Farmer's Market Blueberry Muffs

One more day til August... Where did Summer go?! 

I went to the local Hope Street Summer Farmer's Market a while ago, and bought some blueberries home.

July was blueberry season, but I'm not a huge fan of fresh blueberries. I like them in a muffin though.

*Stares at the picture above* Yes, I like it when I see melty, gooey, broken down, jammy blueberries.

Why not make a blueberry strawberry jam next time? hmm...

I tried making pineapple jam once, it really took a long time.

Anyway, I made these muffs old school - big bowl and a whisk. I thought I'll skip the mixer and spend more time with the batter.

Of course, some lemon zest won't hurt to brighten up the batter.

In goes the blueberries.

And the magic streusel, just like pixie dust...

See what I mean? I'm sure you do.

Stock Culinary Goods: My Favorite Store on Hope St

Have you ever walked into a store and felt like you could stay in there for ages? Looking at every single item on every single shelf?

Well, that was what happened when I walked into Stock.

It's a pretty neat little store selling culinary products that gives you the urge to get them, to buy them.

To have and to hold...

I totally feel like a little girl in a candy shop.

It gives you a different experience than stores like William-Sonoma and Sur La Table. It has a strong local vibe, a very approachable employee (Emma!), and best of all, it is filled with products hand-picked by owner Jan.

Say hello to her. Check out the the store's Website and Facebook Page!

Their product selection is unbeatable. Stock carries products made by local artists and unique finds from all around the world, and they always have something new everyday!

That's not even the best part yet! This store is not only a store. Events are occasionally held from time to time, and everyone is invited. All you have to do is RSVP and turn up to enjoy mini culinary classes.

I think she's a genius!

I can't believe they've been opened for 8 months already, and I've never took notice until now. I guess it's because of the detours/construction on Hope street that's been going on. Hopefully more people will find out about this little gem!

None the less, I couldn't resist the temptation of buying a little something for myself.

From my first trip:

I walked around the store and found big beautiful real scallop shells for baking, and instantaneously I thought of a conversation that Sunny and I had about baking scallops in their shells. This would be perfect for any seafood stuffed and baked.

I can't wait.

And then I saw oyster shuckers! We've been looking for it ever since me and Sandy went to the Farmer's market to buy oysters last Winter!

I picked out this particular one because of the bent tip and handle grip.

From my second trip:

I saw a photo of an anchor cookie cutter on Stock's Facebook page and I literally said "ooooooo!" So I went and bought it, along with the gang (Sail boat, lighthouse, and RI state...) I didn't get the lobster cutter. I didn't know what I was thinking. I should have gotten it. Poor lobster, I'll come back for you next time.

And of course! This!

I've been eyeing this horse pedastool since my first visit, but I was pressed for time so I didn't bother to ask about it. It's just so beautifully designed. It's made by IMM-Living and guess what?! Other than the horse, they also have the rabbit, the duck, and the owl (NEW!)

P.S. Stock Culinary Goods, please order the owl cake stand! I really want an owl cake stand. :)

Attention BBQ fans: Stock sells mini sauce mops! :)

Bakeware goods are sprinkled all around the store...

If you're ever in need of anything cute, fancy, and functional kitchen gadgets, head on down to Hope street and shop your heart out! 

On top of that, if you're a baking/culinary student, just tell her when you're checking out. 

She'll give you a discount! :) *Yay!*

PVD POPS: All you need to beat the heat

Say hello to Val! The mastermind of these pops, available whenever it's warm and sunny outside in Providence, Rhode Island. :)  Check out her website and follow her on twitter to know where she's selling her pops at.

So few days ago, last Wednesday to be exact, Johnson & Wales University hosted an event called "Food Trucks In". It was a cloudy day but thank goodness it didn't rain.

But most importantly, PVD POPs was there!

This pudding pop genius is an alumni of Brown University. With the help of her friends on the pop cart and professionals from the RISBDC (Rhode Island Small Business Development Center), she got started on the business and claimed the Providence pop gal title.

Isn't her cart cute? White and Blue, so refreshing!

She's super sweet and awesome just like her pudding pops - which she explained was something more like a "Creamy Popsicle"!

We had a pleasant chat, and when I asked what was the craziest pop she had ever made, she told me Oatmeal & Raisin. Hmm... I thought for a while and wondered if that will taste like a cookie...

Another one that didn't make it out was Corn & Jalapeno. That's a bummer because I really like Sweet Corn Ice Cream minus the Jalapeno!!

In Singapore, sweet corn is a common ice cream flavor and is always my ultimate choice when I get my ice cream fix from the vendors along Orchard Road (Specifically pointing at the uncle in front of Takashimaya)

*Waving hand in the air* I need to make a suggestion! Val, please make some Avocado pops with chocolate syrup! Pretty Please :)

Me and Prisilla decided to get ourselves some Berries n' Cream Pop. This was Prisilla's first pop and the ice cream queen loved it! It's creamy on the outside and icy in the inside.

Alrighty, I'll be waiting for the green tea pop to make a come back and of course other new flavors!

Oh and by the way, you can flag her down if you see her pedaling through the city. Just call out her name and if she hears you, she'll sell you a pop! :)

It's Hot Outside: Rocky Road Ice Cream

Yes. It's been hot lately...

Flashback: A few days ago, temperatures peaked at 93 Fahrenheit/ 33 Celsius! Even though I like the fact that Summer's here and we can all go out with t-shirts and shorts, but sometimes the heat's just way too much to handle. 

So you get it. Ice Cream time! 

The first time I tried to make chocolate ice cream, I failed like a big bum. I tried to use chocolate milk, then I tried to use melted chocolate. Such a mess. The second time I nailed it using cocoa powder.  

Hooray!

On Marshmallows: I just watched Despicable Me 2 last Sunday, and I can still imagine Agnes screaming in my head, "It's FLUFFY!!" And the minions playing with a marshmallow gun, shooting at each other...

When I was grocery shopping for almonds, I actually found chocolate covered almonds. So good. It's true, you can't have too much chocolate.

And in it goes to my magic machine.

When I was 15 or 16, I would go to Katong Mall with my grandma after dinner for some dark chocolate ice cream Awfully Chocolate. I think I've accidentally re-created the flavor again. It really tasted like how I remembered it would.

Ok. Devour time.

Doughnuts for Brunch

How was your 4th of July? I hope your answer was cook outs and fireworks.

I wish my answer was somewhat interesting too, but I'm really not a big fan of driving endlessly trying to find a parking spot, being in the midst of everyone-waiting for a 10-15 minutes fireworks on a hot and humid Summer night.

Nah, I'd rather stayed home and enjoyed the fact that class was cancelled!! Whoooohooo!!!

And so, in light of some celebration & a little bit of research paper procrastination, I made doughnuts. 

Do you know what makes me happy?

This...

Finding out that my dough rise/doubled and filled the bowl after an hour of proofing. Such a delight! These are the moments I look to most during my breads class back in school. Makes me one happy girl...

Did you remember when you had doughnuts last? Was it National Doughnut Day when DD handed out free doughnuts with every coffee purchased? I missed that day! I can't remember when's the last time I had doughnuts but I do know how I liked them. 

I like them chewy.

So I figured that I'll make dough style instead of cake style, which calls for some frying! Everything fried is good, right? Even these little monsters.

Yea... not like those "melt in your mouth, gone without chewing" type of doughnuts. I like them Dunkin' Donuts style. 

And since I'm Asian, let's unleash the matcha powder and  have some with Green Tea White Chocolate glaze.

And since we're on this topic. Happy Independence Day, America! I'm so grateful being able to stay in this country for the past 4 years. It's been nice.

How about some munchkins for the road? Here's a sneak peak of the crumb structure. Yea... Chewy goodness!

Testing

Hello there!

I'm Jess... :)

This is Baked With Love by Jessica Leonardo's food blog!

Please bear with me as I fill you up with news from the kitchen, in the mean time, you can check out my Pinterest and Instagram!

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See you around!