WELCOME

Welcome to AlisonVery where I showcase my love for baking with a regenerative pantry, designing and discovering the world.

As the author of Stale Bread & Moonshine, I seek to bottle up the ingenuity of times gone by to help us transition to holistic ways of re-designing our everyday habits around food and drink. Let's take charge of our choices around nourishment for us and the planet.

BAKE.DESIGN.DISCOVER

New Substack drop with recipe for making Pear, Chocolate & Cinnamon muffins with regenerative flour and less sugar inspired by a gifted recipe from a baker in New Zealand 20 years ago. The story is on my substack - Stale Bread & Moonshine.

https://substack.com/@stalebreadandmoonshine/note/p-152297417?r=txar4

#regenbaking
#muffins
#stalebreadandmoonshine
#regenerativefarming
#breakfastrecipes

Sometimes a gift given can span decades. The recipe I was gifted in 2003 is one of those. I share it with you and invite you to make your own variations as it inspired me to do. Generosity is best passed onwards.

Happy Thanksgiving!

https://open.substack.com/pub/alisonvery/p/an-anonymous-baker-in-new-zealand?r=txar4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

#regenbaking
#baking
#muffins
#newzealand
#christchurch

My new post on Substack is Part 1 of our trek in the Republic of Georgia.

My wanderlust to experience the world’s culture around food and drink sometimes can put my traveling companions and me in unprecedented conditions. It takes me to the razor’s edge and, at other times, surrounds me with a nest of fuzzy blankets.
So when I suggested to my friends that we do a trek in the Republic of Georgia, in my daydream, I envisioned an exotic culture at the confluence of east and west on the borders of Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. The birthplace of wine and one of my favorite cheeses breads…

#stalebreadandmoonshine
#tusheti
#tushetinationalpark
#trekking
#trekgeorgia

I owe my mother’s life to an Irish doctor that people in the late 70s thought was a bit of a quack. When most people found freedom in boxed cereals and packaged baked goods at grocery stores, those could literally kill my mom. The preservatives and colored dyes used to make the breakfast items seem fresh could trigger an asthma attack that closed up her airways and caused her to suffocate.

https://open.substack.com/pub/alisonvery/p/featherweight-promises-puffed-oats?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=txar4
For more, please follow the link...

Red and yellow pepper, leek, asparagus and goat cheese frittata. Faster than the pie version and no need for flatware to eat it.

For 12 frittata muffins:

Heat oven to 375F convection. Bake time is 20 minutes or until egg mixture is not liquid at the edges of the muffin cups and frittata puffs up.

10 pasture raised organic eggs
1/2 cup organic milk
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 leek, white part, diced
1 red pepper and 1 yellow pepper, de-stemmed and cut into 1/2" pieces
1/2 bunch of asparagus, snap flimsy ends off and cut into 1" pieces
3 oz fresh goat cheese
Fresh thyme or fried 1 teaspoon (optional)
Sea Salt and pepper

In a bowl, whisk together eggs and milk, add a 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.

To a 10" inch skillet, heat over medium, add olive oil when hot and then leeks and peppers for 3 minutes. Add asparagus and thyme leaves (if using) and toss vegetables for 3 more minutes. Take the skillet off the heat.

To a 12 slot silicone muffin tray set on top of a half baking sheet, add a little egg mixture to each cup until 1/4 full. Add 1 1/2 Tablespoon of vegetable mixture to each cup. Fill 3/4 full with egg mixture and break up pieces of goat cheese into each cup.

Bake in a preheated oven and when done, set the muffin tray without a pan on a wire rack to cool. Wait at least 8 minutes before turning out of the muffin pan.

If you have leftover veggies and egg mixture, you can bake off a few over the next 2 days.

#frittata
#pastureraisedeggs
#regenbaking
#brunch
#brunchrecipes
#stalebreadandmoonshine

https://alisonvery.substack.com/p/introducing-stale-bread-and-moonshine

Right after harvest, we visited the Quinta Da Formigosa in the Douro Valley, Portugal for a wine tasting. We toured the terraced fields, the sorting area, cellar and wine cave cut into the mountain.

Sitting on cork stools at a long wooden banquet table, we tasted six luscious wines poured by a former pro French footballer turned oenologist.

Thanks to my nephew Aiden for arranging a tasting of memorable wines and spectacular scenery.

#dourovalley
#quintadaformigosa
#wine
#winetasting
#portugaltravel

Visiting Porto, Portugal with my sister and nephew. Ceramic glazed tiles are everywhere, interior walls and exterior walls.

I love the vivid colors and the stories told with tile in the Sao Bento Station.

#tilemakestheroom
#tiledesign
#portoportugal
#travelportugal

I travel for cardamom buns especially those made with locally milled flour. Landrace's bun melted in my mouth with a delicate texture and spice to wake me up from the long travel from Portland to Bath. I will return tomorrow morning for another. Oh that's right, I am going to Upstairs at Landrace for dinner tonight.

#cardamombuns
#wholegrain
#regenerativebaking
#regenerativefarming

A loaf of bread that isn't traditional bread rather all the ingredients of seedy granola with less sugar and fat?

Satisfying for an artisan bread lover?

Takes a fraction of the time to make?

Why yes, I baked this magical Life-Changing loaf from Dr. Erika Siegel's book because my husband needs to limit his wheat among other things.

I used sprouted oats so, the counter time which ranges from 2 to 12 hours took 2.5 hours before going into the oven.

All organic ingredients:
Sprouted oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pecans, chia seeds, flaxseed meal, psyllium husks and sea salt combine with water, coconut oil and a tiny bit of maple syrup to create a seemingly dense loaf with a surprisingly light bite.

I have already had 3 pieces today.

If you are looking to be healthier and incorporate nutrient dense food into your meals, I highly suggest Nourish Me Kitchen's book set.

#glutenfree
#oats
#breadislife
#bread
#sunflowerseeds
#chiaseeds

My niece @vividt.rex and I took a respite from my nephew's wedding in Leavenworth to experience eating a gigantic pretzel. It was well worth the jaunt.

No doubt it was inspired by the OG in Germany. Craig and I biked through the Englischer Garten in Munich and stopped for a snack during Octoberfest there in 2002.

I love pretzels!

#pretzels
#octoberfest
#leavenworthwashington
#englichergartenmüchen

Scones don't have to be stones. My buttermilk scone recipe has the same amount of fruit and buttermilk as it does flour in this case Einkorn because my belly likes it better. The ratio makes them light and fluffy.

The strawberries are super sweet this year thanks to the glorious heat of the sun so only a touch of cane sugar needed in the dough.

#strawberry
#jovialfoods
#scones
#strawberryseason
#butter
#buttermilk
#regenbaking
#eatgoodfeelgood

When I asked Asher what he wanted to do for his birthday, without hesitation he said go to San Francisco, eat and ride around in a Waymo.

Asher also wanted to go to the Academy of Sciences which we did because after eating all these pastries, Asher wanted to expand his mind while his aunt and parents took a nap in the planetarium thanks to our food coma.

Having a birthday on July 4th for a kid means not any of your friends are usually available.

Luckily Asher still likes hanging with us for now. We will enjoy it while it lasts - all of it.

#pastry
#birthday
#tartine
#sanfrancisco

A long time ago in a state far away, my mom gave me the opportunity to design my room before middle school. I chose hunter green and white wallpaper as an homage to my school Hockaday in Dallas, TX.

We gave our son the same opportunity as he gets ready for middle school. He chose the colors of the French flag coincidentally he also chose to honor his school - French International School of Oregon.

He also happens.to be born on July 4th so, it makes sense all around.

I wanted him to make sure he would like his design as it is not so fun to repaint stripes. So we took the Benjamin Moore paint sheets and cut them into a model for the room. We painted these stripes on one wall, the base color on the side walls and an abbreviated version on the opposite wall.

A big thanks to my husband Craig for painting all weekend.

BenjaminMoore Paints:
Seapearl
Poppy
Athens Blue

#benjaminmoorepaint
#athensblue
#decor
#teendecor

It's still cold in the mornings in Portland and even most of the day so a warm breakfast is like a hug before school.

@newseasonsmarket made it easy for me this morning with their Organic Challah with Raisins. Recipe makes 5-6 slices.

Slice into 1" pieces.

In a shallow baking or round ceramic pie dish, whisk together:

2 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (cloud forest from PDX)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, fine

Butter (optional for griddle or to rub on top after cooked)

Organic strawberries and raspberries to tumble on top

Maple syrup

Place pieces face down into liquid for 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.
Cook on warm medium heat non stick griddle until both sides are golden brown.

#regenbaking
#frenchtoast
#breakfast
#challah
#organic

My mom declared this was the best dessert she has ever eaten. Taking advantage of the fruit of the season - the strawberries are finally sweet from a few days of intense sun.

A simple batter of all organic - einkorn flour, almond flour, butter, coconut sugar, eggs, almond extract, milk and sea salt.

#regenbaking
#regenerativefarming
#ecobaking
#pastureraisedeggs
#a2milk
#almondflourrecipes
#einkorn
#einkornflour

#organicgardening
#travelvietnam
#unescoworldheritage

Broccoli Rabe Yellow Pepper Scallion Frittata Muffins with goat cheese cheddar

Recipe on my website at alisonvery.com

My son is a picky lunch eater. He doesn't do sandwiches, not that we eat many in the house anyway. But coming up with quick palatable fulfilling main course options for a lunch box can be tedious.

Here is one that I made this week that upon school pick up was so enjoyable and filling, he didn't need an emergency snack.

It requires sauteing your choice of cut up veggies, adding a spoonful to a simple egg mixture in the muffin cups, topping with a bit more cheese and a sprinkling of flaky sea salt and baking in the oven.

Take advantage of those lovely springtime veggies and try this simple savory muffin.

#regenbaking
#ecobaking
#bakingfor climatechange
#springveggies
#goatcheese
#pastureraisedeggs
#regenerativebaking

While pancakes are common for American breakfast, Japan and Vietnam as well as many other cultures focus on savory instead.

A couple of exceptions on my recent travels include Japanese and Vietnamese take on pancakes.

1. Sakura Matcha Souffle pancakes at Happy Pancakes (near Nishiki Market) Kyoto, Japan

2. Taiyaki with adzuki paste, Nishiki Market, Kyoto, Japan

3. Lemon Ricotta pancakes with mango and pineapple - salted coffee on the side.
The Workshop Coffee, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

#pancakes
#souffle
#butter
#sakura
#breakfast
#taiyaki

My son and I enjoying Sakura tea in Tokyo. We have taken afternoon tea since he was two years old around the world.

The cherry blossoms were peaking out but, not in their full glory yet.

#sakura
#afternoontea
#hightea
#pastry

Ohagi and Matcha tea set outside the Bamboo forest on the outskirts of Kyoto with my sweet son Asher

#kyoto
#matcha
#ohagi
#strawberry
#traveljapan

While an emergency trip landed me in Sydney to take care of mom, I needed some nourishment too and, these are some of the cafes I ambled across on my way to/from the hospital.

#bakery
#flourandstone
#cafe
#cafeculture
#bakedgoods
#avocadotoast
#muffins
#pastries
#organicpastry

Thank you to dog JoJo and Ava, we found 12 oz of white truffles in the Sherwood Forest. My first experience hunting was a fruitful and frigid one.

#whitetruffle
#mushroomforaging
#mushrooms
#oregonforest
#foraging
#travelportland
#oregontruffles
#oregontrufflefestival

Cherry Dark Chocolate Spelt Muffins - moist cake of einkorn, spelt and almond flours with abundant cherries picked and frozen from Hood River last summer and Cloud Forest 70% all purpose chocolate.

#chocolate
#chocolatecherry
#muffins
#ancientgrains
#speltflour
#einkorn
#coconutsugar
#pastureraisedeggs
#sweetcherries
#bingcherries
#regenbaking
#regenerativefarming
#regenerativebaking

Out of buttermilk but with plenty of A2 whole milk, I decided to try the blueberry scone recipe from Rose Bakery's cookbook Breakfast, Lunch, Tea. Instead of AP flour and whole wheat, I used einkorn and spelt flour.

The recipe made 14. We baked off 6 and stored the rest in the freezer for later using the spent spelt pouch.

Your spent flour or sugar pouches can have another useful life storing your cookie dough or scones too.

#speltflour
#rosebakery
#scones
#a2milk
#einkorn
#bakedgoods
#regenerationbaking
#reuse

My son got the perfect gift from my sister in law @jver98 , he got the NYT cooking desktop calendar. It takes away the stress of deciding what meals to cook everyday.

Here in Portland, we have been stuck at home on the hill all week due to a thick sheet of ice on our roads and sidewalks making venturing out perilous.

Hankering for a seasonal dessert using what was left of our pantry, I adapted this recipe for only having a half stick of butter (instead of a whole stick) by adding coconut milk for the difference.

Almond flour and eggs make up the majority of the cake along with a bit of semolina flour. I used Hayden Flour Mills pasta flour.

The apricots are much darker than the calendar pick because these are organic Turkish ones. The bright orange of the ones from the calendar pic comes from sulfur dioxide nonexistent in organic dried fruit.

Per the recipe by David Tanis, the apricots were plumped in water, drained and added to the soaking syrup of freshly squeezed orange juice, a bit of raw sugar, saffron, cardamon pods, whole cloves and a cinnamon stick. The syrup on its own transports me back to the streets of Fez, Morocco where sweet spices fill the air to cover up the off smell of the tanneries dying leather into a kaleidoscope of colors.

We couldn't wait the full 3 hour soaking time for the syrup to marry with the cake. We did manage an hour. My family devoured it along with a savory calendar recipe that served as the main meal. With half the cake left, we ate the rest for breakfast - even better.

#orangedessert
#almondflour
#almondflourrecipes
#pastureraisedeggs
#organicapricots
#jovialfoods

Bakery hopping -what I love to do in my city and all others in search of those using regenerative flours that contribute to a healthy planet. It's not about giving up sweets, it's discovering the ones that satisfy my sweet tooth and getting more out of a pastry - more flavor and more nutrition.

In Choosing Your Pastry Wisely a post on my website, I list these bakeries and others and share why it is crucial to seek out better for you pastries.

#regenerativeagriculture
#commonground
#pastries
#bakedgoods
#regenerativebaking
#ecobaking

I love pastries. The quest for delectable and better for you pastries has been a highlight of my life's journey. I am sharing why my obsession with baked goods is also important for our future in my blog post Choose Your Pastry Wisely.

Link in Bio to my website.

#regenerativefarming
#bakedgoods
#pastry
#krispykreme
#organicpastry
#organicflour
#foodie
#climatechange
#commongroundfilm

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@alison_very

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About Me

The B House AirBNB

Immersed in a Japanese Garden, the B House is in the Northwest Hilliside neighborhood of Portland, Oregon with a view of Mt Hood (when not too cloudy). Remodeled in 2020, the B House embodies cozy and comfortable with a modern sensibility.

WELCOME

BAKE.DESIGN.DISCOVER

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Alison Bailey Vercruysse

The B House AirBNB

SUBSCRIBE to substack @StaleBreadandmoonshine

Alison Bailey
Vercruysse