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Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake with Olallie Berries

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake with Ganache Frosting

A Slice of Decadence

“When June came the grasses headed out and turned brown, and the hills turned a brown which was not brown but a gold and saffron and red—an indescribable color.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Picking Olallie berries the first week in June is an annual tradition. My mom took us to Gidzich Ranch every June. Making Olallie Jam and pie with my mom is a treasured food memory. This year I went to Gidzich Ranch to pick berries with fellow blogger, Sunny Cove Chef, and picky daughter. The Olallie season is even shorter this year, three weeks rather than five or six. There is no ignoring the California drought. The u-pick for raspberries and boysenberries has been cancelled this year. Although all the fresh berry offerings are seasonally available at the farm stand. And they sell pie. Buy the slice or an entire pie. We shared a slice of raspberry pie on our visit. Almost unbelievable, pie stuffed to overflowing with vivid magenta berries. Summer! READ MORE . . .

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Candy Bar Cookies

Candy Bar Cookies

An Irresistible Adventure – Baked Elements

“How are you? Charles asked. Fine. Did you get the book? No. I wonder what happened to it? It had pictures.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

dipI’ve been haphazardly baking my way through Baked Elements by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito and every recipe I try has been wonderful. It all started with their famous Brooksters. The combination Brownie and Chocolate Chip Cookie is quite amazing. I added the Pumpkin Almond Cake with Almond Butter Frosting to my fall must-bake list. (There are only two other items on my fall baking list, this Brown Sugar Pear Cake and a Cranberry Bundt with lots of orange.) The Sunrise Key Lime Tarts are coveted by all the citrus lover’s I know. It’s almost impossible to eat only one of the Bale Bars. If you like cinnamon, the Cinnamon Spritz Sandwich Cookies are spectacular. The soft meringue filling is just fabulous. The Poppy Seed Cake with Brown Butter Glaze is phenomenal. Speaking of brown butter, don’t miss the Brown Butter Snickerdoodles. And then I made the Candy Bar Cookies. READ MORE . . .

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Almond Joy Energy Bars

Almond Joy Energy Bars

A Craving

“Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s close it like a book and go on reading! New chapter, new life.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I’m floating into the New Year. Just going to let it happen. Not swimming against the tide, not pushing against the closed doors, not going to deny the passage of time. Making a commitment to move on—no loads of heavy thoughts or remorse over unmet goals. It’s new territory and I’m happy to have an invitation to attend the opening ceremony. This year was consumed with loss and I am ready for change. I crave a new beginning. READ MORE . . .

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Browned Butter Banana Cupcakes with Salted Dark Chocolate Ganache

Browned Butter Banana Cupcake with Chocolate Ganache

Too Many Ripe Bananas

“Charles squared his chair around and put his elbows on the table. We’ll have to figure it out, he said nervously. We can put it off all we want, but we goddam well got to figure out what we’re going to do. I know that, said Adam. I guess I just wanted some time to think about it.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

There is a time when a decision must be made. We’ve all been there. What is the best thing to do with too many ripe bananas? When there are five ripe bananas a certain panic sets in. A massive amount of food waste becomes possible. I was ready to throw the bananas away when I saw this post. This is a genius recipe from Fine Cooking. READ MORE . . .

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Chocolate Cake with Candied Kumquats

Chocolate Kumquat Cake

Discovering Kumquats

“There are no ugly questions except those clothed in condescension.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

If the classic flavor pairing of orange and chocolate elicits the desire to start baking, this is the cake to make. The cake is moist and chocolatey with thunder showers of orangey kumquat and cloud bursts of creamy white chocolate. Crowned with a powdered sugar glaze and candied kumquats this loaf cake makes for a sublime citrus and chocolate experience. READ MORE . . .