Be sure to tune in for another new episode of “Martha Bakes” today on PBS. In this show, we'll talk about oats - a very versatile whole-grain food. We’ll make a savory Swiss chard and ricotta galette and a batch of nutty, chewy cowboy cookies - all with oats. You'll love this show - just check your local listings for air times.
As many of you know, I'm extremely proud of “Martha Bakes”. This half-hour show is where I get to share tips and techniques for making flavorful baked goods right at home. During this season's premiere episode, I invited London-based pastry chef, cookbook author, and longtime Yotam Ottolenghi collaborator, Helen Goh, to share her rendition of a Moroccan Dried Fruit Cake. Helen draws inspiration from the fruits of the season and her love for traditional foods.
If you missed that first Season-11 episode of "Martha Bakes", here are some photos - enjoy.
I was so happy to have Helen Goh join me in the kitchen. Helen was born in Malaysia and began her cooking career in Australia. She moved to England in 2006 and began working with acclaimed chef, Yotam Ottolenghi – I love his books and have also had him on my television and radio shows over the years. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
Before baking her fruit cake, Helen and I talked about her dual career – first as a Doctor of Psychology and then as a pastry chef, cookbook author and lead dessert developer for all of Yotam’s restaurants. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
Helen also talked about her passion for baking and for bringing out the best flavors of the fruits she uses without compromising the structure of the dessert. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
Helen showed us this photo of a gingerbread house she made when she first started baking – the recipe is from one of my Christmas cookbooks. It was so nice to hear how much she loves my recipes and how inspirational I’ve been to her. (Photo courtesy of Helen Goh)
Helen said she finds baking therapeutic and magical. She loves to come up with new ideas, recipes and menu items – she and Yotam are always talking about cakes. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
Here we are starting to mix the ingredients for the fruit cake – dried currants, raisins, dried figs, dried apricots and prunes. The fruits are then covered with black tea and left overnight. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
Helen told me her next goal is to use more Asian ingredients – those she grew up with in Malaysia. Read more about what those ingredients are on my web site. (Photo by Erika Heymann) https://www.marthastewart.com/1535265/helen-goh-ottolenghi-martha-inspiration
Here, Helen mixes the dry ingredients, and then adds the fruit mixture and a large egg. Helen stirs it all up to combine. When ready, the batter should be of a dropping consistency. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
Once the batter was complete, we poured it into a loaf pan and cooked it in a 375-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 50 to 55 minutes. Here it is fresh from the oven.
After letting it cool for about 10-minutes, Helen cut into the cake.
The finished product is so beautiful and so tasty. It can be served with salted butter and then stored well-wrapped for up to three days. Go to my web site for the full recipe – I know you will make it time after time. (Photo by Mike Krautter) https://www.marthastewart.com/1535145/moroccan-fruit-cake
On this show, Helen also shared some of her tried and true tips for crepes – these are burnt butter crepes. Helen makes crepes with browned butter for that extra nutty flavor and adds very little sugar so it can be eaten savory or sweet.
Helen likes to add a squeeze of lemon when served for breakfast. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
She also likes to add a sprinkling of sugar on top. For lunch, she likes her crepes with sautéed leeks, spinach, eggs, salt and pepper – all dolloped onto the crepe and then folded to enclose and placed into the oven with a little cream and grated cheese – and finally baked until the cheese has melted. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
For a quick impromptu birthday cake, Helen shares her tip for a simple Mont Blanc Crepe Cake – alternating crepe layers with sweetened Chestnut Spread and then whipped cream. The top of the crepe cake is finished with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
For more from pastry chef, Helen, be sure to follow her Instagram page @helen_goh_bakes. (Photo by Erika Heymann)
And be sure to get a copy of “SWEET” – the new book Helen and Yotam co-authored. It features recipes for cookies, mini-cakes, full-sized cakes, cheesecakes, tarts and pies, and confectionery. (Photo by Peden + Munk reprinted with permission from SWEET)
The book includes a wonderful range of baked goods from simple to slightly challenging – you’ll love it. (Photo by Peden + Munk reprinted with permission from SWEET)
“The Martha Manual” is a practical handbook filled with ideas, instructions and inspirations - how to set a table, how to care for houseplants, how to decorate your home for every occasion, and so much more. Whether it’s organizing, celebrating, cleaning, decorating, or any number of other essential life skills, we’ve tested the tasks and provided useful solutions with lots of spectacular photographs that will help you do - almost - everything. I am so thrilled with this new title - I know you’ll love it too.
I am so proud of this book – it has all the basic how-to knowledge everyone should have to do all those essential life tasks and chores. This book includes hundreds of expert tips and useful insights in an easy-to-follow format. Everyone in your family will be using this book time after time.
Inside “The Martha Manual” you’ll find great organizing ideas for every room, including the kitchen – the main hub of every home.
So many of the tips are inspired by how I care for my own things. This is a drawer of silver flatware in my servery. Find out how to polish, maintain and store all your precious silver in “The Martha Manual”.
And learn how to set both a formal and an informal table.
This go-to book also contains tips for throwing a cocktail party – how to set-up a self-serve bar, determine how many bottles of alcohol to buy, and how to give a memorable toast.
All those delicious spices – find out the best way to store them and keep them organized.
“The Martha Manual” is a compilation of the many thousands of “Good Things” we’ve shared over the years, including how to use upturned brackets as shelf dividers to keep towels from falling over – this idea works in the laundry room, and in the linen closet.
Here is a bedroom in my Winter House. Learn how to keep your own private comfort zone looking its best. My book provides our favorite tips for making a bed, washing the linens, and step-by-step instructions for folding a fitted sheet.
Here’s another photo from the book – sharing my “must-do” tip for steaming clothes.
The book shows how a simple wooden shelf can keep all your bathing essentials close at hand.
Oversized hooks are handy for storing so many things – from hanging towels in the bathroom to hanging pots in the kitchen and so much more.
My book has a section on caring for houseplants – what plants grow in what kind of light, how to propagate cuttings and how to keep them well-hydrated while you are way.
Here is my sunken garden behind my Summer House. All my precious boxwood is covered under protective burlap to keep it safe from wind and heavy snow. Learn some other handy tips for protecting plantings in winter from “The Martha Manual.”
And learn about feeding the wild birds that visit your backyard. I love feeding birds and seeing all the different birds that visit my farm. This avian friend is feasting on my own Wild Bird Food from my Bird Feeder – both available on QVC.
If you love to garden, this book also tells you how to grow a beautiful and productive vegetable garden – what to plant, how to care for some of your favorite veggies, and how to harvest them when they’re ready.
My book shows photos and illustrations for building a safe fire – inside and out.
Find out how to transform a bookcase into a great catchall for shoes, coats, bags, etc.
I have an entire chapter dedicated to pet care – how to introduce a new pet, how to care for a pet and even my tips for tackling common unwanted behaviors.
Here is my beautiful Empress Tang. I also include grooming tips and how to keep a clean house with pets around.
And of course, I have a section for decorating – how to decorate for every occasion – from coloring Easter eggs…
…to creating a beautiful Christmas scene for any counter or table of your home.
And for those who still need a lesson – how-to tips on how to ride a bike! “The Martha Manual: How to Do (Almost) Everything” is a fun, informative, and essential guide for doing so many, many things – get your copy today!!
If you love visiting charming neighborhoods or shopping for antiques, I encourage you to make a stop in the picturesque city of Hudson, New York.
Hudson is located along the river of the same name, just two-hours north of New York City. Warren Street, the central thoroughfare in Hudson, is filled with dozens of antique shops featuring some of the best in period furniture, decor, and art. Last weekend, I decided to make the short drive up to Hudson for a little antiquing - it was a fabulous way to spend a cold winter day.
Here are some photos.
I was first attracted by these simple, convex mirrors in the window of The Locust Tree on Warren Street. They were beautiful and about 12-inches in diameter. http://thelocusttree.com/
I went inside to see the two mirrors that caught my eye – they were handmade by a contemporary glass artist in England. The smaller ones had silver leaf. I admired them all.
The Locust Tree also has these very pretty Indian baskets – I love baskets and have a large collection of my own at my Bedford, New York farm. In fact, some of you may recall, I built a small house just to store some of my many, many baskets.
I also looked at the antique plant stands and framed botanicals. The charming shop was full of things I would have bought – if I didn’t already have them.
In Naga North Antiques, I loved these contemporary lamps. They appealed to me even more when I noticed that this one was one of a pair… http://nagaantiques.com/
…And this other one had the lamp at a different length. If I was decorating a contemporary space, these lamps would be great finds.
I was astonished by the high prices for anything Asian, such as these Japanese flower arranging baskets. Naga is a leading dealer of fine furniture, decorative objects, and Japanese pieces including an inventory of more than 350 Japanese screens. I also have quite a few Asian baskets like these in my collection.
All the stores I visited were loaded with beautiful things – mirrors, bed frames, tables and chairs. This shop is called Theron Ware – also on Warren Street. https://www.theronwarehudson.com/
I loved this tea table with its marble top. It needs some refinishing, but it was so pretty – I almost bought it.
When I entered Red Chair on Warren, there was so much to see, I felt like I was walking into my own house with all the glass and White Ware. http://www.redchair-antiques.com/
I loved this thick continental French White Ware bowl. It was one of my favorite pieces on the shelf.
And I admired this case of coin silver – these pieces would also be loved by our Millennials who are very fond of unembellished coin silver – Generation X seems to prefer stainless steel. It is very interesting to learn what kind of pieces are favored by different generations.
I saw a couple of very nice, soft cow hides, but did not buy either of them.
Inside Neven + Neven Moderne, I saw lots of Paul McCobb desks and chairs – these pieces were in great condition. http://www.nevenmoderne.com/
There was also a vintage Electrolux vacuum – it pays to always take good care of the appliances you have at home. I have several of these vacuums and they all still work very well.
Inside this Warren Street store are new pieces – catering to the trend for irregular plates and bowls, tumblers and mugs, instead of cups and goblets with stems.
Nowadays, napkins are more casual, even left un-ironed.
I also stepped into Regan & Smith Antiques. On the far right, look closely, this shop uses windows as transparent room dividers and screens – very clever. http://www.reganandsmith.com/
This is a sample tub and sink for sale.
This chair appealed to me as well, with its decorative shell-like back. It was very well made.
Here is the seat of the chair – it was a very nice piece.
And I loved these “orange trees”. These pieces were recently auctioned from an estate. They look similar to the metal trees that I sell on QVC. https://qvc.co/2GBWPfE
These frames were in another store – there was so much to see. I did not purchase anything on this day, but I learned a lot as I always do. If you’re ever in this area of New York, stop by Hudson – you will enjoy it.
After antiquing in Hudson, we drove west, where I was meeting friends for dinner. This water and ice leads to the Beaverkill River, which is a tributary of the East Branch Delaware River.
Some parts were completely frozen – several people were even ice climbing.
I took several photos of the flowing water and frozen falls. The weather here in the Northeast has been so erratic – we have snow and ice one day and then lots of melting and temperatures in the 40s and 50s the next.
This is a view of the Pepacton Reservoir, also known as the Downsville Reservoir or the Downsville Dam.
The views are spectacular – it was such a clear afternoon, but very cold – the water was frozen.
Unfortunately, while driving, our car got stuck in a snow drift on a deserted road – about 10-miles from civilization. My longtime driver, Carlos, and I, along with my four dogs, were rescued by the Colchester, New York Police – here we all are in the back seat. It was very snug, but the dogs kept us warm.
Thank you to the Colchester Police officers who rescued us and to George, the tow truck operator who came and got our car out. It was quite an experience, but we are fine, and I still made it to dinner.
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