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Brown Sugar Pear Pound Cake

Brown Sugar Pear Pound Cake

A Charm Bracelet of Flavors

“There’s a capacity for appetite, Samuel said, that a whole heaven and earth of cake can’t satisfy.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

This is quite the cake, easy to make and immensely satisfying. This pound cake wears a charm bracelet of flavors that sparkle with each bite. Rich, with a dense crumb little surprises of lush pears, a hint of vanilla, brown sugar and a trio of oranges jangle on it’s charm bracelet of intrigue. This is one of those cakes that beg for a second slice. It is just as good on the second day as the first. As for the third day, I have no knowledge as the whole cake has vanished by then. READ MORE . . .

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Pink Grapefruit Bars

Grapefruit bars

An adventure with winter citrus

“Well, let’s see how it goes. There’s no hurry. We’ll feel it out.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The favorite cookie at my house is Chocolate Chip, preferably still warm from the oven. But my favorite cookies are Lemon Bars. Every time I have thought about trying lime, orange or Mandarin bars I always return to making Lemon Bars. I know that I might be disappointed with too much sweetness when I crave the balance of sweet and tart. Grapefruit Bars could be an option. Lots of tang, loads of zest, a serious cookie bar contender. And pink grapefruit piqued my curiosity. I thought about Pink Grapefruit Bars for a very long time. I kept making Lemon Bars. After all they are my favorite. Two batches of Lemon Bars were made during our annual cookie baking frenzy. After the holidays I wasn’t looking for another batch of Lemon Bars, I’d had my fill. Maybe, just maybe it was time to discover a new bar cookie. READ MORE . . .

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Lavender and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Candied Orange Peel

Lavender Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Candied Orange Peel

Summer Lavender Harvest

“It was a fair place even in the summer when the sun laced into it. A line of river willows and sycamores banded it in the middle, and the western hills were yellow-brown with feed.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Between Monterey and Santa Barbara lavender farming is thriving in California. Just inland from the coast in the area between Paseo Robles and Santa Ynez the Mediterranean like climate is perfect for lavender cultivation. It was time for a road trip to Paseo Robles to visit the lavender fields of Central Coast Lavender before they closed for their annual harvest and the local Lavender Festival. The farm was quiet and calm; yet the bees hovered and buzzed about as lavender was bundled in preparation for the weekly farmer’s market. It was a warm afternoon filled with all things lavender. READ MORE . . .

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Blackberry Mandarin Cupcakes

Blackberry mandarin cupcakes with violas

Spring!

“On the wide level acres of the valley the topsoil lay deep and fertile. It required only a rich winter of rain to make it break forth in grass and flowers. The spring flowers in a wet year were unbelievable. The whole valley floor, and the foothills too, would be carpeted with lupins and poppies.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I was so excited to see pansies and violas in every market and store; spring had arrived! It also meant decorating with edible flowers. I had been planning to make cupcakes in baby flowerpots, decorated with pansies for months. Violet Blackberry Curd is a creamy surprise filling inside the citrus vanilla cupcake. The velvety cream cheese frosting is a perfect canvas for spring violas. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. READ MORE . . .

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April Monthly Miettes

Lemon Tarts

Lemon Tarts

“All during school next day Abra felt good about going to see Lee. She met Cal in the hall between classes. Did you tell him I was coming? He’s started some kind of tarts, said Cal.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

This month’s Monthly Miette baking challenge is tarts! How to choose? The Miette Cookbook includes recipes for Chocolate Truffle, Lime Meringue, Lemon, Fresh Fruit, Banana Cream and Pecan! I narrowed down my choices to family favorites. I would make either Chocolate Truffle or Lemon. For Easter I had made a decadent and sinfully rich flourless chocolate cake. Now it was time to indulge my well-documented love of citrus. I was not disappointed; this is another irresistible recipe from the Miette cookbook. The lemon curd is intoxicating. Puddled inside the rich Pâte Sucrée crust the curd is velvety smooth, whispering luscious lemon flavor. Truly a Lemon Tart that will satisfy any serious citrus craving. READ MORE . . .