Hi All!
I wanted to share a recipe this month that I found and tweaked to make it fit my diet. I made it at Christmas time (which seems like the perfect time to make it!) it’s called Mazurka. I had never heard of it before. Apparently it’s named after a Polish dance. When cooked right it’s like a giant-crisp-crusted-super-soft-melt-in-your-mouth-centered-sugar-cookie with more complex flavors than a sugar cookie because of the maple syrup, egg yolks, and almond flour! You can also add orange or lemon zest. I cooked mine all the way though but next time I’m thinking of pulling it out of the oven sooner so that the edges are just done and the middle is a gloriously soft, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth pastry! I love how the consistency is customizable. Also this was super easy to make, Just whip everything in the stand mixer and pour into pie pans! Oh and you can top it with apricot preserves or any good fruit jam (not pictured).
The recipe you didn’t know you needed:
Paleo Mazurka
1/2 pound ghee
2 cups almond flour
1 cup and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 large egg yolks
(optional: zest of one lemon or orange)
-
Heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Smear ghee on two 10 inch cake or pie pans. Set aside.
-
Cream ghee until fluffy. add almond flour, salt, and maple syrup to the ghee. Add the egg yolks. Beat until well mixed.
-
Optional: add citrus zest.
-
Pour dough into prepared pans.
-
Bake for 23 minutes, until lightly browned; remove, cool, and top with apricot jam.
I also want to share the unmodified version if you don’t have any allergies. I got this recipe from Martha Stewart, namely her 90’s Holidays book.
This whole book has so many good recipes and ideas!
I’ve been thinking of sharing a “book of the month”, a book I’ve really enjoyed. Art books, decor books, cook books, novels; books that are an inspiration to me. So this month I think it’ll be this one. It really is a classic. Also, I feel like it’s getting harder to find decent recipes online that are not behind paywalls. So physical books feel more valuable!
Color Inspiration
I also wanted to share some color inspiration and sketches of some ornaments I worked on last year.
I usually have to have physical color references such as old books, colored pencils, paint cards, ads that come in the mail, packaging, you name it, I even saved a piece of dryer lent I liked the color of! I collect colors that I like. It’s really a creating of a physical color library. Then I mix match the colors till I come up with something I’m happy with. If you can find pieces with color relationships you like that’s even cooler! Like this vintage astronomy book, the yellow with the teal green is so amazing!
In The Studio Lately
Links and Inspiration!
-
First off Hollizollinger on Instagram has a prompt list!
-
The Good Ship Illustration has a list on illustrator competitions to enter.
-
And I rewatched Klaus this Christmas and it was wonderful, I was particularly drawn to the nuances in their grays in the backgrounds and of course their lighting! I think I’ll have to do some studies from the film.
Thank you for reading this! See you next time!
Ashley
