6 Pack Not Included

"I need to see some ID please" is not exactly what you would expect our staff to say to you at the door of the bakery. And while that may be a bit exaggerated, our newest bread is full of flavor because of its unique ingredient, BEER. That's right, our newest loaf is a beer bread.

This outrageously flavorful bread incorporates Brooklyn's very own Six Points Craft Ale's Otis Stout directly into the dough. The result: one bold and delicious loaf of bread. Check out what Tasting Table had to say.

If you missed it at the New Amsterdam Market this weekend, you can stop by the bakery and taste it for yourself!

Keith Cohen is really a celebrity

WE'RE ON TV TONIGHT @9:30PM!! Cablevision 22, Time Warner 25/10, Fios 25, and Comcast 25! WATCH! WATCH! WATCH!

But seriously... NYC Life TV is featuring Orwasher's Bakery on their "New York Originals" documentary series. The focus is local businesses that have a unique craft and a truly distinct perspective. (Pretty cool, right??!!)

So tune in and let us know what you think!

Panini Happy!

So, it would be an understatement to say that we are obsessed with bread...and we are constantly thinking up new ways to eat our breads. With that said, sometimes we need a little help.

We want to share a great blog with you that consistently has fresh ideas and recipes all revolving around good-quality bread. Panini Happy is not only an extensive database of panini recipes, but it is extremely organized. You can navigate the site based on what kind of panini you are in the mood for/what ingredients you have in your home. The main navigation bar lets you choose between beef or chicken paninis, breakfast or dessert paninis and even vegetarian and seafood paninis. Here is one of our favorite "Panini Happy" recipes for summer:




Chicken-Grape Salad & Gruyère Panini

INGREDIENTS:
(Note: The quantity of each ingredient in the chicken salad is completely up to your personal taste.)

Chicken, cooked and shredded
Grapes, halved
Walnuts, chopped
Mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
Gruyère cheese, shaved or sliced
Dark rye bread

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat (375 degrees).

In a small bowl, combine chicken, grapes, walnuts, mayonnaise, salt and pepper.

For each sandwich: Spread about 1 cup of chicken salad onto a slice of bread. Add cheese and top with another slice of bread. Grill about 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bread is crispy, with grill marks. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cookies

Even though we literally live for bread, we like to use peanut butter for more than just sandwiches. This recipe for peanut butter cookies is a staff favorite. They are the perfect combination of soft, chewy and rich. Although the traditional recipe suggests Peanut Butter & Co.’s more traditional “Smooth Operator,” we suggest revving up these cookies with “Dark Chocolate Dreams” or “White Chocolate Wonderful” and get ready to eat them all!

INGREDIENTS:
· 2 2/3 cups flour
· 2 teaspoons baking soda
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1 cup butter (at room temperature)
· 2/3 cup Peanut Butter & Co. “Smooth Operator” Peanut Butter
· 1 cup sugar
· 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
· 2 eggs
· 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
· Additional sugar
· 5 dozen Hersey Kisses, unwrapped

METHOD:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking soda. In a separate bowl cream together butter and both brown and white sugar until smooth. Add peanut butter. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. Then slowly add the dry ingredients. Mix until combined
3. Make balls out of level tablespoons of dough - add flour to hands if needed. Roll balls in sugar.
4. Bake 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and add 1 kiss to the center of each cookie. Press the kiss into the cookie so it cracks a little bit. Return to the oven and bake for 2 more minutes.

Can we come over for dinner?

Are you looking for a way to incorporate all those fresh veggies from your CSA/weekly trek to the farmers market into your everyday meals? Here is a recipe for Spinach Lasagna, which pairs perfectly with our Cabernet Rustica. In addition to fresh spinach we added zucchini, carrots and mushrooms, but feel free to add whatever catches your eye and is in season! Don’t forget to pick up a block of fresh Parmesan from the Orwasher’s cheese case; you won’t regret it – we promise!

What are you making for brunch this weekend??

Searching for that perfect Sunday brunch dish? Look no further. Take your ordinary French Toast recipe and kick it up 10 notches with Orwasher’s Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread. Your family and friend will leave with full stomachs, anticipating their next brunch invitation! (For those with less exotic taste buds, this recipe is also great with Orwasher’s Cinnamon Raisin Bread and Pan Challah loaves.)

INGREDIENTS:

· 8 thick slices of Orwasher’s Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread

· 4 eggs

· 2/3 cup milk

· 2 teaspoons of cinnamon

· 1 dash of vanilla extract

· butter/vegetable oil

· maple syrup

METHOD:

1. Beat eggs, milk, and cinnamon together. Whisk until well blended.

2. Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, allowing each slice to soak up some of the mixture.

3. Melt some butter (or use vegetable oil) over a large skillet on medium-high heat. When hot place slices of bread onto the skillet (as many as fit comfortably).

4. Cook until brown on both sides, flipping when needed.

3. Serve hot with butter and maple syrup.

Serves 4

Announcing.... Time Out New York's "Best Unsung Food Shop: Bread"

...that would be us! We were stoked to find out that Time Out New York wanted to feature us in their latest issue. Check out the write-up here.

Also, if you want to check glamor shots of Orwasher's very own Keith Cohen and our Chardonnay Miche loaf click on pictures 7 and 8!

There are a ton of great places included in the Best Unsung Food Shops list - so check them out too!!

Baker or Magician??

Baker or magician?? It doesn't matter, because everyone <3's Keith Cohen. Check it Out!

And of course, props to our friends at Cayuga Pure Organics for awesome, delicious, sustainable, incredible and (of course) organic FLOUR!!

Crohn's and Colitis Benefit!

We want to let you guys know about a great even that supports a great organization! We are sponsoring a night of comedy that will benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Crohn's and Colitis affect a large portion of our population AND have no cure. And let's get serious for a second, we don't want anyone to suffer as a result of eating food -- so let's help find a cure.

Here are the details:

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Broadway Comedy Club - 318 West 53rd, St. (between 8th & 9th)

Doors open at 7:00; Show starts at 8:00

Ticket includes:

Two drinks, Orwasher's artisanal bread tasting with olive oils and fine cheeses,

Hors d'oeuvres from The Grey Dog, Sushi from Monster Sushi, and Desserts

2010 Laugh Your A$$ Off Committee:

Jen Raznick - Event Chairperson

Melissa Alter, Katie Axelrod, Kathleen Forte, Zach Gerber,

Tommy Hess, Ari Meisel, Brad Morganstern,

Marcy Nanus, Karen Rappaport, Ed Teig


BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!!

Back in action!

We have officially reopened after Passover. Stop in and let us know what you think of how shiny everything is!

What bread have you missed the most while we were closed? Staff pick: Cabernet Sesamo.

Eggplant Dip – Baba Ghanoush

We are always looking for new dishes that are great for entertaining AND pair great with fresh bread, or course! This recipe for fresh Baba Ghanoush, an eggplant dip hailing from the Middle East, is the ultimate appetizer. Traditionally Baba Ghanoush is served with pita bread, but we like to slice up a baguette and scoop up this decadent dip. French or multigrain – you decide.

We wish we could hire a leprechaun to mix in the raisins...

It is always a little crazy trying to bake enough Irish Soda Bread for St. Patrick’s Day. This sweet bread is a staple at the bakery all year long, but (for very obvious reasons) it flies off our shelves throughout March. What are you waiting for? Stop in and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Orwasher’s style – Green and White cookies and Irish Soda Bread! Don’t forget to share…

Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day...

We know that St. Patrick's day is still a few days away...but NYC seems to have its celebrations in full swing! So, why not add this great recipe for Irish Stew to your weekend menu. It would pair great with a crusty loaf of our Chardonnay Miche! (And don't forget Irish Soda Bread with a pot of tea afterward!)

Tweet Tweet!

If you want to keep up-to-date with the latest Orwasher's news/special promotions you should start following us on Twitter!

Peanut Butter & Co.

Check out this great article from the March/April edition of Edible Manhattan featuring Peanut Butter & Co. - a playful sandwich shop on Sullivan Street that makes decadent PB&J sandwiches on Orwasher's oversized pullman slices! They will even cut the crusts off for you, who could ask for more?

Can't make it downtown to satisfy your childhood sandwich craving? Stop by the Orwasher's store and stock up on jars peanut butter delivered from the PB&Co. shop. We have everything from smooth and crunchy varieties to the more daring (and dare we say, more delicious) cinnamon raisin swirl, white chocolate wonderful, bees knees and (our best-seller) dark chocolate dreams. And don't forget the jam - we have strawberry, raspberry and apricot!

Hammentaschen voted best overall!

Did you try our Hammentaschen for Purim last weekend? Check out cleanmyplate.com where Orwasher's Hammentaschen tied for best Hammentaschen in NYC. Check out this link!

The First of Many

Orwasher's Bakery has officially joined the world wide web as a member of the blogging community. We plan to use this blog as a means of informing our customers about seasonal breads, daily specials, recipe suggestions and any other exciting events happening at our little Upper East Side bakery!

We encourage you to stay updated by checking back often.