A February Letter from the Editor: Ready for a Weekend Baking Adventure?

January started this year not with a bang, as it usually does — a bang of energy and impetus for a fresh start — but more of a creep. Creeping, peeking around the corner of 2021, with all toes and fingers crossed for a better year ahead. I’ve crept into cooking too, bereft of my usual January energy. Which means that what I need, now that January is past, is a project. When energy is low and inspiration feels far away, I find that closing my eyes and committing myself to a big project kicks up the adrenaline and the spark to cook again. 

When I think about projects, in February, I think about baking. It’s February, it’s cold, there’s still a raging pandemic. So comfort me with carbs, in all forms. (Currently craving those spectacular garlic swirl rolls pictured above, a highlight of our just-finished Garlic Week.) 

Luckily, the Kitchn team agreed with me and we’ve been planning something behind the scenes, knowing that we’d all need a push of ambition, carbs, and fun to get through February. Enter: The Weekend Baking Adventure, where for the next four weeks, we’ll be giving you a fun baking project each week, hosted by yours truly and featuring some of our favorite bakers. 

These recipes might be slightly more challenging than your average sugar cookie, but they are still totally doable and not the kind of thing that should take you a million hours. A reasonable project, if you will. But also ones that will make you beam with accomplishment and feel all warm and cuddly with your kitchen once again. 

Here’s how our Baking Adventure will go. We’ll give you the week’s recipe each Monday on-site at Kitchn, I’ll co-host an Instagram Live with the baker demonstrating the recipe every Wednesday at noon EST, and our baker of the week will answer reader questions on Instagram over the weekend. I’m excited!

Want a sneak peek of the lineup? 

Week 1 – Feb 1-7: Fany Gerson with the must-have chocolate dessert of 2021

Week 2 – Feb 8-14: Hetal Vasavada with the best use of whipped cream for Valentine’s 

Week 3 – Feb 15-21: Bryan Ford with a brilliant marriage of bread and cheese

Week 4 – Feb 22-28: Zoe Francois with a brilliant next-level pavlova 

Can’t wait to share the recipes with you and go on this adventure together. (P.S.: Make sure you’re following Kitchn on Instagram!)