One of my favorite things about summer in this part of the country is the glorious local blueberries that are so abundant in markets at this time of year. From tiny and tart to huge and juicy-sweet…
Dessert
Fancy Brownies Made with Cream Cheese Frosting and Chocolate Glaze
Rich and chocolaty, double-frosted Fancy Brownies make a great casual dessert that is satisfying while requiring minimal prep time. Starting with a pan of brownies I make from a boxed mix, this recipe is a great way to use up leftover frosting. Adding a chocolate layer to the top gives it a beautiful finish.
Rhubarb Cream Pie
Cousin Alvine’s Rhubarb Cream Pie is a pretty old-fashioned pie with a pleasingly tart filling. The golden lattice top crust lends visual appeal while the extra sprinkle of cinnamon adds just the right touch of spice. Though it has taken me too long to try it, I have to say it is really delicious!
Coconut Banana Bread Pudding
It wasn’t until about a year ago that I was introduced to my first bite of Bread Pudding. I had heard of it but it didn’t sound all that appealing to me for some reason. Maybe it was the idea that it was made from stale bread. Maybe it was […]
Butter Rum Cupcakes with Ginger and Hibiscus
In the Pacific Northwest, May has been the most gorgeous month this year. For weeks now the sun has broken free of the clouds and lingering mist quite early in the morning and the temperatures have remained warm outside into the evening, something that happens rarely here, even in mid-summer. […]
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Rich with butter and topped with a simple cinnamon streusel my family’s favorite Cinnamon Coffee Cake is both basic and compelling. Warm out of the oven it is fragrant, soft and delicious. Later in the day it is a little firmer but still wonderful. This recipe, from a card dated 1973, holds the secret formula for a coffee cake we have consistently treasured in my family for decades.
Mint Julep Brownies
It’s almost May y’all, that time of year when I long to be in Kentucky, my childhood home. As the temperature warms, my thoughts often turn to the rolling hills, the tranquil horse farms and the abundant dogwood blossoms of the Bluegrass State. I fondly remember the excitement and festivities […]
Carrot Cake with Walnuts and Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
I like the simplicity of this Carrot Cake. It relies on carrots, walnuts and spices for flavor, leaving out the sticky sweetness of pineapple and raisins that many recipes include. What’s more, this cake is moist and delicious and with four cups of carrots it might even be considered a vegetable dish. In any case, topped with Maple Frosting or Cream Cheese Frosting it makes a fantastic dessert.
Italian Wedding Cupcakes
Italian Wedding Cake. In name alone it is beautiful! It speaks of family and tradition. It promises love and passion. A quick glance at the ingredients and the promise is confirmed. Rich butter, wholesome eggs, soft flour, earthy nuts, luscious cream or soothing buttermilk and a spoonful of leavening. What’s […]
Poached Pears with Red Fruit and Ginger
I saw several illustrations of poached pears, one whole and one halved, and both were so beautiful. The curve of their side, the color of their delicate flesh, the expected and yet surprisingly lyrical asymmetry of their form…
Pecan Pie Bites
I really like Pecan Pie. It is one of my all time favorites. It is usually over the top sweet but, in small doses, it speaks of warm southern tradition like no other dessert can hope to…
Chocolate Islands in Crème Anglaise
Here it is the end of February, the month I most closely associate with chocolate, and I haven’t posted about chocolate even once. I’ve thought about it. I’ve compared it, I’ve sampled it…