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Blenheim Apricot Tarts with Lavender

Blenheim Apricot Tarts with Lavender

Summer Seduction

“What kind of tarts? I don’t know. But leave me a couple, will you?”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I went in search of the Blenheim Apricot. Once the darling of San Benito and Santa Clara counties production faded with the growth of imported apricots, urban development and big agriculture. B&R Farms in Hollister farms 100+ acres of Blenheim’s and has being doing so for 84 years. A fourth generation family business B&R Farms grows, harvests and packages the Blenheim as a dried apricot. I attended the summer harvest tour given by owner, Mari Rossi. Only during the height of the summer harvest is the highly perishable Blenheim sold as a fresh apricot. Sold only in twenty pound boxes, I came home with lots of apricots and plans for making jam. But first I made tarts. READ MORE . . .

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Blueberry Pie

Blueberry Pie

Indigo Summer

“No pies for three months. Tom said, We can’t get through it. We’ll have to move to another place.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

We picked blueberries for the first time this year. It was a revelation. Unlike the bland tasting blueberries often found at the grocery store the South Moon and O’Neal blueberries we picked at High Ground Organics were bright and crisp. With a faint hint of tartness from the appealing indigo blue skin to the sublime sweet centers these blueberries struck a perfect balance between between sweet and tart. READ MORE . . .

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Rose Panna Cotta

Rose Panna Cotta

Grace with Thorns

“He’s got a garden laid out with spring water running through it, and he’s set a place apart for flowers, roses and the like, and some of the bushes are coming clear from Boston.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The fourth Monterey Bay Greenhouse Growers Open House was a day spent immersed in vivid color framed by every hue of green. The thriving flower industry of Santa Cruz County was almost lost to imported flowers in the1990’s and has made an extraordinary comeback. Consumers are purchasing locally grown flowers in a trend that mirrors the “farm to table” food trend. A highlight of the day was meeting Debra Prinzing, author of Slow Flowers and The 50 Mile Bouquet. Her demonstration made flower arranging seem effortless. Debra remarked that in addition to supporting the local economy, locally grown flowers arrive to market sooner and will last longer. I was surprised to learn that floral foam contains formaldehyde and was excited to hear that my vintage floral frogs are back in style! READ MORE . . .

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Olallieberry Ice Cream

Olallieberry Ice Cream

Sliding into Summer

“You’re smart Joe. Where will you go first? Watsonville, he said.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

If you can push away from work, the digital world and all those expectations and demands you’ll find summer is waiting for you. Find a moment to breathe deeply. It’s such a small gesture; do something just for you. It’s easy to forget to take care of ourselves, isn’t it? Inhaling sunshine will warm your soul and calm your spirit. We are sliding into summer. Inhale the vivid bright light and be seduced by it’s radiance. READ MORE . . .

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Peasant Black Bread for Father’s Day

Peasant Black Bread

Remembrance

“ Lee went in to Adam and found him trying to open the box that held clippings about his father.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

You may wonder why a dessert lover is posting Peasant Black Bread instead of cake for Father’s Day. My father preferred bread to cake. And he especially liked rye bread, crusty, black and deep with whole grain flavor. I never baked this bread for him. I was always “too” busy. He would have loved it. I lost my dad in 2006. He was 84 and had lived a long and full life. The last five years with Alzheimer’s were a misery for him and our family. Even with the cushion of seven years I find myself filled with emotion and unsure of what words to use to describe my father. I open my box of clippings and reveal too little and too much all at the same time. READ MORE . . .