#bakingproject

I didn't know how else to start this off, so I borrowed Jim Nantz's line. Don't tell him.

Welcome to this World Cup culinary project that I have ridiculously decided to name Stoppage Thyme. I'm not usually a fan of puns, but this one was too funny to pass up. I realize not everyone is a football/soccer fan, which means I'll probably have to explain the pun more than twice. Wish me luck.

I've been an avid follower of the Sally's Baking Addiction blog for years and have always admired her monthly baking challenge contest from afar, drooling over the delicious-looking entries and never once considering trying it for myself. Then, this April, her baking challenge of the month was croissants. It was her most anticipated and most complex baking challenge to date -- and for some reason, my insane brain ate it all up. I saw the challenge announcement go out at the beginning of April, including all the delicate steps, all the dough laminating and all the time it takes before you're finally able to pop one of these buttery masterpieces into your mouth, and I just thought, "I have to do this." Challenging feats attract me. None of the much-easier cakes or pies from months prior ever compelled me to get in the kitchen and try it for myself until this crazy multi-day croissant challenge came around. So I budgeted some time one weekend... and I rolled... and laminated... and laminated again... and laminated again. And they came out SO WELL!

But as I stood there in my kitchen, staring at these golden French pastries before me and drowning in an aroma of butter, I knew I was in trouble. I suddenly had an nagging urge to bake my way across the globe, trying recipes from as many countries as I could. When could I do this? And could I blog it, Julie & Julia style? How would I keep it relevant? ...I could do it for the FIFA World Cup!!

We brainstormed the logistics of it over a bottle of Rosé one night, and here's the plan I decided on. I'll pick a country from each pool-play group to advance to the Round of 16, and I'll make a dessert representing that country. When the group stage ends, we'll have 16 countries remaining. I'll then start baking (or cooking!) dishes for the countries that are still alive in the tournament all throughout the knockout stage. When we get to the finals, we'll have two teams remaining. I'll make something representing each of those teams. The entire World Cup tournament consists of 64 matches played from June 14 to July 15. I basically have a month to do this.

Did I mention I'm also moving apartments + traveling + committed to 29 barre classes for the Pure Barre national studio competition in June? Yes, 29 classes. I realize there are only 30 days in June. I am insane.

I've chosen one team from each of the eight groups to advance and one "Wild Card" country, and I'll be baking something sweet for each of them. That's nine desserts to start. I have my nine countries picked out, but I'll reveal them as we go. I can't wait to taste everything. :)

For those of you who don't know, I worked in sports (writing, promotions, media relations, event operations and TV) before I jumped over to the corporate world three years ago, and I still do it on the side for college events every year. I miss the writing quite a bit, but I miss the stats much more. Especially with soccer! My last full-time sports gig had me writing previews for every 2014 World Cup match and I was a freaking encyclopedia. With each dessert post I do on here, I'll probably preview the team a little bit and explain why I picked them. If you don't care for the sport, you can skip over that part and dive into the recipe and food photos.