Father's Day baguettes!

I hope that everyone had a Happy Father's Day! ...and I just wanted to take a sec and honor my dad here..Patricio Cobos. Dad, I love you, and thank you for everything!

This past Saturday you would've found me cranking out some french baguettes, most of which were given as Father's Day gifts. I did try my hand at a new focaccia recipe, and the result...very delicious!! ..with lots of olive oil...and this one with sage and garlic. I'm pretty sure I'll be making this one again and trying different toppings!

Also, welcome new follow Ana Parker!

Come in, October.

“October is crisp days and cool nights, a time to curl up around the dancing flames and sink into a good book.” - (I'm not sure who wrote that, but I like it!)

“There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October”
Nathaniel Hawthorne quotes (American short-story Writer and Novelist, master of the allegorical and symbolic tale. One of the greatest fiction writers in American literature. 1804-1864)

Jelly making today

Went out looking for more muscadine grapes, but they're all gone. The persimmons are a little on the small side this year or just didn't produce...a lot just dried up, probably because of the heat and not enough rain.
Anyway, I still have enough juice to make 2 or 3 jars of jelly today, I'm happy about that.

Planning on making some biscotti in a little while...yum...can have some with my tea tonight!

First biscotti mailing a success!

So, I finally sent my first biscotti (test box) in the mail to a friend...all the way to Michigan. My understanding is that they arrived fine, were enjoyed, and delicious!(almond-chocolate-coconut)
Hopefully this is one of many to be sent in the near future for people to enjoy around the country.

Also just found out that there will be another bake sale at our church this coming weekend (supporting prison ministry). Hmm, what shall I bake? I'm thinking this time of making more biscotti with maybe packets of tea in some of the bags. The olive bread seems to be a hit...as well as the Latvian piragis that I've made twice...see people munching on those before the service. Those are a lot of work and if I make them I definitely need to gauge the time better. I've gotten very few hours of sleep generally on those nights before the sale.

Just pulled a few of these comments from my Facebook:
Linda C.: I'm watching the mailbox CLOSELY !!!!

Cheryl T.: Hey Karl. Never officially met you but I am sitting in my home eating your bread. It is very good. I will be the first to visit your bakery. You may be wondering how your bread got to my house....

Cheryl T.: Just checked out your blog. Great! Will be sharing it with our daughter.

Karl: Glad you're enjoying the bread and the blog, that's great...thanks.

A new biscotti this week!

"Best chocolate kind yet! - so said my mom this past week after I finished making a new biscotti."  The recipe? ..a chocolate almond coconut biscotti.

I thought it tasted good too so I took some to the cafe at our church...have to give Pastor Jim and Deb Muehlstein a big "thank you" for allowing me to take and contribute some...hopefully be getting some more good feedback.  I'm hoping to mail some of these to a friend this week to see how well I handle/learn the shipping process and the options for doing so.

Some of you mentioned how much you liked the biscotti with cranberries and pistachios.  Yeah...I really like those too, would like to make some more soon.  Thanks for those comments.

Saw this this morning and thought it might help anyone who does any kind of business where things have to be weighed...and about integrity:
-Honest balances and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are His concern. (Proverbs 16:11)

Wow, has it really been since February since I posted!?  Oops, my bad.

You know guys, if you haven't tried my yeast rolls or french baguettes you've got to get in touch with me.  You are probably paying for something too chewy or tasteless in regards to most of the baguettes that are out there...just sayin'.

And if you've tried the knot rolls, they also go really nice with some orange marmelade, and there's a pretty nice one from Denmark, at THE DOLLAR TREE.

My biscotti was featured in the cafe at Church in the Now this past weekend...chocolate almond this time.
I've been thinking about a praline pecan biscotti all day...may have to make it!

A friend of mine in Michigan just ran out of her biscotti, looks like I may have to test the shipping waters and learn how to send some in the mail...unless you speak up and want yours first.

It was a great day outside today and I took my son to Sonic...powerade slush for him...cherry limeade for me...and he ate the last chocolate almond biscotti on the way home.

Hats off...to YOU!

Well, it snowed here in Atlanta since the last post...so when it was cold outside, I had soup and fresh bread inside!

Thanks for supporting the bake sale, it went really well...and I was very pleased.  It felt really good to hear of some of you asking for my bread and even reserving, that's awesome!  I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to crank out at that particular time but managed 2 olive loaves, 3 baguettes, 1 dozen knot rolls, and 20 hot piragis which seemed to go quickly in the morning when everyone was hungry...and every single item sold!  That's approximately $42 from the bread alone to help the prison ministries through Church in the Now.  Give yourselves a hand, I think that's great.

I would like to ask some of you locals who haven't heard me ask this yet, but if I were to have a bread run, let's say Tuesday and Friday would you be interested in my stopping by your location, office, or home to offer fresh bread or deliver there.  Some of you might need to clear that with a manager, but let me know...I think that'd be great!

This year one of the goals is to have some new breads and biscottis with their prices available for you...also to look into how to make the biscotti available for shipping anywhere in the U.S.  I want to set some high goals...with hopes that at least some of them will be reached. 

Thanks again to those of you who have already, just this past week, spoken great words and feedback into my bread-making.  I ask God's best blessings to be with you!

Peace.