafe experience, you will drink your cafe creme’s out of the smaller size of these. But in general, both sizes are great utility players and I love having these classically designed bowls around.

6. Zester/Fine Grater - This is such a great utility player. I use it to zest citrus for cakes and to add a thin, wonderful layer of cheese to the top of things. I rarely use a larger grater because I just love the coverage you get when you use this guy.

I strongly encourage you to spend a few minutes perusing the whole line, because, with so many great things under $20, you can dip your toes in the waters of quality kitchen items or find new favorites at a lower price point than you are used to.

Have you discovered this gem already? If so, let me know your favorites in the comments!

How To Organize Your Daily Life Digitally

When I started working for my current company, I was thrown into the deep end of a great organization tool called Trello. Now, if you aren’t familiar with project management/organizational tools like Trello (or Asana, or Basecamp, etc.), think of it like a digital bulletin board. It was a lot to take in at first because I was working on a team that was already very fluent in Trello, but I quickly embraced it as a tool to get my life together (and at the time, I definitely needed some help in that department!).

Trello is a very flexible tool that can be used for all kinds of things and they have templates for everything! As you will see below, I used it for planning my wedding and started with one of their templates. Best part? A basic account that allows you to have 10 boards is completely free!

So how do I use Trello to manage my life? Check out my top 5 ways I use Trello to organize my life.

1. Budget. This is probably the best use of Trello for me. In a “Budget,” column create cards for each quarter and then make checklists for each pay period and fill in the checklist items with bills, amounts to be moved to savings, etc.. I love that I can easily move things between checklists as I need to make adjustments to biweekly periods. I also keep a card in a “Reference” column with a full checklist of all our bills in a month. This helps me quickly get a full picture of our obligations and you can copy the checklist items when you set up your quarterly (or monthly if you like) cards.

2. Birthdays. Like I mentioned in my gift-giving post, I use Trello to keep track of everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries. I have a column called “Birthdays & Anniversaries,” and then a card for each month. On the cards, I have one checklist where I put all the birthdays and anniversaries I want to keep track up, starting by the date and in order of occurrence. So then it is easy to click on the card and see who’s special day is coming up.

   A note on this: I always check out cards at Trader Joe’s when I am there and grab a few so that I always have some on hand to drop in the mail. I highly recommend this approach!

3. Packing Lists. There are several trips we take each year and I keep packing lists on cards specifically for this purpose. When we get back from a trip if we forgot anything I make sure to add it so we don’t miss it next year. Its also a great starting point for random trips we take. I usually make one checklist for me and one for Daniel.

4. Online purchases. Even more than before COVID-19, these days, I order a lot of things online and I use a card to keep track of what I ordered and when it is supposed to arrive. It honestly just helps keep me sane so I don’t wonder if I ordered something and then have to search my email for the receipt.

5. Debts. We have a number of large debts that we are working hard to pay off. I keep track of these on a card with two checklists (one for starting amount and one for current balance) in my “Reference” column for two reasons. First, its a great snapshot to see all these amounts in one place. Second, every six months or so, I go in and update the current balance and take joy in the amount we have paid off. It helps keep things in perspective for why we are in our current living arrangements.

Bonus items: I keep track of my blogging to-do’s there as well as my gift ideas for people. Oh, and anytime we have a party, I use Trello to keep track of my menu, grocery list, guest list and RSVP’s.

Want to get started with Trello? Make your free account here. And then check out these posts here, here, and here.

Have you tried Trello? Let me know if it works for you below!

Fresh Baguettes Every Morning!

Quarantine has made most (all?) of us rethink what is important to us. And for me, a lot of this reflection has been about my morning routine. I love the first few hours in the morning, before anyone else is awake, slowly waking the house up. I open the blinds, turn on lamps, brew coffee, water the plants, set the breakfast table, read or translate a french news story, and bake bread. That’s right — every morning I bake a demi-baguette loaf.

Before this work-from-home period, that seemed like a complicated, daunting task, but fortunately, this was just the season of life to figure it out. And as anyone who watches my Instagram stories can tell you, it has been a journey! But we have finally arrived at our destination. All you need it to put in a teeny bit of work on the weekend, and you can have easy demi-baguettes all week long.

Keep in mind, the first time around, it may not seem so super simple, but by the second week, you will be in the groove and it will be an easy addition to your morning routine that ends with you enjoying a nice breakfast of a fresh baguette and maybe some homemade marmalade.

A few things you should know about my baking conditions.

• First, I live in an arctic tundra. Okay, it’s not actually in the arctic, but it feels like it. I live in a walk-out basement apartment and the average temperature is about 62-68 degrees. It is always freezing. This affects how my poolish and dough rise. You might need to make adjustments if you live in a warmer environment (and for your sake, I hope you do!). A general note on this is be flexible! Pay attention to how your oven and home temperature affect the process and adjust. Baguettes can be temperamental and take time to find your perfect method, don’t be scared off if the first batch isn’t perfect!

• Next, I bake in a toaster oven. I actually make a lot of meals in this toaster oven. It was something we bought with money from our wedding shower and we LOVE it. We only have a pseudo-kitchen setup and so we use it as our main heating element unless we want to trek upstairs to the full kitchen in the main house.

• You need a baking stone. Trust me, you need it. It doesn’t need to be a fancy one. I use this toaster-oven-fitting one from Williams Sonoma’s Open Kitchen line, which I love for affordable but quality kitchen items. You can also check out the French Emile Henry, classic Pampered Chef one, or this Amazon fave.

• You will also need parchment paper (I like these pre-cut sheets) and a new, food-safe spray bottle. Nothing fancy here, but you definitely will need both.

• I have been using King Arthur French-Style Organic Flour, which I have only been able to find on their website. I am going to be trying other flours and update as I do, but my research led me to believe this would definitely be the most authentic.

Now that we have our supplies, here are a few other tips and tricks that I have gathered:

• Make the poolish the night before. I do it right before bed on Friday or Saturday. It seems low on yeast, but trust me, it is all you need. I don’t have definitive proof, but I believe using a ceramic bowl for this (not metal or plastic) yields better results. This is a great set for this (and a great deal!).

• Make sure you put the stone in the oven while it warms up. It is essential that it is hot when you slide the baguette into the oven.

• You will spray the baguette twice. Once when you put it in and once about halfway through (about 10 minutes into the process in my oven). I have read all kinds of tips, from bowls of ice to bowls of boiling water in the bottom of the oven, and this method by far has given me that crusty outside that you are looking for when you want an authentic baguette.

• Age the dough! Okay, it sounds weird, but my method makes a big batch that you divide into 6 smaller dough balls, which you keep in the fridge and take out one a day. The baguettes towards the end of the week are always the best-textured ones! So I start the next batch halfway through the one I am currently baking off, so that the dough is always a few days aged.

• Rest the dough. Apparently baguettes have a little bit in common with steak. First, you need to age it, and then you need to rest if after baking. Please, please trust me. As delicious as it looks piping hot from the oven, give it 10 minutes on the counter. It will still be warm and delicious, but the texture will be perfection if you give it this time.

• Note: I do include gram measurements where possible, but I do not weigh my ingredients. That wasn’t “simple” enough for me when developing this recipe. I do however make sure to use the “spoon and sweep” method for measuring flour.

• Note: You really can use active or instant yeast. I have not noticed a difference between the two.

• Note: I used this recipe with some adjustments.

Okay let’s do this!

Aly’s Daily Demi-Baguettes

Ingredients

Poolish:

• 1/2 cup (113 g) cool water

• 1/16 teaspoon active dry yeast or instant yeast

• 1 cup (120 g) All Purpose Flour (see note above about french-style flour)

Dough

• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast or instant yeast

• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of lukewarm water (I go for “room temperature”)

• 3 1/2 cups (418 g) All Purpose Flour

• 2 teaspoons salt

• All of the Poolish

For the poolish:

• With a rubber spatula, mix everything together until just mixed in medium bowl to make a soft dough. Cover with plastic wrap (I use Press & Seal). Let rest overnight (12-14 hours). It should expand and look bubbly when you wake up.

To make dough:

1. Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients together in a large bowl or in a stand mixer (KitchenAid speed 2) for about 4 minutes. It should be cohesive but not necessarily smooth - Don’t overcomplicate this step! Just do your best and it will be fine.

2. Lightly grease a new large bowl. Place dough in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 45 minutes to an hour.

3. Gently deflate the dough and fold edges into the center. Turn over in the bowl, cover, and let sit for another 45 minutes to an hour. Repeat one more time (if time-pressed, skip final time).

4. Gently turn the dough out onto work surface (I use a cutting board) and gently cut the dough into 6 equal pieces (I use kitchen scissors). Loosely wrap each dough piece in greased plastic wrap and place on a tray. Put the dough in the fridge.

To bake:

1. Remove 1 dough ball from the fridge first thing when you wake up. Allow to rest for 10-20 minutes to come to room temperature. (On really cold mornings, I put it near the coffee maker to come to room temp and proof).

2. Remove plastic wrap and gently press into a small rectangle on a clean surface.

3. For the next step, you can figure out what step works best for you. I simply roll the dough to make a long shape and make sure to “seal” the long edge and pinch the ends into the classic baguette shape, about 14-16 inches long (depending on your oven size).

   You can also follow the more classic method of folding nearly in half, sealing the edges, turn the dough around and repeat: flatten and fold, until it has elongated itself. You can find images of that method here and a video here.

4. Lightly flour a clean dish towel and settle dough (seam-side down!) into the middle of the towel and then gently pull up a ridge on either side of the baguette to create a little valley for the dough to proof in.

5. Leave the dough to rise again 30-60 minutes while you go about your morning routine. You just want the dough to look more “marshmallow-y” than when you started. About halfway through this time, put your stone on a rack in the middle of the oven (or bottom if you use a toaster oven like me!) and turn the oven to 450 degrees (you may need to lower to 400 in your oven, so keep a close eye on your first bake).

6. Gently!! turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper. Fold up the towel and store until the next morning (I usually get out a fresh towel once a week, but if that freaks you out, feel free to do it more).

7. With a sharp knife (I admit I use a razor blade held by a clothespin), make those classic three diagonal lines on the top of the baguette. You are ready to slide into the oven.

8. Once the dough is in the oven, carefully give it a few quick sprays of water.

9. Allow to bake for 5-10 minutes. Once the surface has started to turn a little golden, carefully slide the parchment out, letting the baguette sit directly on the stone. Again, carefully give it a few more sprays of water. Let bake 5-12 more minutes until it has a nice, medium brown color on top. Turn the oven off and crack the oven to allow it to sit for a few more minutes (I put a potholder folded in half in the door and then I usually set the table, get out the jams, butter, and coffee).

10. Take out your baguette and head to the table. If you can, try to give it 10 minutes to rest!

11. Enjoy your almost-Parisian boulangerie breakfast.
    

What adjustments do you need to make? Let me know how it works for you!

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