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Big Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

Big Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

A Cookie Monster favorite

“It’s not a silly thing.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I am not bold enough to say these are the best Chocolate Chip Cookies, but they are mighty fine. No obscure ingredients, no overnight chilling time, just a huge batch of scrumptious Chocolate Chip Cookies. These are everybody’s favorite cookie, including the Cookie Monster at my house. I don’t even consider making a small batch of this recipe any more. We keep the dough chilled in the refrigerator and bake them a tray at a time. That way we can enjoy them warm from the oven. The aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking is one of life’s little pleasures. READ MORE . . .

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Ina’s Coconut Cupcakes

Ina Garten's Coconut Cupcakes

A Favorite Recipe for Easter

“Cathy walked lightly, almost dancingly around the house and into the street. The trees were breaking into leaf and a few early dandelions were in yellow flower on the lawns.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Once I made Ina’s Coconut Cake for my mom, she was obsessed. Anytime I asked her what she wanted me to bake for her she asked for Ina’s Coconut Cake. I always thought chocolate was her favorite but for her birthday, Mother’s Day and Easter it was “that Coconut Cake”. (I held firm on Thanksgiving, that’s pie season. She knew Christmas was for cookies.) This is from a woman who routinely bought the 36 bar packages of Hershey’s with Almonds at the local big box store. Any desserts with coconut were a favorite of hers. If there was chocolate and coconut, all the better. She had no fear of making those hugely decadent Seven Layer Bars. Coconut Macaroons usually appeared during the holidays. She dipped the tops in melted chocolate chips. My mom made an apricot bar cookie that was topped with coconut streusel. I must find that recipe, it took an entire jar of apricot jam. We loved her oatmeal cookies, no raisins, she detested them and never had them in the pantry. But lots of walnuts and coconut and yes, chocolate chips. My mom has been gone a year and a half and I really miss her. The sharp edges have softened, but my heart still tightens at the most unexpected time. The last time I made this recipe was Mother’s Day 2014. I’m ready to share the recipe, its perfect for spring and Easter, the season of renewal and rebirth. READ MORE . . .

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S’Mores Brownies

S'Mores Brownies

Because we could

“Under the live oaks, shaded and dusky, the maidenhair flourished and gave a good smell, and under the mossy banks of the water courses whole clumps of five-finger ferns and goldy-backs hung down. Then there were harebells, tiny lanterns, cream and white and almost sinful looking, and they were so rare and magical that a child, finding one, felt singled out and special all day long.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The smell of wood burning in fireplaces always reminds me of camping. If I close my eyes and take in the woodsy smoke I can see the campsite in Arroyo Seco. The first couple of years after high school we went camping often. One year, we went camping in May at Arroyo Seco, at the deserted Girl Scout Camp, Camp Cawatre. We set up camp under a canopy of thick oaks and made our campfire and cooking area in an open clearing surrounded by sycamores. (When camping, one never sleeps in the same place where food is prepared.) We wished it to be the sultry, hot Indian summer of September and October. It was May, the ground was so cold and damp we couldn’t sleep. The sky was still black when we got up to rekindle the fire and boil water for coffee and tea. Then we made S’Mores for breakfast because we could. READ MORE . . .

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Fresh Orange Cake with Blood Oranges

Fresh Orange Cake with Blood Orange

All the Citrus

“The whole country’s changing, Adam said. People aren’t going to live the way they used to. Do you know where the biggest market for oranges in the winter is?”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Sweet and savory lemon recipes are always part of my baking and cooking. Other citrus recipes need prompting. I almost missed the season for blood oranges this year. Instead we have cake! In my stash of want-to-make recipes I found Fresh Orange Cake with Orange Butter Cream Frosting from Family Circle, March 1971. I gave it a try with blood oranges. READ MORE . . .

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Spicy Sweet Broccoli with Roasted Lemon and Feta

Sweet Broccoli with Roasted Lemon and Feta

Almost Spring

“Well, you know the railroads built those fruit cars. I went down and had a look at them. They’re pretty good. Do you know we could ship lettuce right to the east coast in the middle of winter?”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The massive El Nino storms have paused. It has been warm, which feels like spring. I was looking ahead to early spring with the first harvest of local produce when I learned that Tanimura and Antle grows Artisan Sweet Broccoli year round in the Salinas Valley. To grow a perishable commodity like broccoli, year round in the same place is amazing! The day I went to take photos of the Artisan Sweet Broccoli fields in Spreckels, the sun was shining and it felt like spring had already arrived. Next month the harvest of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, celery and other produce will bring the Salinas Valley alive from it’s short winter slumber. READ MORE . . .