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 . . .

Brown Sugar Pear Pound Cake

Brown Sugar Pear Pound Cake

A Charm Bracelet of Flavors

“There’s a capacity for appetite, Samuel said, that a whole heaven and earth of cake can’t satisfy.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

This is quite the cake, easy to make and immensely satisfying. This pound cake wears a charm bracelet of flavors that sparkle with each bite. Rich, with a dense crumb little surprises of lush pears, a hint of vanilla, brown sugar and a trio of oranges jangle on it’s charm bracelet of intrigue. This is one of those cakes that beg for a second slice. It is just as good on the second day as the first. As for the third day, I have no knowledge as the whole cake has vanished by then. READ MORE . . .

Banana Nut Bread

Two freshly-baked banana bread options

Banana Nut Bread with orange zest or chocolate chips!

“While Lee helped him Adam said, ‘I had a dream—very real. I dreamed about my father.’”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck


Inspiration

My father always said he didn’t care for sweets, but loved to eat them! His favorite dessert was banana nut bread. He adored bananas. My dad grew up in the “drought and depression” (that was his description). For his family sweets were something to dream about. He found bananas to be exotic and sweet and he liked them. I have tried many banana nut bread recipes, but this one is the best. The recipe was shared with my daughter by a friend who enjoys baking. Her friend loves to get up early in the morning and start baking at 5am. I am so impressed! Her family has used this recipe for several generations. She adds chocolate chips to her banana nut bread. I like to add orange zest to my bread. READ MORE . . .