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Old Fashioned Apricot Pie

Old Fashioned Apricot Pie

Blenheim Apricot Season

“When the match went out the night was blacker than before. Charles moved slowly on and struck another match, and on and struck another. He searched the road for signs. At last he gave up. His right hand rose and he threw the hatchet far off into the field. He walked rapidly away toward the pinched lights of the village.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

It’s almost the 4th of July. We celebrate our America. I think back to a year ago, before the presidential election. I was filled with hope, so many promises. So many words. We have no way of knowing what’s fake news and what’s not. We see and believe whatever suits us personally. I suppose it’s always been this way. The stories are stark, the future is portrayed as dim. I am ambivalent about our country. But not about pie, the quintessential American dessert. I was raised by a pie and quilt maker. The older I get, the more I understand. There’s not much that can be done to change the narrative but one can make the best of what we’ve got. It’s almost the 4th of July and we will have pie. READ MORE . . .

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Jammy Fruit Bars

Jammy Fruit Bars

June!

“The green lasted on the hills far into June before the grass turned yellow. The heads of the wild oats were so heavy with seed that they hung over on their stalks. The little springs trickled on late in the summer. The range cattle staggered under their fat and their hides shone with health. It was a year when the people of the Salinas Valley forgot the dry years.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I love June. The explosion of summer fruit has arrived! Peaches, nectarines and plums, I want them all. Melons, grapes, cherries and berries, it’s so good. This is a perfect recipe to use up an overabundance of seasonal fruit and any jars of last years’ jam. No one will have a clue that you are cleaning out the pantry with these lush bar cookies. This is such a no-fail recipe. I’ve made strawberry with strawberry jam, apricot with apricot jam and for this batch, nectarines with apricot jam. I really want to try plum with plum jam and a batch with mixed fruit, maybe apricot and peach. Baking with ripe, seasonal fruit doesn’t get any better than these Jammy Fruit Bars. READ MORE . . .

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Little Honeyed Apricot Cakes

Little Honey Apricot Cake

Blenheim Apricots

“She led him back to her kitchen and dining-room combined, a warm little room papered with flowers. Automatically she poured a cup of coffee and placed it for him and put the sugar bowl and the cream pitcher in front of it.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Some summers it’s all about berries, other times peaches. This year might be apricots. We drove inland to Hollister for the fabled Blenheim Apricot. Their season is short, three, sometimes four weeks. Often green and scarred on the outside there is an intensely flavored, bright orange apricot hiding inside. Blenheim’s don’t ship or store well and can be elusive to find. I came home from Bertuccio’s with twenty pounds and made lots of jam, a crostata and then these little cakes. I’m convinced that apricots and honey are this summer’s best flavor pairing. Served with coffee or tea the Little Honeyed Apricot Cakes are a gift of summer. READ MORE . . .

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Apricot Ricotta Oat Bars

Apricot Ricotta Oat Bars

Stone Fruit Season

“Adam fluttered like a bewildered bee confused by too many flowers.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

When stone fruit comes in season it’s easy to get carried away. I bought too many apricots. Just couldn’t help myself. There wasn’t enough fruit for a pie, but there was just enough for this recipe. I used a combination of very soft and sweet and just ripe tangy apricots. Any ripe summer fruit would be wonderful—blueberries, blackberries, peaches, strawberries. READ MORE . . .

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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 . . .