Spiced Banana Faro Muffins with Ginger Streusel Topping

Spiced Banana Faro Muffins

Lounging Bananas Cause Disturbance

“He lay hidden during the day and went in search of food at night–turnips, a few ears of corn from a crib, a few windfall apples–nothing that would be missed.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Ripe bananas have a haunting quality. In the beginning they hold such great promise as a snack tucked in a lunch bag or perched atop cereal for breakfast. They lounge in the fruit bowl until green becomes yellow— and then brown. When the brown spots appear I wonder where the sunny topical escape went? Still lounging and now forgotten in the fruit bowl I must decide the fate of the very ripe bananas. It is disturbing to throw them away and yet Banana Bread often sounds too mundane. Besides I need three bananas for my Banana Bread recipe, and sometimes I only have two bananas. Bananas can be frozen and I did that once. I ended up with a huge bag of frozen bananas. I just kept adding bananas to the bag. I wasn’t using the bananas, I was storing them. With an inventory of two ripe bananas I decided muffins were to be made. And not just any old boring muffin, I wanted a muffin to cure the lounging banana disturbance. READ MORE . . .

Strawberry Rose Sandwich Cookies

Strawberry Rose Sandwich Cookies

Cookies for Valentine’s Day

“I’ve got these new sweets for you.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Valentine’s Day is a perfect excuse to overdose on whimsy! Hearts, lace, flowers, I’m dazzled by the fun of it all. Roses are the traditional flower for Valentine’s Day and so with rose petals and rose water I was drawn into the kitchen. 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 . . .

Madeleines

Madeleines

A French Classic

“Could we have some tea? Why sure, I’d like some myself. He brought the steaming cups in and went back for the sugar bowl.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

When I reorganized my baking pans I found my madeleine pan wedged between a whoopie pie pan and a muffin tin. It seemed to wink at me; all that French history hidden away in the depths of an American pantry. Madeleines are the quintessential scallop shaped French cookie made famous by Marcel Proust in Remembrance of Things Past. Monsieur Proust was right, madeleines are perfectly paired with a steaming cup of tea on a winter afternoon. The madeleines are a mini version of a decadent sponge cake. The cookies ethereal qualities are found in their traditional French heritage of butter and eggs laced with vanilla and lemon zest. READ MORE . . .

Pink Grapefruit Bars

Grapefruit bars

An adventure with winter citrus

“Well, let’s see how it goes. There’s no hurry. We’ll feel it out.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The favorite cookie at my house is Chocolate Chip, preferably still warm from the oven. But my favorite cookies are Lemon Bars. Every time I have thought about trying lime, orange or Mandarin bars I always return to making Lemon Bars. I know that I might be disappointed with too much sweetness when I crave the balance of sweet and tart. Grapefruit Bars could be an option. Lots of tang, loads of zest, a serious cookie bar contender. And pink grapefruit piqued my curiosity. I thought about Pink Grapefruit Bars for a very long time. I kept making Lemon Bars. After all they are my favorite. Two batches of Lemon Bars were made during our annual cookie baking frenzy. After the holidays I wasn’t looking for another batch of Lemon Bars, I’d had my fill. Maybe, just maybe it was time to discover a new bar cookie. READ MORE . . .