My July 4th baking list is here Kids' fireworks: check. Plans to watch as many World Cup games as possible: check. Baking agenda: check. For me the holiday comes down to two bakes. A focaccia, dimpled and swimming in good olive oil (see below), and a fruit galette for the group, whatever stone fruit looks best at the market (my peaches not quite ready yet!). Both are the kind of thing I can start today, finish tomorrow, and then set down and forget about while the oven does the work. Which is...

I Went to France for the Carbs I'm back from a longer-than-usual three-week trip to France: Paris, the Loire Valley, and the Dordogne. A family trip focused on food (of course), art and monuments, and hiking, split between city and country. The last time I was in France, I attended a week-long panettone and pastry class in the south with travel tacked on the end. French folks really know how to do it, don't they? Late morning rise with pastry and coffee, an easy, casual lunch with rest after,...

Crackers for the Game, Buns by Sunday I'm back! I just returned from a family trip to France for a couple of weeks. It was sometimes hot, sometimes rainy, and all the time wonderful. Stay tuned for next week's newsletter with photos and a rundown of all the bread (and pizza!) I dug into. Like I'd imagine many of you, my household has been steadfastly watching the World Cup, and as a former soccer player, it's been dredging up some memories. Watching the USA perform well (fingers crossed for...