summer is moving by at an alarming speed [july has vanished before my eyes], but these are the top 5 things on my to-make list right now. since bread and dessert are basically the two greatest gifts to humankind [and my favorite things to eat], it’s no surprise that they are the umbrellas under which these recipes live. while i want to make these in the summer, they are certainly not “summer-only” recipes - you can make them anytime of year!
#1: naan
good by itself or as a vehicle for dips and curries, naan is straight up delicious. add some garlic, and it could rightfully be called sublime. i usually just buy some from the store (which is still great), but i think it will be fun to try making it at home. a friend sent me joanna gaines’s latest cookbook, so that is recipe i will be using. i will probably pair it with this crockpot chicken tikka masala from the defined dish. this is a staple crockpot recipe for me - so much rich flavor from the spices and just plain ‘ol stick to your ribs comfort food.
#2: pita
in the same vein, i also want to try the pita from the latest fixer-upper cookbook. pita is somewhat similar to naan, but they usually signify two different cuisines - pita for mediterranean and naan for indian or middle eastern. i think i’ll make this to go along with some greek chicken or if you’re feeling more adventurous, lamb would also be delicious.
p.s. if you don’t have yogurt (or couldn’t find plain, dairy-free yogurt, as was the case for me), you can make a yummy tzatziki with sour cream! i’m more prone to have sour cream in my fridge than yogurt, so just something to keep in your back pocket.
#3: tiramisu
in my experience, tiramisu can be divisive - people either really like it or they really don’t. it’s hard to get better than coffee and chocolate, and i always think of tiramisu as sort of a fancy affair. i’ve never actually made it before, but this is the recipe i’m planning to try. i feel like i can taste the lusciousness already.
#4: blueberry loaf
i loooovvvvee blueberry everything - muffins, pancakes, donuts, you name it. bread is on that list now too! i was wondering the other day, “why don’t i make blueberry bread like i would pumpkin or banana?”. that was quickly remedied with this blueberry streusel loaf. very similar to a coffee cake, but even more moist and scrumptious. i added some cinnamon and nutmeg to the crumble topping for some extra cozy flavor. i can check this one off the list and will be making again. (i am a bad blogger and forgot to take any pictures).
#5: sourdough bagels
while these are truly a labor of love, they are worth it. my sister and guide in all things sourdough introduced me to these bagels when she was teaching my o the ways of the dough, and wow, i remember the exact moment when i took that first bite. the perfect amount of crusty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. fingers crossed they a) turn out and b) are as good as i remember. toppings are whatever your heart desires, but we did cinnamon sugar, so i think that’s what i will do this time around.
well, now i’m off to day dream about bagels and bread and the many delights that flour brings us. good day, good evening, and happy kitchening to all of you.
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