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Olallieberries and Sunflowers

Olallies_5480

The Whisper of Summer

“You aren’t planning to start preserving? Well, why shouldn’t we?

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Imprints of berry stained fingerprints slide across the first three weeks in June. Ripe Olallies are a vivid purple flourish marking the change in the season. I’ve been picking Olallie’s at Gidzich Ranch since I was a child and no matter how much or little rainfall or sunshine, the berries always ripen right after Memorial Day. I’m convinced it’s all about the Earth’s rotation bringing longer light filled days. I can see the change in the daylight but I wish I could feel it. Like a photograph that soaks up the light and leaves us an image that can never be replicated I want to capture the first whisper of summer. READ MORE . . .

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Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sunflower Seeds

Chocolate chip cookies with sunflowers

The seeds of inspiration: Marion Cunningham

“If one were properly to perform a difficult and subtle act, he should first inspect the end to be achieved and then, once he had accepted the end as desirable, he should forget it completely and concentrate solely on the means. By this method he would not be moved to false action by anxiety or hurry or fear. Very few people learn this.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Many years ago I was given a copy of the The Fannie Farmer Baking Book written by Marion Cunningham as a birthday present. It is the 1984 edition which includes over 800 baking recipes. Holding a place of prominence on my bookshelf, it is a cookbook that has stood the test of time. My daughter now uses this cookbook. My favorite scone recipe is here. I have tried other scone recipes, but I always return to Marion Cunningham. My daughter uses the The Fannie Farmer Baking Book for “Soft Oatmeal Cookies” and the recipe I adapted for this post “Chocolate Chip Cookies”. She likes this recipe with peanut butter; just hold the peanuts. For years it was the only baking book I used. I was busy, working full time while raising a family. When I baked I needed to be sure the final product was a stellar success. There was no time to experiment. This is the book I used. READ MORE . . .