I am getting old. But so are a lot of people around me, including a lot of newspaper columnists I have been reading for years. Which is nice because from time to time they write something I can really relate to. Like this column from Charles Blow In it, he talks about the choices one can make as one ages: not about getting older, we have no real choice in that. But about how to come to peace with the process. I encourage you to read it. If you are older, it may speak to you. If you are younger, it may bring some understanding. One of the things he said, that I try to do every ...
Breads and Pastries
Strawberry Strawberry Jam Bread!
It's strawberry season and strawberries are everywhere! I've made strawberry jam, strawberry sauce for cake and ice cream and today I made Strawberry Bread filled with diced fresh strawberries and swirls of strawberry jam. Think of a jelly donut crossed with a muffin and you are there. Before I get to the recipe here are some notes about strawberries. Smaller strawberries are better. Small ripe strawberries are more strawberry and less water. Large strawberries are big because they have more water in them. Some farms and markets will have small "jam" strawberries. If you see ...
SPRING IN A MUFFIN: RASPBERRIES AND ALMONDS
Muffins filled with raspberries and topped with almonds are the perfect end to a day in the Garden! Shortly after moving into to our house in South Charlotte, I discovered that what looked like a blank palette for my garden was actually a bare landscape of very challenging growing conditions. The lower part of the garden is in a flood zone. The habitually damp clay soil has been made even less hospitable by the previous owner’s removal of more than 40 trees. Just think about what that means. The average full grown tree absorbs between 10-150 gallons of water a day. For 40 trees that’s ...
THE BEST HOT CROSS BUNS
You know how I feel about Hot Cross Buns! But instead of just being disappointed by them, this time I decided to identify where I felt they were lacking and see if I could fix the problems. And I did it! My Hot Cross Buns are smaller in size than the traditional bun, giving each bite a good ratio of honey glazed crust to soft interior. They are filled with bits of diced apricot, an ingredient with more pop than the humble raisin. And the dough, made with coconut milk and sweetened coconut flakes, is liberally flavored with vanilla and almond. Every bite has a hint of flavor ...
APRICOT JAM BREAD
Sometimes something that seems so easy, just isn’t. Take this Jam Quick Bread for example. The first time I made it I used some leftover homemade pineapple jam that I had from making pineapple tarts And it was a killer quick bread: moist and light with delicious pockets of sweet pineapple. The only issue was a slight tendency for the edges to overcook before the center was done. Seems a no brainer to make it with a different jam? Oh, if only that were true! Five loaves, three different jams, two different oven temperatures and two loaf pan sizes later I have found my ...
FAREWELL TO FALL WITH BAKED APPLE FRITTER DONUTS
As I write this, the remains of Hurricane Nicole are sweeping past. Rain and wind have brought down almost all of the remaining leaves. We are moving into the cold, grey days of November. I love Fall. It is my favorite season. The brilliant colors and warm days move swiftly to dark, cozy, winter nights. I light MacIntosh scented candles and breath in the remembered scent of my childhood and a nearby orchard. And I indulge myself with apple fritters, hot from the fryer whenever possible. Unfortunately this year the season slipped by me without a visit to a Pick-Your-Own Apple ...
CARDAMOM SPICED CRANBERRY APPLE BREAD
Did anyone else notice that cranberries were late getting to the market this year? I love cranberries, especially in breakfast quick bread. Usually they appear right about the beginning of October, piled high in the produce aisles. This year…nowhere to be found. Checking Google, sure enough, there is a potential cranberry shortage this year. So when you see them, grab a few extra bags and freeze them for the holidays. Once I had my cranberries I went right to work, marrying the flavors of apple and cranberry with cardamom. Cardamom, like cinnamon and nutmeg, is a warm spice. It ...
EASY CORNBREAD. THE CORNBREAD DILEMMA SOLVED.
Why is it so hard to make good cornbread? This easy cornbread recipe will deliver moist and delicious cornbread every time! I’ve had good cornbread, I’ve had bad cornbread and I’ve had great cornbread. I’ve eaten cornbread in restaurants and at home. I’ve made cornbread from scratch and tried almost every box mix out there. I’ve added ingredients and changed proportions. Almost always the cornbread is great when it comes hot out of the oven. But by the next day, pretty much no one is going back for leftovers. I think it is because the very thing that makes cornbread “bread” is ...
BANANA BREAD LIKE MAMA USED TO MAKE
It has taken me some time, and I have eaten a lot of banana bread, but I have finally come up with a recipe that produces a loaf like my mother used to make. It is moist and rich with the flavor of banana, studded with good sized chunks of apricot and a faint bite from pecans. It was a childhood treat and a grown-up’s memory until my sister told me she thought the recipe came from the Joy of Cooking. My mother’s edition of The Joy Cooking would have been a very old one. The original was published in 1931 and, while my mother may not have had the first edition, she would ...
SCONES FOR JANUARY
It’s the first week of January and my cupboard is full of the detritus of holiday baking. Miscellaneous bags of dried fruit vie for space with walnuts and pecans. Spice mixes prepared for mincemeat and plum pudding need to be used up as they will not last until next December. In my fridge I have buttermilk and cream crammed in next to an absurd number of eggs. What to do with this mess? I opt for scones. Scones are the British cousin to a biscuit. Unlike muffins or quick bread, they have a gravitas to them. Slightly dense and crumbly, they suit the cold, dark days of January. The ...
