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 ...
Breads and Pastries
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 ...
BRING ON AUTUMN! APPLE AND PUMPKIN SPICE BREAD
It’s October. Are we doing Halloween this year? I certainly hope so or, judging by the amount the grocery stores are selling, all of us are going to be munching on candy well into the New Year. And I am looking forward to seeing what ingenious costumes my neighbors come up with after a year’s break! October is time for apples, pumpkin, warm spices, and afternoon snacks. I took a trip over to my local Trader Joe’s to see what they were offering up this Fall. I came back with a fun assortment. One item in particular was begging for a recipe—Maple Butter! So I created this Apple ...
GIANT FRUIT POP-TART!
When is a pie not a pie? When it is a Pop-Tart! Thick layers of pastry with a jammy fruit filling, topped with a vanilla glaze and sprinkles, it is deliciously sweet and satisfying. I can’t take credit for the idea. That comes courtesy of my daughter who saw it on Instagram and asked me to make one. At first I thought, “Uggh, another pie?” I’ve been making pies all summer and I was looking forward to moving on to something else. (As must you be.) But then I made it and I realized it may go together like a pie but it doesn’t really taste like one. It tastes like a jelly donut! ...
APRICOT ORANGE ZUCCHINI BREAD (SORRY!)
I told myself I wasn’t going to give you yet another recipe for zucchini bread. Until I made this one. Filled with dried apricots and flavored with orange, it reminds me of my mother’s long lost banana bread recipe that I have been unable to replicate. When my daughter Abby came home and raved about this bread I knew I had to share it. It starts with my basic Olive Oil Zucchini Bread Recipe . Olive oil, maple syrup and brown sugar are beaten together in a bowl until they are mixed. Add eggs, vanilla and orange extract and beat it together until it is emulsified (it ...
