Bake along
Kate McDill
What was your inspiration for this piece?
BARN’s Kitchen Arts Bake Along began under the guidance of Anne Willhoit, a founding member of BARN. In support of BARN’s mission to build community and skill, the monthly bake along provides an opportunity for experienced and novice bakers to work together to tackle fun recipes and be together in the Kitchen. The session where everyone attempted an 8-strand plait of yeast bread was fun and challenging! Kate McDill, one of the baking instructors for BARN’s Kitchen Arts has carried on the program begun by Anne.
Tell us about the creation process including any obstacles overcome or surprises.
For those who love chocolate and cookies, feelings run high about the best version of them. Many swear by the Tollhouse recipe from Nestle, others hew more to the Mrs. Field’s version, and the scientific minded to those from America’s Test Kitchen.
Kate offered her version at the December 2020 Bake Along. The students learned how to make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies – Ever. She said, ‘these have crunchy edges and soft chewy middles, with chunks of melted chocolate and are coated in salted ground hazelnuts (optional). They are made with browned butter -- think caramel - and they need to be added to your holiday baking repertoire. This is a recipe that baking novices will feel comfortable tackling.
While it was much easier to build community when we could all bake together in the BARN Kitchen, we continue to adapt to the challenges presented by the pandemic. It is fun to see everyone’s kitchen, and to learn and laugh together.
The BARN Bake Along will continue in 2021, the 2nd Tuesday each month via Zoom, until we can safely bake together at BARN once again.
What was your inspiration for this piece?
BARN’s Kitchen Arts Bake Along began under the guidance of Anne Willhoit, a founding member of BARN. In support of BARN’s mission to build community and skill, the monthly bake along provides an opportunity for experienced and novice bakers to work together to tackle fun recipes and be together in the Kitchen. The session where everyone attempted an 8-strand plait of yeast bread was fun and challenging! Kate McDill, one of the baking instructors for BARN’s Kitchen Arts has carried on the program begun by Anne.
Tell us about the creation process including any obstacles overcome or surprises.
For those who love chocolate and cookies, feelings run high about the best version of them. Many swear by the Tollhouse recipe from Nestle, others hew more to the Mrs. Field’s version, and the scientific minded to those from America’s Test Kitchen.
Kate offered her version at the December 2020 Bake Along. The students learned how to make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies – Ever. She said, ‘these have crunchy edges and soft chewy middles, with chunks of melted chocolate and are coated in salted ground hazelnuts (optional). They are made with browned butter -- think caramel - and they need to be added to your holiday baking repertoire. This is a recipe that baking novices will feel comfortable tackling.
While it was much easier to build community when we could all bake together in the BARN Kitchen, we continue to adapt to the challenges presented by the pandemic. It is fun to see everyone’s kitchen, and to learn and laugh together.
The BARN Bake Along will continue in 2021, the 2nd Tuesday each month via Zoom, until we can safely bake together at BARN once again.
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Kate learned to bake at the Surrogate Hostess on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Her training included both traditional French pastry and breads, and American comfort goodies. She has also been a caterer. Kate is a founding member of BARN, and led the Kitchen Arts Studio in the early days as well as taught classes. Baking is her craft, and she is happy to share her knowledge and pass on the art of creating tasty treats.