I ignored my 5th, 10th and 15th reunions. I seriously doubt I’ll go to this one. Maybe I’ll go five or ten years from now. You know, when I actually feel old enough to attend my 20th high school reunion.

I didn’t deviate too much from the original recipe, which you can find linked below, though cardamom is not easily found in my area so I used all-spice instead. Also, I added some almond and lemon extract into the dough for some zing. For filling I used a raspberry puree I made (with lemon juice and a bit of peel) and sweetened cream cheese (cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice).

After the break are a few pictures I took while “building” the braid. Even though this recipe was extremely easy to follow, it takes a certain amount of dedication to make as far as time goes.

Having lost two attachments to my very expensive mixing machine, I made do with the normal beater attachment. It took a bit of work and worry (for the poor motor), but I was able to get the dough turned out fine.

I took it out of the fridge a bit later and rolled it out and spread about 1200lbs of butter over it. Some of the Daring Bakers had trouble at this part, but as long as your dough and butter is properly chilled it’s pretty easy.

Many turns later (chilling the dough, rolling it, flipping, chilling, rolling), spaced out 30 minutes at a time (you thought I was kidding about the whole time thing, didn’t you?) it was finally done. I let it rest overnight and decided to work on it the next day.

I then rolled it out and made my cuts. You can really notice the orange zest, can’t you?

Next up the filling…

And finally the braiding and into the oven it goes.

Before you know it they’re done and ready to eat!

This recipe was great and made me realize just how easy making dough and pastries can be. This being only my second month in the Daring Bakers, I can’t wait to see what else I try and accomplish through this culinary experience.

Now get yourself some coffee–after all, pastries go well with a cup of joe–and check out these photos.

There’s a close-up of my spinach paneer Danish braid. Out of all the possible fillings of Danish dough, I chose spinach paneer because a) I really, really wanted to make a savory braid and b) I thought the spices in spinach paneer (turmeric, ginger, cumin, coriander, red pepper) would go well with the orange and cardamom in the dough. I knew it was a great recipe; as I mentioned earlier, I made it a month earlier in a cheese making class.

I sprinkled slivered almonds on both Danish braids for decoration.

But the rhubarb and orange braid sparkled with the addition of turbinado sugar.

How did they taste? I had a heck of a time staying out of the rhubarb and orange filling before my Danish braid went into the oven. (I cooked both it and the spinach paneer before I put them on the rolled-out dough. They were delicious enough to be dishes on their own even before being wrapped in delicate pastry.) The fruit was simply the filling from the rhubarb pie recipe in my mom’s super groovy 1967 edition of the Betty Crocker Cookbook: three cups of sliced fresh rhubarb, the zest of one orange, sugar. Once baked, the rhubarb and orange braid didn’t rise as high as I’d hoped, but it was so, so good. Everyone (my sister and her family were visiting Montana from the San Francisco Bay Area that week) loved it; it was consumed in two days…

…washed down with plenty of hot, fresh, strong coffee, of course.

As for the spinach paneer braid, I hoarded kept it for myself. ‘Nuff said.

When I started this I said I wasn’t going to write any reviews of my picks, but I did want to share my favorites. These are the books that held me spellbound, unable to pick up the phone or get any sleep at night until I finished them.

Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris. This was both hilarious and terrifying. Hilarious because I work with these people. Terrifying because, well, I work with these people.

Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris. Pictures completely satisfied two of my passions; I’m a bookworm and a movie buff.

Richard Price’s Lush Life. Whew. I didn’t want this rush to end. I think I should put The Wire in my Netflix queue.

Mudbound, one hell of a debut novel by Hillary Jordan. I finished it in just a few hours, and I was so engrossed I never glanced at the clock once.

Right now I’m halfway through a 500 page history of Depression-era crime and the creation of the modern FBI. Waiting on my nightstand is a comedy about Russian immigrants that comes highly recommended by a good friend. After that, I should start July’s book club pick. I’ve also got several books on hold at the public library. Yes, it looks like it’s going to be a busy summer. So excuse me–I need to get back on that couch.

*My math skills are lacking**, but this seems about right if there’s 52 weeks in a year.

**Hell, I consider myself lucky if I can balance my checkbook at the end of the month.

With gas prices escalating, sales are growing. One Segway dealer identified as one of its top five in the U.S. — Riva Motorsports of Pompano Beach, Fla. — sold almost 200 in 2006, 250 in 2007 and 175 in the first five months of 2008, said Riva spokesman Matt Sermarini. “Anything that seems to be economical on fuel or doesn’t use fuel at all, people are definitely researching and buying,” Sermarini said.

…is ridiculous. For five grand, the able bodied could buy more than one bicycle for their household, saving both gas and money. Besides, I know I’m not the only person who, when I see a Segway, is immediately reminded of this guy:

Commuting to work is annoying enough without becoming a punchline on some blog.

So. There.

Seven CDs I’m Listening to Now:

Cowboy Junkies, Miles from Our Home
J.J. Cale, Naturally
Louis Prima, The Wildest
The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan
Jamiroquai, Synkronized
Morphine, Like Swimming
Louis Jordan, The Best of

Come to think of it, I was listening to two of those CDs ten years ago.

Seven CDs I Was into Ten Years Ago:

Morphine, Like Swimming
Cowboy Junkies, Miles from Our Home
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook, Night Song
Billy Bragg & Wilco, Mermaid Avenue
Al Green, Let’s Stay Together
Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hot
Ernest Ranglin, Below the Bassline

If anyone cares to jump in, be my guest. The water is fine, extra towels are on the bench, and there’s a pitcher of margaritas in the shade under the umbrella.

What do you guys think?