Flour Cafe and Bakery

I live around South Boston and I heard of this bakery cafe called “Flour.” Rumor has it that the lines are out the door almost everyday!!! So one day I found this little video on youtube about the owner of Flour.

After watching that, I wanted to try those sticky buns so bad. So I took a walk down Washington Street and there as expected on a Sunday morning, the line was out the door. However, I was glad that the line moved really fast that I didn’t get burned in the hot blistering sun.

Inside was a small cafe, full of life. There were no seats available =( The staff were super friendly and delivered excellent service.

Some of the bakery selection.

My Sticky Bun and Pain Aux Raisin.

A second later…..

The Most Scrumptious Blueberry Muffins You’ll Ever Eat!

This week there was a blueberry and raspberry sale at Shaw’, 2 for $5. I know what many of you are thinking right? (That's so EXPENSIVE!!) Well in Boston, that’s a GREAT deal.

So I took home two blueberry cartons and throughout the week I have been munching on them. It is the end of the week now and I did not finish even one carton. =( (I tried by best)

On YouTube there was this great step-by-step recipe for blueberry muffins with a crumble topping by expert village. I gave it a try and it was definitely the best recipe I have ever come across. It’s a keeper!

Im not sure why the center is green? =(

The Recipe:

Makes 8 muffins

Batter
1 & 1/2 cup of all purpose
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp of salt
2 tsp of baking powder
1/3 cup of oil
1/3 cup of milk
1 egg
1 cup of fresh blue berries

Crumble Topping
1/2 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of flour
2 oz of softened butter
1.5 tsp of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

1) sift flour and sugar with a mixer for 30-40 secs
2) add salt and continue to mix for another 15 secs
3) add powder and mix altogether another for 1 min, scrapping the sides
4) set mixer to lowest setting and mix in the egg until incorporated
5) add milk and mix for another 1 min and batter should start to form
6) now dump in oil and mix until you get a good texture, scrapping the sides
7) fold in blueberries

1)Mix flour and sugar together with a fork
2)add butter and smash it in until crumbly

Pour one heaping spoonful of batter and pour on one spoonful of topping

bake at 15-20 mins at 400 degrees

Definately, One of the BEST cupcakes EVER!!!

Kara's Cupcakes located at the marina in San Francisco has one of the best cupcakes I have ever ate. The cake is scrumptious and so moist. The frosting is to die for also!! The butter cream is sweet and tangy. Just delicious!! A cupcake ranges from $3 - $4 and with a variety of flavors.

These goodies came home with me. Two chocolate fudge, one chocolate velvet, one carrot, and one vanilla strawberry.


The chocolate fudge cupcake with ganache frosting topped with chocolate sprinkles.


A sweet and spicy carrot cake that is moist and nutty. It is topped with a light and tangy cream cheese frosting and a fondant star.


Vanilla cupcake with a whipped strawberry filled center topped with a cream cheese frosting.

Raisin Sweet rolls

This is your basic Sweet Bread dough recipe with raisins! As you can tell Raisins are my favorite when it comes to bread. You can also try red bean paste filling or sprinkle toasted almonds slices on top of a sticky honey glaze. I also tried added green tea powder and it gives the bread a nice green color. Again, this recipe was adjusted to fit my 1lb bread maker.

For 1lb bread machine

• 1 and 3/4 cup plus 5 tsp of bread flour
• 1/4 cup of soya flour
• 1 tsp of vital wheat gluten
• 3 tbsp of sugar
• 1/3 tsp of salt
• 110ml of milk (I use 2%)
• 1 tbsp of butter
• 1 large egg
• 1.5 tsp of yeast

1. If you have a dough setting option on your bread machine, then add your ingredients accordingly and have the machine mix the dough for you.
2. Once done, you dough should be elastic when stretching a pinch of dough. It should form a thin long membrane just before breaking.
3. Generously oil a metal bowl put the dough inside. Then flip the dough so that the oiled side of the dough would be facing up. This ensures that the whole dough is oiled so it can keep in the moisture.
4. Cover the dough with pastic warm and prove the dough for 60-90 minutes.
5. Punch the dough down to release the gas and divide according to the size of buns or rolls you want. For the 1lb, I usually make about 3 mini buns and 2 rolls.
6. Rest the dough for 5 minutes before shaping
7. After shaping, place the dough in a pan and allow second rising for 35 minutes or until double in size
8. Brush the tops with 1 egg and 1 tsp of water
9. Bake at 356 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden.
10. Just before I remove from the oven, I brushed on a glaze made out of 1 tsp of honey and 1 tsp of water.

Raisin Sally Lunn Bread

This recipe makes a 1lb loaf of bread in my mini breadmaker. The eggs adds a fluffy, yellow texture as compared to regular breads. I set my crust level to the lightest option.

• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup of water
• 3.5 tbsp of softened butter
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 tsp of salt
• half of 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1.5 cup of flour
• 1 tsp yeast
• I like to use half a cup of raisins

1. Add the ingredients in the order that it tells you in your breadmaker manual.

Steam Banana Cupcake: A sinless sweet treat for your occassional cravings

When I buy bananas and I dont finish them in time, this is a good recipe for the ones turning brown. I like to wait a little more til they are almost black, that's when they are the sweetest. This recipe is HEALTY, HEALTHY! no butter or heavy cream needed to achieve these super moist centers so you dont have to feel guilty. You can steam them for a soft all-around texture or bake it for a crunchy fresh-out-of-the-oven topping.

• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/4 tsp of salt
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 and 1/4 cup of all purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 5 and 1/2 tbs of vegetable oil
• 1/4 tsp of vanilla

1. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together
2. mix the egg and sugar with a hand mixer until ribbon like
3. stir in the vanilla to the bananas
4. add the banana mixture to the egg and sugar batter
5. fold in the flour and oil
6. steam for 15 mins of bake at 375 degrees for 20mins