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Easy Milk and Honey Whole Grain Bread

Easy Milk and Honey Whole Grain Bread

Easy Milk and Honey Whole Grain Bread is flavorful and nutritious, with a soft, rich texture and tender crumb. It has become a family favorite.

“She heard the air whooshing into the big bellows in the forge and the practice tap for range of hammer on anvil. She heard Liza open the oven door and the thump of a kneaded loaf on the floury board.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Introduced to whole grain bread at a conference, I marveled at the nutty taste. It was so different from the white bread we usually ate. The whole grain bread was fragrant and satisfying. Held in a redwood grove near the coast in northern California, it was a typical foggy, damp, coastal morning. When we arrived, we were offered warm-from-the-oven, whole grain bread with butter and honey. The bread warmed our spirits and filled us with whole grain nourishment. The memory of whole grain bread and warm honey has stayed with me. This recipe for Easy Milk and Honey Whole Grain Bread is my ode to that day. READ MORE . . .

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Toasted Sesame Peanut Bars

Toasted Sesame Peanut Bars

A very good snack bar

“You’re burning that bacon. Charles turned quickly back to the stove. It’ll just be crisp, he said, I like it crisp. He shoved the bacon out on a plate and broke the eggs in the hot grease and they jumped and fluttered their edges to brown lace and made clucking sounds.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

It’s that time of year when sweets and all manner of other highly caloric scrumptious foods appear. The temptation to over indulge is everywhere. I’ve got a little diversion. It will satisfy the craving for something a little sweet with enough protein to power through the afternoon energy slump. The sesame flavor is the star of this recipe with the added bonus of peanut and coconut. A huge explosion of flavor and texture in every bite. This is a snack bar for those who enjoy the subtle flavor and crunchy texture of sesame seeds. There is anticipation of a great home made snack when the aroma of toasting sesame seeds fills the kitchen. Then the mingle of warm honey, peanut butter, coconut and vanilla seal the deal. 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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Salad for Dinner

Summer dinner salad on a plate

Summer on a Plate!

“Well, right now you can buy fruit and all kinds of vegetables for two bits a lug.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

We often enjoy salads for dinner. I wanted to make a salad with the fruits and colors of summer as a main dish. The chicken could easily be omitted and the salad would still evoke summer on a plate. READ MORE . . .