Currant & Ginger Shortbreads

These Currant & Ginger Shortbreads are the perfect addition to afternoon tea - their 2-bite size packs a punch with the vibrancy of crystallized ginger and tart currants that were soaked in a spiced tea.

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Did you ever have a teacher or mentor that made an unmistakable impact on your life? I've been incredibly fortunate to have a few amazing people who shaped the person I've become over the years, and one of those people was my elementary school teacher (and later colleague) V. 

While I remember a wealth of things that I learned from her, whenever I think of her I think of ginger, black currants and tea. V is a connoisseur of those flavours in my mind, and when I'm compiling a basket of goodies for her every Christmas, I try to capture as much of them as possible. This year, in addition to my Chestnut Gingerbread Cookies, Gluten Free Sparkling Ginger Cookies and My Mom's Fabulous Shortbread, I decided to tackle a cookie that goes perfectly with her Friday tea sessions and captures the memories I have of her. 

I came across a copy of Barbara Tropp's China Moon Cookbook at the local library, and while I earmarked several of the cookie recipes contained therein, her Currant & Ginger Shortbread recipe just screamed perfection. I made several tweaks along the way (because of course I did) but the result was well worth it! Delicate, golden and unbelievably buttery coins of shortbread packed with diced crystallized ginger and currants that had been plumped in a spicy tea with a hint of lemon zest made the whole house fragrant, and the sample my mom had passed with flying colours. I have no doubt that these would elevate any cookie platter, regardless of the season!  

Thanks to Selefina Spices and Adagio Teas for making these happen with their crystallized ginger and Oriental Spice tea!

The Best Coffees for Fuelling Your Home Office Productivity

 

Working from home can be delightful, yet challenging when it comes to maintaining high productivity levels. Many professionals rely on a good cup of coffee to kickstart their day and keep the momentum going. But not all coffees are created equal. Explore the finest types of coffee that promise to elevate your focus and efficiency while you conquer your tasks from the comfort of your home office.

Discover the Power of Single-Origin Beans

Single-origin coffee beans come from a specific area, and they are renowned for their unique flavour profiles. Such beans can significantly enhance your coffee experience, providing the sensory motivation needed to stay focused. Whether it's a floral Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or a chocolaty Sumatra, a single-origin cup can be just the trick to refine your palate and your home office effectiveness.

Why Blended Coffees Are Worth Your Time

Blends combine beans from various regions, creating a balance of flavours that many coffee enthusiasts swear by. For those long hours of meetings or project marathons, a well-crafted blend can offer a consistent taste and caffeine level. Try a medium roast with a balance of South American and African beans for a smooth day-long energy provision.

The Role of Espresso in Peak Productivity

When deadlines loom and the pressure mounts, espresso is the go-to for a quick and powerful caffeine boost. A finely tuned espresso can deliver a single shot laden with complexity and vigor, propelling you through tough afternoons. For those who juggle multiple tasks, maintaining an espresso machine in your home office could be a game changer.

Enhancing Your Coffee: Add a Twist with Tiramisu Coffee Enhancer

Besides choosing the right type of coffee, adding something extra like a tiramisu coffee enhancer could enrich your coffee break, giving you not just a caffeine boost but also a delicious twist to your day. The sweet and creamy flavour could soothe your senses and refresh your mind, perfect for when you need a midday treat to keep up the productivity.

The Art of Brewing Coffee at Home

Making a great cup of coffee at home is as much about the process as it is about the coffee itself. Experimenting with different brewing methods—like the pour-over, French press, or AeroPress—can help you discover new depths of flavour. Each method brings out unique notes and textures, allowing you to tailor your coffee to suit your day. Whether you prefer a bold brew or a lighter, more nuanced cup, mastering a brewing technique can make your coffee moments even more rewarding

Cold Brew: A Gentle Yet Effective Approach

For those who prefer a less acidic and smoother coffee, cold brew is an excellent choice. Its slow brewing process at a lower temperature preserves flavours and delivers caffeine in a gentler form. This type of coffee could be ideal for those who find regular coffee too harsh but still need a stable energy flow.

Stay energized and efficient with the right choice of coffee for your home office. Whether it's the rich depth of a single-origin, the balanced harmony of a blend, or the quick hit of an espresso, make sure your coffee is enhancing your productivity. Don't forget, adding a special touch like the tiramisu coffee enhancer can transform your coffee break into a luxurious recharge moment.

In the end, remember that the best coffee is the one that suits your taste and energy needs. Experiment with different types and enhancements to find that perfect coffee that not only wakes you up but also increases your pleasure and efficiency while working from home. Cheers to a productive and aromatic journey in your home office!

Gluten Free Sparkling Ginger Cookies

These cookies brim with the festive spices of the season and have a delicate crunch and sparkle from a hefty pinch of raw sugar. To top it off, they're a great cookie for gatherings since it is both vegan and gluten free! Give these easy to make cookies a try - you won't regret it!

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We are coming up to cookie time again this year! I don't know about you, but I have lists of cookies depending on who is the intended recipient of them. With luck (and a little bit of free time) I will be able to share each and every (new) cookie I'm making for the holidays - but let's start with these ones!

I happen to have two friends who keep their diet gluten free for various reasons, and while I can't share my mom's absolutely amazing shortbread cookies with them I do try to give them a couple things they can enjoy over the holidays. These cookies were developed after finding a recipe lodged deep in my Pinterest board, and they looked so festive I had to see if I could make a gluten free variant that was still vegan. 

The first (and easiest) swap was the flour. I love the Bob's Red Mill 1:1 flour and I've never had an issue with it failing to hold things together. A bunch of spice, thanks to the cinnamon, ginger and cardamom from Selefina Spices, warmed things up and made the kitchen smell heavenly - pro tip, add the spices to the margarine when it's still quite warm to bloom the spices, it makes them really pop. I also added a hefty dose of a vegan pumpkin spice flavoured protein powder for extra flavour and nutrition. I didn't have any brown sugar left (I made these chestnut flour gingerbread cookies the day before) so I added a touch more molasses, and finally I added some egg replacer powder just as some extra assurance the dough would bind together. Popping the mixture in the fridge overnight resulted in a super easy to work with dough - it scooped like perfect ice cream! A quick roll in raw sugar and I had a batch of cookies ready for the freezer, as well as for immediate baking. 

For those of you baking for a diverse group of people, don't hesitate to make these - heck, just make them even if you aren't gluten free. They're a perfect blend of spicy and sweet, ready to pair with a cup of tea!

Basic Chunky Granola (for People AND Pets!)

It's been a while since I made granola - and this incredibly simple, no frills, helplessly clustery batch is a treat for both humans and animals (like my sister's rats!) I added dried apple bits to this mix, but you can experiment with your favourite fruit or nuts.

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We are an animal loving household. At one point, I believe we had three cats, a dog, several fish and 3 or 4 rats living with us! Apart from the fish, every pet of ours has received homemade treats of some kind from me - and nothing is as popular as the granola I make for my sister's mischief of rats.

A simple blend of oats, sweeteners and seeds is sometimes all you need as a snack. This granola isn't super sweet, but is incredibly filling! The egg whites and cornstarch in this recipe ensure the granola clumps together in big chunks, so you never have to deal with granola thats just sweetened, toasted oatmeal bits.

This recipe is not only perfect for rodent treats, it is a wonderful base for any granola additions you desire! Want different nuts, seeds, fruit.... even chocolate chips or M&Ms? Easy! Same with adding spices and other flavourings. You can change up the type of flaked grains, or even add cocoa powder and a bit of extra sugar to make chocolate granola if you desire too. The large chunks of this granola mean it's perfect for snacking on its own, but they're easy to break into crumbles for your yoghurt too.

Lemon-Blueberry Croissants

The combination of rich blueberry and tangy lemon in these Blueberry Lemon Croissants is next level - the whole wheat dough is laminated with blueberry compound butter (yes, blueberries in the butter!) and gets an extra blue tint from @selefina.spices Butterfly Pea Flower powder. Rolled up in the middle is lemon cream cheese. It's a breakfast experience like no other!

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Is there anything more summery than the combination of lemon and berries? I personally love adding lemon to anything, and these croissants that were inspired by Pinterest are a prime example.

There’s something truly magical about the process of making croissants. It's a long process, but a very therapeutic one. The finished pastries are works of art, but like all baking that art is rooted in science. I read once that flaky dough like croissants and puff pastry is where "patience meets precision", which I love but also laugh at - I don't usually have either!

The magic begins with a compound butter infused with blueberries, lemon zest, and a touch of butterfly pea flower powder from Selefina Spices. The blueberries add a mix of sweet and tart all on their own, which gets boosted with a hint of icing sugar and some bright lemon zest. The butterfly pea flower powder turns a vibrant purple in the presence of the acid from the blueberries and makes the colour of the butter (and thus the rest of the pastry) a gorgeous indigo. What I love about this butter is that you can make it and freeze it for when you have a craving for croissants!

The filling is just as delicious - and we definitely used leftovers on bagels! Cream cheese gets a hefty dose of lemon zest and a touch of lemon juice before getting slightly sweetened. When the croissants bake, this filling melts into the centre of each pastry, creating pockets of deliciousness. 

 Making the actual croissant dough is a labour of love... these are not something you'll enjoy the same day! The croissants look complex, but honestly, the process is really quite simple when it comes down to it. I followed the visual guide here when I first started making croissants, and it helped immensely! As long as you keep the dough cool, and chill between folding sessions, you won't have a problem with getting the butter into those layers.

I guarantee, if you like blueberries and lemon, these croissants will be a hit - the aroma coming from the oven as they baked smelled like the best blueberry pie you can imagine, and while waiting for them to cool feels like ages, the payoff is worth it!