Author: birch press

  • Adventures in Cooking’s Delicious Dessert!

    Adventures in Cooking’s Delicious Dessert!

    Pumpkin Shortbread by Eva Kosmas Flores-4

    It’s no secret that we are huge fans of the fall season. And yummy fall desserts…it doesn’t get any better than that! So when we asked Eva Kosmas Floras of Adventures in Cooking to create a recipe for us, we were ecstatic when she agreed! Don’t settle for just any old cookie, spice this season up with these delicious Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies.Take a look at our Fall LookBook or our site to see our collection. Check out the recipe below!

    Ingredients

    • 3/4 pound unsalted butter (3 sticks), softened
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
    • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
    • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
    • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    • pinch of salt
    • 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

    Recipe

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    2. In the large bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar at medium high speed until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute.
    3. Add the pumpkin puree, allspice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt and mix at medium speed until combined. Add the flour, a little at a time, mixing at medium low speed until a smooth thick dough forms.
    4. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured smooth working surface and roll out the dough until it is about 1/4-inch thick.
    5. Use a circular cookie cutter about 2 inches in diameter to cut out the cookie shapes and place them on an ungreased baking sheet.
    6. Bake them at 350 for 25 minutes, or until very light golden around the edges.
    7. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely on pan before removing with a spatula. The shortbread cookies can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
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    Here’s an added bonus: Birch Press Design is offering a 20% discount off of your entire purchase today through November 27th! Just use the sale code adventures at checkout to get the discount. Enjoy baking!
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  • Falling in Love With Cards!

    Falling in Love With Cards!

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    Since turning the calendar a page, I have become obsessed with fall. What is there not to love? Everything from the fashion to the sweet smells of pumpkin pie makes me so so happy! I want to wear warm, cozy sweaters all the time, deep burgundy lipstick everyday, and am already planning my Thanksgiving feast I am having at my place next month. I have to stop myself from stopping and grabbing a pumpkin spiced lattee during my morning commutes. One every once in a while is fine, but everday? I need to slow down. But I LOVE the fall time!

    Ok, so this is how obsessed I’ve been getting. Birch Press has these adorable fall themed cards that I’ve been in love with! And who writes cards in the fall? Christmas time, absolutely! But Halloween cards? Thanksgiving cards? Well, this girl!

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    I mean how can you resist these? These fun, creative cards will truly capture the essence of fall! I encourage you to get into the autum spririt and send a note to a loved one with these special cards!

  • Sketch Away!

    Sketch Away!

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    In life many people can share the same interest. Some find peace relaxing with a good book, others like to scrapbook, and some may enjoy drawing. Today the hobby of interest is drawing. Just because two people both enjoy the same hobby doesn’t mean that they both like to draw the same thing or their creativity strikes at the same moment. They are both still very different people.

    Birch Press offers laser cut sketchbooks in three very different, elegant designs to fit your style! Our Arabic sketchbook is a caramel shade with a very technical design, the floral sketchbook is decorated with a variety of flowers with a vibrant pink background, and the scroll sketchbook is a light blue with a psychedelic design.

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    Each sketchbook gives a unique feel to please lots of different artists! Here at Birch Press we understand that no creative mind works the same and we support that with our laser sketchbooks!

  • Goodbye Old and Boring, Hello Floral and Lace!

    Goodbye Old and Boring, Hello Floral and Lace!

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    As someone who is on her phone a lot and, with no shame, likes to change the cases often, I am always on the hunt for the new iPhone cases. Does anyone else do this? I’ve just always been a fan of alternating my cases whether it’s due to what I’m wearing, the season, or just what mood I am in that day.

    Birch Press Design recently added new iPhone cases that are just to die for!

    These cases have everything I’ve been looking for. The rubber bumper and hard outer shell provides excellent protection. Not to mention the designs are adorable! The vibrant colors will surely catch someones attention!

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    The floral lace will be a great neutral case for everyday use, and the birch floral design will be perfect for when I want that pop of color to add to my outfit!

    Say goodbye to all my old, boring cases! I think I’ve settled for the perfect style of cases. I seriously can’t get enough, someone is going to have to stop me before I buy every single design!

  • Dish Up With Safety

    Dish Up With Safety

    How many times a day do you take a platter out of the microwave or pick it up off the table and at least one piece of food falls to the ground?

    I’d say, being the clumsy person I am, my number is at least two times a day! However, this number has gone down dramatically.

    No, no, I didn’t gain some balance!

    Instead, I have started to use the lunch plates we offer here at Birch Press. These plates actually protect my food from falling with a one inch tall rim. Thus, the only way that my food can disappear, is by me gobbling it up, especially my favorite meals!

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    Don’t let your habits of spilling make you miss another bite again! Instead, invest in some lunch plates and you’ll thank yourself later! Trust me!FullSizeRender (28)

  • Rain, Rain, Stay a Day

    Rain, Rain, Stay a Day

    It’s officially fall here in Seattle, Washington. The leaves are changing, hot chocolate is being made, and we are snuggling up with our favorite throw and book next to the fire place.

    I don’t know about you, but I love this time of the year. I enjoy taking some time to myself and relaxing. Call me boring, but I love unwinding and watching the raindrops drip down my windowsill. And what better to do it with than a warm cup of soup! Birch Press has the perfect bowls just for this occasion!

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    The miso bowls have a dented in side which makes a perfect placement for a thumb! That way, a spoon may not even be necessary! Besides, its good to spend a day doing absolutely nothing sometimes.

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  • Hummingbird High’s Pumpkin Treat

    Hummingbird High’s Pumpkin Treat

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    Oh do we have a treat for you today!

    We have asked Michelle Lopez of Hummingbird High to create a special recipe using one of our wooden rolling pins. She even had the joy of preserving her heavenly recipe, using the now “old-school” way, with our tin recipe box. And let me tell you, our expectations were exceeded!Take a look at our Fall LookBook or our site to see our collection. Click here to see what we’re talking about!

     

    Blog 2

    When we saw what she created, we wanted to lick the screen! Assuming you too are drooling over these pumpkin rolls, we thought we’d provide the recipe!

    Ingredients:

    For the Pumpkin Dough:
    (makes 12 HUGE rolls)
    • 3/4 cup (6 fluid ounces) whole milk, warmed (see baker’s notes)
    • 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
    • 1/2 cup (3.5 ounces) plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided into 1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon portions
    • 1 cup (8 ounces) pumpkin puree
    • 1/4 cup (2 ounces // 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
    • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 6 cups (30 ounces) all-purpose flour, divided into 4 cup and 2 cup portions

     

    For the Brown Butter Filling:
    (enough for 12 rolls)
    • 1/2 cup (4 ounces // 1 stick) unsalted butter
    • 1 cup (7.5 ounces) dark brown sugar, tightly packed
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
    • a pinch of allspice
    • a pinch of kosher salt

     

    For the Vanilla Bean Crème Fraîche Glaze
    (enough for 12 rolls)
    • 3 ounces Vermont Creamery vanilla bean crème fraîche (see baker’s notes for substitutions)
    • 2 tablespoons whole milk
    • 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) confectioner’s sugar, sifted
    • a pinch of kosher salt

    Recipe

    For the Brown Butter Pumpkin Rolls

    1. In the bowl of a freestanding electric mixer, whisk together 3/4 cup warm whole milk with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. Sprinkle 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast over the milk and gently whisk the mixture again until all the yeast granules are wet. Set aside and let stand for 10 minutes.
    2. Meanwhile, combine remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup pumpkin puree, 1/4 cup melted butter, 3 eggs, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Whisk together until the ingredients are combined and the mixture is smooth and a homogenous pale orange color.
    3. Return to your milk and yeast mixture — at this point it should be frothy and bubbly. Sprinkle 2 cups all-purpose flour over the mixture and use the paddle attachment to beat the flour into the yeast mixture on the mixer’s lowest setting. Once the flour has been incorporated into the yeast, beat in the pumpkin mixture (from the 2nd step). Keep the mixer on its lowest setting and start adding the remaining 4 cups of flour one cup at a time until a dough comes together.
    4. At this point, use a rubber spatula to scrape down the paddle attachment and the sides of the bowl and switch to the mixer’s dough hook attachment. Knead the dough on the mixer’s lowest setting until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl, but still be a little sticky at the bottom.
    5. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning the dough to coat completely with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and allow the dough to proof in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours.
    6. As the dough is proofing, make the filling. Place 1/2 cup unsalted butter into a lightly colored, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-low heat. Melt the butter, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter starts to foam and splatter. Use a heatproof rubber spatula to scrape the sides and the bottom of the pan occasionally to prevent the butter from burning. After around 5 minutes, golden flecks should appear in the butter, and the butter should smell nutty and toasted. When scooped into a white plate, the butter should be a light to dark brown amberish color. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature completely on a wire rack.
    7. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, a pinch of allspice, and a pinch of kosher salt.
    8. Return to your dough. Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer to a lightly floured counter and use a rolling pin to roll into a rectangle about 16 x 24 inches.
    9. Use a pastry brush to brush the rolled dough with the brown butter (from the 6th step). Sprinkle heavily with the sugar and spice mixture (from the 7th step).
    10. Working lengthwise, roll the dough into a log, pinching its edges to seal. Cut the roll into 12 pieces, each about 2 inches wide. Place the cut-sides down on a parchment-lined 18 x 12-inch jelly roll sheet pan, spaced 3/4 inches apart. If you don’t have a jelly roll sheet pan that large, you can use two 13 x 9-inch sheet pans. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until the edges of the roll are rounded and touching, around 1 hour.
    11. As the rolls are rising, preheat the oven to 350 (F). Bake in the preheated oven for around 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges of the bun are golden orange in color. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
    12. While the rolls are cooling, make the crème fraîche glaze. Combine 3 ounces crème fraîche and 2 tablespoon milk in the bowl of a freestanding electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on a low speed until combined. Add 1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar all at once and beat until fluffy and of drizzling consistency. Use immediately to drizzle on top of each cinnamon roll while the rolls are still warm, using a rubber spatula or knife to spread out the glaze.

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    To sweeten today’s blog post just a little more, Birch Press Design is offering a 20% discount off your entire purchase today through November 6th! Just use the code hummingbird to get the discount!

    These pumpkin rolls are going to be a staple in my kitchen this fall season! I cannot wait to fill my home with the intoxicating smell of this delicious dessert!

    photo and recipe credit:

    Michelle Lopez

    of

    Hummingbird High

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    shaker cherry rolling pin | | capri tin recipe card box

     

  • Protect That Little Black Dress in Style!

    Protect That Little Black Dress in Style!

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    When I am preparing my favorite honey-glazed apple tart or recreating my moms favorite cheese cake, I don’t want to get a mess all over my clothes! Let me tell you, nothing is worse than noticing patches of flour on your little black dress, right as you are answering the door! Trust me- it has happened to me!

    Sure, I could throw on a basic unflattering smock to protect myself, but if guests are coming to me I wouldn’t want to be caught dead in an uncomplimentary apron.

    I want to look good all throughout the event!

    Birch Press now offers the best of both worlds for a trendy baking woman. Style and protection!

    The selection of aprons are far from insulting to a woman’s body.

    Each apron has ruffled edges and a waistband to accentuate that perfect figure of yours. The designs are also very classic looking, trust me, it’ll help you bring out your inner Betty Crocker baking skills!

    Don’t let baking get in the way of your fashion sense, you really can have it all- in the kitchen that is, just let Birch Press help you get there.

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  • Ready, Set, Glow!

    Ready, Set, Glow!

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    Votives are perfect for any occasion.  Let them add a special glow to backyard BBQ’s, romantic dinners or holiday gatherings with their quirky, off-kilter designs and versatile colors.  Dove, Ruby, Peacock or Meadow – pick your favorite color, or mix and match them for a bright surprise.

    Our votives are crafted in Oregon, with unglazed exteriors and glazed interiors. Scatter them along the dinner table – or cluster them for drama – they’re great either way!

     

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  • Shake It Up!

    Shake It Up!

    Don’t let the name throw you off! These folded salt and pepper cellars can be used to hold all kinds of condiments. Yes, they can be used for salt and pepper, but they can be utilised for so much more! You can use these beautifully made cellars to hold ingredients such as chocolate chips, seeds, spices, and more! Why not have fun baking in the kitchen with style?

    Just last weekend I had, yet another, dinner party. I used them to hold vinegar and oil and they were just perfect!

    These containers also have a very wide opening making it easy to dip, pour, and pinch from!Studio-Session-281

    Don’t let yourself deal with the mess of salt and pepper shakers tipping over, baking powders all over the floor or vinegar and oil spilling, start using our folded salt and pepper cellars!