Matt
@mattbakes.bsky.social
Veteran of that crayon eater branch; writer covering energy industry; hobbyist baker; bad woodworker, photographer and other neglected hobbies
Here’s the interior of the tartlets. From bottom to top (not counting shell): pistachio frangipane, chocolate ganache, vanilla diplomat crème, chopped pistachios and wedges of tempered chocolate.
November 27, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Here’s the interior of the tartlets. From bottom to top (not counting shell): pistachio frangipane, chocolate ganache, vanilla diplomat crème, chopped pistachios and wedges of tempered chocolate.
Thanksgiving baking for the family crowd. Kadayıf tartlets, mini pumpkin cheese cakes and cinnamon rolls (for tomorrow morning). Still need to make the cream cheese icing for the cinnamon rolls but I’ll do that later tonight.
November 27, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Thanksgiving baking for the family crowd. Kadayıf tartlets, mini pumpkin cheese cakes and cinnamon rolls (for tomorrow morning). Still need to make the cream cheese icing for the cinnamon rolls but I’ll do that later tonight.
I increased my Romanian deadlift weight by 40 lbs at the gym today; it just felt like the right amount. My (chronically bad) lower back doth protest now. Excited to struggle getting out of bed tomorrow morning.
November 24, 2025 at 5:31 AM
I increased my Romanian deadlift weight by 40 lbs at the gym today; it just felt like the right amount. My (chronically bad) lower back doth protest now. Excited to struggle getting out of bed tomorrow morning.
Made neighbors my kadayıf tartlets for Thanksgiving (and other neighbors chocolate pecan pie, but forgot pictures). Tried clarified butter this time, but for some reason it made the shells not set up properly so I couldn't take them out of molds. Lesson learned. 1/2
November 23, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Made neighbors my kadayıf tartlets for Thanksgiving (and other neighbors chocolate pecan pie, but forgot pictures). Tried clarified butter this time, but for some reason it made the shells not set up properly so I couldn't take them out of molds. Lesson learned. 1/2
Brownies with chocolate buttercream frosting and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for a friend
November 15, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Brownies with chocolate buttercream frosting and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for a friend
Dropped truck off for a bunch of work. Going to cost ~$5,700 (yay tariffs/inflation). Pain, lots of pain.
a man standing in front of a refrigerator with the words i am never going to financially recover from this
ALT: a man standing in front of a refrigerator with the words i am never going to financially recover from this
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Dropped truck off for a bunch of work. Going to cost ~$5,700 (yay tariffs/inflation). Pain, lots of pain.
New and improved kadayıf tartlets. This time I made the base layer a pistachio frangipane, then above that there is a cap of tempered chocolate (sets hard, think peppermint bark) and finally on top vanilla diplomat crème. Pretty happy with these, although there are some adjustments to make. #baking
October 26, 2025 at 2:06 AM
New and improved kadayıf tartlets. This time I made the base layer a pistachio frangipane, then above that there is a cap of tempered chocolate (sets hard, think peppermint bark) and finally on top vanilla diplomat crème. Pretty happy with these, although there are some adjustments to make. #baking
I started splitting my dinners into two meals to keep my late-night snack cravings in check. Small(er) meals are wildly unsatisfying. I miss the days of stuffing myself to the gills (sort of).
October 22, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I started splitting my dinners into two meals to keep my late-night snack cravings in check. Small(er) meals are wildly unsatisfying. I miss the days of stuffing myself to the gills (sort of).
Another one bites the dust. Jera Nex BP—offshore wind JV of BP and Jera Co.—just called it quits on the US market. Can't really blame them with how hostile admin is to wind power. Wrote a long-form article recently about how poorly the sector is doing this year—it's very grim & probably gets worse.
October 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Another one bites the dust. Jera Nex BP—offshore wind JV of BP and Jera Co.—just called it quits on the US market. Can't really blame them with how hostile admin is to wind power. Wrote a long-form article recently about how poorly the sector is doing this year—it's very grim & probably gets worse.
Microsoft services for work went dark for awhile this afternoon, and no one was responding to texts. Supposedly confined to people on AT&T. Still wondered for a second if the world ended, despite the sun still shining and no sounds of wailing or gnashing of teeth in the streets.
October 9, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Microsoft services for work went dark for awhile this afternoon, and no one was responding to texts. Supposedly confined to people on AT&T. Still wondered for a second if the world ended, despite the sun still shining and no sounds of wailing or gnashing of teeth in the streets.
This new video from Veritasium—a YouTube science education channel—is really interesting. It's about small-world networks, how we are shaped by them & shape them with our actions. Worth a watch. Kind of said what I said here, just in a more comprehensive and intelligent way.
youtu.be/CYlon2tvywA?...
youtu.be/CYlon2tvywA?...
October 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
This new video from Veritasium—a YouTube science education channel—is really interesting. It's about small-world networks, how we are shaped by them & shape them with our actions. Worth a watch. Kind of said what I said here, just in a more comprehensive and intelligent way.
youtu.be/CYlon2tvywA?...
youtu.be/CYlon2tvywA?...
Experimenting with making tartlet shells from kadayıf (shredded phyllo dough). Want to coat the interior with chocolate ganache and fill with diplomat crème. This test batch looked & tasted great but was extremely delicate. Not sure if its a feature or a bug, to be honest. #baking #dessert
September 30, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Tried making muhallebili kadayıf. A Turkish dessert that is essentially a milk pudding (muhallebili) sandwiched between two layers of a mix of toasted, shredded phyllo dough (kadayıf), chopped walnuts and butter. It didn't turn out right, unfortunately. 1/4
September 28, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Tried making muhallebili kadayıf. A Turkish dessert that is essentially a milk pudding (muhallebili) sandwiched between two layers of a mix of toasted, shredded phyllo dough (kadayıf), chopped walnuts and butter. It didn't turn out right, unfortunately. 1/4
The only problem with working out on Sundays (especially leg days) is that I am now exhausted and still have a bunch of stuff I need to get done today around the house. And I definitely don’t want to do any of it now.
September 28, 2025 at 9:36 PM
The only problem with working out on Sundays (especially leg days) is that I am now exhausted and still have a bunch of stuff I need to get done today around the house. And I definitely don’t want to do any of it now.
I know its going to be a rough day when my older dog pushing her head under my elbow to ask for pets—objectively adorable behavior—just irritates me. Externally screaming (instead of the usual internal version) within 20 minutes of waking up might also be a clue.
September 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I know its going to be a rough day when my older dog pushing her head under my elbow to ask for pets—objectively adorable behavior—just irritates me. Externally screaming (instead of the usual internal version) within 20 minutes of waking up might also be a clue.
The federal government's new-found hatred for wind—on and offshore—is jaw dropping. It's honestly hard to keep up with covering everything they are doing to try to kill the industry. Probably going to work too. Who in their right mind would want to invest billions with this kind of risk?
September 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The federal government's new-found hatred for wind—on and offshore—is jaw dropping. It's honestly hard to keep up with covering everything they are doing to try to kill the industry. Probably going to work too. Who in their right mind would want to invest billions with this kind of risk?
Out of all the muscles that can be sore, hamstrings might be the worst.
September 24, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Out of all the muscles that can be sore, hamstrings might be the worst.
Sure would be nice if I could just quietly while away the rest of my days with baking, woodworking and reading.
September 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Sure would be nice if I could just quietly while away the rest of my days with baking, woodworking and reading.
There are things that are more aggravating than having to make a return trip to the hardware store, to get a single specialty bit (carbide bit for tile in this case) that costs $20, just so you can get the job done this century. I just can’t think of what is more aggravating right now.
September 20, 2025 at 10:07 PM
There are things that are more aggravating than having to make a return trip to the hardware store, to get a single specialty bit (carbide bit for tile in this case) that costs $20, just so you can get the job done this century. I just can’t think of what is more aggravating right now.
Arlo got neutered today. Not a happy camper. Wouldn’t lay down until I sat next to his bed
September 19, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Arlo got neutered today. Not a happy camper. Wouldn’t lay down until I sat next to his bed
@imoolg.spills.wine @capernica.avoids.work speak of the (delicious) devil
Southern Living ranked three Houston barbecue spots among its list of the top 50 barbecue restaurants in the South, which was released Wednesday. bit.ly/4nbjBM6
September 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
@imoolg.spills.wine @capernica.avoids.work speak of the (delicious) devil
The three amigos enjoying a big backyard (not mine) on Saturday.
September 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The three amigos enjoying a big backyard (not mine) on Saturday.
Made crème brûlée for my dad's birthday dinner. The color of the custard is a little different because the recipe I used called for a little espresso powder—just half a teaspoon. Used a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar top. Very tasty.
September 14, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Made crème brûlée for my dad's birthday dinner. The color of the custard is a little different because the recipe I used called for a little espresso powder—just half a teaspoon. Used a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar top. Very tasty.
The pup that shows up mid July (now named Arlo). Is doing much better. Coat has started regrowing, and he’s getting along well with my other two dogs, particularly Pyke (the black lab). I said I was going to get him adopted once he was healthy, but now I’m keeping him. So, three dogs now.
August 19, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The pup that shows up mid July (now named Arlo). Is doing much better. Coat has started regrowing, and he’s getting along well with my other two dogs, particularly Pyke (the black lab). I said I was going to get him adopted once he was healthy, but now I’m keeping him. So, three dogs now.