cakes and cupcakes Archives - Page 9 of 10

2012/03/242017/12/26

Monthly Miettes

Miette Tomboy Cake and freshly-cut pink garden roses

“It sure is nice, said Trixie. Jenny’s girls came over for Faye’s birthday cake and they couldn’t believe their eyes.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I discovered San Francisco’s Miette Bakery during the Scharffen Berger Bakery Crawl last fall. The bakery is an oasis of shimmering pale pink and creamy mint-green, a celebration of sweetness in sight and taste. I purchased the Miette cookbook and after daydreaming about the multi-faceted recipes, set the book aside until Aimee started a blogging challenge—Monthly Miettes. The challenge requires baking a recipe of Aimee’s choice, from the Miette cookbook, each month. In doing so, I would challenge myself to become a better baker. Such ambition! READ MORE . . .

2012/02/232017/12/26

Grapefruit Cake with Olive Oil and Walnuts

A Visit to Mission Olive Oil

“And then came the holidays—Natividad, the Nativity; Nacimiente, the Birth; Soledad, the Solitude.

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

With an abundance of press swirling around the authenticity of the olive oil available for purchase at our grocery stores I was prompted to learn more about olive oil produced locally. Mission Olive Oil is located in Soledad, California, a half hour drive south from Salinas. Athena and I drove right past the olive grove on the way to Lemovaro Ranch just a few weeks earlier. We met Maria Maldonado, who with her husband own Mission Olive Oil and manage the olive grove which is located on the property of Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, or Mission Soledad. A portion of the olive harvest is returned to the Diocese of Monterey for church sacraments, while the balance is bottled for Mission Olive Oil. Once harvested, the olives are transported to Templeton for pressing and bottling. The grove of Mission Olive trees is harvested late season, usually in November which insures a smooth buttery oil suitable for cooking or baking. This small grove of Mission Olives produces a limited amount of olive oil that is sold in local grocery stores and specialty stores or directly on-line from Mission Olive Oil. READ MORE . . .

2012/02/142017/12/26

A Lemon Orchard and Lemon Pudding Cakes

Lisbon Lemons in the Salinas Valley

“A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas river drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees—willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s flooding; and sycamores with mottles, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pond.”

Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Although I have lived in Monterey County, California most of my life I had no idea lemons were grown just a half hour drive from my home until last year. Lettuce, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes, celery, tomatoes, wines grapes of these I knew, but lemons? I very much wanted to learn more. I contacted Brokaw Ranches and Nursery home office in Ventura and inquired about a tour of their Lemoravo Ranch located locally in Monterey County. Brokaw Nursery LLC began Lemoravo Ranch in the early seventies. The lemons are grown and harvested year round for Sunkist. Kirk Williams, whose father Jim is one of the founding partners of Brokaw Nursery offered to give Athena and me a tour of the lemon orchard near the city of Soledad. Lemoravo Ranch is nestled in an alluvial plain, in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains. We drove south from Salinas along Highway 101 until we passed the city of Soledad and then headed west past Mission Soledad to the ranch. When we first met Kirk we didn’t know what to expect; there wasn’t a lemon tree in sight. It was only when we drove up into the Santa Lucia foothills that we saw the magnificent lemon orchard and surrounding vineyards. Perched above the valley floor, the 400 acre lemon orchard at Lemoravo Ranch affords a view east, across the valley to the Gabilan Mountains and the Salinas Valley agricultural fields and cities below. The view was just as spectacular and refreshing as the lemon trees full of Lisbon lemons ready to harvest in January. READ MORE . . .

2012/01/162017/12/26

Winter Kiwi Harvest & A Cake

A Glorious Harvest

“On a winter evening Adam looked up from his account book. It’s nice in California, he said. It’s nice in the winter. And you can raise anything there.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Kiwi harvest time in California is December. Who knew? Kiwis are grown locally north of Santa Cruz along the coast at Swanton Farms. Athena, her daughter, Mr. R and I set off to discover how kiwis are grown and harvested. We drove north along the coast highway past Santa Cruz and stopped at Swanton Berry Farm’s main location to inquire about their kiwi harvest. It was the first week in December with sunflowers in full bloom, and strawberries still being harvested. The morning was clear and bright with promise of a glorious sunny December afternoon. It’s quite enchanting; the Pacific Ocean is on one side of the two lane highway and Swanton Farm is on the other. We drove north along the coast for another ten minutes arriving at the kiwi farm. With a borrowed Red Flyer wagon loaded with harvesting buckets we set out for the kiwi orchard walking past oak trees covered in moss and naked berry vines, gone dormant for the winter. With curious anticipation we walked up the hill to the kiwi orchard seeing rows of well manicured vines hidden under a blanket of dense broad leaves. Ducking under the canopy of leaves we entered another world carpeted with giant kiwi leaves still moist from the coastal fog. The thick gnarled kiwi trunks twisted up and across the trellis making a roof for us to duck under. At first we didn’t see the kiwi fruit. As we became accustomed to the light in the tunnel of vines we saw the fuzzy brown orbs dangling in clusters like huge grapes, just waiting for us to pick. READ MORE . . .

2011/12/202017/12/31

Red Velvet Cupcakes with White Chocolate Peppermint Frosting

A Whimsical Dessert for the Holidays

“The winter night blew in with frosty wind, and the street lamps with their sputtering carbons swung restlessly and made shadows dart back and forth like a runner trying to steal second base.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Lush red velvet was whispering Christmas to me. I was seduced by bold red and white peppermint stripes and a minty sharpness in the cold nights. Creamy white chocolate curled above the red velvet like wisps of steam from my hot morning coffee. I imagined a snowy Christmas portrayed in my velvet cupcakes. READ MORE . . .