Blueberry Poppy Seed Brunch Cake
A Cake for all the Berries
“Maybe she had stayed in Watsonville. There was Pajaro, and that was the railroad section, and then the Pajaro River and the bridge into Watsonville.”
East of Eden, John Steinbeck
Inspiration
This recipe was the Pillsbury Bake-Off winner in 1990. Twenty-six years later it’s still fantastic. The Blueberry Poppy Seed Brunch Cake is easy to make and a joy to share. This is a coffee cake than transcends brunch and moves right into dessert territory. An exuberant lemon poppy seed cake gone rogue by making room for a gigantic pile of blueberries. So many blueberries, some barely burst open, other melt into jam and then just before serving more fresh berries are piled on top! And yes the cake is good too. I thought the cake edges might have gotten over-baked, but the slightly crisp edges are reminiscent of a buttery lemon poppy seed scone. The cake is soft and tender, yet sturdy enough to cradle all the berries.
Caramelized White Chocolate Pound Cake
Going Blond
“I thank you Adam, he said. The sweetness of your offer is a good smell on the west wind.”
East of Eden, John Steinbeck
Inspiration
Are you fond of white chocolate? If not, I am here to change your mind. If you know about Valrhona Dulcey fèves or discs then you’ll understand my obession. The Dulcey is caramelized white chocolate, which is more than fantastic. The happy accident of Chef Frederic Bau, from L’Ecole du Grand Chocolat has transformed the often maligned flavor profile of white chocolate into something extraordinary. I took a perfectly wonderful dark chocolate recipe from The New York Times and gave it a big do over. Melissa Clark’s not so humble pound cake is already a winner! Double streusel is quite amazing. As soon as I saw the recipe I knew I had try it. Except, this is the brunette that went blond for spring.
Ina’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.
Fresh Orange Cake with Blood Oranges
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.