Weeks, and perhaps a lifetime, ago we went apple picking. It was one of those chilly, perfect fall days with clear blue skies. We were late in getting to apples this year, and found only Mutsus left on the trees. No matter, we happily filled up our bag with these crisp, bright, mildly sweet apples. [Read more…]
clementine olive oil cake
With an upcoming exhibition of my paintings looming, I headed home from the studio late on New Year’s Eve. The streets were oddly quiet for a Saturday evening, though the air was somehow supercharged with anticipation. Though I’ve long loved dressing up and singing “Auld Lang Syne” with something sparkly in my glass, New Year’s Eve babysitters are hard to come by in the city, so this year we planned to celebrate at home. [Read more…]
date cake
For whatever reason, I’d been putting this date cake off for weeks. The pound of exquisite Medjool dates I had purchased wallowed in the fridge. Every few days the allure of the dates would prove irresistible and, wondering if the cake would ever get made, I’d pinch a couple. But then, it snowed.
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere you probably heard–the east coast got snow in October. We were mostly expecting nothing, but Saturday morning rain turned quickly to snow. First a few scattered flakes, then gigantic fluff, then it came faster, and soon, it was straight-up snowing. And then what are you going to? Make a date cake, of course. [Read more…]
pear and chocolate cake
In an attempt to enjoy every single second of fall, I’ve been hoarding fall fruit. Right now, I’m sitting on a serious cache of pears. Later today I’m hoping (if the baby’s nap schedule cooperates) to tackle pear butter, but for now let’s talk about cake – more specifically, pear and chocolate cake. I am a little bit of a dessert minimalist and not at all prone to cramming 3 pears and nearly a cup of chocolate into one cake, but it sounded good, so I did it. [Read more…]
cherry currant clafoutis
Sweet cherries just turned up at our farmer’s market (still waiting on sour!), as did currants. So right now we’re working our way through pint after pint of fruit. Our daughter has been lobbying for currant buns (because it’s what Mother Rabbit goes to buy in Peter Rabbit), but I think those are a little better right as summer turns into fall (probably because of the Kink’s line “Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns help to compensate for lack of sun.” For now, we’re going with our new favorite summer dessert- clafoutis. [Read more…]