high-bar baking

Sometimes when I need an upper, I’ll listen to Non-Stop from Hamilton. And then, maybe, the whole musical. Loudly. Which may refer to the volume on my speaker but more likely the volume of my singing. The best line in that particular song (don’t make me pick from the entire musical, please. Although an RA in college had a tank top made with only the words “John Adams doesn’t have a real job anyway,” and that was pretty priceless) is in reference to the division of labour for the Federalist Papers. Over the course of six months, John Jay wrote five, Madison wrote twenty nine, “and Hamilton wrote… the other FIFTY ONE!”

Prolific.

And it isn’t the content; do we really think all 51 were total bangers? Of course not. But that’s a lot of bites at the apple. A lot of shots to make something great. And more than that, it’s the sheer work ethic of the matter. Writing like he’s running out of time. It’s very America. But in the quest of something worth pursuing, also something pretty cool. 

I was sending a care package this weekend and needed something moist. How many of you just got uncomfortable? I may have my foibles, but I’m immune to the “moist” thing. You’re welcome.

So I made Preppy Kitchen’s Crumb Cake. It isn’t my favourite coffee cake in the world, which is why I intentionally refer to is as a crumb cake, but it’s good. It’s almost more topping than cake (a whole stick of butter?!) and sometimes, that’s the mood.

I use 90 grams of sour cream. This weekend, when I don’t bother to plan ahead, I use 90 grams of plain full fat yogurt because it’s what I had. I was not smote for my substitution. Also, just learned that the word is “smote” and not “smited.” What a disappointing revelation. 

And for everyone out there who needs the reminder: if it’s not done, do not take it out of the oven. It’s that simple, people. The kitchen police are not out there enforcing prompt baked good removal in accordance with the recipe. The instructions are like the Pirate Code — guidelines. Check your ego at the door, not your brain.