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Fresh Apple Spice Cake

Fresh Apple Cake

This is the best Fresh Apple Spice Cake I’ve had. The raisins wake up, growing big and fat in a soaking of warm rum, the huge pile of orange zest is the background spark of flavor and the traditional spices of apple season bring the comfort.

“There were three kinds, yellow, red and green.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Its recipe destiny when you find an Ina recipe that has 17 ingredients and you already have all 17 of them. It started with three apples. Three lonely apples that needed to be used. Noble goals of a healthy snack got pushed to the back of the refrigerator. We had reached the end of our relationship. Ignored, forgotten and taking up real estate that was needed for newer more exciting groceries, these apples needed a recipe. The raisins were hiding behind the candied ginger and sesame seeds. Dreams of oatmeal raisin cookies faded as I searched for the other 15 ingredients. BTW, Ina serves the Fresh Apple Spice Cake with ice cream and caramel sauce, is that 19 ingredients? READ MORE . . .

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Stroopwafels

Stroopwafels and Coffee

Always about the Caramel

“Then there was his education and reading, the books he bought and borrowed, his knowledge of things that could not be eaten or worn or cohabited with, his interest in poetry and his respect for good writing.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I arrived early for an appointment in Monterey. Traffic between Salinas and Monterey can be easy or horrendous, I got lucky and had time to spare. Instead of heading to the shopping mall, I made a stop at a Monterey thrift shop, Branches. There was a time I made the rounds of thrift stores every week, now I drop in every once in a while. I’m never looking for anything in particular, it’s more about finding something fabulous, especially vintage cookbooks. This trip, there was a Toastmaster, Pizzelle and International Cookie Maker. Although it wasn’t in its’ original box, it looked new. Along with the instruction manual, there was a Baking with Julia booklet, Program #112 with Nick Malieri, titled Italian Specialty Cookies. I certainly didn’t need another kitchen appliance and went to my appointment. READ MORE . . .

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Creme Fraiche Cake with Plums and Pistachios in Olive Oil

Creme Fraiche Cake with Plums and Pistachios in Olive Oil

The excess of late summer

“And the books that came into the house, some of them secretly— well, Samuel rode lightly on top of a book and he balanced happily among ideas the way a man rides white rapids in a canoe. But Tom got into a book, crawled and groveled between the covers, tunneled like a mole among the thoughts, and came up with the book all over his face and hands.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

When the recipe for Creme Fraiche Cake with Plum Caramel landed in my in-box I went to my bookshelf and found my copy of the A.O.C. Cookbook by Suzanne Goin to discover what the fuss was all about. I realized the original recipe had two more components, whipped cream and pistachios in olive oil. Raves about the plum cake made with plum caramel had me wondering, what if the cake was smothered in caramel, pistachios AND whipped cream? I just had to make this cake and everything else. READ MORE . . .

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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Orange Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Orange Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

Letting Go

“Do you have many books? Not many here–thirty or forty. But your are welcome to any of them you haven’t read.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Grasping with all our might we hold on tightly. Until we don’t. We let go. I came stuttering into fall. Didn’t want to let our Indian Summer go. September, early October, I rebelled against all things pumpkin and spice. Late in the afternoon I find myself in the garden searching for straggling, late season tomatoes. They aren’t very good tomatoes; mushy, without gloss, yet sweet. They are not slicing or galette making tomatoes. I tuck them into a full-bodied sauce or hearty soup that’s already simmering and feel good about using them. When I’m in the garden the late afternoon sun warms my shoulders, reaching past my sweatshirt to caress and soothe. The warmth eases the grip I have on the day. My hands loosen, relax as they clammer past the tangle of a busy day for one last tomato. That’s what I’m not ready to give up. But I will let go. READ MORE . . .

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Croissants and Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Croissants

Baking as Therapy

“Lee sighed. He had worked so hard, so tenderly, and his work seemed to have succeeded.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Baking as therapy. I mistakenly thought the therapy was the indulgence. Rich, if just for that moment. The sweet buttery tenderness we crave. Each lush bite eases the unexpected sharp curves in the road we travel. The intoxication of satiety cushions the bumps on the long ride home. Instant gratification is a constant companion on any road trip. Are we there yet? When will we arrive? The drive is for results. The process of driving just gets us where we want to go. Baking gets us to the sweet spot where the traffic lights are all green. But the therapy is in the doing. Creating when the hands and mind connect and work in unison is when the frenzy of a busy mind disappears. This is the therapy. When restless, sad or filled with anxiety get busy. Just the act of starting will coax the mind to tag along for the sweet ride. READ MORE . . .