Girl Versus Dough

nutella-swirled banana bread

Stephanie — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:38 +0000

This is a Monday morning kind of bread.

This is a “I don’t want to get out of bed” kind of bread. A “I just need one more second of vacation” kind of bread. The kind of bread you make when you don’t want to grow up, when it’s your birthday and you want to put Nutella on it (like a bird), when you just know you’re going to have a bad day so you need a slice (or three) of this bread to make it a good one. Or, when you’re having a good day and you just want to keep it that way.

Now that you’re sufficiently drooling all over your keyboard, head over to the lovely Pass the Cocoa where I’ve shared a guest post on this scrumptious Nutella-swirled banana bread. Please note that, yes, all anecdotes about the deliciousness of this bread are not from me but from my taste-testers because I’m allergic to bananas. So also, YES, it was the most torturous torture of all tortures making this loaf and not being able to actually take a legitimate bite of it. Good thing I had a spoon and extra Nutella nearby to console myself.

Happy Monday, loves!

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ciabatta bread

Stephanie — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:35 +0000

I’m going back to my roots and it tastes delicious.

I realize that I haven’t baked a legit bread in what seems like forever (said like Squints in “Sandlot,” ALWAYS). And considering that this blog is foundationally about bread, I felt I was doing you all a disservice. So, here we are.

I’ve had ciabatta on the docket for what feels like a bazillion years, but I just never got around to it. I couldn’t even tell you why — especially after taking one bite of it and realizing this may be one of the best breads I’ve ever baked. Of course, that led to me kicking myself for not making it sooner, but I suppose it was because I was too busy dunking my face in prosecco-poached peaches and queso fundido — which, I feel, is a pretty good excuse.

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spring pea + asparagus pasta

Stephanie — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:40 +0000

In the nearly four years we’ve been married, my husband and I have learned most of each others’ quirks. Like how I have a very specific sense of order about my things and if they are moved even an inch by my husband, I notice. Or, how he couldn’t care less about the cleanliness of our apartment, but his shirts must be folded perfectly. Or, how he believes anything above 40 degrees outside is “shorts weather,” whereas I could be up to my neck in a snuggie until July — unless it’s nighttime, in which case he’s freezing all night and I always feel like a marshmallow roasting over a fire.

It doesn’t stop when it comes to food, either. While we both do love a good Chipotle run, I definitely have my “single girl” dinners (read: salad, quinoa, Velveeta mac n’ cheese, cookies) whereas he has his own preferences (read: Chips, pizza rolls, frozen pizza, beer). Oftentimes we can agree on a home-cooked meal that satisfies both sets of tastebuds, but it doesn’t always happen. And sometimes, I’m surprised by what he actually does like (because really, it’s mostly chips and pizza).

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perfect pairings — prosecco-poached peaches + liberte coconut yogurt

Stephanie — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:33:52 +0000

A few announcements:

Firstly, THANK YOU for the wonderful birthday wishes. I never cease to be amazed by how lovely the blogging community is and I am so blessed to be a part of it. I heart you all big time and I’m giving you all virtual bear hugs right now. I hope you don’t mind.

Secondly, Mother’s Day weekend is coming up quick, y’all! Have you figured out what you’re doing for your mama on Sunday? I’m not going to lie: I’m copping out this year and we’re going out to eat for brunch (there’s nearly 10 of us getting together and I’m not willing to put them all through the disaster that is me making breakfast for a crowd pre-10 a.m., when I’ve surely only had one cup of coffee so far).

That said, if you’re plans are of the more ambitious variety, mayhaps these prosecco-poached peaches atop Liberte’s coconut yogurt will make it to your menu? That’s a rhetorical question, really.

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bestowed {giveaway}

Stephanie — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:34 +0000

(This giveaway is closed.) I’m turning 26 on Wednesday and I don’t feel ready for it.

What I mean is, I just don’t feel 26 years old (or how I thought it was supposed to feel, anyway). I still put the water pitcher back in the fridge empty sometimes, much to the chagrin of the husband. I still don’t know how to do my own taxes. I don’t separate my reds from my darks when I do laundry because I’m too lazy. I don’t go to the dentist twice a year or floss every day like I should. I still get excited when I hear the music from the ice cream truck down the street. And sometimes, when I’ve had a rough day, I feel the urge to cuddle up with my old blankie.

That said, I’m excited to turn another year older. I love being a (mostly) grownup. I like being able to do my own thang; I like being able to vote and to drive and to have a beverage with bourbon in it and to not get grounded when I come home later than 11 p.m. And I like having the freedom to be in charge of my own health and nutrition.

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vegan cherry-cranberry granola muffins

Stephanie — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:08 +0000

Everything’s finally coming up spring around here, you guys! (Read: I’m totally ignoring the snow forecast for today.) We planted our first herb garden ever over the weekend and hung up string lights on the balcony. We had our first meal al fresco and the husband went for his first bike ride of the season (my bike is soon-to-be in transit from my parents’ house… I’ll see you soon, sweet friend!). My freckles are making a comeback. And I’m getting on a spring-induced health kick.

Don’t worry — I’m still planning a fair share of posts of the cheesy, sweet and all-around not-good-for-you-but-oh-so-tasty-for-you variety. But for now, can we talk about muffins? Specifically, healthy vegan muffins? With cranberries and cherries and granola inside them? K thanks. You won’t be sorry, I promise.

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garlic + mushroom queso fundido

Stephanie — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:20 +0000

It’s official: I cannot be trusted around cheese.

It doesn’t matter, really, what kind of cheese it is — soft, hard, shredded, string, stinky, mild, sharp — it all comes into play. But if it’s warm and gooey and melty like what you see above, I’m especially unruly. Come within three feet of me and my queso fundido and I might have to fight you. Just saying. It’s a tough world out there, and this girl’s got to protect her cheese.

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chickpea saute with greek yogurt

Stephanie — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:00:57 +0000

This week has been an exercise in limitations.

After one too many recipe failures, unnecessary messes (both literally and figuratively), moments of stretching myself thin and subsequently a few too many sessions of eating my feelings, I decided to take a break for a day or two before venturing back into the kitchen. Plus, it was just a good excuse to get Chipotle for dinner.

When I was ready to return, I didn’t do so with some lofty, challenging dish, but instead with a simple and quick one that had been nudging at me ever since I first saw it in the cookbook, Plenty. It was the perfect dish to welcome me back — easy, filling and kind to my belly. And with the way things have been lately, we could all use a little more kindness.

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strawberry almond bread

Stephanie — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:20 +0000

As a full-time food blogger, I get asked a lot about what recipes are my favorite to make. I must admit I cringe at this question because for one, it’s like choosing a favorite child, and two, oftentimes I’m embarrassed to share my true answers.

Because when it comes to dinner, the answer is bean and cheese enchiladas — sometimes, I confess, made in the microwave. And when it comes to dessert, the answer is plain old chocolate chip cookies — which I don’t even have a recipe for on this very website (and I even wax poetic about my love for cookies on my about page). And when it comes to bread, I didn’t even have an answer. What kind of bread baking blogger doesn’t have an answer for her favorite bread recipe?

The shame. Oh, the shame.

And then one day, one glorious day, this little strawberry almond loaf decided to make itself known in my life. And now, ladies and gentlefolk, I finally have an answer to that question — and it’s one I am not ashamed to give.

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perfect pairings — dark chocolate crepes + liberte strawberry yogurt

Stephanie — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:00:44 +0000

Obviously this post is just another excuse for me to eat dessert for breakfast.

Because I mean, when you think of yogurt, you think of breakfast. When you think of strawberries, you think of chocolate-covered strawberries. So when you think of strawberry yogurt, you think of dark chocolate-covered strawberry crepes. At least, that’s where my mind goes.

And I am not in the least bit sorry about it.

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