Though there are many sorts of Epiphany cakes made in the Christian world, the galette des rois (“kings’ cake”) is considered the classic, mainly because it’s northern French, and in the world of pastry northern France is the center of the universe. Maybe one day that center will move, maybe back to Vienna, or someplace […]
READ ONIf, what with all the holiday hubbub, you missed the chance to make a gingerbread house this year, don’t worry. You’ll have another opportunity as Valentine’s Day approaches. What, you never heard of a Valentine’s gingerbread house before? Then clearly you are behind the times, my friend.
READ ONIn the traditions of Western Christianity, and especially (these days) the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Epiphany is the day that the three wise men (Magi) arrived in Bethlehem and presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child. It traditionally falls on the 6th of January, which is the twelfth […]
READ ONI’ve never been famous for my adherence to seasonality. As a rule I bake whatever pops up on the request list, whether it’s according to the season or not. This year, however, I’ve had enough requests for an Epiphany cake of some sort that I think I’ll bow to tradition. A galette des Rois it […]
READ ONSo here it is, the first week of January, 2011, and the surprise I promised has yet to materialize. Blame the weather in Ireland for the delay, since that’s where the developer of the new version of joepastry.com has been bogged down for the last several weeks, as I understand it, on a farm someplace […]
READ ONIt’s coming very clear that next year I’ll need to sponsor an official gingerbread house/creation competition. I’ve had so many submissions this last week I can’t post them all, but here are a few of my favorites. First, this Tonantzin Aztec Goddess/Virgen of Guadalupe by Stella of Stellar Cakes in Cottage Grove, Oregon. It’s something […]
READ ONReader Justin offers this photo of a gingerbread Philadelphia Museum of Art, made by his friends Meredith and Brooklyn. That little figure on the steps is, of course, a gummy Rocky Balboa who’s evidently just finished another exhausting dash to the top. Getting strong now… I’ll have that theme song going through my head all […]
READ ONI know gingerbread is great for lots of thing — but who knew it could be fashioned into complex digital machines? Reader Jordan, apparently. He offers this photo: …as well as this video of the Multi-Function Pastry in action. Well done Jordan!
READ ONOne of the most interesting applications for syrups, or so I’ve always thought, is candied fruit. And I don’t really mean the neon-colored fruits we use for fruitcakes, though they’re terrific in the right context. What I’m talking about are whole candied fruits (also called glacéed fruit), which, depending on who makes them and where, […]
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